Trip Routing Advice
 

Trying to finalize my trip to Denmark/Norway/Sweden and have been given different advice on the most efficient route to take to see all three countries, depending on what travel tour operator/tourist office I speak with. Originally was going to start in Copenhagen, head to Oslo and Bergen, and then end in Stockholm. However, I have been told that it would be better to start in Stockholm, then head to Copenhagen and then go to Oslo and Bergen and fly back to US from Bergen. Alternatively, start in CPH, go to ANR, then go to OSL and Bergen. Any advice? Thanks! Raven

I just returned from there, so here's my suggestion. Start in Copenhagen as suggested and take the ferry to Stockholm. From Stockholm, fly to Oslo and visit Bergen. Take the train back to Oslo and leave from there to the US. IMHO, Stockholm is the most exciting city of the three, Oslo is the least.

When you're in Oslo make sure you get dinner in the Grand Hotel near the palace. It is a great hotel and they offer an incredible buffet every evening. It's worth it. I found Oslo, in fact Norway (Boreway) to be kind of bland. Bergen is a nice day trip.

Have a fun time!

Norway's cities are all bland. Head out into the fjords and the countryside -- there are some great tips already posted on this forum.

I haven't been to the fjords in years, but it's definitely worth visiting. It's beautiful.

I think you are getting your geography mixed up here. There is no ferry from Copenhagen to Stockholm; there is one to Oslo though. A daytrip to Bergen from Oslo also sounds somewhat strange. Much travelling whereas stopping off in Bergen for a couple of days makes much more sense.

Whether Oslo is more or less bland than an average Californian city might be discussed...

The general opinion seems to be that whereas Stockholm (ARN, not ANR; that's Antwerp in Belgium) and Copenhagen are the most interesting places to visit in their respective countries, Oslo is less important for the average tourist to Norway. Basically, it will depend on how much time you have for your trip, and what you want to see. Most tourists want to see the the fjords first and foremost. Bergen is a better gateway than Oslo for that, so with only up to four days avaiable I would base myself in Bergen and drop Oslo altogether. If having more time available, there are some great museums in Oslo though. I'd try to fly into BGO, take the train to OSL. From there the ferry to CPH (nicer southbound than northbound) and fly to ARN and leave Scandinavia there.

I stand corrected; there is actually a bridge that connects Sweden to Denmark; I haven't taken that trip, but I hear there is a nice train journey.

I took a car to Bergen in a day; I liked Bergen, I enjoyed the journey even more.

I found Norway to be a very boring country. Even if California didn't exist, Norway would still be boring.

But you can´t blame Norwegian film makers. All those 80´s and 90´s thrillers that tried to portray Oslo as a decadent Manhattan equivalent, were they all in vain? ;)

There's certainly no problems in driving in one day from Bergen to Oslo, but for me, not being a native speaker of English, a daytrip from Bergen to Oslo (as opposed to a day's trip) implies going to Bergen and back again in one day. Actually I have seen packages offering exactly that, but I wouldn't recommend it! Even so, if the OP doesn't plan on stopping anywhere between Oslo and Bergen, I'd recommend the train.

Obviously one doesn't come to Norway primarily to partake of urban enjoyment, but to be fair, it must be remembered that during the main tourist season in Norway (June 1-August 15 +/-) cities and towns are very quiet as the locals are away. Nightlife, concerts, other cultural happenings are mostly on when the locals (including university students) are in town. And by then the tourists have left....

While I like the bridge that connects Denmark and Sweden (i.e., I don't miss the ferry rides), the train trip between Denmark and Sweden is in and of itself nothing special. Or maybe I'm just desensitized as I cross the bridge between Copenhagen and Malmo quite a lot. :o

From CPH to ARN, being stuck in a train on a straight shot between the two is more waste than anything. On any train trip between Denmark and Sweden, there'd not be a whole lot to enjoy unless getting off the train and stopping for some time in a few places.

Norway is a country for nature-lovers and not for partying and nightlife. At least not most of the time. Much the same could be said of most of Sweden, excluding certain cities and university towns, presuming someone is closer age-wise to that market.

