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Early sketch of a 14 night trip to Scandinavia

Posted by (Portland, OR) on

Contemplating a trip this July. Here's a sketch of what we're thinking. Any ideas welcome.

Copenhagen or Rosklide - 3 nights (1 travel day by plane + 2 full days)
Aarhus - 3 nights (1 travel day by car with possible stops on the way at Odense/Egeskov Castle + 2 full days)
Dalen, Norway - 2 nights (1 travel day to Hirtshals ferry by train and then by car from Kristiansand to Dalen + 1 full day)
Bergen, Norway - 3 nights (1 travel day by car + 2 full days)
Stockholm - 3 - nights (0.5 travel day by plane + 2.5 full days)

We're less about art museums and Michelin starred restaurants than history and culture - so thinking about staying outside of Copenhagen rather than in it. Any thoughts are welcome. For a similar reason, we're skipping Oslo.
For those unfamiliar with Dalen - it's a stay at the Dalen Hotel by the Telemark Canals - just a drop of luxury in the middle of the trip.
We have friends in Stockholm who will host us and show us around.
Would have loved to at Ribe, Denmark and Stavanger, Norway, but they didn't really fit and it would extend our time.
We'd only have a car in Roskilde (assuming we stay there) and Dalen.

Posted by
3527 posts

Scandinavia is large, distances are long. Your sketch contains a high ratio of traveling.

From Hirtshals there is also a ferry to Stavanger.

Be aware that one-way car rentals are expensive in Norway.

This route contains some tips not so far away from Dalen. Colorline ferry Hirtshals - Larvik brings you very close to the route.

Posted by
43 posts

Thanks for the tips Mark. On Larvik, I looked at the timing of the ferry and the estimated driving time from there to Dalen vs. the same for Hirthals to Kristiansand, and, to my surprise, I would expect to get in 30-60 minutes earlier via Kristiansand, but the scenic route might be worth the extra time. If I add Stavanger, which might be a good idea, I'd have to delete Dalen. Could be a good swap.

Posted by
3527 posts

Stavanger has not so much to offer imo. Nice little colored houses an the old part and a lot of things around oil and gas production. Lysefjord is a great experience but you do not have to be in Stavanger for that. The Ryfylke scenic route via 520 to Odda and Bergen is very nice and open in July. When you drive the route soon after opening it can be a little adventurous (photo). On my first trip to Norway I spent 2-3 hours at Svandalsfossen - and as my first large waterfall in life it has always a special place in my heart.

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