4 day Scandinavian driving holiday?

[PaulST]

I will admit that the only real relevance to flying is that I need to end up in Helskini on Friday to fly home (QF award = AY A350J to PVG, then QF A333 down to SYD).

I love nature, (day) walks, photography, history/politics and driving and I'm thinking of getting a rental car for ~4 days (Mon to Thu) and doing a bit of a drive around one of the Scandinavian countries. Going by satellite images, Norway looks to have the biggest peaks so I'm assuming it'll be the most beautiful. I also understand it's rather expensive to visit (but YOLO, I'll work more weekends LOL). But I'd also consider Sweden and Finland.

I'll be there in May 2018.

Many thanks

 

[Austman]

May is Spring in Scandinavia.

It's not really until July that Summer (and it's a mild type of Summer by Australian standards) really starts.

The southern parts of Scandinavia are usually more pleasant in Spring. Green and fragrant with blossoms starting everywhere. In the northern parts it can still can be quite variable. Even in June the weather there can be awful.

 

[RooFlyer]

Don't wish to discourage you, and half your luck but my recent planned 5 days driving in Norway turned into trains and a bus :shock:mainly due to cost ( but that included a horrendous one way fee, internal to Norway). Plus Ultra convenience of their rail and long distance coach services. Don't miss Bergen and the walk to Pulpit Rock near Stavanger if you are there.

I was there in April:. Cool to cold, Snow still on peaks but not on ground near sea level.

 

[Austman]

Indeed, Scandinavia is infamously expensive. And count cars and petrol very much in on that!

Public transport is extensive and affordable. Ferries between Sweden and Finland can be quite fun (albeit they are something of a booze cruise for locals) and can give you wonderful views of the Swedish and Finnish archipelagos - which can be stunning.

 

[Cossie]

Close to Scandinavia, have you thought about the Baltic states? Easy driving, roads not too congested, lot's to see. Helsinki to Tallinn is quite quick by fast ferry. Pick up a car in Tallinn, easy as.
I'm guessing as they are further south, it would be warmer earlier so it is another option. Four days in Estonia would be a nice taste of what is on offer. It's very Scandinavian in a lot of ways, except there aren't any mountains, but it is also way cheaper, great hotels and food.

 

[kermatu]

Norway. Norway. Norway.

I've been in Norway twice - both in June, albeit 9 and 11 years ago. Magnificent, and far better than Sweden in my opinion. First trip was expensive (cruise up the coast). Second was actually pretty affordable and much more flexible - driving from Narvik to Tromso (4 days), flight to Trondheim, then I think 6 days driving to Oslo but the long route on the coast (Molde, Alesund etc). Was young then so we were happy to rough it or stay in the car if needed (one night), but actually if we rocked up at a hotel at 11pm (still bright outside that time of year, until we hit Lillehammer) more often than not they'd give us a room for $US20 until 9am so we took it!

Was extremely lucky with the weather both times. Freedom of the car was great. Managed to get to spots like this when there were zero tourists around:



Personally I reckon Bergen is a waste of time. Sure pretty by general standards, but just too touristy. Plenty of better places in Norway in my opinion. Is accessible and not a bad starting point though.

Perhaps things have changed in the last decade. Norway is definitely on my list for a return one day if possible.

 

[PaulST]

Thanks for the replies.

May is Spring in Scandinavia.

It's not really until July that Summer (and it's a mild type of Summer by Australian standards) really starts.

The southern parts of Scandinavia are usually more pleasant in Spring. Green and fragrant with blossoms starting everywhere. In the northern parts it can still can be quite variable. Even in June the weather there can be awful.

Given the time constraints, I'd probably stick to the southern regions.

Don't wish to discourage you, and half your luck but my recent planned 5 days driving in Norway turned into trains and a bus :shock:mainly due to cost ( but that included a horrendous one way fee, internal to Norway). Plus Ultra convenience of their rail and long distance coach services. Don't miss Bergen and the walk to Pulpit Rock near Stavanger if you are there.

I was there in April:. Cool to cold, Snow still on peaks but not on ground near sea level.

No problems at all - I'm very happy to hear the negatives as well as the positives. That was the rental car that had the high one way fee? I may get to avoid that because I'd be flying into and out of Oslo. But I've still heard that driving is expensive (many tolls...etc).

