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Big Harbor Canal and Christina Church in Gothenburg, Sweden

Scandinavian Road Trip & Gothenburg

(12 days / 11 nights)

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Scenic Scandinavian Road Trip

This 12-day tour combines the best of the capital cities of Scandinavia with a scenic road trip in the countryside of Sweden and Norway. Starting and ending in Sweden, you will get to explore the culture and history of Stockholm, Gothenburg, Copenhagen and Oslo including castles, palaces and museums. On the road, you will get to see picturesque towns like Kalmar, Ystad and Örebro, while soaking in the landscape along the way.

Save up to EUR

12 days / 11 nights

Price p.p. from

3078EUR

You save: 240 EUR per person

The amount will be charged in EUR

Approx 2838 EUR

— Why book with Nordic Visitor

  • Hassle-free & seamless road trip experience
  • Flexible & customisable tour options
  • Trusted local travel experts
  • Great customer reviews
  • Carbon offsetting

Read more

— Cancellation Protection

  • Rebook your tour on one occasion, or
  • Cancel for any reason and receive a partial refund and travel credit

Terms and conditions apply

Tour Highlights

  • Explore the colourful capitals of Norway, Sweden & Denmark
  • Experience the ultimate Scandinavian road trip, taking the scenic route from country to country
  • Discover Scandinavian royalty by visiting castles and palaces
  • Walk through the small and charming capital, Copenhagen
  • Enjoy the charms of Swedish Fika in Gamla Stan (Old Town)
  • Stroll the quaint streets of Gothenburg
  • Drive through the scenic countryside of Sweden, including Kalmar and Ystad
  • Visit the coast of Skåne and the mystical iron age monument Ale's stones with an impressive view of the Baltic Sea.
  • Relax by the water at Nyhavn in Copenhagen and visit the Little Mermaid

Travel style

Self-Drive i

Interest

Castles and Royalty i, Classic i, Countryside and natural scenery i, Culture and History i, Family i

Season

May - Sep

Departure

Daily

Interest

Castles and Royalty i, Classic i, Countryside and natural scenery i, Culture and History i, Family i

Driving distance

1902/1181 km/mi

Itinerary

A day-by-day plan to guide your Nordic adventure.

  • Day 1: WELCOME TO SWEDEN

    After you arrive at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, pick up your rental car. Then drive to Stockholm’s scenic city centre. After settling in at your hotel, spend the rest of the day exploring the beautiful city. Stroll the well-known street Drottninggatan where you can shop, take photos and feel the relaxed vibe of the capital city. In charming Old Town (Gamla Stan), you will find numerous attractions, including the Royal Palace, the parliament, old churches, beautiful cobblestone streets and medieval houses.

    Spend the night in Stockholm.

    Driving distance: 40 km / 25 miles
    Estimated driving duration: 40 minutes (without stops)

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 2: A SLICE OF THE SWEDISH COUNTRYSIDE

    Today you will kick off your road trip and drive to the south of Sweden. First you will stop by the picturesque town of Söderköping before reaching the city of Kalmar, a medieval city with well-preserved 17th and 18th century buildings. Here, you can visit the Kalmar Castle, which has a rich history dating back over 800 years. Spend some time strolling the quaint streets of this town and let the architecture transport you back in time.

    Spend the night in Kalmar.

    Driving distance: 410 km / 255 miles
    Estimated driving duration: 4 hours and 45 minutes (without stops)

    Attractions Attractions
  • Day 3: SWEDEN’S SPLENDID SOUTH COAST

    From Kalmar, drive south along the coast to Skåne where we recommend a visit to Kiviks Musteri and the apple orchards. It is also recommended to stop for coffee in the picturesque town of Simrishamn. Continue to the popular attraction Ales Stenar stone ship monument, which consists of 59 massive boulders arranged in a 67 metre-long outline with a picturesque view of the Baltic Sea. You will continue your drive to the charming town of Ystad where you will spend the night.

    Spend the night in Ystad.

