Thoughts on Rough Itinerary for Sweden/Copenhagen

Can't comment on route, but if you haven't booked flights yet, be aware that SAS recently filed for Chapter 11 and is suffering from lots of strikes, so is best avoided this summer. This might limit your options for flights to Scandinavia!

Yes, saw that. The filing doesn't worry me too much. Even the pilot's strike is something that isn't normally too big of deal. If anything, I'm hoping people will shy away from SAS and I'll get a better ticket price.

Looks like I'll end up booking on Iceland Air.

Because the time doesn't work out to get from the return ferry into Stockholm to the outbound bus connection/ferry to Visby. I'm considering doing the triangle ferry route (Helsinki/Tallinn/Stockholm) straight off the airplane, then staying five nights in Stockholm, followed by the connection to Visby and renting a car once I'm back in Stockholm from Visby.

I normally don't like to make a connection right away. I prefer to get rested and acclimated before trying to make connections. I also don't like to piece together one-night stays in Stockholm, a night here and a night there, which is what I'd have to do if we came back into Stockholm, stayed a night then made the connection to Visby. I prefer to string the stays into one place whenever possible.

Thoughts?

Flight is booked on Iceland Air, $601 each round trip. Although my previous five trips were at $500 round trip, I was relieved to find this price because of fuel costs right now.

Any comments on the rest of the itinerary?

Thanks,

Brad

Question here is the best way to see Uppsala? I'd like to see examples
of the carved stone sites along the way but I'm not sure I want a
rental car.

As mentioned, the train. If you by "carved stone sites" mean rune stones, there are several in and around Uppsala.

Once back on the mainland, rent a car and start across the country in
the direction of Gothenburg. My wife's family is from in and around
Jonkoping (sorry no umlauts on my keyboard). I'm thinking stops in
Norrkoping, Linkoping, Vadstena, Granna, Jonkoping, Mariestad,
Gothenburg/Marstrand. From there south toward Copenhagen via Varberg,
Falkenburg, Helsingborg ferry across to Helsingor, then train into
Copenhagen.

Renting a car in Stockholm is a bad idea, you'll save a lot of money (and sanity) by taking the train to e.g. Linköping and rent the car there for that planned itinerary.

Site suggestions are also welcome. My preferences are history (prefer
ancient to pre-1500), culture, traditional music, natural
beauty/hiking, seascapes, low-key locally owned restaurants.

For history, Gamla Uppsala is a must in my opinion.

I also don't like to piece together one-night stays in Stockholm, a
night here and a night there, which is what I'd have to do if we came
back into Stockholm, stayed a night then made the connection to Visby.
I prefer to string the stays into one place whenever possible.
Thoughts?

Another option: When you arrive, take the bus to Uppsala and spend the first night there. The next day take the train to Stockholm and do the ferry triangle.

I considered Uppsala first. It's a logical progression through the sites. I decided against it primarily because I may or may not sleep on the plane. If I can't get a decent amount of sleep, I'll be more zombie than tourist the first day. I want to ensure I'm aware when I visit Uppsala. Totally agree on Gamla Uppsala. I love all history, but I particularly love history prior to the 16th century.

Yes, I mean Rune Stones. Google Maps calls them "carved stone sites", probably lost in translation. I went with how Google Maps describes them.