Thanks for Advice So Far
 

Thanks all for advice so far. Since I made the original post three days ago, the trip is coming a little bit more clearer. * Alliance award seats opened up so we grabbed them from IAD - ARN and then from CPH - IAD (leaving in a few weeks, so beggers can't be choosers). We will have about 15 full days, not counting the travel days. Will probably spend 3-4 days in Stockholm area (including a day side trip), maybe rent a car and head towards Gothenburg and then up to Oslo, spending a day in Gothenburg (I know this is out of the way - may skip this and head to Oslo, maybe even by train). Spend two days in Oslo and then head to Bergen and fjord country, spending maybe 2-3 days up there. Probably fly from Bergen (or boat as suggested above from OSL) to CPH and spend 4 days there, including side trips from CPH. Might even throw in a 2 day trip up north if we can fit it in. With all that said, I am sure this will change by tomorrow or the next day as I continue to do research and plan this out. I agree with all of you that OSL sounds like the least exciting city of the three, also would like to not rush through Bergen and surrounding area. Will let you know how this turns out!

Go By Train!
 

Do you intend to keep the same car for a full fortnight (i.e. renting in ARN and leaving the car in CPH)? Or renting a car in ARN and then again in BGO? A two-week one-way rental ARN-CPH in September is around USD 1200 for a C-class car; not too bad in my opinion, so it certainly is a viable option financially. But the ferry is OSL-CPH is an added cost (even though passenger fare is more expensive than the car fare). Gothenburg is a nice city, but I wouldn't go there instead of Oslo; Oslo has some offerings as a capital, which makes it more interesting than Gothenburg, unless you have a particular reason to visit the city. The journey ARN-OSL is underserved at the moment; too much LCC competition means having train connections on the direct line only at weekends. Daily train connections available via GOT, though. A possibility would be to do the journey ARN-GOT-OSL-BGO-OSL by train, using a ScanRail pass , either a 5/60 or a 8/60 or a 21/21 pass. The cost isn't that bad, and it can also be bought in Scandinavia (but then only valid for three days in country of purchase). It's a go as you like pass, but seats must be reserved on most trains. Typical cost is 288 Euros for a 8/60 pass per person. Most trains only have standard ("Second") class, which is very acceptable. Sleeping cars are available and are comparable in cost to a hotel. Having the pass also makes day trips possible at little extra cost.

A possible itinerary would be:
Day 1: US-ARN
Day 2: ARN
Day 3: ARN
Day 4: ARN-GOT
Day 5: GOT-OSL
Day 6: OSL
Day 7: OSL: Excursion to Northern Norway: TOS suggested
Day 8: OSL: Excursion to Northern Norway
Day 9: OSL-BGO
Day 10: BGO
Day 11: BGO (do Norway in a Nutshell one of these two days*)
Day 12: BGO-OSL (morning train): ferry for CPH leaves at 5PM from OSL
Day 13: Arr: CPH
Day 14: CPH
Day 15: CPH-US

If not using a ScanRail pass for day trips a 5/60 pass, would cover this (or you can drop using it on the Arlanda Express on the arrival day to save a day's use) I would take a night train with a sleeper in one direction OSL-BGO; e.g going directly from OSL airport to the RR station and take the night train.

If going by day both ways between Bergen and Oslo, the NIAN can be incorporated in the BGO-OSL or OSL-BGO run on certain days. For flights OSL-Northern Norway (Tromsø (TOS) is probably the best for shorter trips for first timers!) check both SK and DY (Norwegian a LCC) for tickets. Try and take boat excursions. It might be late for tourist trips, but trips on scheduled journey are available at OSL, ARN (the Stockholm archipelago is famous), BGO (the best of which is part of the NIAN), TOS and CPH. For train timings, check www.bahn.de. This official site of the German Railways is recommended also by the Norwegian State Railways, and has most connections in Europe listed.

The above is a viable schedule, and of course can be adjusted, also to include other places. To get more time in CPH, I would cut a day in OSL or ARN.

Agreed that Oslo isn't Tokyo :) . And that the coast is spectacular. But one of the highlights of our trip to Norway was meeting Norwegians and learning about them and their country. You know - just hanging around the hotel bar at 5:00 and talking with people. Hiking up the hill that everyone takes a hike on in Bergen on Sunday. That kind of thing. Very easy to do for English speakers compared to a lot of countries since almost everyone who isn't really really old speaks English. Robyn

Well, that's an excellent point. The Fjords are breathtaking; I really like the country and small towns. I don't recall much about the trip to Bergen. We had a driver who took us and I slept most of the way there. I just recall getting very hungry after breathing the Atlantic air for a while!

Forgot to mention - I read an interesting article in - I think - T&L Golf about playing golf in Scandinavia. Looked like a lot of fun - and a great way to see a lot of scenery and meet people. Only caveat is unless you're crippled - you'll be walking - not riding in a cart. Robyn