    Driving distance: 290 km / 180 miles
    Estimated driving duration: 4 hours (without stops)

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 4: DRIVE TO CAPTIVATING COPENHAGEN

    From Ystad, drive to Smygehuk, the southernmost point in Sweden. Here you will find cosy cafés, eclectic craft shops and fish smokeries. Continue along the south coast to the old towns of Skanör and Falsterbo, located on the Falsterbo peninsula, where you will encounter long stretches of white sand beaches. Next, cross the famous Öresund Bridge and arrive in the charming capital city of Denmark, Copenhagen. You can explore the beautiful harbour area of Nyhavn and have fun at the amusement park Tivoli Gardens.

    Spend the night in Copenhagen.

    Driving distance: 130 km / 80 miles
    Estimated driving duration: 2 hours and 20 min (without stops)

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 5: A DAY IN CAPTIVATING COPENHAGEN

    You have the whole day to explore Copenhagen. We recommend seeing the city by foot, visiting landmarks including Amalienborg Palace, Christiansborg Palace, and the famous Little Mermaid statue. An optional boat tour from the harbour is also highly recommended as you can appreciate the architecture and beauty of the city by water. Next, stroll Ströget street for some shopping and grab something to eat.

    Spend the night in Copenhagen.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 6: FROM COPENHAGEN TO GOTHENBURG

    Today you will make your way back to Sweden. Drive from Copenhagen to Helsingør, where you will board a ferry with your car, to Helsingborg in Sweden. In Helsingør we recommend taking a stroll around the pretty town and visit the Kronborg Castle, which was made famous in William Shakespeare's Hamlet. Once in Helsingborg we recommend a visit to Sofiero Palace & Garden, where you will find historical parks and gardens with a stunning variety of rhododendrons. Continue driving along the west coast of Sweden until you reach Gothenburg.

    Spend the night in Gothenburg.

    Ferry from Helsingør to Helsinborg: 20 minutes

    Driving distance: 260 km / 162 miles
    Estimated driving duration: 3 hours (without stops)

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 7: EXPLORE GLORIOUS GOTHENBURG

    After breakfast at your hotel, get ready to greet Gothenburg, Sweden's second largest city. It is recommended to walk down Avenyn, the main shopping street that is chock full of interesting stores and fine restaurants. Other points of interest include the Feskekôrka fish market and the fun Liseberg amusement park. Art lovers should make a stop at the Gothenburg Museum of Art followed by an afternoon Fika in Haga.

    Spend the night in Gothenburg.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 8: FROM GOTHENBURG TO OSLO

    From Gothenburg, head north to the Bohus Fortress, an impressive structure that was built in 1308 and today houses a museum. If you would like more time in Oslo, you can head directly to the capital city, but we recommend the scenic route to Marstrand, which has been referred as Sweden´s little St. Tropez. Here you can enjoy a nice lunch or take a dip in the ocean from the cliffs. You leave the car on the main land and take a short passenger ferry to the island Marstrand.

    Continue your drive to Oslo. After you arrive, park your car and explore the modern city by foot. Notable attractions include the Royal Palace and the Aker Brygge area and spending some time along the beautiful harbour area. 

    Spend the night in Oslo.

    Driving distance: 290 km / 180 miles and if you go on a detour to Marstrand 328 km / 204 miles
    Estimated driving duration: 3 hour and 13 min (without stops) and if you go on a detour to the island Marstrand 3 hours and 52 min (without stops)

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 9: EXPLORE THE HIGHLIGHTS OF OSLO

    This morning get an early start to explore the Norwegian capital at your own pace. Highlights include driving to the beautiful Vigeland Sculpture Park, and the Holmenkollen ski jump which played a large role in the 1952 winter Olympics in the city.

    Other options include visits to Oslo City Hall, the Oslo Opera House, Munch Museum and Fram Polar Ship Museum, as well as strolling the popular Karl Johans street. You will then have the rest of the day to explore at your own leisure.

