Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

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Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/9/15 at 2:03pm

Would love to hear from anyone who has done this before.

For the past few years any trips I've taken have been to the same locations either to visit friends or attend weddings, etc.

This year I'm craving a trip to somewhere completely new and foreign to me. I would be traveling on my own and it would be totally out of my comfort zone, which makes me both nervous and terribly excited.

The only times I've gone overseas have been when I've had family or someone who spoke the native language to translate. This time I would be going to a location where I do not know the language (though I intend to learn some basic words and phrases before I go...if I go).

So, just curious to hear from anyone who has visited any of the Scandinavian countries and knows how accessible they are to an American tourist. Would also love to hear from anyone who's gone to another country on their own and what kind of experience they had.

Any input is greatly valued.

"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde

Updated On: 1/9/15 at 02:03 PM

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/9/15 at 6:13pm

I have travelled to several countries on my own, with friends and on tours. Going by yourself is more expensive, but for me more enjoyable. I don't have to worry about the wants/needs of other people. Tours are my best alternative. They are cheaper and when I want to be with someone it is available when I don't then that works out also. Visiting the Scandinavian countries are own my bucket list. You should know when you are traveling overseas, it is more expensive and the Scandinavian countries are even worse. Very Expensive. As far as language goes, I have never had a problem with the language. I do like to learn a few words and sentences just for the novelity of being outside the country. Most places you go to, at least in Europe, everyone, other than really older people speak English. They all learn English in school. If I offered you any advice, for your first trip overseas, solo, I would pick somewhere easier than Scandinavia. To fully enjoy multiple countries in Scandinavia, you will also have to travel by train and or boat once you arrive from the USA. Start somewhere easier, then move up. Or do a tour and let them handle the hassles of travel.

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/9/15 at 6:20pm

Everyone traveling to a foreign country should learn to say a few phrases such as, "Thank you", "Please", "I'm sorry I don't speak ______; do you speak English?"

People in other countries often resent Americans just assuming that everyone should speak English.

That being said, I was in Sweden and Norway with my partner some 30 years ago and even then, almost everyone under the age of 35 spoke English quite well. We were told it was emphasized in their school systems.

And there's always improvised sign language. But I doubt you'll need it.

Do go to Stockholm. It hasn't seen a war in hundreds of years and is remarkably well-preserved. The Modern Art Museum and Millesgarden (sp.) are places you must see.

Then take a train to Oslo. The Swedish countryside is gorgeous. In Oslo, take the train to Bergen on the Atlantic Coast. It is one of the most famous trains in the world, traveling much of the way above the timberline.

I didn't spend any time in Copenhagen, but I have friends who love it there.

All these cities are relatively close (within an overnight train trip), so you can see a lot of Scandinavia in a short time and without spending too much money.

I think. But do keep in mind that I was there in 1979. No doubt much as changed since then.

Updated On: 1/9/15 at 06:20 PM

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/9/15 at 6:33pm

Stunning area of the world, every one speaks English. One thing that you must take into account is that it is a VERY EXPENSIVE part of the world

Well I didn't want to get into it, but he's a Satanist. Every full moon he sacrifices 4 puppies to the Dark Lord and smears their blood on his paino. This should help you understand the score for Wicked a little bit more. Tazber's: Reply to Is Stephen Schwartz a Practicing Christian

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/9/15 at 7:06pm

I've been to most of the countries in Europe and have been to Stockholm, Copenhagen and Helsinki within the last 10 years. While they wouldn't be my first choice of cities to visit in Europe, if you have your heart set on Scandinavia you should not hesitate. Not any more challenging to visit than any other non-English speaking city in Europe. 4-5 days in Copenhagen and another 4-5 days in Stockholm makes for a wonderful trip. Fly into one city, and fly home from the other. Plenty to see and as others have stated, almost everyone speaks English. Never had a problem and unlike France as an example, they don't expect Americans to know how to speak Swedish. They are also as others have said among the most expensive cities in Europe so be prepared for that though you can save a lot of money off your daily room rate if you are willing to settle for a shared toilet and shower instead of having it in your room. Use TripAdvisor to find a well reviewed hotel within your price range. You can get cheap flights from Copenhagen to Stockholm for about $100 so no need to waste all that time on a train. Copenhagen is a small city. Totally navigable on foot. Stockholm is larger but their subway system is good and easy to use. Plan out all the things you want to see in each city and group them together by things that are close to each other so you are not spending half your day getting from one place to another. For instance, in Stockholm, two of the most interesting things to see, the Vasa Museum and Skansen are on the same island and make for a really fun day of sightseeing. Have fun and enjoy yourself.