Indeed, Scandinavia is infamously expensive. And count cars and petrol very much in on that!

Public transport is extensive and affordable.

It seems that the railway network is pretty good although I really like having my own car. I can dump my stuff in it and I'm not limited to whatever the timetables are. Also, because I'm travelling alone, I get a little nervous about where to leave my gear on a train when I visit the bathroom.

Close to Scandinavia, have you thought about the Baltic states? Easy driving, roads not too congested, lot's to see. Helsinki to Tallinn is quite quick by fast ferry. Pick up a car in Tallinn, easy as.
I'm guessing as they are further south, it would be warmer earlier so it is another option. Four days in Estonia would be a nice taste of what is on offer. It's very Scandinavian in a lot of ways, except there aren't any mountains, but it is also way cheaper, great hotels and food.

Thanks for the suggestion of the Baltic states although it's really the mountains than I'm after.

Norway. Norway. Norway.

I've been in Norway twice - both in June, albeit 9 and 11 years ago. Magnificent, and far better than Sweden in my opinion. First trip was expensive (cruise up the coast). Second was actually pretty affordable and much more flexible - driving from Narvik to Tromso (4 days), flight to Trondheim, then I think 6 days driving to Oslo but the long route on the coast (Molde, Alesund etc). Was young then so we were happy to rough it or stay in the car if needed (one night), but actually if we rocked up at a hotel at 11pm (still bright outside that time of year, until we hit Lillehammer) more often than not they'd give us a room for $US20 until 9am so we took it!

Was extremely lucky with the weather both times. Freedom of the car was great. Managed to get to spots like this when there were zero tourists around:

Attachment 99469

Personally I reckon Bergen is a waste of time. Sure pretty by general standards, but just too touristy. Plenty of better places in Norway in my opinion. Is accessible and not a bad starting point though.

Perhaps things have changed in the last decade. Norway is definitely on my list for a return one day if possible.

Was the rental car particularly expensive? I do like the idea of flying somewhere, and driving the rental car back. I'm more than happy to drive >1000kms in 4 days (at one stage in my life I was driving a 260kms return trip to work! #rurallife)

 

[RooFlyer]

I started in Oslo and had to end in Stavanger and the one way car rental fee was enough for me to do a double take.

Remember in Norway you'll more often drive through a mountain than around it and this is where there tolls come in. Surprisingly limited accommodation options in some of the 'remote' ( but not really) towns by the southern fjords where I was planning to drive to. Should look at those early.

You obviously want to do your own thing, but check out ' Norway in a nutshell'. And it's various short tour options. Might see something you like. The 'mix and match' type tour worked like clockwork for me.

 

[kermatu]

I started in Oslo and had to end in Stavanger and the one way car rental fee was enough for me to do a double take.

Remember in Norway you'll more often drive through a mountain than around it and this is where there tolls come in. Surprisingly limited accommodation options in some of the 'remote' ( but not really) towns by the southern fjords where I was planning to drive to. Should look at those early.

You obviously want to do your own thing, but check out ' Norway in a nutshell'. And it's various short tour options. Might see something you like. The 'mix and match' type tour worked like clockwork for me.

Did one of the Norway in a Nutshell tours first time round (and I think off the ship we did or joined at least one other). Very good option I reckon.

Honestly can't remember price of car (and so long ago now so not reliable). The cars and petrol were certainly costly, but the rest of the trip we did bare-budget, and compared to the Hurtigruten cruise it was OK. The freedom was good, but helped having been to some of the places before and the long daylight hours also helped a lot (able to get to scenic spots long after tourist buses had gone).

 

[drron]

We did a 3 day driving trip through Southern Sweden at the end of May 2015 starting and finishing in Copenhagen.We enjoyed it.Did a loop.4 days would have been better.Here is the TR.Sweden starts at post 146.
http://www.australianfrequentflyer....photos/convoys-and-long-way-home-67976-4.html

 

[Austman]

To note: I've lived in Sweden for 14 years. I've done countless trips to Norway and Finland.

If it's mountains you are after, Norway is the place to be at that time of year.

In Sweden and Finland it's really only far up north that there significant mountain ranges.

I'd say the Stockholm archipelago in Spring (over 30,000 islands off the coast east of Stockholm) is a pretty fabulous experience - and you can even take a car!

Stockholm Archipelago

That's a hidden beauty tip!