I think ten days gives a great introduction to Scandinavia, but I realize that not everyone has ten days to dedicate to their trip. So I did some trimming of my itinerary and put together a one week Scandinavia itinerary. It includes some of my favorites from my 10 Day Scandinavia itinerary, but obviously it’s pared down to fit into just one week, making it perfect for travelers with a lot of travel dreams and not enough vacation time.
Through this itinerary, you’ll hit some big cities across all of Scandinavia. Visit Copenhagen, Gothenburg, and Oslo throughout this fabulous week in Scandinavia.
One Week in Scandinavia
This one week Scandinavia itinerary starts in Copenhagen, Denmark and finishes in Oslo, Norway. Therefore, you’ll need to purchase a multi city ticket to avoid backtracking to your starting destination. This backtracking costs time and money (versus two one way tickets), so save yourself the headache and purchase a multi city ticket.
Now with that said, feel free to reverse this Scandinavia itinerary. If it’s cheaper to fly into Oslo and out of Copenhagen, you should absolutely consider reversing this itinerary. Scandinavia is an expensive destination, so save money when you can.
Day 1 – Hello, Copenhagen
This one week Scandinavia itinerary starts in Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark. If you’re arriving from the airport, you’ll need to transfer into the city. Thankfully, this transfer is quick and cheap for airport transportation.
Copenhagen’s metro connects the airport to the city center with direct and frequent trains. At the airport, follow the signs for the metro. You can purchase a ticket in the machines. On the machine, enter where you are traveling too (for me it was Kongens Nytorv metro station) and a ticket will print out. The best part is this ticket doesn’t cost any more than any other metro ticket (although metro tickets in Scandinavia are more expensive than you may expect). Board the metro and before you know it, you’ll be in the Copenhagen’s city center.
Drop your bag off at your hotel and then head out to try to conquer any jet lag.
I never try to plan too much on my first day, especially if I’m crossing several time zones and fighting a battle with jet lag. So in lieu of museums (we’ll cover some tomorrow), head out on a walk. Join up with a guide or make your own DIY walking tour of the city. Stroll Nyhavn (the colorful harbor), walk out to the Little Mermaid statue, or wander down Strøget, a fun (and long) pedestrian shopping street.
Additionally, you could visit some free sights like Copenhagen’s City Hall or one of the many churches around Copenhagen—Frederiks Kirke was my favorite.
Sleep: Copenhagen, Denmark
Day 2 – Exploring Copenhagen
Today is our one full day in Copenhagen so it’s time to make it count. Today we’re going to pack in all of the sightseeing that we didn’t get to yesterday.
Start with a visit to Rosenborg Palace, which was created as a summer home for Danish royalty in the early 1600s. You’ll learn about Danish Royal history as you tour through the castle. Plus, don’t miss the Treasury in the basement of the castle where the royal jewels are kept.
Next, we’re going to venture southeast to Christiania. This area of Copenhagen was once a former military base. In the 1970s, squatters took over this land and formed Christiania, a community that functions independently of Copenhagen. Christiania still exists today and many would describe it as a “hippy community”. I guess that’s true to an extent, but I think it’s worthwhile to visit and see for yourself.
When you enter Christiania, you’ll likely walk down the Main Street, what used to be known as Pusher Street. In an attempt to clean up their community, the residents of Christiania voted to eliminate Pusher Street and redevelop the area, so if you read anything about people who visited years ago, they’ll likely have a much different experience. When I visited, that re-development was still a work in progress.
However, as you work your way into the community, you’ll find several shops and restaurants. This seems to be where so many tourists stop. Venture further to see the real Christiania, a peaceful and quiet place that feels a world away from Copenhagen. As you leave Christiania, look up under the gateway. You’ll notice a sign stating that you are entering the E.U.
Now we’re going to work our way back into the city. Before you get too far though, consider a visit to the Church of Our Savior. This church is famous for its round tower which you can climb for a fee (the interior of the church is free).
Back in central Copenhagen, pay a visit to Tivoli Gardens. This amusement park is one of the oldest in the world and offers a break from traditional sightseeing. The price can be steep, especially if you plan to ride any of the rides, but I think it’s still a fun experience to wander the park and people watch. Plus, at night, the park is lit up in a brilliant light display.
For the evening, it’s traveler’s choice. By now, most museums are likely closed so it’s up to you how you want to spend your evening. Continue exploring Tivoli Gardens or visit some of the areas you didn’t get a chance to yesterday.
Sleep: Copenhagen, Denmark
Day 3 – Denmark to Gothenburg
It’s time to move to the next city (and country!) on this Scandinavia itinerary. As much as I enjoyed Stockholm, it’s out of the way and just adds what I feel is too much travel time to this one week itinerary. Instead, we’ll go to Gothenburg, the second most populous city in Sweden. Trains take three to four hours, depending on which train you select.
