I'm traveling with a couple friends to Europe in September. We are trying to pick our location, and make sure we see something exciting and completely new! We will have 8 days on the ground so we want to see two major cities.
What are your top two cities between Dublin, Reykjavik, Copenhagen or Stockholm? Would love to know which and why!
Hello Caitlin_H. I vote for Copenhagen and Stockholm. Both of those cities are great for persons on a vacation trip. Central Stockholm is small : going to the museums does not take much time. I think S.A.S. airline (Scandinavian airline) has airplanes flying from Chicago O'Hare airport to Copenhagen, and to Stockholm. The travel time in a train from Copenhagen to Stockholm can be 6 Hours and 30 Minutes. I liked that train ride, going from Stockholm to Copenhagen (express train). Those two cities : Copenhagen and Stockholm, are different. Friendly Scandinavian people, talking in English fluently, are at both cities. Food is very expensive at Copenhagen.
I've been to all four of those cities.
Reykjavik is sort of out of place in your list. It's not really a major city. It's certainly worth visiting, but you can see most of what the city offers in a day, and the rest of the time you'll want to take some excursions to places like the Golden Triangle, the Snaefelsness peninsula, Thorsmork, and the Blue Lagoon.
The other three choices offer many attractions without leaving the city limits (though there are also plenty of things to see on the outskirts).
I would probably pick Reykjavik and one of the others. Iceland is so different from anywhere else in Europe, it's really an extraordinary place to see. The other three are really all equally worth visiting, so I can't pick one and say it would be my top over the other two.
I'd recommend you read up on the main things to see in each city and then decide what is most appealing to you.
It's likely to be cold, windy and rainy in Dublin and Reykjavik. Probably in Stockholm and Copenhagen, too. Just sayin'.
I only spent 1-2 days in those cities, except for Dublin for a week (loved every minute and would have stayed longer ).
Reykjavik/Dublin - 2 nights in Reykjavik, get over the jetlag, take a tour to see some of the natural wonders, see the town. The rest in Dublin. It has lots to offer (all in English), plus day trips with guided tours to the scenic coast, etc., if the weather's good. It's easy to go north to Derry or Belfast by train for a day. And if it's pouring rain (or even if it's nice), the pubs are so much fun, many with live music afternoons and evenings. Probably shorter flights and Ireland is not expensive.
Copenhagen/Stockholm. There's surely enough to keep you interested in Copenhagen for 2-3 days. Stockholm has great museums.
If you want something different it has to be Iceland plus one other. But you must get out of Reykjavis and see the countryside.
Copenhagen is very compact so unless you are into museums or want to get out of the city I would pick one of the others.
The weather in September will not be cold but Dublin is always wet as it gets all the weather that the Atlantic dumps as it hits the first land after America - that's why it's so green! September is by no means the wettest month in Dublin. Dublin has lively nightlife.
I would go for Dublin or Stockholm plus Iceland.
Caitlin,
I recommend Reykjavik, awesome experience, Golden Triangle and other excursions worth at least 2-3 days. How much are you willing to spend? I was in Stockholm this past October, really liked it, but it is super expensive, really! I was in Copenhagen last September, great day trips to Castles, Malmo, and Louisiana museum. Actually liked Copenhagen more than Stockholm. Dublin is awesome, a great Caravaggio painting in National Gallery and a half day excursion on Wicklow Wild Tours is absolutely enjoyable. If it was me planning, I would do Reykjavik and Dublin, if on a budget. If not splurge on Copenhagen and Stockholm, be prepared very expensive for food and drink. All are great places. Enjoy.