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/9/15 at 7:13pm

Thanks for mentioning Skansen, Bob. I couldn't figure out how to explain what it is. (Basically, it's like our Williamsburg, a living history museum, but instead of representing one place, all regions of Sweden are represented.) It is where I learned to churn butter (optional).

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/10/15 at 2:39am

Scandinavian summer is absolutely lovely. 18-20 hours of daylight and mild temps. I just love it here. For sightseeing, both Stockholm and Göteborg offer passes that save on everything. You pick them up at tourism spots. It's a flat rate and you get entry to all museums, free bus travel, certain tours, etc. We have lots of public transport and it's remarkably clean and well kept. Skansen is really fun. My wife, then girlfriend, took me there on my first visit to Sweden. Götland Island is in Southern Sweden and has beautiful rocky beaches, gorgeous views and a walled city called Visby. We're vacationing there this summer.

Pretty pretty please don't you ever ever feel like you're less than f**ckin' perfect!

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/12/15 at 12:35pm

Well, I did it. Found a great hotel/airfare package and am headed to Norway in a couple of months.

If anyone's been there and has recommendations, please contribute!

Also would love some recommendations on the best ways to learn some basic terms/phrases of the language without paying a thousand dollars for Rosetta Stone.

"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/12/15 at 4:56pm

Norway in a Nutshell is the nickname for the amazing cross-country ride Gaveston alluded to that goes from Oslo to Bergen and back. We started in Bergen a few summers ago, boarded a bus first thing in the morning that takes you up into the fjords. There you board a boat to sail pass the staggeringly lovely fjord scenery. From there you board 2 different trains to take you over the glacier fields and down all the way to Oslo. The whole trip is 8 hours long and absolutely a must-do. One purchase gets you tickets for all the various connections.

The Opera House in Oslo boats a brilliant huge plaza that angles into the sea-- a stunning public space not to miss.

If you have any way to piggyback a side trip to Stockholm into your itinerary, i'd recommend it. We found Stockholm the most beautiful and welcoming city in all of Scandinavia as far as we're concerned. I second Fisherman Bob's raves for the Vasa Museum and Skansen there. (Of course that was in the summer-- not sure how much fun Skansen would be in the chill of March there-- brrrrr!)

Don't know about your orientation, but I'll just say that I find the boys AND girls of Scandinavia to be perhaps the most beautiful (and tallest) in the world. And yes, everyone you meet will speak flawless English. Enjoy!

#10

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/12/15 at 5:57pm

Copenhagen is a great place to visit - loved the city myself. The Tivoli gardens are quite stunning and it's a pleasant spot to spend the afternoon. Sadly, the day I went was on and off showers so I spent most of my time in the gardens eating a crepe in a small cafe located in the property, but still made for a nice day.

I'm hoping to go back and see it on a nice, sunny day at some point.

#11

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/12/15 at 6:06pm

"The Tivoli gardens are quite stunning and it's a pleasant spot to spend the afternoon."

I loved Tivoli. If you go again, stay for the evening until it closes. It's even more beautiful when everything is lit up and they do a cute fireworks show to end the night.

#12

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/12/15 at 6:41pm

Before we scare you off, the average high temp in Stockholm in winter is the same as that of NYC (32 degrees).

Yes, it's cold and it can be wet. But it isn't Bismark, North Dakota.

#13

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/12/15 at 6:58pm

"Also would love some recommendations on the best ways to learn some basic terms/phrases of the language without paying a thousand dollars for Rosetta Stone."

My favorite guidebooks for sights are the Eyewitness Guides which include the Ten Best series (Ten Best Stockholm, Ten Best Oslo, etc.). Each of their guides includes 2 to 3 pages of English-Norwegian/ English-Swedish travelers' phrases in the back of each book.

The very best way to figure out the true pronunciation if you are on your own is to take a train trip in the country. Ask ANY local person you're sitting near how to pronounce the phrases in the book. You'll start a lovely conversation with a Norwegian or two AND get a first-hand language lesson for free.