Since you’ll be giving half of your day to transportation, you can choose if you want to travel in the morning (for more time in Gothenburg) or in the afternoon (for more time in Copenhagen). Personally, I preferred Copenhagen to Gothenburg as I felt there was more to see in Copenhagen. So, if it were me, I’d cram in just one more sight in Copenhagen (is there anything you missed on day 1?) and then in the very late morning, I’d jump on a train to Gothenburg.
Once in Gothenburg, grab some lunch and spend some time taking in the vibe of the city. I’ve listed a bunch of sights in tomorrow’s itinerary, so if you feel up to it, start exploring today.
Sleep: Gothenburg, Sweden
Day 4 – Exploring Gothenburg
Out of all of the cities I visited in Scandinavia, I feel like Gothenburg was the lightest on sights. Since we only have one full day here, I think that’s ok because believe it or not, you can do everything on this list in one day.
With just one day, I recommend starting your day at the Palm House. It’s on every single list of things to do in Gothenburg, so I feel like I have to include this greenhouse on your itinerary. Is it nice? Yes, but if you’re into plants and gardens, I think there are better places (and we’ll cover my favorite later).
Swing by the Gothenburg Cathedral, because I feel like you have to make a stop at a church in every city in Europe. It’s not the most magnificent, but it’s free and a quick stop.
The Fish Church also gets added to every Gothenburg itinerary. Confusingly this is not a church, but a market. Unfortunately, I don’t have any first hand experience as the Fish Church was closed during my visit. But since it’s on every list for Gothenburg, I have to include it here.
For lunch, wander through the Haga District. It’s a fun pedestrian only district that’s full of shops and cafes. It’s nice to wander and a great place for a break from sightseeing.
After lunch, head to Skansen Kronan. The castle tower sits on top of a hill and offers a fantastic view of Gothenburg. It’s a bit of a climb to get to the top, but it’s totally doable and the view is worth it.
Finish your day at the Botanical Gardens. Here, you’ll find a large, diverse collection of plants and gardens. While you may have seen gardens at the Palm House earlier in the day, the Botanical Gardens were more impressive and expansive (at least in my opinion). There are so many different areas to walk, plus see if you can find the walk that takes you to a view of Gothenburg.
And did I mention that everything on this list is free? That’s nice for your budget.
Sleep: Gothenburg, Sweden
Day 5 – Gothenburg to Oslo
Today is the last travel day of this one week Scandinavia itinerary. Head to the Gothenburg bus station and catch a bus to Norway. Expect the bus to Oslo to take about 3 and a half hours.
We’ve finally arrived at the last stop on this Scandinavia itinerary and we’re going to start by exploring Oslo. As always, I’m accounting for delays so I’m not planning any major sight seeing today. However, there’s still a few areas that you should focus on.
I’d recommend starting with the Old Town. Walk the streets and make your way to City Hall. You’ve probably recognized a theme of visiting city halls by now, but pop in to Oslo’s. It’s free to visit and a visit can be quick. Take note of the main galleria as you enter and look at all of the artwork all around you. Head up the stairs to visit any of the open rooms.
From City Hall, you’re right near the Harbor front, but venture outside and along the Harborfront for some great views. For the best views, head up to Akershus Fortress which is the old fortress of the city. Since it sits a bit higher up, you’ll get some better views. You can tour inside the fortress, but that costs extra money. Just walking along the fortress exterior is free.
Continuing through the Old Town you’ll reach the Norwegian Royal Palace (Det Kongelige Slott). Even if you don’t tour the interior, I think it’s worth visiting the exterior and having a wander through its park.
If you still have the energy, you could leave the Old Town and venture for a stroll around the Grünerløka Neighborhood. This neighborhood is outside of the main historic center so it has a different feel than what most tourists visit in Oslo. It feels more lived in, because it is. Have a wander through this neighborhood, especially along the Akerselva River where you’ll find some waterfalls.
Sleep: Oslo, Norway
Day 6 – Exploring Oslo
It’s our one full day in Oslo and we’re going to cover museums today.
Start by taking the bus from the historic city center to Bygdøy. Here’s where you’ll find a handful interesting museums. When you’ve finished here, venture back into the city center for more exploring. Consider visiting some of the sights you didn’t make it to yesterday if you still have time.
Viking Ship Museum – This was high on my list as this museum not only has viking artifacts but has an actual viking ship inside its museum. However, the museum is currently undergoing some significant modifications and it’s closed until 2027. Some of the viking artifacts are temporarily housed in Historical Museum, but unfortunately you won’t be able to see the viking ship.
Fram Museum – This is the museum I chose and I found it to be much more interesting than I expected. This museum focuses not only on the Fram but also on the Gjøa. Both were explorer ships from Norway that sailed to the polar regions. Learn about the expeditions and also see the ships up close (and walk into them).
Kon-Tiki Museum – Just across from the Fram Museum, you’ll find the Kon-Tiki Museum which also focuses on sailing, this time focusing on Thor Heyerdahl and his voyages to try to prove that South Americans settled in Polynesia.
Norwegian Maritime Museum – Norway has a large maritime history, which by now shouldn’t come as a surprise. While all of the other museums I’ve covered so far focus on a specific area of Norwegian maritime history, this museum is more general, giving a larger overview.
