We have been on two Rick Steves' tours, Scotland & Italy and loved both of them but we are not sure where to go next. My wife is interested in Greece and I favor Scandinavia. If we go to Greece we think October would be the best time but July & August for Scandinavia. Are there any season travelers out there with suggestions?
Thank you,
William
Scandinavia is expensive. I haven't been to Denmark recently, but Norway and Sweden don't really get swamped with tourists in the same way Paris, Rome and Venice do. You won't be alone around the Bergen waterfront or at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm, but if you've done the Italy tour, I think you'll be pleased not to be in a mob of tourists. I can't compare Scandinavia to Greece in that regard because I haven't been to Greece in nearly 30 years. I visited Norway and Sweden in 2022 and Stockholm again this year.
While I have not taken the tours, I have been to both areas. Those are some of my favorite places in Europe. You can't go wrong with either one you choose.
If you choose Greece, spend extra time on your own and visit a couple of islands. That's what I think is missing from his tour.
We were in Greece in April (mainland) and also October (Crete). Both months afforded good weather and places were not crowded. For Greece, consider Spring as well as October.
We just got home from a Scandinavian (Denmark and Norway) trip. There were plenty of people, at least partly due to cruise ships that unloaded lots of people each day. This was in late September and early October, and we were assured that July and August would’ve been much, much more crowded. However, many sights and activities are only open in June thru August, so some things aren’t available later than that. The Rick Steves tour will still keep you busy if you went to Scandinavia outside of the busiest, most crowded months, and I’m happy that we didn’t go in July or August.
How do the tour reviews compare?
I was in Denmark, independent travel without tour, in late June and early July 2023. Large crowds in July in Copenhagen but not other areas. No crowds in June.
I define “crowd” to mean waiting for entrance to popular attractions or needing a timed admittance or pre-purchased ticket, difficulty in maneuvering around visitors to see exhibition displays, difficulty in dining with a reservation or off-peak dinner hour, center city sidewalks full of people, full transit.
Norway, Oslo and Bergen, in early to mid July was fine, no crowds although the Bergen numbers were higher than Oslo. Norway in a Nutshell was sold out on our Saturday, but not unpleasant at all.
Just one data point for Scandinavia in early July. Norway had transport disrupting rain this past summer after we had returned home. NIN routes canceled. You could check news reports on this.
Or you can compromise and go to central Europe! 😀
It's hard to give advice since in the end it's a matter of opinion, but there is plenty to see and do in both areas. And I would not say that July and August is the best for Scandinavia, it can be great in May or September as well.
If you choose Greece, spend extra time on your own and visit a couple
of islands.
That's good advice in Scandinavia as well. There is a lot to see that the tour just ignores.
It I were looking at this decision and all the other considerations seemed about even, I would ask myself which of these two locations would I be more likely to travel to as an independent traveler? If I could only take a tour in one of these two places it would be Greece and Turkey.
I went both places this year. Norway this July and Greece this October (also Greece in October of 2021 as well).
Norway was absolutely gorgeous and the weather was cool and comfortable and the crowds were not too bad at all.
Greece was also fairly comfortable, temperature wise and the crowds were busier than Norway, but not overwhelming at all.
You can't go wrong with either place...they are both totally different experiences... nature versus culture.
We have been on two RS tours, Italy and England, but the above trips were with Viking Ocean cruises, so the experiences would be slightly different but still have a similar feel.
I have been on the Turkey tour and the Scandinavia tour and loved them both for different reasons.
I loved Turkey, a Muslim country and situated uniquely at the crossroads between Western Europe and Asia, this tour is especially conducive to the Rick Steves style of touring. I learned a lot about a part of the world I am not familiar with.
I loved Scandinavia because it is a unique part of Western Europe situated on the far end geographically but culturally not as familiar to me. I adored Scandinavia for its natural beauty and its deep commitment to community. Different from American values with our self reliance. I asked locals while I was on that tour how they liked paying high taxes and everyone said they enjoyed the benefits and felt it was worth it. Not making a political statement.
I would vote for the Scandinavia tour! Obviously my personal preference. But it depends on what you are looking for. I went to Scandinavia in May and enjoyed perfect weather. Turkey in October and perfect weather then.
I have been on three Rick Steves tours - and two of them were Scandinavia (August 2019) and Greece (July 2022). As others have already said, I loved them both for different reasons. However, I chose to go to Scandinavia first and thought it was a place I would have a had a harder time seeing on my own. Plus, I remember the time on Ærø was magical. You can't go wrong, no matter your choice.
