3 weeks Scandinavia/Finland

To be honest, I don't think the direction matters that much. And yes, you'll have a bit of flexibility when leaving Copenhagen. But a last minute flight from Copenhagen to London is not going to be cheap. And I strongly disagree that Copenhagen has by far the least to see and do. If I were to rank the four capitals I'd put Copenhagen and Stockholm in a shared first place, they stand out. After that I'd put Oslo in third place and Helsinki in fourth. And two days is not enough time for Copenhagen. Although that is my opinion and others might have a different opinion.

Unless you want to add a stop in London I'd recommend considering KLM to Amsterdam as a good option, they have a good network to northern Europe, especially since SAS joined Skyteam recently. And if you're going east to west, my suggestion is to start in Tallinn, then a ferry to Finland and after that a ferry to Sweden. There is a bit more competition on the ferry routes from Finland. Or if you're heading the other way, end in Tallinn.

And with three weeks you should try to see more than just the capitals.

Yea the London flights is moreso to do with my Aeroplan status and me being forced to use Air Canada/Lufthansa in order to get premium upgrades. I hate paying all the fees flying into LHR.

Also getting to Finland, there are 4-5 flights a day from London to Helsinki so it adds a bit of flexibility in terms of the connection.

If you want to fly with Air Canada, keep in mind that they fly to Copenhagen from both Toronto and Montreal, which might be a good way to get to Scandinavia. Unless you want the long flight from Vancouver to Europe.

Yes there are more flights from London to Helsinki, but there are flights from London to Tallinn as well and if those work with your plan it is a good option.

Although my only trip to Copenhagen so far was 50 years ago, I totally agree with Badger's ranking of the four non-Baltic capitals.

I find that interesting just based on YouTube videos etc. of the sights to see. I’m sure there’s a lot to explore but in terms of your typical sights in a major city, on the surface, it seems to offer the least of them all. Also seems to be the least visited of them all typically

I don't know what youtube videos you've watched, what you consider typical sights in major cities and what you're interested in. But my ranking was based on what I consider general typical sights that tourists might be interested in. And in my opinion the city that offers the least of them all is Helsinki. It is also the youngest of them all, while officially founded in 1550 it was a tiny place for centuries and didn't really start to grow until it became the capital of Finland in 1812. Compared to Stockholm (founded in the mid 13th century), Copenhagen (12th century) and Oslo (1040 according to legend) that is a big difference.

I don't have any data on which is the most visited, but data like that can be misleading.

I share some of Badger's views. Especially I do not know why with 3 weeks over midnight sun you want to stay only in the Southern capitals and not in far North (the sun really stays over horizon there). Or visiting the Norwegian fjords or Lofoten islands.

Personally I would rate Copenhagen before Stockholm because it carries more "joy" of life - hard to describe it. Educated visitors can feel the different influences of aristocracy from other countries, e. g. Sweden from France and Denmark from Germany (Mecklenburg line).

I like all of the areas you plan to visit. But I think you are missing out if you stick to capitals.

From Oslo, I would add a two day Norway in a Nutshell trip. (You can book it yourself and don't need to take a tour.) It will take you from Oslo to Bergen with a good chunk through some of the fjords. It's fantastic.

From Bergen, you could fly to Copenhagen.

I agree with Badgers ranking of cities although I would put Oslo in a tie with CPH and Stockholm. While I really like Helsinki and have been there a couple of times, it probably has the least to offer for sightseeing.

It doesn't really matter which way you go.

OK, your trip will visit some great places, but you are ignoring the gem of Scandinavia, Norway. Norway has many fjords along its Atlantic coast all the way to the North Cape.

If you can check out a cruise that goes up the coast all the way to the North Cape, it is an amazing trip.

Yea I have some flexibility and the fjords are something I’m going to try and fit in, most likely at the expense of a day or two in Helsinki.

I have some obligations to visit family and friends in Finland thus the amount of days spent there. Honestly if my wife had been to Tallinn I probably wouldn’t be going to either as I agree that Helsinki doesn’t have that much to offer in terms of the city Center. In my previous trip we spend 15 days in Finland intersected by a 3 day trip to st.Petersburg and a day in Tallinn, we also drove considerably and visited towns that family had grown up in (Laperanta, savolinna, and Tampere (apologies for the butchered spelling) Finland is a lot like northern Ontario and while I’d like to see the north, I think I’d rather spend more time in the other places.

