Food Budget for Scandinavia

This is so dependent on personal tastes and budget (for example how much do you spend in restaurants in the US?). I would allow about $75 per person just to be safe...that gives you enough to have a beer or two or to split an inexpensive bottle of wine occasionally. You can splurge for an unusual or expensive meal, but think of it as an addition to your daily budget.

Thanks Bill. I think I'm on target. I had bugeted an average of $150/day for the two of us. For a nice dinner in NYC, we would spend about $200 to $250 but I really don't want to increase our food budget by that much per city so maybe we'll do "ONE" nice dinner at a special restaurant. :-) Thanks for the advice.

In Sweden, you can often get lunch for a reasonable price. Look for the "Dagens rätt" (literally "day's dish) which is usually around 60-70 Swedish Kronor and is usually a main, salad, bread, and soft drink. This are often what is referred to as "husmanskost" ... kind of old-fashioned Swedish comfort food. Another good place for lunch in Stockholm is to go to one of the markets and buy things for a picnic. My favorite market is Östermalms Saluhallen (www.saluhallen.com - I think it is the most impressive), but there are also markets at Medborgarplatsen and at Hötorget.

In Stockholm, there are a number of more reasonably priced restaurants on Södermalm.

In Stockholm (Gamla Stan to be specific) I found some of the best and most reasonable dinners at several of the restaurants on the Stortorget square opposite the Nobel Museum. If you are going in the summer, you can dine outdoors until 10:00 or 11:00 and there will be the most delightful evening light...

Thank you so much, ....all of you. Great suggestions. I will put them in my PDA and take them with me.

While we are on the subject, in Copenhagen go to the restaurant Gamel Strand across the canal from the Thorvaldsen Museum...great outdoor dinning (best seafood in town..not too pricey). Chef Jengiz Moller takes pride in his restaurant and the meals he serves...you will like him and his restaurant.

gt...you didn't name Helsinki as one of your destinations, however, the title of your question might attract someone who will be visiting there. My favorite (of serveral very good restaurants in town) is The Elite: Here's what I had to say in my review posted a couple of years ago: Not in the guide but deserves to be. While walking around in a neighborhood just about 10 minutes north of the Temp Rock Church (looking for antique stores), we stumbled upon a great restuarant with a marvelous history...like Cafe Kapeli, this is and was a favorite cafe/bar/restaurant for the city's "beautiful people." The food at the Elite is wonderful traditional Finnish food (meaning its not like anything we have in the US), but it is plated so beautifully, it reminds you of new French or a classic Japanese dish. It's on Et. Hesperiankatu 22 and the tel. is 09 434 2200. Like other Helsinki restaurants, it has al fresco dining.
Also, Restaurant Michelle just off the esplanade was a wonderful find.

Bill - Thanks but decided not to do Helsenki and opted to do the 7 day Hurtigruten Cruise in order to relax before returning home. We'll end our holiday in Kirkenes and fly home from there. Guess Finland will have to wait for another time. :-)