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Never been to Europe, trying to arrange a solo trip to Scandinavia w/ Helsinki and Tallinn

About me: Solo female traveler traveling in June. Never been to Europe and this would be my 3rd solo trip. Interested in architecture, art, photography, gardens, castles, food. This looks to be a very rushed itinerary but I don't I'll be able to travel overseas anytime soon after this trip.

Copenhagen

Day 1 Fly into Copenhagen mid-afternoon, probably explore a bit and grab dinner then crash at hotel due to jet lag.

Day 2 Join a free 2.5-3 hour walking tour, Torvehallerne Market, Tivoli Gardens in afternoon and evening

Day 3 Take a train out to Kronberg Castle for a few hours, explore Christianshavn (Danish Architecture Centre and other places) and Christiania in the afternoon and evening

Day 4 Spend the morning at Frederiksberg Gardens, take 16:30 overnight ferry to Oslo

Oslo & Bergen

QUESTION: The following is the part that I’m trying to work on. Looks like there’s a lot of moving around since I’ll be going to Bergen. How should I make this leg more efficient?

Day 5 Arrive in Oslo in the morning around 9:45, leave luggage at a station locker, head over to National Gallery for a few hours, then Viking Ship Museum before checking into accommodation

Day 6 Norway In a Nutshell tour from Oslo to Bergen, stay overnight in Bergen (I believe I’ll arrive there around 19:00-20:00)

Day 7 Spend the day in Bergen, take overnight train to Oslo

Day 8 Arrive early in Oslo, leave luggage at a train station locker, head over to Frogner Park and Vigeland Museum to explore for a few hours, check into accommodation

Day 9 Take it slow day, do whatever interests me and/or is included on the Oslo Pass.

QUESTION: I'm looking for food halls in Oslo. Mathallen is the most popular one it seems. Are there any other recommended food halls I should check out?

Stockholm

Day 10 Take morning flight to Stockholm, take Arlanda Express to city centre, drop off luggage at a locker, head over to Vasa Museum, maybe Östermalms Saluhall until closing, check in at accommodation

Day 12 Start morning with free walking tour in Gamla Stan, tour ends by The Royal Palace, spend a couple of hours there along with Royal Apartments, spend evening at Fotografiska

Day 14 Spend the morning at Drottningham Palace, stop by Stockholm City Library (just a peek at the interior for architecture--I used to work in my city library), slow down and recharge with Fika, then if I'm up for it I'll go to Kungliga Djurgarden

Day 15 Spend morning and early afternoon in Stockholm, probably head to Gamla Stan again or any place else that interests me, then take overnight ferry to Helsinki

Helsinki & Tallinn

A friend of mine lives in Finland so I thought I’d add Helsinki here so hopefully I could meet up with her. That being said, I'm leaving my Helsinki itinerary blank for now.

Day 16 Arrive in Helsinki early morning, store luggage in station, explore, check in at accommodation

Day 17 Helsinki

Day 18 Day trip to Tallinn

Day 19 Fly home from Helsinki

Please let me know your thoughts. I would appreciate it very much!

Posted by
5837 posts

Days 5-9: Consider front loading time in Oslo rather than split time between Day 5 and Days 8-9. NIN from Oslo to Bergen with full day in Bergen on Day 9. In place of night train to Oslo and flight on Day 10 to Stockholm, take morning Norwegian Air Shuttle from Bergen to Stockholm on Day 10.

Day 5 on arrival at Oslo. Book hotel (e.g. Thon Astoria) near train station Oslo S. You should be able to leave luggage at hotel before check in. Small food court in the Paleet shopping mall on Karl Johansgate: http://www.paleet.no/english/ (Mat = food).

If you take the ferry back from Bygdoy, many food options at the Aker Brygge shopping complex next to the City Hall ferry terminal.

Posted by
169 posts

You may want to check and see if at the hotels you are staying if they would be able to hold your luggage instead of paying to store it.

Posted by
3 posts

@Edgar: Thank you so much for the tips! I originally did want to fly out of Bergen to Stockholm but the flights were late into the evening. But you are right, front loading time in Oslo is a much better idea.

@katsrad: Thank you so much! I'm not sure why I hadn't thought of that.

Posted by
5837 posts

Oslo architecture and art:

Opera Houste: https://www.visitnorway.com/places-to-go/eastern-norway/oslo/oslo-opera-house/

Norwegian artist: http://www.nasjonalmuseet.no/en/

The Scream: http://munchmuseet.no/en/museum

Fortress with a view: https://www.forsvarsbygg.no/no/festningene/finn-din-festning/akershus-festning/

Resistance museum (what to do with guns): https://www.visitnorway.com/listings/norways-resistance-museum/2764/

Open air cultural museum on Bygdoy: https://norskfolkemuseum.no/

And if you are interested in polar expeditions: http://frammuseum.no/
Also on Bygdoy and part of Oslo Pass.

Posted by
3 posts

@Edgar: Apologies for the late reply but thank you for your suggestions!