Summer 2025 - Denmark + Norway with elementary-aged kids
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Anonymous
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Hi and Happy Thanksgiving - As so much of Europe can be scorching in the summer, I'm looking to go north, and looking to travel to take advantage of the June/July federal holidays next summer. That'll give us two full weeks in Europe. This will be our big trip of the year.
I'm leaning toward Denmark and Norway. Kids will be rising 2nd and 7th graders. We like outdoor activities, but aren't going to do many long hiking/biking days. I'm having trouble coming up with an itinerary after some research and am concerned that these two countries each deserve two weeks. We tend to travel independently and hire guides as it makes sense. We've done private guides more than tours given the ages or our kids - but I think the youngest could now keep up with more structured tours. We also don't like moving to a new hotel every day or two, generally preferring to have a base and getting to know a city/area a bit. We've never done a cruise, but maybe we could be convinced if it means a very unique experience. We don't really have a budget - we make selections based on what seems like a good value. We also do better when we have a plan for the day - we had a few unscheduled days during our two weeks in Japan, and they were our crankiest. If we do both countries, there are three can't-miss stops: Copenhagen, the Lego House in Billund, and some kind of fjords visit. I'd love to drive all over Norway, get to the north, see some spots that aren't chocked full of tourists. But maybe instead we should just hit the highlights - Copenhagen, Billund, and the trip from Oslo to Bergen. We could easily fill two weeks doing that without rushing too much. Any thoughts would be really appreciated! |
Anonymous
| Norway needs a lot of time, especially if you want to go up north to the Arctic. But, you could do maybe 3 nights in Denmark, fly to Oslo then take the train to Bergen. Rent a car there and drive around - there’s plenty of itineraries online. Be sure to check out the areas around Geirenger, Voss, Flam, etc. drive back to Bergen (or drive to Oslo), return the car and drive home. |
Anonymous
Thanks - is it worth seeing Oslo and taking the train to Bergen vs. just flying into Bergen and renting a car there? I was thinking we'd start in Copenhagen and recover from inevitable jet lag there - so probably more than 3 days as the first day or two will be a slog and a blur. (I have the blessing of frequently not being able to sleep on the plane and then ALSO not sleeping the first night in a very different time zone.) |
Anonymous
| I’d focus more on Norway. We went to Denmark with similarly aged kids recently, and it was definitely the their least favorite European country they have visited. They loved Tivoli Gardens but that was really it in Copenhagen. Outside of there, they enjoyed the beaches and a few museums, but we did not need 10 days there. |
Anonymous
| You can not be this stupid Putin is invading Jan 21 do you not read world news? |
Anonymous
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Yes, seeing Oslo is worth it for both parents and kids. There’s really cool waterfront architecture (you can climb the roof of the opera house), the central library is spectacular, great parks and wonderful urban walks along the riverfront. Also the heritage museum/folk museum on an island nearby is a highlight and kid friendly. Great coffee for the adults all over.
quote=Anonymous] Thanks - is it worth seeing Oslo and taking the train to Bergen vs. just flying into Bergen and renting a car there? I was thinking we'd start in Copenhagen and recover from inevitable jet lag there - so probably more than 3 days as the first day or two will be a slog and a blur. (I have the blessing of frequently not being able to sleep on the plane and then ALSO not sleeping the first night in a very different time zone.) |
Anonymous
| We really loved Oslo. We did 3 days in Oslo - do a walking tour, see the opera house, tour the Palace, Vigeland Park, there's an island with several neat museums (including the folk museum that has a stavekirke reassembled). Then we did the train ride across the country to Bergen (get first class tickets), spent a few days in Bergen then took a ferry up to Balestrand. There's a cool old hotel called Kviknes. Hiking paths, kayak trips, you can take a boat ride up to see a glacier. It was awesome. Then back to Bergen from a night and fly home from there. You could easily do that in 9-10 days if you want to do Copenhagen for 3-4 days at the beginning. You just won't get super far north, but that's sort of a specialty trip that you'd plan the whole vacation around. |
Anonymous
| What did you decide, OP? Also thinking about a Denmark + Norway or Sweden combo trip this summer with kids, although mine are a bit younger then yours and the younger one may not be up for a fjords adventure (as much as I would love it). |
Anonymous
| We really enjoyed staying in Geiringer and Hafslo area with our 1 year old. We skipped Flam (as we heard it was very busy) and Oslo. We also enjoyed Alesund. Bergen was rainy and was just ok. We went in August. We rented a car to get around. Also went to soccer game/ the soccer stadium that had a kids playroom overlooking the stadium. It was an amazing trip and there are fjord tours all over so you could always find a less popular one. |
Anonymous
The key to Flam (and Geirenger and many others) is make sure you aren’t there when a cruise ship is there. |
Anonymous
| We did this trip a few summers ago and it was wonderful- you do not need a guide and driving around Norway is easy. |