    Spend the night in Oslo.

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 10: THE SCENIC ROUTE TO ÖREBRO

    From Oslo, you will drive east in your rental car to Örebro. Along the way, make a stop at Karlstad, which is known as the city of sunshine. Karlstad is a beautiful place as it lies on the river delta where the Klara River and the mighty Lake Vänern meet. On your way to Örebro we also recommend a stop in Kristinehamn where you find a 15-metre tall Picasso sculpture which was donated to the city by the artist in 1964. Other sights here include the Kristinenhamn church and the Järsberg Runestone.

    Spend the night in Örebro.

    Driving distance: 325 km / 202 miles
    Estimated driving duration: 4 hours (without stops)

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions
  • Day 11: CASTLES ON THE WAY TO STOCKHOLM

    This morning, visit the 14th-century Örebro Castle and walk through the Wadköping open-air museum, with buildings that date from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. After a proper dose of history in Örebro, continue to the town of Eskilstuna, where you can visit the charming open-air museum Rademachersmedjorna. This area is famous for its many castles and manor houses, including the 16th-century Gripsholm Castle. After a day of sightseeing, continue east to return to Stockholm, where you can enjoy the evening at your leisure.

    Spend the night in Stockholm.

    Driving distance: 197 km / 122 miles
    Estimated driving duration: 2 hours 16 minutes (without stops)

    Attractions Attractions Attractions Attractions See Activities for this day
  • Day 12: STOCKHOLM AND DEPARTURE DAY

    Enjoy one last Scandinavian breakfast before it’s time to check out of your hotel. If you have time, why not squeeze in some last-minute shopping, go sightseeing, or spend some time relaxing at a café? When you are ready for departure, drive to the airport and return your rental car before journeying home.

Optional extras

We recommend adding your extra activities to the tour now for the best booking experience and to secure your spot, as activities are likely to sell out.

Map

Here’s a map of your travel route, to help put things in perspective.

Essential information

We recommend that you read carefully through the following information before booking this self-drive tour around Scandinavia. We’ve answered the most frequently asked questions here so you know what to expect. You’ll also find more practical advice and attraction recommendations in our online Scandinavia Travel Guide.

We recommend you wait to book flights to Scandinavia, and other parts of your travels, until we can confirm your desired travel dates for this tour. This is due to varying availabilities in the region. Contact us for more details.

On a self-drive tour, Nordic Visitor supplies you with a quality rental car and a detailed personal itinerary. You act as your own tour guide and driver, and you get to pick the road trip music!

All your services will be pre-booked by your personal travel consultant at Nordic Visitor. This includes your rental car and accommodation across Scandinavia, along with any other services specified in your itinerary, such as cruises and planned activities.

During your tour, we’re with you every step of the way. On arrival, you’ll receive personalised information, including an itinerary, map and detailed Scandinavia Travel Guide. Plus, you’ll have access to our 24/7 helpline during your trip should you need to contact us.

Driving in the Scandinavian countries might be slightly different than what you’re used to. For this reason, you’ll want to make yourself aware of local driving laws and potential road hazards, such as:

  • We drive on the right-hand side of the road
  • Low-beam headlights should be on at all times
  • Speed limits are posted in kilometres per hour (km/h)
  • Speed and traffic violations have steep fines
  • Mountain passes can be narrow and winding

And finally, with all the beautiful scenery, you’ll want to take it slow and enjoy the drive!

For more information, we strongly recommend taking a few minutes to read through our  guide to driving in Scandinavia. You’ll also receive more guidance ahead of your arrival in our Scandinavia Travel Guide.

Most hotels in small towns and in the countryside have free parking. In the cities and capitals, you’ll need to find parking nearby your hotels. This may include on-street parking (where you pay at the parking meter or via apps) or parking garages.

Fees can vary, so we recommend you check in advance. You could also ask about the best parking options once you check in to your hotel.

These fees are not included in your Nordic Visitor package.

