Copenhagen, Oslo or Malmo?

[OlafLovesAnna]

I've never been to Scandinavia and would love to visit at Easter having discovered Norwegian Airlines cheap flights from Gatwick.

Our kids will be 3, 9 and 11 and there seem to be lots of possibilities for accommodation in all 3 cities. My question is would you do one city for 4/5 days in the Easter hols or would you do more of a 2 week touring thing in the summer?

I've looked at so many books and threads I've tied myself in knots thinking of what a longer itinerary might comprise to make a summer holiday!

I'd do Copenhagen as a 4 to 5 day thing in the holidays, rather than a two week touring thing.
Love it there.
There's loads for kids that age to do too - there's Tivoli Gardens, the zoo, and a Viking boat museum just outside it.
Plus loads of other stuff I've probably forgotten.

Definitely Copenhagen. What DontStopBelievin said, plus it's easy to do a day-trip to Malmo on the train from there.

I've only been to Copenhagen of the three, but thoroughly recommend it! I went with DD2 when she was 12, and we loved it.

I think a touring holiday sounds lovely, though. I went skiing in Norway about 16 years ago, and we took a day out to go to Flom on the little train. The fiords are just amazing.

There were also lots of little summer houses near the river in the ski resort (Geilo) and I imagined it would be lovely in the summer.

Get a guide book (lonely planet or rough guide are usually good) have a read, and I'm sure you could come up with some lovely plans.

Great idea re Flom and the train, I'm trying to match flights, car hire etc and it all looks pretty reasonably priced so far.

I have only really been to Copenhagen out of those destinations, 4-5 days would be enough but I would check if the attractions you wanted to see would be open at Easter (and it would be colder for things like Tivoli/a canal trip). Personally I would do a 2 week trip and venture away from the capital as well....but then that might be trickier without a car.

Look into getting a Copenhagen card, and if you do try to stagger it by having a half day at the start and finish. E.g. we got a 3 day card but started it at 2pm on the first day. It was still valid on day 4 but we entered a full day attraction IYSWIM. We went here and it was one of the best things we did.

There is an overnight ferry from Copenhagen to Oslo.

That's interesting Prof, can I ask at what time of year you went and what the weather was like?

Don't do Oslo! There are much nicer places in Norway where you can see the landscape. You won't get that in Oslo. Also can be unsavoury in Oslo and less friendly. (I am Norwegian).

Red, where would you go with kids? Bergen maybe?

It would be great to have some advice from a 'local'!

Bergen is beautiful and retains its own personality without being 'a local place for local people' so nice for you to take family. Also Geirangerfjord is stunning. Is there any possibility you could cruise to see a range of places in Norway? Also Norway can be very expensive compared to U.K. I live in the U.K and drinks prices here are a dream compared to Norway. Forewarned is forearmed! Again prices cheaper outside of the city like anywhere so Oslo more expensive. Your children will love the folklore of Norway! Be prepared to come home carrying troll replicas! They will be everywhere you look!

We've always been in August- weather is similar to here TBH, but then we've also camped. A friend of mine went in October half term and found everything practically shut which is what made me think about opening/closing attractions.

I would recommend the lonely planet book for Denmark, we found loads of great stuff we wouldn't have otherwise with it.

Don't go to Oslo - it's the most boring and expensive place in Europe! Copenhagen is great :)