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Copenhagen/Denmark/Oslo/Bergen in late June w/ Kids - Recommendations Needed

Posted by on

Hi All,

Planning a family trip with the wife, and 2 kids (7 year old and 9 month old). Looking to do the summer...fairly open June-August, was originally looking at July and August, but I did read about how July is super packed with tourists, and August is European Holiday so no that much better. So now I am looking at late June. Also read that everything may be closed during midsummer, so looking to head over as soon as that is done. Currently thinking:

Arrive Copenhagen ~ June 24th, 2025
Travel to Stockholm - June 28th, 2025

Travel to Oslo - July 2nd, 2025

Travel to Bergen - July 4th, 2025

Depart for Home on July 7th (can fly direct from Bergen back to USA, via connection in Oslo or Copenhagen so don't need to account for another separate ticket)

Questions I have:

  1. Would you make any changes to the routing?

  2. Should we push the trip by a week or two to get nicer weather (but more crowds)?

  3. I know the weather won't be as warm as July or August, but will it be non-pleasant in June (I know nobody can predict it, just historically)

  4. Do we need a car in any place, or can we get around with public transport?

  5. To minimize the amount of hotel times, can we stay in Bergen and still do day trips to experience the Fjords?

  6. Flåm Railway looks amazing, how would you work that in to the above? With 2 little kids, I imagine we will have 2 suitcases + stroller, etc.

Thank you all!

Posted by
3769 posts

There are 12 full days for three capital cities plus Bergen. Moreover, the three capital cities are the largest metropolitan regions in each country. What you may not realize is these cities are 5.5 to 7-train hours away from one another, and unless you plan to fly between them all—the current plan is way too rushed. While traveling between the four cities—you’ll lose the better part of 4 days. If you cannot add time to the trip, I recommend dropping Stockholm so you have time for Copenhagen, Oslo, Bergen and the fjords.
You might want to take the overnight ferry-which has cabins- for the Copenhagen to Oslo leg.

www.Vy.no has trains for Norway. Norwegian train tickets can be bought beginning 60 days in advance of the train’s departure date.
www.TheTrainline.com has Danish trains
www.DFDS.com. For Copenhagen to Oslo ferries. A cabin for 4 is €77.

Posted by
4 posts

Thank you so much! That is all great information to consider.

I've read that Stocklhom is great for kids. If anyone has been, should we do just the 3 captials then, and leave out Bergen?

Posted by
4 posts

Also just realize I wrote the title as "Copenhagen/Denmark/Oslo.." instead of "Copenhagen/Stockholm/Oslo/Bergen"

Posted by
3769 posts

You’ll need to go to Bergen if you want to see fjords as the great fjords are accessible from Bergen and Alesund —not Oslo.
And the Bergenbahnen train ride from Oslo to Bergen is one of the best train rides in the world! You would be missing that.

Posted by
4 posts

Yes thank you. I am actually wondering if maybe we skip Oslo all together and focus on the other 3.

Posted by
3769 posts

I would skip Stockholm, but it is your trip.

Posted by
1511 posts

Actually, I think June is great, it tends to rain more here in Sweden during July. And I agree with ORDTraveler's suggested itinerary, yes Stockholm is a great place to be with the family, but so are Copenhagen, Oslo (Oslo has an open air historic museum they might enjoy) & Bergen. As others have said, it seems like too many places with quite a bit of transit time even without kids - Someone once suggested a spreadsheet with hours to breakfast, transit to trains, get where you're going, transit again to hotel, and somewhere in there eat meals. And I'm sure the baby & 7 year old's needs to be factored in there as well. With all this train travel, I would take a very close look at how heavy you pack. Good luck, I'm sure it will be a great trip!

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