Upon arrival at the airport, you will pick up your vehicle from the car rental office here. At the end of your rental period, you will return the car back to the airport.

We recommend using Google Maps or a search engine to find car parks near your accommodation. You can also ask your hotel for assistance. You might find you have a short walk between the car park and your hotel.

A GPS service is available for an additional fee. You can book this directly with the rental agent.

Alternatively, you may want to ensure you have adequate mobile roaming that you can use during your travels. This way you can use Google Maps or another navigation service on your phone.

It’s also good to note that Google Maps offers more up-to-date information as well as traffic navigation, compared to traditional GPS devices. You’re also able to pre-download maps of areas you will be visiting, so you can use them offline.

Travelling with your kids? No problem! You'll be able to enter your children's ages during the booking process. This lets us know whether to arrange either a baby cot or roll-away bed for your trip.

If you'd like us to arrange for a car seat to be provided for your trip, please let us know ahead of time. It's also possible to book this directly with the car rental agency. This will incur a small, extra cost.

On your Scandinavian adventure, you’ll stay in accommodation that’s been hand-picked by our travel experts. We’ve partnered with local businesses and selected hotels and guesthouses based on excellent ratings, comfort and our personal experience.

During the booking process, you can select whether you want Comfort Plus or Superior accommodation. Comfort Plus usually consists of standard rooms in good quality and comfortable 3-star hotels. Superior is standard rooms in 4-star hotels combined with superior rooms in premium 3-star hotels.

You will also be able to choose between single, double or triple rooms. Please note that in the Nordic countries room types are based on European standard sizes, which means they are smaller than in North America.

For example, a double bed often consists of 2 single beds pushed together. Twin rooms are 2 separate single beds. Triple rooms include a double bed along with an extra single bed, rollaway or sofa bed. And single rooms are often smaller than the standard double.

If you have anything specific in mind, please contact us to discuss customising your accommodation options.

Yes, you can customise this tour online. During the booking process, you can add extra nights to your itinerary as well as optional day trips, excursions and upgrades. 

If you have something specific in mind, get in touch with your travel consultant and they’ll create your dream trip.

By booking with Nordic Visitor, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that there’s always someone there for you throughout your trip.

For support and advice during the day, you can call our office. And if anything unexpected happens outside working hours, you can reach us on our 24/7 helpline. 

During your tour, there will always be a travel expert on call to handle any unforeseen situations, such as unusual weather or events.

If you have a passport from Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia or New Zealand, you won’t need a visa to visit Scandinavia. This visa-free entry is valid for up to 90 days.

Visiting from another country? You might need to apply for a Schengen visa. You can find out whether you require a visa to enter on the Sweden Government website or the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. You’ll need to apply to the consulate of the country where you will spend the most time, or the first country you will visit.

Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from your departure from the region. It’s good to check your passport expiry date early in case you need to renew it.

Scandinavia is a beautiful destination all year round. But it’s good to be aware of a few things before picking the best time to visit for you.

During the summer months,June to August, you’ll have the warmest temperatures and longest daylight hours of the year. This is ideal for outdoor excursions and taking full advantage of your days for sightseeing.

If you’d like to experience the top attractions with fewer visitors around, then you could book a summer itinerary inMay orSeptember. These shoulder season months generally have more tour and attraction availability.

If you’d like to visit in winter, then we recommend you pick a Scandinavia independent tour. This way you’ll travel by train and cruise and benefit from an itinerary of quieter towns and attractions.

You can also expect fewer daylight hours, and the addition of snow-dusted mountains as a backdrop in winter. It’s good to remember that in Scandinavia, northern lights can typically only be seen from Northern Norway, Iceland, and Lapland.

The capitals of Scandinavia are located quite far north in Europe so you can expect long daylight hours in summer.

In Helsinki, Finland, and Stockholm, Sweden, you can expect between 16 and 19 hours of daylight depending on how close you are to the solstice. Copenhagen in Denmark is slightly more south, so you’ll enjoy 14-17 daylight hours.