One question I have regarding the mid-summer type festivities, we were in Helsinki for mid-summer in 2011, however, we knew locals so we were brought to some cool events in different areas. If you don’t know a local to drag you around to decent spots or out to the country, are you really missing anything being in the capitals during midsummer? Or does most of it happen outside the city centres.

When I went to Finland in 2023, Midsummer gave me absolute fits. So many sights were closed for 3 or 4 days in a row. My itinerary ended up quite convoluted as I tried to position myself somewhere I could find open museums, etc. I have no idea whether the closure situation is so extreme in the other countries, but I believe the holiday is a big deal in Sweden.

are you really missing anything being in the capitals during midsummer? Or does most of it happen outside the city centres.

When I once was visiting Sweden over Midsummer the town centers were nearly empty. It is a very important celebration for them. More about Midsummer in Sweden.

Norwegians seem to celebrate it as well but it seems a little bit less important for them.

We are close to Denmark and the Southern Danes seem more to co-celebrate it occasionally - what I perceived from sailing in the area. I do not know if it is deep in their tradition as it seems for the Swedish people. Maybe it is different for the Danes living closer to the Swedish border.

Midsummer is a big holiday, probably the biggest holiday in Sweden after Christmas and large cities can feel a bit deserted during Midsummer as most people head out in to the countryside. But there are usually celebrations within cities as well, in Stockholm there is usually a big celebration at Skansen but probably others as well.

And if you're really trying to experience midsommar, Dalarna is a good place to visit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3iMFiAC4yW0

Brief update just regarding pricing if anyone’s interested

2 round trip economy from YVR - LHR on Air Canada came to $3500 CAD. Booked this with AC due to Status and hopes of getting an upgrade, then $550 CAD with Finnair one way to Helsinki

Extended the trip to 3 full weeks now spent in Europe so going to look for more day trips outside of Oslo and Stockholm, or may ultimately end up in London as originally planned

Copenhagen has by far the most to see and do of all the cities, bar one other, with a plethora of day trips being available. A warm and welcoming capital.

After more review I think everyone is right on Copenhagen. I think initially, in my head I was mixing up Oslo and Copenhagen. But after further review I can see it definitely offers the most interesting sites.

I’ve hammered out and booked most of my itinerary, anyone still around in this thread please feel free to critique:

Land in Helsinki June 12th

Helsinki June 12-16 - 4 nights (overnight sailing to Stockholm)

Stockholm June 17th to 20th - 3 nights (morning flight to Bergen)

Bergen June 21-23 - 2 nights (Fjord cruise from Bergen to Balestrand)

Balestrand June 23 - 1 nights

Oslo June 24-26 - 2 nights (Fjord cruise from Balestrand back to Flam, trains back to Oslo for the evening)

Overnight Cruise from Oslo to Copenhagen on June 26th

Copenhagen June 27-30 (3 nights)

Fly back to London for 1-2 days prior to the flight home.

Tried to eliminate as much backtracking as possible and prioritize that Fjord cruise and time there, albeit everything is very expensive when it’s paid in Canadian dollars lol..

Four nights in Helsinki and 3 nights in Stockholm is now I would do it. 4 nights in Stockholm and 3 in Helsinki would be my suggestion. Sorry Finland, but I think there is more to see and do in Stockholm.

Yea, one full day is going to be in Tallinn which I forgot to put there, the rest of the time is moreso just to get acclimatized to the time change.

I feel like wasting a day laying in bed or starting late is probably better done in Helsinki where I won’t be missing as much. I also have to meet up with some family friends there so that will likely be a half day minimum

Even if it includes a day in Tallinn and recovering from the jet lag I think it's a bit too much time in Finland compared to the total time you have available. But that is my opinion and it's your trip. Another for the trip after Stockholm is to take the train to Oslo and then continue to Bergen. After Bergen you take the overnight ferry to Denmark. Takes a bit longer, but gives you some great views of the Norwegian coast and will allow you to see a bit more of Denmark.

The problem with that is I’m stuck in northern Denmark then, quite a journey back to Copenhagen. I looked at that option but it leaves you kind of stranded or with a lot of transit time to get back to Copenhagen

It appears to me your are not going to see the Naeroyfjord, which is the most scenic part of the Sognefjord system. The ferry trip from Bergen to Balestrand is really not a good substitute, because it takes you primarily through a wide part of the Sognefjord, which is much less dramatic.

It's a couple of hours by train to Copenhagen, which gives you an opportunity to see a bit more of Denmark. And there are several places along the route worth a stop if you have the time.