Scandinavia - Where should we go for two weeks?

Get Rick Steves book on Scandinavia - I found it a big help when I traveled there in 2007.

I intend to, but I want other people's opinions as well. I love RS, but there were some things he didn't like that we did (such as Innsbruck) and vice versa (like Rome), so I love to hear about other people's experiences. Thanks!

Denmark - spent three weeks there and will definitely return. We enjoyed a nice mix of city, countryside and beach. There are plenty of interesting museums and architecture, not to mention fun pursuits like Legoland and Tivoli. The people are happy, friendly, polite and the lifestyle is relaxed.

I don't see how you can expect much help when you have given us so little to go on. You have a 13 year-old son and you want to go to Scandinavia. Is there one of the countries that interests you more than the others? Do plan to travel by train or by car? What do you know already about each of the countries that has piqued your interest? If I may, I'd like to suggest that you do some reading or other research and return to the board with more specific questions. I also think you need to know that the Scandinavian countries are very, very expensive as tourist destinations, and were even before the present devaluation of the US dollar.

Just starting to think about it, so that's why I'd like your opinions of what you liked. If that's not possible about Scandinavia, that's okay.

Thanks, Maggie. That's just the kind of info I've gotten on these RS boards before that made our trip so wonderful last year.

Start in Stockholm and then take the ferry across to the Aland Islands and from there move onto Helsinki. If time permits, you can take a quick ferry across to Tallinn, Estonia which is a great place to visit.

Hello Doreen. I travelled in Scandinavia for 13 days in May, 2007. I liked being there ! I am thinking about going to Norway again, because the people in Norway are friendly and Mellow, and I felt safe and tranquil there. If you will be in Scandinavia 14 days, I recommend travel in only 3 countries : Denmark, Norway, Sweden. Fly to Copenhagen. (Delta Airlines, from ATLANTA could be a good travel route for you). After a few days in Copenhagen, fly to Bergen in Norway. Travel across Norway to Oslo. One whole day in Oslo. Visit Trondheim. Express train from Oslo to Stockholm. 2 whole days in Stockholm. Train to Copenhagen. I suggest plan to be in Norway more days than in the other countries.
Read about the "Norway in a Nutshell" fjord trip, in the book "Rick Steves' SCANDINAVIA". I think the best travel guide book on Norway is "Rough Guide to NORWAY" by Phil Lee. If you wish to know my recommendations for a travel plan in Norway, send a Private Message to me.

If it's just an opinion you want, I'll give you mine. The cities are interesting, especially Copenhagen and I liked Bergen very much. The scenery is much like in my part of the world and I did start to feel after many, many miles of trees and rocks as we travelled from country to country, that I could have stayed home and seen the same thing. Scandinavia, while I do not regret going there, is the one part of Europe I have no desire to visit again.

We spent a week in Norway in 2005. It is the most beautiful country we have ever visited. The only place with scenery at a comparable level is probably Banff / Jasper National Parks. I researched the trip for over a year; planning it was quite complicated. We flew into Bergen from Glasgow (KLM), rented a car (essential), headed to Voss for 2 nights, daytripped SE to see Vorringfossen, then headed north for 2 nights in Balestrand (stay in the old part of Kvikne's Hotel---expensive, but unforgettable views of the fiords. When we travelled from Voss to Balestrand, we sidetripped to Flam, taking the railroad up and back and also stopped at one of the old stave churches. After Balestrand, we headed north again for two nights in Gerainger (Grand Fjord Hotel is right on the fjord), then drove about 200 miles south back to Bergen, where we spent half a day touring the Bryggen (Admiral Clarion Hotel has some rooms with a view of the Bryggen)and going up the funnicular before flying back to London for Cornwall. Fjord Norway is so spectacular because you drive over high mountains, drop down to sea level at the fjords, cross on a ferry, then go right back up another high range of mountains with glaciers. The roads were all very good; when the climb up the mountain gets too difficult, the Norwegians tunnel through them. So, none of the roads were particularly frightening. If you want more info, PM me.

Thanks for all this wonderful information. I've been to Jasper and Banff and absolutely loved it.

Yes yes...the Rick Steve Scandinavia book is a good resource...Norway in a Nutshell.....and Stockholm is fun and easy to get around....the archipelago (sp?) has some interesting islands....including a viking historical sight that would be great for the 13 year old....there are historical actors --- I think the name of the island is Birka ....all the Swedish teenagers like the Viking culture....

Southern Sweden is really interesting...

Denmark is fun but I had some not so great interactions with people in Copenhagen....rude and there are alot of sex shops in the city center....

The island of Areo is GREAT!!! See RSTEVES....

ENJOY!!!!