In Norway, Oslo, Bergen and Stavanger are relatively south, so you’ll experience 15–20 hours of daylight. If you visit the north, including locations such as Tromsø and Kirkenes, you can expect 20–24 hours of daylight.

The region’s long summer days give you plenty of time to explore. That said, you may want to pack a sleeping mask if you are a light sleeper or tend to wake up at dawn.

Find out more about time zones and daylight in this guide to time and daylight in Scandinavia.

During the summer months, you can expect fairly stable weather across Scandinavia.

The months of June, July and August boast the warmest weather of the year. In Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo you can expect average temperatures between 17–20°C (61–68°F). This gets cooler in Bergen and then up the north coast of Norway. For example, Tromsø has average summer temperatures around 10°C (41–50°F).

In May and September, you can also expect milder conditions. Pack for temperatures closer to 11–14°C (52–57°F).

All that said, it’s good to know that weather conditions are often changeable in Northern Europe, so you should come ready for sun, rain and wind. For more information on the local climate, read the page Scandinavian weather conditions.

Please note that sightseeing is dependent on weather and road conditions. This means that your itinerary might need to be altered if these conditions are not favourable during your visit.

Summer has most stable weather of the year across Scandinavia, especially in the south of the region. That said, you should still be ready to experience all seasons in one day. Especially if you will be spending a lot of time outdoors, you’ll want to pack for a combination of weather conditions.

Bring lighter clothes for the warmer, sunny days. And don’t forget extra layers for chilly nights in the mountains or for taking in the view from cruise ship decks.

Here is an essential summer packing list for your trip to Scandinavia:

  • Shorts and trousers
  • T-shirts and long sleeve tops
  • At least one warm jumper or fleece
  • Waterproof jacket and trousers
  • Light gloves, hat and scarf
  • Comfortable walking or hiking shoes
  • Sunglasses, sun hat and sunscreen
  • Eye mask to sleep despite the long daylight hours
  • Electronic gear such as smartphone, external powerpack, and travel adapters
  • A backpack for easy access to daily essentials
  • and don’t forget your camera!

An umbrella can also come in handy. If you are a wildlife watcher, you may wish to bring binoculars.

For more information, check out this Scandinavian packing list.

In most major Scandinavian cities and towns you will be able to find coin-operated launderettes, with self-service facilities, and dry cleaners. Most hotels on your trip will also offer a laundry or dry cleaning service for an additional cost.

It’s best to book as soon as you can to secure your preferred travel dates. Once you have picked your tour, check the availability calendar to see which months are open for booking. Then, select the date you want and complete your booking.

We recommend waiting for confirmation from your travel consultant to ensure your travel dates are available. You’ll then be able to purchase your flights with confidence.

If you like to plan well ahead of time, you’ll find that it’s possible to book many tours for the following year. And if you have any questions or need advice, you can always contact us.

After booking your tour package online, you will be contacted within 2 business days by your own dedicated travel consultant. They will be your point of contact for all your travel needs before, during and even after your trip. 

We aim to complete bookings within a few weeks. During this time we take care of booking your accommodation, activities, and transport, confirming all parts of your journey. Once this is done, your travel consultant will provide you with all the details of your trip. 

When we get back to you might depend slightly on how far ahead you’ve booked your travels and other tours running at the time. 

No need! Nordic Visitor is already working on offsetting the estimated carbon footprint of your package. We’ve partnered with an environmental fund in Iceland to carbon offset all our tours.

Carbon offsetting your international flights is not included, but we highly recommend you look into possibilities with your airline or directly through a local environment fund. 

After you have booked your tour, it will only take a few days to confirm its availability. But it may take a few weeks to create your itinerary and book everything. Once your trip details are finalised, we’ll send you e-copies of your travel documents.

Upon your arrival in Scandinavia, you’ll receive a welcome bag with hard copies of your itinerary, attraction and tour vouchers, the Nordic Visitor Scandinavia Travel Guide and more.