Norwegian Folk Museum – For a break from maritime sightseeing, you could visit the Norwegian Folk Museum, also in Bygdøy, which focuses on traditional Norwegian Folk Culture.
Norwegian Resistance Museum – This is the one museum I’m mentioning that’s not in Bygdøy. The Norwegian Resistance Museum is part of Akershus Fortress and tells the story of the Nazi Occupation of Norway. The museum is interesting but is a bit dated.
Which museums you do are up to you. I really enjoyed the Fram Museum and would have loved to do the Viking Ship Museum. I wish I would have visited the Kon-Tiki Museum as well (since the Viking Ship Museum was closed), but that’s personal preference. I also visited the Norwegian Resistance Museum which provided a unique insight into World War II. When I was in school, I don’t recall ever talking about Norway’s involvement in the war, so this was a very interesting look into the Nazi occupation of Norway.
In the late afternoon, once you’ve finished with your museums in Bygdøy, head back to the city center and visit Vigeland Park. This sculpture park houses hundreds of statues created by Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. It’s part of the larger Frognerparken, but many tourists just focus on the sculptures.
The highlight is the monolith made up the sculptures of multiple humans. If you want to learn more about Vigeland and his life, consider a visit to the Vigeland Museum which is right nearby Frognerparken.
As with every other evening on this Scandinavia itinerary, the evening is yours to explore.
Sleep: Oslo, Norway
Day 7 – Fly Home
This one week Scandinavia itinerary is complete. Head to the airport and catch a flight home (or on to your next destination).
One Week Scandinavia Itinerary Recap
Day 1: Arrive in Copenhagen. Sleep in Copenhagen.
Day 2: Explore Copenhagen. Sleep in Copenhagen.
Day 3: Train from Copenhagen to Gothenburg. Sleep in Gothenburg.
Day 4: Explore Gothenburg. Sleep in Gothenburg.
Day 5: Bus from Gothenburg to Oslo. Sleep in Oslo.
Day 6: Explore Oslo. Sleep in Oslo.
Day 7: Fly Home
Hotels Needed
Days 1-2: Copenhagen, Denmark (2 nights)
Days 3-4: Gothenburg, Sweden (2 nights)
Days 5-6: Oslo, Norway (2 nights)
Transportation Needed
Day 3: Train from Copenhagen to Gothenburg.
Day 5: Bus from Gothenburg to Oslo.
When to Do This Scandinavia Itinerary
Winters have the fewest visitors and therefore you can expect a slightly lower price. However, winters have the worst weather (expect it to be cold) and have limited daylight. For example, in Copenhagen, the southern most city on this itinerary has the sun rising around 8:30 am and setting at about 4:00 pm in January. Oslo is further north and the sun can set as early as 3:00 pm.
Summers have long days with the sun not setting until 9:00 or 10:00 pm. You’ll also have the best weather. However, crowds are at their highest.
Typically, shoulder season can offer the best mix between daylight hours, weather, and tourist crowds. But I personally would recommend traveling very late spring to very early summer or very late summer into very early fall if you’re going to travel during shoulder season. Basically, try to catch that cut over between spring and summer or summer and fall.
I traveled in mid April. There were a handful of days with decent weather but other days were down right cold. Additionally, some sights still had limited hours which wasn’t ideal.
Budget Tips
Scandinavia is notoriously an expensive place to travel. It absolutely can be, but there are ways to save money and minimize your costs. While I’ll have an entire post about budgeting for Scandinavia, here’s my big pieces of advice.
- Book early, particularly for trains. The long distance trains are cheaper the earlier you book, which can save you a lot of money.
- Budget extra money for sit down restaurants or be prepared to look for other options such as fast food, convenience stores, or supermarkets.
- Be selective of your activities. Prices can add up quickly if you don’t pay attention.
Final Thoughts
Scandinavian cities don’t rank as high on the excitement scale as some other places in Europe. However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t visit. Rather, you need to have realistic expectations. But, with one week in Scandinavia, I think you can put together a pretty great itinerary that covers the highlights of the major cities of this region.
Continue Your Adventure
Scandinavia: Start planning your trip to Scandinavia with this 10 Day Itinerary or this 7 Day Itinerary, featuring stops in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. Check out my Scandinavia Budget for a realistic look at travel costs and budgeting tips. Plus, here’s my top tips for traveling Scandinavia.
Denmark: No visit to Denmark would be complete without spending at least one day in Copenhagen, where you can tour several churches and have some fun at Tivoli Gardens. Plus, learn more in my Denmark Travel Guide.
Sweden: A visit to Sweden will generally include its capital city of Stockholm, which is full of awesome sights and museums. If you have extra time in Stockholm, consider a day trip to either Uppsala or Drottningholm Slott. But don’t miss Gothenburg, another great city that feels more relaxed than Stockholm. Continue your planning with my Sweden Travel Guide.
Norway: While so much of Norway’s beauty is found outside its cities, add a quick stop in its capital city of Oslo. Plus, check out my Norway Travel Guide.