More time in Denmark than we'd planned

Wow, if you included Norway, you’d have more of a Scandinavian “Grand Tour!” You could even include a bit of the original cruise idea, by taking the overnight ferry from Copenhagen to Oslo, sleeping onboard. Then fly to Stockholm for the last part of your trip.

check www.scandinavianrail.com for some train travel ideas. There are Norway in a Nutshell Passes that include trains and ferries, and possibly boat trips up the Fjords.

I agree about adding Norway. Do both Oslo and Bergen if you're city, museum people; maybe skim them if not. Either way, make sure you spend some time in the countryside and on the fjords.

In Sweden, Uppsala is lovely. It's an easy day trip from Stockholm, but you could just as easily spend a couple of days there. I've had Gothenburg on my list for a while, so I can't speak from personal experience, but I've heard really great things about it.

At the risk of self-promoting, here are links to two blog posts I wrote about my month-long trip to Scandinavia several years ago. The first is a general post about why Scandinavia deserves more visitor-love and highlight thew scenery, cities, food, etc. The second is more focused on Denmark's castles and national museum. Feel free to PM me as well. I never got around to writing everything I wanted to about my trip, but I have plenty to share about the region!

https://www.historycoloredglasses.com/2017/03/five-reasons-next-trip-scandinavia/

https://www.historycoloredglasses.com/2017/03/denmarks-nordic-versailles-a-visit-to-frederiksborg-castle/

Sorry about your cruise, but enjoy Scandinavia!

Caroline

I had trouble finding affordable lodging in the fjord area of Norway (around Flam) for late June. I imagine August will be just as busy. If you decide to spend one or more nights there, rather than just passing through, you'll need to check immediately on accommodations. One place you might look is on booking.com.

Thank you everyone! We had originally thought to go to Norway but I am getting worried about scheduling -- we won't know for sure about the cruise for another couple of weeks. (Also my husband is afraid if we go to Norway now we won't ever go back, and he is hoping to spend a couple of weeks there at some point.)

Now I'm thinking maybe there will be enough to do in Denmark and Sweden with Uppsala and Jutland and Gothenburg. We would also extend our time in Copenhagen to do a couple of day trips to Elsinore and Frederiksborg.

There will without a doubt be enough to do in Denmark and Sweden during that time. Are you flying to Copenhagen and home from Stockholm? Uppsala and Gothenburg are excellent suggestions, Visby should be on your list as well. And if you are looking for other towns I have to advertise this old post: https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/sweden/and-the-most-beutiful-town-in-sweden-is

I read cslh324's first post (the general post) and it is not a bad introduction to Scandinavia (but cslh324, you really need to come back and visit Gothenburg!). But there are many more options, and in the end it depends a bit on what you are looking for. There are some good beaches as well if you want to go swimming. And if you want to see a bit more nature the options are maybe not endless, but there are many. From Stockholm you can also do an overnight cruise to Finland or Tallinn.

And if anyone is interested in a punschrulle recipe, let me know :-)

Thanks for the reminder about your earlier post, Badger. I had dropped it, in toto, into my planning document for Sweden but hadn't incorporated it properly. Now I have more places to consider. Sundsvall is annoyingly far north, but I do so love Art Nouveau architecture...

Trondheim is further north than Sundsvall…

But Sundsvall is only 3,5 hours north of Stockholm so it's certainly possible to add a night there.

Thanks, Badger! And, yes, I totally agree that I need to come back and see Gothenburg! Maybe next year. Though, as it gets hotter and hotter here in Virginia, I'm fantasizing more and more about Scandinavia!

With Copenhagen, Stockholm and more your family will have a much better introduction to Scandinavia than from a cruise ship.

Give Stockholm a week, then Copenhagen and Oslo and perhaps Bergen. Or save Norway for another trip and visit other areas of Denmark after a minimum of three full days in Copenhagen.