We (2 people in 60s) will be traveling to Scandinavia in the end of June early July. Want to go from Copenhagen to Oslo with a few days in between in Aero, Aarhus and maybe Odense. Trying to figure out an itinerary. Should we go by train or rent a car. Should we go back to Copenhagen and take the Ferry to Oslo, or go up to Frederikshavn and take the ferry to Oslo from there. We probably have 3 or 4 nights for Central Denmark and Jutland. If we rent a car any recommendations on car rental companies and pickup drop off spots. Could we take the train from Copenhagen to Odense rent a car in Odense and drop it in Frederikshavn. Is this a nice area to have a car in or would it be more of a hassle. Thank you in advance for your advice.
Posted by
Glostrup, Denmark
1394 posts
Personally I would skip Ærø (Aero). It is nice but - IMO - not as nice as RS thinks.
If you only want to visit towns and cities go by train. Check times and prices on https://www.rejseplanen.dk/webapp/?language=en_EN.
Parking in towns is not easy, but expensive.
You can rent a car one place and drop it in another place, but there will be a fee for that. If you drop it off in another country, the fee will be exorbitant. You need to check each rental company.
I haven't tried the ferry from Frederikshavn to Oslo, but the ferry from Copenhagen to Oslo is very nice - but the nicer you want, the more expensive.
Posted by
Uppsala, Sweden
7051 posts
Århus and Odense are Denmarks 2nd and 3rd largest cities, having a car to visit them is just silly. The train is a much better option. Cities are not nice areas to have a car in. Ærø is also pretty easy to reach from Odense by train and ferry, although I agree that Ærø is overrated compared to the amount of attention it gets on this site.
The ferry from Copenhagen to Oslo is the same ferry as the one from Fredrikshamn to Oslo, and if you don't mind the late departure my suggestion would be Copenhagen-Odense-Århus-Fredrikshamn-Oslo. And maybe add Ærø if you really want to, but you can also replace it with some other place.
Posted by
OP
Northern California
23 posts
Thank you very much for your excellent advice. It is always helpful to get information and opinions on this site.
Posted by
Denmark
151 posts
I also don't see the need for a car for that itinerary, especially since it won't be good to have in the cities.
Small correction from one of the answers above. The Copenhagen-Frederikshavn-Oslo ferry is having its schedule changed, and will only stop in Frederikshavn in the winter months. The rest of the year it will go non-stop Copenhagen-Oslo. So you can not take the ferry from Frederikshavn to Oslo in June/July 2025. I can name a few alternatives: The best alternative is probably the ferries from Hirtshals to Larvik operated by Color Line, with onwards connection to Oslo by train. Other (slightly less relevant routes) include Color Line Hirtshals - Kristiansand and Stena Line Frederikshavn - Gothenburg.
Posted by
Uppsala, Sweden
7051 posts
Thanks for the ferry update! In that case I agree that the Hirtshals to Larvik ferry seems like a good option. Although the ferry to Gothenburg and a few days in Gothenburg is also not a bad idea.
Posted by
OP
Northern California
23 posts
Thank you once again for all the great information. I think we will not rent a car and take the train.