WHAT TO SEE ON A 7-DAY TOUR OF SCANDINAVIA?
The countries that traditionally constitute Scandinavia include Sweden, Denmark and Norway. It’s ideal to visit these countries in one holiday as they all share similar a cultural heritage and are well-connected via modern motorways, railways and waterways.
With 7 days in Scandinavia, it’s possible to travel to the capital cities of Scandinavia -- Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm -- on an express tour. With comfortable travel by train and ferry, you can enjoy a blend of Scandinavian countryside scenery and city sightseeing.
Here’s our suggestion for a 7-day Scandinavia itinerary, including Sweden, Denmark and Norway:
Day 1 - Arrive to Stockholm, Sweden
Fly into Stockholm Arlanda Airport and head to your hotel in the city centre. Spend some time walking through Gamla Stan (The Old Town) and enjoy a real Swedish coffee break, with a nice pastry of course, at one of the local cafes in this medieval neighbourhood. Or, hop on a city sightseeing tour by bus or boat to get a relaxing overview of this sophisticated city.
Day 2 - Take the train to Copenhagen, Denmark
Head to Stockholm Central Station after breakfast and board the train for Copenhagen. Enjoy views of southern Sweden’s idyllic countryside, with colourful little timber cottages, on the way. Once in Denmark’s capital, take a walk down the city’s busy “Ströget” shopping street for some good people-watching. Or, take part in the fun and games at the 19th-century Tivoli Gardens, one of the world's oldest amusement parks.
Day 3 - Overnight cruise to Oslo, Norway
Spend the day exploring Copenhagen. Take a canal tour to see the sights from the city’s waterways, or be like the bicycle-happy Danes and rent a bike to get to the attractions. Make sure to check out the beautiful Amalienborg Palace and Christiansborg Palace, as well as the colourful Nyhavn harbour and the Little Mermaid. Save room for the delicious Danish food, too! Later you'll head to Oslo on an overnight cruise.
Day 4 - Explore Norway’s capital city
After your ship arrives early in the morning, the whole day is yours to roam Oslo. Take a walk to the bustling Aker Brygge waterfront area and visit the Akershus Fortress. Or, head to the Bygdøy peninsula to see the well-preserved Viking ships at the popular Viking Ship Museum. Are you an art lover? Walk through the beautiful Vigeland Sculpture Park to see the artworks by Norwegian artist Gustav Vigeland.
Day 5 - Oslo to Stockholm by train
In the morning after breakfast, take the train from Oslo Central Station to Stockholm. Back in Sweden’s charming capital, take some time to check out attractions you missed on day one. Why not stroll over to see the stately City Hall, where the Nobel banquets are held, before finding a nice place for dinner.
Day 6 - Extra day in Stockholm
Fun fact: Stockholm is a city built over 14 islands! Today is a great opportunity to explore some of them. One we recommend in particular is Djurgården, a tranquil green oasis that’s home to numerous attractions, including the popular Vasa Museum, the ABBA Museum, the Gröna Lund amusement park and the Skansen open-air museum.
Day 7 - Depart from Stockholm
Fly back from from Stockholm Arlanda Airport and make your friends jealous with all your great vacation photos!
Want to add a Norway in a Nutshell tour to your Scandinavian trip to see the fjords? This journey between Oslo and Bergen in Norway is -- at minimum -- a full day trip, not to mention all the extra time you’ll want for exploring the gorgeous city of Bergen and the nearby natural attractions. So factor in a few extra days if you want to spend some time on Norway's west coast. It's also possible to customise a 7-day Scandinavia itinerary to focus just on Norway if the fjords are on your bucket list.
Are you planning to spend 7 days in Scandinavia in winter? For great northern lights viewing opportunities, see our winter travel packages in Northern Norway and in the Lapland region of Sweden and Finland.
Want to take a 7-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, a 7-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 -- for example, a road trip from Stockholm, Sweden to Copenhagen, Denmark. If you want to slow down the pace and take in more than one Scandinavian country, we highly recommend extending your Scandinavia self-drive tour to 9 days or more.
What’s more, all of Nordic Visitor’s Scandinavia 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.
Scroll down to learn more about Nordic Visitor’s services and how to get to Scandinavia.
