Two weeks in Denmark, Germany & Possibly Sweden?

With your ideas in mind plus my opinions, enjoy pleasant Copenhagen, then fly to Stockholm to visit a delightful city, followed by a flight to very worthwhile Berlin and environs. Price an open jaw ticket into Copenhagen and departing from Berlin.

I agree with Bruce's recommendation of three great cites. They all have daytrip options that can get a little smaller-town variety into the mix. Rick has a Berlin "Snapshot" guide, excerpted from the bigger Germany book, so you don't have to buy the whole thing. (The same applies to Copenhagen and Stockholm, but they don't add up much cheaper than the whole Scan book.)

Berlin can suck up a lot of time if you're interested in both traditional art museums (there are a lot, and they are large) and Cold War history (lots of related sights like the House at Checkpoint Charlie and the Wall). I kept extending my stay, but even a week wasn't long enough. It's a very interesting city to wander around in, very lively and full of young people from all over. But not particularly pretty. Folks into aesthetics might find 7 days too long.

" Folks into aesthetics might find 7 days too long." Then hop on a train to Potsdam, Leipzig or Dresden.

Fair point. I spent several days in Dresden. Didn't have time for the others because of the Berlin museums.

Personally, I'd start in Stockholm and work my way down. You could probably do 3-4 days in Stockholm, 3-5 in Copenhagen, and then a week in one of the larger German cities (Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, etc.).

If you wanted to do an entire trip by train, you could start in Gothenburg, train it to Copenhagen, and then take another train to Hamburg. I thought taking the train on the ferry from Denmark to Germany was fun, and it might become an extinct experience someday because I have heard a tunnel might be built to replace the ferry. Now, I have never been to Gothenburg but have heard good things. Similarly, I have only passed through Hamburg, but the Germans I know like it. Anyway, this is just an idea if you want to do an entire trip by train.

Here are some things I like from each country:

Sweden -- Archipelago tour in Stockholm
Denmark -- Copenhagen food and beer tours (found them on Viator); Louisiana Art Museum (about 40 min. north of the city by train, but worth the trip); Copenhagen canal tour; strolling around Dragør, a village next to Copenhagen Airport with a gorgeous view of the Øresund and the Øresund Bridge
Germany -- I've been to Berlin and Munich and a couple of other smaller cities. I have visited mainly because I have friends in the country. I can't speak to any hidden gems except both Berlin and Munich are cool cities and have a lot to offer all types of travelers. I really liked the Prenzlauer Berg area of Berlin. In Berlin, I stayed near the Spree and would stay there again if I returned. The next time I go to Germany I'm checking out a castle or two.

Also, something my sister and I started doing is bike tours of each city we visit. I can't think of a better place to do one than Copenhagen.