Nordic Countries - Self driving holiday thru countryside - looking for suggestions...

Hello - any suggestions you can provide would be very much appreciated. We have been to Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm. We want to fly into one of these 3 cities and spend a couple of days "city time" then drive into the country side (whether it be Denmark, Sweden, or Norway) and see the natural beauty of the land. I thought about driving from Malmo to Stockhom and staying in B&B's along the way but don't know much about what there is to see as far as nature goes on that route? What areas does anyone suggest within a 300km radius of any of these cities as like a 4-5 day getaway?? Thanks very much.

Malmo to Stockholm is about the most boring drive in Scandinavia. If it's scenic nature you want, head to coastal Norway.

Malmo to Stockholm is about the most boring drive in Scandinavia. If it's scenic nature you want, head to coastal Norway.

It depends the route you take. Direct, yes, it's boring. If you drive Malmö - Göteborg then across it's not all that bad. I haven't driven the east coast of the country.

But I'd agree, if you're after mucho scenary then go to Norway.

Thanks guys for the info. I am going to start researching Bergen/Stavanger. Might want to do Copenhagen as our 3 day city/nightlife stay - and if so is there anything interesting up the west coast of Sweden from Malmo to Oslo? If that's as boring as Malmo-Stockholm then maybe we'll just fly directly to Oslo - spend couple days there then head to the west coast of Norway. Thanks for all your thoughts. Any "not to be missed sites" along the route from Oslo to Bergen? I'm assuming all the sights are the fjords themselves...???

What time of the year are we talking about?
It also depends of course greatly on your interests.

I agree coastal Norway is definately an option. Very nice

If you start in Copenhagen (I am biased but I believe it is a great city) then consider either flying direct to Bergen or sail to Oslo from Copenhagen (night ferry/cruise). The Copenhagen-Oslo drive is not that spectacular.

As an alternative consider the small islands south of Fynen as well (Langeland, Ærø, Tåssinge and bunch of really small islands). Very laid back and very nice for both relaxing, hiking, cycling, sailing og just having a good time. A bit off the beaten track.
http://www.visitsydfyn.dk/international/en-gb/menu/turist/inspiration/om-sydfyn/om-sydfyn.htm
http://www.aeroe.dk/

If you are starting from Stockholm, i would suggest going north in Sweden. Either E4 along the coast northbound (but the first 2-300 km is just a boring freeway) and follow the botnia coast as far north as you have time. Or go inland towards Dalarna and Siljan (Mora, Rättvik) and then north into the mountain areas of Harjedalen and Jamtland. Possibly head over to the Norweigan side via Åre/Storlien and then go south through Norway. Or combine all these, depending on how much time you have :)
If you are limited to the 300 km range and 4-5 days i would say the second alternative (Dalarna/Harjedalen) would be nice.

I don't think Malmo-Stockholm is that boring (at least the first stretch up to Jonkoping where we have driven quite a bit of). Smaland is beautiful, and Jonkoping is beautiful too (compare to the boring south where I live in :( )
Driving in Norway would be nice but the motorway fee is going to hurt your wallet. The west coast E6 is really beautiful from south of Goteborg on all the way up to the Norwegian border.

Smaland is beautifu

Yes, but you need to stay off the E4. And once you get to Jönköping, there's some scenery along Lake Vättern. But I agree it's hard to compete with coastal Norway.

Personally, I'd investigate the possibility to fly to Kiruna, rent a car and drive over to the Lofoten islands on the Norwegian side. It's a magnificent drive across the mountains, and the rental rates are much lower in Sweden than in Norway.

Another possibility is to go from Finland to Norway. The Finnish highway are better than the Swedish one (according to Danish driving association, they suggest Danes to go across to Finland if you want to head north due to better roads, not sure it's still is the case now).

I would love to see the northern part of Sweden too - it's a huge country but somehow it's always more attractive to go south :P Hopefully I would be able to do that before I move away from Sweden.

Yes, but you need to stay off the E4. And once you get to Jönköping, there's some scenery along Lake Vättern. But I agree it's hard to compete with coastal Norway.

Personally, I'd investigate the possibility to fly to Kiruna, rent a car and drive over to the Lofoten islands on the Norwegian side. It's a magnificent drive across the mountains, and the rental rates are much lower in Sweden than in Norway.

Using points for rental cars levels the prices. :D

Actually, driving from Copenhagen to Norway would probably be a nice option, then hit the fjords. Or even take the ferry from Denmark up to Norway.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. We are researching now. It will definitely be summer - probably August 2011. Pretty much ruled out Malmo/Stockholm - but the islands south of Odense sound very interesting. Would love to do the Kiruna - Lofoten islands drive but a little far north and would have to omit a few days in one of the larger cities. Although the more I look at that region it is so beautiful it might require a re-think. I think we are leaning towards spending a few days in CPH then taking the Hirtshals/Kristiansand ferry and driving west to Stavanger & Bergen. Anybody taken that ferry? We are not cyclists or especially outdoorsey - but just want to see some beautiful nature - mountains scenery, etc. Thanks again for any specific advise. I always like to research specific places.

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. We are researching now. It will definitely be summer - probably August 2011. Pretty much ruled out Malmo/Stockholm - but the islands south of Odense sound very interesting. Would love to do the Kiruna - Lofoten islands drive but a little far north and would have to omit a few days in one of the larger cities. Although the more I look at that region it is so beautiful it might require a re-think. I think we are leaning towards spending a few days in CPH then taking the Hirtshals/Kristiansand ferry and driving west to Stavanger & Bergen. Anybody taken that ferry? We are not cyclists or especially outdoorsey - but just want to see some beautiful nature - mountains scenery, etc. Thanks again for any specific advise. I always like to research specific places.

I have been on it a couple of times. It is a 5-6 hour drive from Copenhagen. The ferry takes around 3 hours. Do not that you need to "check-in" for the ferry around 1 hour before departure. So you can leave Copenhagen early one morning for an early afternoon ferry and be in Southern Norway early evening. You can even make it to Stavanger that same day - but that is one long day on the road/water. Be sure to make reservations when you are travelling in August.