So when do you check in? And what can you expect when you land in Stockholm?

After passing customs and collecting your luggage, head to the car rental office. There, you’ll pick up your vehicle for your road trip. Then make your way to your accommodation in the Stockholm city centre.

Check-in times vary between hotels and guesthouses, but it normally starts between 2–4 PM.

You are welcome to request an early check-in for an additional fee. Although this isn’t always available, you’ll be able to store your luggage at the hotel until check-in. Please contact your travel consultant well in advance of your trip if you’d like an early check-in.

When you depart may depend on the time of your return flight. Check out early if you’re heading to the airport for a morning flight. On the other hand, if you’re flying home later in the day, you might like to enjoy a leisurely day or visit one more attraction.

You will usually need to check out from your room around 10–11 AM. If you’re staying in town longer, you will be able to store your luggage at the hotel reception. Simply return later to collect your bags before making your way to the airport.

All bookings are billed in Euro (EUR). Prices displayed in other currencies are indicative only and based on the daily exchange rate. This means conversions from EUR to other currencies will fluctuate from day to day.

Reviews

We don’t like to brag, so we’ll let our happy customers do it for us.

We plan to use Nordic Visitor again

It was a fabulous trip overall. Irja and her colleagues did a terrific job arranging our itinerary and our accommodation along the way while allowing us to plan our own diversion. Unfortunately, there wasn't time to see many of the things that had been recommended along the way. We definitely plan to use Nordic Visitor again.

Sweden is a beautiful country

We chose the self-driving tour. This gave us the freedom to set our own agenda, while still having some structure to the trip so that we did not need to worry about hotel accommodation. The hotels were consistently nice, and the breakfast buffets provided gave us a good start to the day. The rental car was comfortable, and the GPS kept us from getting lost. Sweden is a beautiful country, and we had a great trip!

Great vacation

Except for some minor issues at some of the hotels, this was a great vacation. In fact, we will probably book another tour with Nordic Visitor, this time to Iceland.

Accommodation

Sleep soundly, in the accommodation type of your choice, and wake up ready to enjoy another day of exploration.

Comfort Plus

Standard rooms in good quality and comfortable three-star hotels in combination with charming country hotels.

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Superior

Standard rooms in four-star hotels in combination with Superior rooms in premium three-star hotels.

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Rental car

Enjoy the journey, in the rental car of your choice.

VW Polo (Automatic)
or similar

  • x5
  • x5
  • x2
  • A

VW Polo (Automatic)
or similar

  • Description: Economy
  • Passengers: 5
  • Suitcases: 2
  • Doors: 4-5
  • Operation: Automatic

Suzuki Vitara (Automatic)
or similar

  • x5
  • x5
  • x2
  • A

Suzuki Vitara (Automatic)
or similar

  • Description: Compact
  • Passengers: 5
  • Suitcases: 2
  • Doors: 4-5
  • Operation: Automatic

Toyota Corolla Station Wagon (Automatic)
or similar

  • x5
  • x5
  • x4
  • A

Toyota Corolla Station Wagon (Automatic)
or similar

  • Description: Intermediate Wagon
  • Passengers: 5
  • Suitcases: 4
  • Doors: 2
  • Operation: Automatic

Toyota Avensis Station Wagon (Automatic)
or similar

  • x5
  • x5
  • x4
  • A

Toyota Avensis Station Wagon (Automatic)
or similar

  • Description: Station Wagon
  • Passengers: 5
  • Luggage: 4
  • Doors: 5
  • Transmission: Automatic

Toyota RAV4 (Automatic)
or similar

  • x5
  • x5
  • x4
  • A

Toyota RAV4 (Automatic)
or similar

  • Description: Intermediate SUV
  • Passengers: 5
  • Luggage: 4
  • Doors: 5
  • Operation: Automatic
Save up to EUR

Price per person from

You save: 240 EUR per person

The amount will be charged in EUR

Approx 2838 EUR

Monthly price comparison

Our best price per person when booking for two.

2025
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