Which Scandinavian city with kids?

[Moidershewrote]

Thinking of taking my children to a city break in Scandinavia as I have a ton of airline cash points built up over the last few years, but the airline only flies direct from London > Oslo, Bergen, Stavanger, Trondheim in Norway or Stockholm, Copenhagen or Helsinki (although Finland I’ve been to loads of times and so less fussed). We’re planning to go during end of May half term, so should hopefully be fairly mild weather in any of these places - but just can’t decide which to go to!

Would be great to get some other family experiences / pros and cons for any of the above! We could go for up to a week maximum and would probably try and do an Airbnb and hopefully not need a car. Children are all between 8-12yrs with 2 adults, no SEN, but DH is coeliac.

Can recommend Stockholm at that time of year with children. We rented a summer cabin on Lake Malaren and took day trips into Stockholm combined with swimming, boating etc on the lake. Skansen is amazing for children and can occupy a day on its own plus there are a lot of free museums in Stockholm to explore. A trip into the archipelago and a visit to one or more of the islands is also a must do.

Stockholm by far. Vasa museum, Skansen, trips round the islands.

Loads of child and adult friendly things to do.

Yes, the Vasa museum is amazing too!

Thanks both! Strangely Stockholm is the one city I know the least about, so this is really helpful💚

Stockholm is a beautiful city and the Vasa is probably my favourite museum anywhere.

Bergen is lovely too and the Norway in a Nutshell self-guided tour is a great way to get a taste of the fjords in a day.

Bergen! (But I don’t know the others 😅)

Oslo and Copenhagen are both lovely cities, would highly recommend (that's not helpful is it 😅)

The original legoland is in Billund, you could combine this with a trip to Copenhagen.

We took the kids to Copenhagen. Really family friendly place. Lots of playgrounds dotted around, huge parks, aquarium, zoo, Tivoli. We stayed in an Airbnb that had a communal garden, and the kids made friends with the locals. We had a great time. Not been to any of the other cities so can't compare,

I know all well and lived in CH for 20 months- I would say Copenhagen has more obvious things for kids to do plus beaches but Stockholm has a fair bit too.Sweden is a bit cheaper - not much but a bit!!

Been to Oslo, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Helsinki.

All are nice, but I'd say Stockholm or Copenhagen with kids. Oslo definitely the most expensive. Helsinki was lovely but perhaps not so good with kids.

Stockholm!! The Abba museum is great.

Stockholm, fairly small, brilliant public transport, very safe and lots to do. Skansen, Vasa, Junibacken, Viking museum, boat rides. You can get a gocity pass to cover most museums and the hop on hop off boats and buses. It also includes boat trips, but you can’t book in advance so you’re unlikely to actually get on a boar trip without booking in the high season.

So as a coeliac the best/ easiest of the list would be Helsinki, followed by Stockholm; however I find all the Nordic countries super easy in terms of eating out and about. Most hotel breakfasts will have a gf section and from memory clarion tends to have a gf toaster in the section.

Copenhagen is really good. Stavanger, Bergen and Trondheim are very small. Unless you have things planned you’d be done in the town centre in a weekend absolute maximum.

Also look into the swimming pools in the areas as they tend to be fun.

In terms of kids I’d say Stockholm as it is very big and the island situation makes it feel like you have more to discover.

Thanks everyone, this is all great!

It sounds like Stockholm and/or Copenhagen are sounding like the best bets.

How have I never heard of the Vasa museum?! Must get Googling!

The Vasa museum is the best museum experience I have ever had. Absolutely fascinating.

Of those would do either Copenhagen, Stockholm or fly into Oslo and take train and fly back from Bergen if that's possible, going on Flam Railway and fjord cruise enroute.