#14

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/12/15 at 7:25pm

Bob - I did see the gardens lit at night. I had forgotten, but your post reminded me! We ended up staying for Dinner (at Grøften) and then doing a walkthrough again after we ate.

It was a lovely afternoon and evening!

#15

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/12/15 at 8:41pm

I went to Norway, Sweden, and Denmark last May. It was a great trip, although it's definitely an expensive part of the world. I agree with a lot of what's been said. You don't have to worry about the language issue as much as in much of the world. Someone told me that American TV is subtitled there and not dubbed, so everyone is exposed to American English from a young age. I'm into learning languages, so I got Berlitz phrasebooks with a CD included, and I listened to them before I went.

I agree with the recommendation to do Norway in a Nutshell, although you can do it on your own (all of the transport is regular public transport, so you don't have to buy a combined ticket). I bought the tickets separately, because I wanted a little bit of flexibility in case the weather was bad. (The whole point of the trip is scenic.) It sounds like you're going in the off-season so you can probably do that, although the transports can sell out. You need to get the train reservation beforehand (well beforehand, depending on when you're going), but you can just get the rest of the tickets as you go along. I went from Oslo to the fjords and back to Oslo in one very long day.

I also went to the Arctic Circle for a day/night, which was fascinating because it was during the time when the sun never sets. A unique thing to experience if you never have.

I also really recommend going to Stockholm if you have time.

Where exactly in Norway are you going?

"What was the name of that cheese that I like?" "you can't run away forever...but there's nothing wrong with getting a good head start" "well I hope and I pray, that maybe someday, you'll walk in the room with my heart"

#16

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/12/15 at 9:11pm

Mikem, With all this talk about visiting Scandinavia, I'm looking at a trip for 2016. I would be going in May also. What was your weather like? My three countries would be Norway, Denmark and Sweden. When I look at the rain charts for all months, it looks like all three countries get quite a bit of rain. Nothing worse to me, to travel in cold and rain. Unfortunately, the tour I am looking at does not include Stockholm. The city in Sweden, they include is Gothenburg.

Updated On: 1/12/15 at 09:11 PM

#17

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/12/15 at 9:24pm

You'll need very little in terms of language. There are tons of YouTube videos that can teach you basic phrases, but many speak English. Your hotel staff will more than likely be fluent. The English window is around age 16-40. Most everyone in that age bracket can at least use passable English. I have found many older than 40 to be more nervous and unsure of their skill, as it was not taught as stringently in previous years. Now kids study English every year beginning in the 4th grade.

Pretty pretty please don't you ever ever feel like you're less than f**ckin' perfect!

#18

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/12/15 at 10:06pm

I was in Norway in May a couple of years ago, and it was jacket-cool but not cold, even with some on and off rain in Bergen. We went in early May, and I did think it would have been nicer to be there more toward the end of May. Not enough was in bloom yet. We went earlier to avoid tourist crowds in other areas of our trip.

I am Norwegian-American and feel very at home there, but just a note that Scandinavians can seem a little distant outside of the touristy areas, and might shake their head "no" when you ask if they speak English, but in truth, they do and will be helpful if you're polite and friendly (but don't talk too much!).

We flew into Oslo and out of Bergen, taking the train across the mountains (stunning!) and a one-day fjord tour when in Bergen. I thought it worked out well.

#19

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/13/15 at 7:21am

just a note that Scandinavians can seem a little distant outside of the touristy areas

So very true. Five years here and I still can't get used to the non-friendly nature. People are also afraid of offending, so they don't offer to help strangers. I have seen elderly people drop things twice in my local grocery parking lot and NO ONE, even people who knew them (waving and speaking) stopped to help. I did both times and the person was very appreciative. The average Swede (and I assume Scandinavian in general) is afraid of implying that the person can't do it on their own and is unable due to age or gender. They are PC to a fault. Once you get to know someone, they couldn't be friendlier, but in general, people aren't that friendly to strangers.

Pretty pretty please don't you ever ever feel like you're less than f**ckin' perfect!

#20

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/13/15 at 8:33am

Thanks for all of the tips, everyone. I greatly appreciate them.

