Sweden Norway Denmark - Help with plans

I really liked Helsinki, and the ferry ride from Stockholm has some great scenery along the way, but that is a long way to go for just a day. I would recommend you skip it and fly directly from Stockholm to Bergen. You could do a day trip to one of the islands in the archipelago and see the same scenery.

I do think Oslo is worthwhile, but you won't really have time to do it justice. You can cut Bergen back to two nights NiN ending in Oslo and then fly to Copenhagen.

As far as how many days to devote to each destination, there are a few options

4 nights Stockholm
2 nights Bergen
1 night along NiN (Flam or Balestrand)
2 nights Oslo
3 nights Copenhagen

Or skip Oslo and add a night each to Stockholm and Copenhagen.

Or do NiN all in one day. You could also do the western part of NiN starting and ending in Bergen (land route one direction, ferry on Sognefjord other direction), with or without an overnight stop.

There's no bad option, in my opinion, unless you try to squeeze Helsinki into the mix.

Another option:

Day 1 Arrive Stockholm (firm)
Day 2 Stockholm
Day 3 Stockholm
Day 4 Stockholm
Day 5 AM Flight to Bergen
Day 6 Bergen, NIN
Day 7 Bergen to Oslo
Day 8 Oslo, Leave on night Ferry to Copenhagen
Day 9 Arrive AM Copenhagen
Day 10 Copenhagen
Day 11 Copenhagen
Day 12 Copenhagen
Day 13 Leave for US (firm)

Or skip Oslo and fly Bergen to Copenhagen on Day 9 in AM

I would not recommend skipping Oslo. For so little time in Helsinki, it doesn't see worth all the travel. Put that day plus one more day towards a stay in Oslo.

Is the ferry Oslo to Copenhagen worth the experience or is it best to fly into Oslo from Stockholm and then fly Bergen to Copenhagen?

At least one full day in Oslo then start the NiN tour departing Oslo S (Central Station) on the 8:35 am train to Myrdal. You could do the NiN in a single day arriving in Bergen in the late evening. We did an overnight in Voss with an overnight stay at the historic Fleischer's Hotel (next to the train station). We arrived in Voss late afternoon after the bus ride then continuing to Bergen with a morning regional train.

RE: I was trying to avoid the long train ride that starts NIN.
The long train ride is both relaxing and scenic, especially the ascent across the Hardagervidda to Myrdal, and of course the descent on the Flam. Having a scenic rest day mid trip is not a bad thing. The joy is in the journey, not just the destination.

BTW Rick Steves on Oslo: https://www.ricksteves.com/europe/norway/oslo

I think you have a pretty good plan with your second draft. The only think I might change (and this is just personal preference) is one more day in Stockholm, taking a day away from Copenhagen. You will arrive jet lagged and so even though it looks mostly equal on paper, it really isn’t. Plus I just liked Stockholm more (surprised myself with that).

Does anyone have hotels or apartment recommendations for Stockholm and Copenhagen ?

Hotel Wellington
Stockholm
www.wellington.se

mherwatt,

So, not sure by your posts that you understand NIN is a trip on train, bus, ferry, train between Bergen and Oslo.
I would do the trip over 2 days.
Stockholm, flight to Bergen, stay in Bergen. NIN to Oslo, stay in Oslo and the ferry or flight to Copenhagen.

I enjoyed the ferry between Oslo and Copenhagen, but in your situation I would probably fly.
I also stayed at Hotel Wellington in Stockholm, but I stayed in their Parlan guesthouse which is around the corner from the hotel desk. Best of both worlds, access to hotel staff but more of an apartment feel. Private room and bath with lounge areas and kitchen to share.

In Bergen I recommend Hotel Thon Rosenkrantz. Free breakfast and dinner (not great, but calories). The breakfast buffet is like its own tourist site, it is awesome.

I absolutely loved Stockholm. Going through the Norwegian mountains is also spectacular.
One day in Bergen is enough for me.

Thank you for all the comments. Yes, I am aware NIN is basically public transportation.

So based on hotel availability it seems like this is what will work. I'm traveling late June early July so a bit late of a start.
Day 1 Arrive Stockholm (firm) Hotel/Apartment still NEEDED.
Day 2 Stockholm
Day 3 Stockholm
Day 4 Stockholm
Day 5 Flight to Bergen, Magic Hotel Korskirken
Day 6 Bergen, Rent car for day
Day 7 Bergen to Flam, NIN, Flam Ferdaminne
Day 8 Flam to Oslo, Frogner House Apartments-H 19
Day 9 Oslo, Late flight: Oslo to Copenhagen, Hotel/Apartment still NEEDED
Day 10 Copenhagen
Day 11 Copenhagen
Day 12 Copenhagen
Day 13 Leave for US (firm)

Many places already booked. Hopefully this looks good.
More recommendations for places to stay if available appreciated

Also, since doing the ferry to Helsinki, is it also worth doing Oslo
to Copenhagen?

Yes, because it is a convenient way to get from O to C. And it actually offers good view. And with your revised schedule, I'd say that the ferry is the obvious choice. You board the ferry in the evening, have dinner onboard as you cruise through the Oslo fjord (not the most spectacular of the Norwegian fjords, but still a good view), eventually go to bed. Wake up the next day, have breakfast as you cruise along the Swedish coast and through the Öresund strait. And when you take in to account that it saves you a hotel night it is a very cheap way to travel.

We stayed 5 nights at Villa Kallhagen in Stockholm. It’s a short bus ride to the center (with frequent busses) and in a lovely location.