WHAT TO SEE ON AN 8-DAY TOUR OF SCANDINAVIA?
The countries that traditionally constitute Scandinavia include Sweden, Norway and Denmark. It’s ideal to visit these countries in one holiday as they all share a similar cultural heritage and are well-connected via modern motorways, railways and waterways. With comfortable travel by train and ferry, you can enjoy a blend of Scandinavian countryside scenery and city sightseeing.
With 8 days in Scandinavia, it’s possible to travel to the core capitals of Scandinavia -- Stockholm, Oslo and Copenhagen -- as well as Helsinki, the capital of Finland. Depending on the route, you could even include Bergen, Norway or Tallinn, Estonia in your 8-day Scandinavia itinerary.
Want to see the Norwegian fjords in addition to your city hopping? Then here’s a suggestion for an 8-day Scandinavia itinerary, a popular East-meets-West route that includes the top destinations in Finland, Sweden and Norway:
Day 1 - Arrive to Helsinki, Finland
Arrive to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. For the rest of your day, take a walk through Helsinki’s city centre around Senate Square, where you’ll find the grand Helsinki Cathedral. Then stroll down to the nearby Market Square (Kauppatori) by the harbour, where you can grab a fresh bite to eat or a traditional souvenir from one of the many vendors.
Day 2 - Overnight cruise to Stockholm, Sweden
Use the day for Helsinki sightseeing. If the weather is nice, take a trip to the UNESCO-listed 18th-century Suomenlinna sea fortress. For art and interesting architecture, the Uspenski Cathedral, the Sibelius Park and Monument or the Temppeliaukio “Church of the Rock” might pique your interest. Later you'll head to Stockholm on an overnight cruise -- a great way to enjoy the summertime "midnight sun".
Day 3 – Free Day in Stockholm
Arrive to Stockholm in the morning, then explore as you wish. Fun fact: Stockholm is a city built over 14 islands! One island we recommend in particular is Gamla Stan, where you can walk among the medieval Old Town and see the Royal Palace. Another island, Djurgården, is home to numerous attractions, including the popular Vasa Museum, the ABBA Museum and the Skansen open-air museum.
Day 4 – Train to Oslo, Norway
Head to Stockholm Central Station in the morning to take the train to Oslo. Once in Oslo, explore the city. Stroll along the bustling Aker Brygge waterfront area, where you can find numerous cafes and visit the nearby Akershus Fortress. You can also spend some time walking around the amazing sculptures at Vigeland Park, dedicated to the famous works of Norwegian artist Gustav Vigeland.
Day 5 – Free Day in Oslo
Into history? Head to Oslo's Bygdøy peninsula to learn about the country's seafaring heritage. Here you could visit the open-air Norwegian Folk Museum, the Kon-Tiki Museum and the Fram Museum, with interesting exhibits about Arctic expeditions. In other areas of Oslo you can visit the Holmenkollen Ski Museum and Ski Jump Tower or, for art fans, the Munch Museum.
Day 6 – Train to Bergen, Norway
Head to Oslo Central Station in the morning to begin your Norway in a Nutshell trip to Bergen. This extensive and scenic journey includes trips on the Bergen Railway, the famous Flåm Railway, a fjord cruise through the UNESCO-listed Nærøyfjord and a thrilling bus ride on a winding mountain pass.
Day 7 – Free Day in Bergen
Use the day to explore Bergen, “Capital of the Fjords”. A must-see attraction is Bryggen – a World Heritage Site – the old Hanseatic wharf and medieval heart of the city, popular for its colourful houses. For a bird’s eye view of Bergen, take the Fløibanen funicular up to the viewpoint on Mount Fløyen. Another great mountain viewpoint is Ulriken, accessible via cable cars.
Day 8 - Depart from Bergen
Fly back from Bergen-Flesland Airport and make your friends jealous with all your great vacation photos!
WHAT ARE OTHER IDEAS FOR AN 8-DAY SCANDINAVIA ITINERARY?
Want to spend some time in Copenhagen? We recommend adding extra days between Stockholm and Oslo in the itinerary above, so you can take in the sights of Denmark's capital, including the Tivoli amusement park, Christiansborg Palace, the Little Mermaid and more. You can also re-route the itinerary so that instead of Helsinki, you start in Stockholm, then travel by train to Copenhagen and from there, take an overnight cruise to Oslo.
How about spending some time in Tallinn, Estonia? With 8 days in Scandinavia, you could sail around the Baltic Sea, with overnights in Stockholm, Helsinki and Tallinn.
Good to know: Our itineraries aren't set in stone, and there are loads of possibilities for customised routes! We can modify the itinerary if you'd prefer to arrive to a different city, spend more free time in one city than another, or add other towns to your trip. Just ask your Nordic Visitor travel consultant for advice.
Want to take an 8-day Scandinavia road trip?
On a summertime self-drive tour in Scandinavia, you’ll have the freedom to pull the car over at whatever attractions catch your interest. The best part? You won’t have to worry about where you’re going or sleeping, because your Nordic Visitor travel consultant has already sorted those local arrangements for you. You’ll also have access to our 24/7 emergency helpline if you find yourself in a spot of trouble on the road.
Mind you, an 8-day road trip in Scandinavia may not be enough time to experience more than two countries in one trip, but you would be able to enjoy the countryside between two of the major cities. Or, with 8 days you could also just focus on one Scandinavian country, for example a road trip in Norway from Oslo to the Norwegian coast, with some time to hike in the fjords.
If you want to slow down the pace and take in more Scandinavian attractions, we highly recommend extending your Scandinavia self-drive tour to 10 days or more. All of Nordic Visitor’s Scandinavia self-drive tour packages can be tailored by our local experts with extra nights at select locations or modified driving routes if you have any particular attractions in mind. Just contact us to ask.
Want to join a guided tour of Scandinavia?
To see Scandinavia from a local’s point of view… and make some new friends along the way, a guided small group tour of the Scandinavian cities in summer is a great option! To fully appreciate the top attractions of Denmark, Sweden and Norway, we recommend extending your travel time to at least 10 days. This extra time will allow you to travel at a comfortable pace and enjoy Scandinavia’s number one attraction -- the Norwegian fjords.
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