Where to go in Scandinavia?

Wow - how great for you! That is awesome! I would pick Denmark, because it is small and do-able and adorable and the food is great and the beer is great and I have family there. For a small country there is plenty to do, and unlike the larger Scandinavian countries, everything is packed in nicely and convenient, so you don't "waste" travel time from place to place. I would recommend Odense, Aalborg, Aarhus, Roskilde (!), and, of course, Copenhagen. And it's a short drive or train trip into Germany. Hamburg is very close, for instance. (My VERY brief time in Iceland has convinced me that I must go back, but that is all I know about it.) That being said, if you get to go somewhere you've never been, and the flight is FREE, why not choose the country that, in your estimation, is the most "out there?" And how long do you have? Are you limited to a set number of days, or can you stay as long as you like? If you had time, you could fly into one country, visit a couple of others, and leave from the same place you landed.

Having been to all of them except Iceland, my favorite is probably Norway. Mainly because the scenery is the best there.

Thanks for the ideas! We won't know details until later this week re: length of stay, black-out travel dates, etc. My first thought was Iceland - I collect hot springs and I've always wanted to see the northern lights, but your remarks on Denmark are definitely worth considering, and I have Danish ancestry on my mother's side that could warrant further on-the-ground exploration. It's going to be a hard choice whatever country we decide on!

Hi Ron-Iceland is pretty inexpensive to geet to from Seattle on Iceland Air, so you could save that for another time and use this opportunity to go someplace more expensive. Plus Iceland is pretty isolated and you would not have an opportunity to visit anywhere else. I have been to Norway Denmark . . . lets see,. . . 5 times, and I love both countries. A trip usually includes both, a 2- or 3-night stay in Copenhagen and then on to Norway. Copenhage in delightful, as is the rest of Denmark, but if you want diverse and dramatic scenery, I would choose Norway. It is very user-friendly in terms of travel; if you rent a car you will find driving there much like the Pacific Northwest (including ferries). You can get a glacier fix if you want, or stay in the cities and learn about their history and culture.
The food is terrific, the people are very friendly, and most speak perfect English (true of Denmark as well). I realize I have not addressed Sweden or Finland, but have only spent one night in Swiden and have never set foot in Finland. I could keep going back to Norway again and again.

How can you go wrong visiting any of the countries? Also, the comments above seem pretty fair. Denmark, Norway and Sweden are my preferred countries. Finland just seemed a little drab and recognizing that I've never been to Iceland but expect to visit some day to/from Denmark, Norway or Sweden. For a large city, Stockholm is great and I relish the chance to visit again. This coming from a person generally seeking and finding much less populated areas. If you like alcoholic beverages, Norway and Sweden can be a shock. So, budget accordingly or alter your lifestyle for a few days.

What are the other 3 countries? I have been thru all of Scandinavia and found Bergen, Norway, to be VERY expensive and I am use to the high prices in Hawaii most of the year. When I ever go back I would start with Stockholm, Sweden. Luck guy you. Remember, you can always go up to RS Headquarters in Edmonds and have a "consultation" meeting with one of their travel advisors even if you are not taking one of his tours. Appointment and payment required.

I have been to Denmark and Sweden twice (going again in June) - never traveled to the other Scandinavian countries. I typically go open jaws into one country, out of the other. Stockholm is fantastic and I've loved the sights we've seen as we've driven south ending up in Copenhagen. There is also so much to see in Copenhagan and day trips out of.

"I've always wanted to see the northern lights" Go to Fairbanks if you want to see the lights. The relatively damp climate of Scandinavia means that cloudy skies will often obscure the views. Fairbanks, on the other hand, is much drier. As I've found from experience, getting a good look at the aurorae requires several factors to converge at once. It has to be a clear night with a high level of aurora activity, and your viewpoint has be away from urban glare with relatively unobstructed horizons.

Have not been to Norway but it seems the logical choice for scenery if that's your preference. Denmark would probably be my choice on the whole; it has so many great towns and smaller cities to visit. Stockholm though is my favorite city, even more so than Copenhagen (which is no slouch). Finland is technically not part of Scandinavia, so I don't know if that would be an option. But even if not, if you chose Stockholm, you can easily take the ferry to Helsinki for a day or two, loop over to Tallinn and swing back to Stockholm. The ferry is an experience in itself and the scenery of the archipelago is unmatched. Have not been to Iceland. For most people I know that have been there, it's been a stop-over for a day or so; not a destination.

"I collect hot springs and I've always wanted to see the northern lights. . . " Then you should go to Chena Hot Springs in Alaska, just outside Fairbanks. reat place for aurora viewing (when it is active). I lived in Fairbanks for a number of years and can attest to it's status as one of the best places for seeing the aurora. Most of Scandi=navia (including iceland) is too overcast in the winter, which is when you will most likely see the aurora (it has to be dark out). there aer exceptions of course---when I was in Denali NP last August people who happened to be up at 3 am saw a great aurora. We heard about it the next morning. But back to the topic at hand---I wouldn't spend a free airline ticket on a trip to Iceland tjust to see the aurora. Go to Alaska for that, and use this opportunity to expore Norway, Sweden, or Denmark. They are all good choices (although if you want spectacular mountain/glacier scenery, Norway is the place). Bring lots of money whichever you choose; they are all expensive, but Norway is probably the most expensive.

Denmark in my book is the best bet. You can base out of Copenhagen and visit northern Zealand. IMO there is more to see and do in and around Copenhagen than anywhere else in Scandinavia. If you don't like that choice, second choice would be Stockholm and plan a ferry trip to Helsinki and/or Tallinn. From Stockholm, I'd also visit Uppsala, a very old city that's now a college town.