2 weeks in Scandinavia - where to go?

[Pogonogo]

Does anyone have any recommendations on where to go in Scandinavia this summer?

We are going with 2 teens who like a mix of outdoor activities with some cities to wander around and scenery to view.

Copenhagen is definitely on the list, but after that we can't decide in whether to do Norway or Sweden or maybe Finland?

We like driving, but I'm not sure what would be realistic in a two week trip?

Stockholm is lovely, wander through the old town, visit the archipelago. You used to be able to take the ferry across from there to Finland, a very scenic route. The lakes in Finland are stunning, but you may get the same atmosphere staying in Sweden. If you can hire kayaks for a couple of days and go off through the lakes for the day.

www.naturetravels.co.uk/canoeing-sweden-canoe-getaway-skane-wl4cs1.htm?gclid=Cj0KCQjwmuiTBhDoARIsAPiv6L8U_XLRhA5yisdrhR1uYxrSCQ2dMjSXJK61o0WKKzcX8DXsm_oSrcUaAtiqEALw_wcB this site gives some ideas for outdoor activities.

We did the following trip when DC were 16 and 13.
Flew to Helsinki for 3 nights, overnight ferry to Stockholm for 3 nights, flew to Bergen for one week then flew home. We weren't looking for outdoor activities but they would certainly have been available and we'd already been to Copenhagen separately but could have incorporated that into the trip pretty easily.
It was fabulous but eye wateringly experience, particularly in Norway!

Sweden would make the most sense if you're going to Copenhagen. A ferry from Stockholm to Mariahamn would be a nice daytrip, see the islands and of course some time in Stockholm itself, lovely city. You could drive up north for the midnight sun but that would be a long drive! Definitely spend time at lakes, swimming, boating, hiking in the forests, picking berries (Sweden has every man's right so you can freely wander in nature picking berries and whatnot)

Really helpful thank you and love the link.

Kayaking is on the list definitely and we will probably bring paddleboards.

If you had to choose another city other than Copenhagen, which would you choose?

I recommend Stockholm and Helsinki too. Both beautiful but very different type of cities.

If you go to Helsinki, visit Suomenlinna, an ancient fortress and world heritage site. It can be reached by the ferry and is a wonderful place to walk around, enjoy lunch and coffee too. That's where Helsinkians go to spend a sunny summers day. www.suomenlinna.fi/en/

And absolutely YES for travelling from Stockholm to Helsinki (or Turku) by a ferry cruise. The ships are like proper cruise ships (just bit smaller) and that's where you will gain a real insight into a Finnish mentality 😂(I'm a Finn). Once in Helsinki you could also take a speedier 3hour commuter boat to Tallinn in Estonia to visit it's beautiful old, walled town.

Aarhus is the youngest city in Denmark and is very hip. Moesgaard museum, watersports/sea swimming, loads of eating out places (5 years ago is was rare to eat out), ferry to samsø, latin quarter, woman's museum etc. all sorts.

For some reason I thought everyone would say Norway, so it's really interesting to see more Finland and Denmark recommendations.

What are costs like in Finland? I must admit that it's one country I know very little about, but keen to change that!

It's even more difficult now to make a decision!!😁

Fly to Copenhagen, then get the train to Gothenberg (fab wooden roller coaster), then across on the fast train to Stockholm (you could stop at Linkoping on the way, I think there is a zip line centre there, probably more outdoor activities as well). Then come home from Helsinki (and I have heard hilarious stories about the Tallin ferry trips, so perhaps not with kids!)

We flew to Hamburg and hired a camper van, then drove to Denmark, Legoland, Odense, Copenhagen, then Stockholm, somewhere in the countryside that I don’t remember, Oslo, Bergen, then back a different way and took the ferry from Denmark back to Germany. It was 15 nights.

Finland is lovely. The ferry from Stockholm goes to either Helsinki or Turku. If you are a Moomin fan, then go to Turku, Moominworld is nearby. The lakes and countryside are beautiful in Finland. I also recommend Imatra rapids and Soumenlinna, it's not often you find the country's top tourist destination is also an open prison!

Airbnbs are quite cheap all over Finalnd, Sweden and Denmark. Hotels not too bad. Eating out costs a fortune! But if you self cater or camp it is much more reasonable. In Finland and Sweden you can camp for free wherever you like, in Denmark it has to be in designated free camping areas so that's an option too. