I'm getting ready to book a tour in 2022. My dilemma is I can't tour both of the above; I have to choose one. One tour is 9 nights and starts in Copenhagen, travels to Gothenburg Swenden, and on to Norway. The other tour is 10 nights traveling around Scotland. The Norway tour is $2,300 more expensive than the Scotland tour, which is not the deciding factor. The deciding factor is which country we should choose based on past travel history and seeing sights that are completely different from what we've seen before.
Note: We have been to Ireland, which may or may not be similar to Scotland. But we have not been to any of the Netherlands or Baltic countries.
Has anyone been to both countries and can give feedback? Thank you!
Posted by
Colorado Mountains, USA
7326 posts
Brenda, for what it’s worth, we’d planned a trip for last summer that started in Scotland and then went to Denmark, then Norway. Covid-19 postponed that, and so I’ve still not been to Norway. My previous Denmark trip was long ago. We’ve made several trips to Scotland, and Ireland, and loved them all. Traditional Scottish and Irish music and pubs do share similarities. Some of their coastal scenery share cliffs and stunning seaside views, but then so does Norway’s, as my research tells me. Some food is similar between the Ireland/Scotland. Just as different parts of Ireland are different from each other, and parts of Scotland vary, Ireland and Scotland aren’t all the same. And both experienced Viking raids and settlements long ago, so they have some common history with Denmark and Norway . . . some.
But if you’ve not been to Scandinavia, that’s the place to go, for a more unique experience, based on your prior Ireland travels. Norway/Denmark/Sweden are more expensive countries in general, so I can understand that being a big part of the higher price for the tour.
Posted by
Washington DC
27047 posts
Although 10 days is quite short for Scotland, I'd rather spend 10 days there than 9 days seeing one city each in Denmark, Sweden and Norway--and not even getting to Stockholm.
I have been to Scotland and have planned--but not taken--a trip to the Nordic countries.
Posted by
Sweden
6319 posts
If you want to see ights that are completely different from what you've seen before, I think you should go for the Scandinavia option. Scotland and Ireland are culturally pretty close, Scandinavia is very different (and if you don't want to pay for a tour, it is a pretty easy trip to do on your own).
Posted by
OP
Folsom, California, usa
34 posts
Good Morning,
Thank you all for your replies! Much appreciated! In Norway we would be in 4 different cities, plus a ride on the Flam Railway and a cruise seeing some of the Fjords. My husband and I are leaning towards the Norway trip even though pricier. One of the reasons is the Scotland tour visits many castles, and we have seen many castles in our travels, so that no longer is a highlight for us.
The best price for the Norway tour is in September. Would that be a good time to go?
Thank you!
Posted by
Sweden
6319 posts
4 Norwegian cities plus Gothenburg and Copenhagen in 9 days!?! Do you mind sharing the itinerary of that trip?
Posted by
4 posts
Having spent multiple weeks in Scotland I would normally say to choose Scotland but looking at what Rick Steve’s offers for a tour in Scotland I would vote Norway. I spent about 2 weeks in Norway and loved it. The Flam railroad trip is wonderful and taking the boat rides through the fjords is breathtaking. Sounds like a very quick trip for all the stops but you definitely will enjoy all that you see.
Posted by
OP
Folsom, California, usa
34 posts
Thank you all again for your feedback! Here is an outline of the Scandinavian Trip & Tour for those who asked:
2 nights Copenhagen
1 night Gothenburg, Sweden (travel over the 5 mile bridge)
2 nights Oslo, Norway
1 night Lillehammer, Norway
1 night Sogndal, Norway
2 nights Bergen, Norway
Will Sept be a good time to visit Norway?
Thank you!
Posted by
11127 posts
With only nine nights available stay in Norway the whole time.
Posted by
Sweden
6319 posts
2 nights Copenhagen 1 night Gothenburg, 2 nights Oslo, 1 night
Lillehammer,1 night Sogndal, 2 nights Bergen,
That sounds like a reasonable plan. I thought four Norwegian cities meant Oslo, Stavanger, Bergen and Trondheim.
Posted by
TX, USA
4043 posts
I would second either acraven’s or Suki’s answers. 10 nights is a short Scotland trip and Scandinavia in 9 nights is awfully short so I would choose either Norway or Denmark and Sweden. But that’s just me.
Posted by
7637 posts
We have been to all these countries and they are great.
If you go to Norway, I recommend a cruise up the coast to the North Cape.
Here is my review of our trip.
Stockholm and Norway Aritic Circle
https://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=659526&et_cid=3214772&et_rid=17221689&et_referrer=Boards
Also, we have visited Denmark three times and love it.
North Sea/Atl and Transatlantic
http://www.cruisecritic.com/memberreviews/memberreview.cfm?EntryID=264272
Posted by
Germany
1117 posts
Since it's a tour, I am sure they will get you to all these places within nine or ten days. For my taste, with so many changes of places and accomodations, it would be way too much travel time vs. way too little enjoyment time. Nine days for southern Norway... o.k., but I wouldn't want to add anything else on to that, neither another country nor northern Norway (Norway is huge!).