I will be going to Oslo. While I would love to do the "Norway in a Nutshell" train trip, I'm not sure how feasible it is to do it in one day. I have a hotel in Oslo and it wouldn't make sense to pay for another one in Bergen. I know mikem said he did it in one day so I guess it's not completely out of the question.

Hopefully, even if I don't do it, there are plenty of opportunities in, and perhaps just outside Oslo, to see some beautiful Norwegian countryside.

I am thinking of taking a day trip up to Lillehammer. I would love to get a look at the Olympic complex and they have a museum there as well. From what I understand you can also go "bobrafting," but from what I gleaned from the website, that seems to end mid-March and the summer version doesn't start until June. Unless I read it wrong.

I would also love to explore Stockholm and Copenhagen, but I'm not sure how possible it will be. I realize it's a fairly expensive part of the world and I am trying to budget myself while not denying myself, either. From what I've researched, there's plenty to see in and around Oslo.

But, I've only just booked it so I'm not saying no to any tour possibilities yet.

"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde

#21

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/13/15 at 8:54am

Oslo to Göteborg would be more easily accomplished. A train ticket is only around $40 and takes less than 4 hours. If the financial situation stays the same, your US dollar will actually go further in Sweden. We've had a weird political mash up and the krona is weak, plus the dollar is up.

Pretty pretty please don't you ever ever feel like you're less than f**ckin' perfect!

#22

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/13/15 at 12:35pm

Of course, since JerseyGirl actually lives there, she knows better than anyone, but I'll put my two cents in on my experiences as a tourist:

ArtMan, in terms of the weather, I agree that it was jacket-cool rather than actually cold. I went the last week in May and the first week of June of 2013. I brought a winter coat but didn't wear it once. It was probably similar to New York in early April. Maybe in the 50s or even low 60s during the day. It rained some, but I was there for over 2 weeks so that's going to happen. Looking online, it says there's precipitation about a third of all days, which is about the same as in New York.

In May, the sun also stays out late in Stockholm and Oslo - sunset isn't until almost 10pm. So from a tourist perspective, it's light out even at night and it feels safer (it's extremely safe, anyway).

Ironically, the warmest part of my trip was in the Arctic Circle. It was over 70 degrees up there. But they also told me that the previous year at the same time, it was snowing, so I guess the weather up there is very variable.

I wouldn't take a trip to Sweden that includes Gothenburg but not Stockholm, unless you think you're going back again. Gothenburg is fine, but from a tourist perspective, there's not that much. Stockholm is where it's at in Sweden for tourists. It would be like taking a tourist trip to England and never going to London.

FOAnatic, you should of course do the things that you're the most interested in rather than the things that other people tell you to do, but if you're going to be in Norway, I personally wouldn't miss a chance to see the fjords, and if you're going to see the fjords, I would do the Norway in a Nutshell trip because it's the most straightforward way of doing it. It's a big tourist thing, and if you google it, there are clear directions about how to do it one day. I think it's also in one of the Rick Steves books. It takes the whole day (the outgoing train is at something like 8am and you come back at 11pm) but it's definitely worth it. It's not very tiring because you spend most of the day sitting on a train or a boat, looking at incredible scenery.

#23

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/13/15 at 2:00pm

Oh, I am certainly not the expert. lol I have done Stockholm as a tourist and Gothenburg is the closest large city. Otherwise, I keep to my tiny town. I think you will love the area regardless. Life just seems a little slower here, especially when it's warm. We don't get much sun in the winter, so we soak it up in the spring/summer. Most of us don't put on the swimsuits until June, though a good friend always begins in May.

Just bring layers.

Pretty pretty please don't you ever ever feel like you're less than f**ckin' perfect!

#24

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/13/15 at 3:03pm

You guys are making this "Norway In a Nutshell" tour seem unmissable.

The price is a little more than I was hoping for but, for all I know, this could be a once-in-a-lifetime trip.

That point alone is making it hard to say no.

"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde

Updated On: 1/13/15 at 03:03 PM

#25

Traveling To Scandinavia On Your Own

Posted: 1/13/15 at 3:09pm

They are really selling it. We are considering a hop over to Oslo this summer and this could be great for us!

Pretty pretty please don't you ever ever feel like you're less than f**ckin' perfect!

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