We have been to Scandinavia three times (and will probably go again since I have relatives in Sweden). Our first trip was for 7 days in Denmark. We stayed in Copenhagen (which we liked a lot) and made day trips by train. Our first trip to Sweden we stayed for about 6 days in Stockholm (which is a beautiful city) and then took a train south and got a rental car. There is much to see in southern Sweden. As far as what a 13 year old would like, that depends on them - there is much on Vikings and the history in general which would have interested my children when they were that age. So, all we've seen is Denmark and Sweden. I would be happy to send you the sites we've seen (by private message) if you are interested because most of them have been spectacular. I don't think I've ever run across a person from Scandinavia who wasn't totally friendly. It's a very clean and friendly country.

Yes, please send me the sites. Perhaps everyone will be interested, too? Thanks

Because of the length of time we were there, we saw many more sites, but I'll list what I consider our highlights: Sweden: Medeltdsmuseet (medieval museum - under re-construction now), Vasa, Skansen, archipelago tour through islands, Stockholm history museum (much on Vikings), Kalmar, Vaxjo (immigrant museum), Ystad (beautiful town), Oland island (many historic places, e.g. Ismantorp fortress with remains of 88 houses and 9 mysterious gates deep within the forest), Sodermalm museum (history of Stockholm - small), Church of St. Mary at Risinge - 12th century; Denmark: National Museum (history - much on Vikings), Fredericksborg Castle (Danish Versaille - better than Sweden's), Dragar village, Tivoli, Frilandsmuseet (open air), Ordugaard art museum (lot of impressionist paintings), Roskilde - viking ships/history, Nazi resistance museum.

I forgot three sites in southern Sweden: Kaseberga - Ales Stones on a hill overlooking the sea (in the shape of a ship) - bigger than Stonehenge; Kivik grave - bronze age; Glimmingehus Castle. These were also places we really enjoyed.

NORWAY!! I loved it - Oslo is a fun & exciting city with its traffic-free center, "The Scream," the harbor and the island with its attractions, etc. Bern is cute and quaint & fishy :) and the Norway in a Nutshell trip (train/boat thru the fjord) is spectacular. I recommend a stopover out in the fjord - I stayed at Balestrand for several days; one might be enough for a 13-year old, tho there are day trips to take.

Travel with a thirteen year old can be a real challenge. What does he enjoy doing? Many young teens are uninterested in scenery, museums, quaint architecture, etc. Two summers ago I was in Vienna trying to get onto the shared computer in my hotel lobby, which was being monopolized by a young man about thirteen or fourteen IMing a friend with a stream of "Europe sucks, so boring, nothing to do, lousy stuff to eat," etc. etc. I felt bad for him and for his parents--clearly this trip for him was a waste of time and for them a waste of money.

So I would think about what kinds of activities would be enjoyable for him. Would a Viking oriented museum be cool? Or stupid? Would a hike be fun? Or a trudge?

Where did you go last year, and what did he particularly enjoy? We could help more with that information.

That's a god point, but this trip is about all of us. Last year we saw lots of history ie: the Acropolis and did a lot of fun activities too, ie: a half day bike ride in Austria, which I think was the highlight of the trip for him. So we mixed it up between museums and taking the tram up to the top of mountains. My husband and I enjoyed the just-for-fun things, too and Skyler enjoyed the cultural (he had just finished learning about the Renaissance so that part became really alive for him as well. And, I think he really enjoyed just seeing what various parts of the world look like so now, when he hears about Venice, he gets it.

Thanks for bringing this up. And thank everyone for your ideas.

Oslo is a wonder city. There's the Viegland scuplture park, the harbor- do a cruise out into the fijord and lots more. Just out of town there is a silver mine where you can take tours- we took a train out of Oslo and then a bus to the mine. There is also a cobalt mine and a historical village. The Viking museum is very good, too- and I enjoy the ferry rider over to it. It is a bit pricey- but worth it. If you decide that Scandinavian isn't for you and your son- consider the UK- we took our kids there when they were your son's age and they loved it- LOTS of variety in things to do.

I would suggest take a plane from Olso Norway to Kirkenes, Norway which is 240 north of the artic cicle and on the Russian border. You could see the midnight sun and then drive thru Lappland to North Cape which is the northernmost point European mainland. You would be able to stop at a Lapp people (Sami) village which is very interesting. Lapp people (Sami) is known as the reindeerpeople. There are thousands of reindeers roaming around, which is fantastic to see.

My family is from Sweden ....about three hours north of Stockholm on the Baltic Sea.....so I am prejudice...

Stockholm is great for getting a very different feel in a small but quite modern city....Gamla Stan (old town) and others have said Skansen, Vassa Museum and there is the island of Birka (sp?) with lots fo Viking history....Young Swedes (as is teens etc) are quite fascinated with the Viking folklore...

All of Rick Steves info about Norway and Denmark will be useful to you as well....the Island of
Areo -- Denmark is beautiful...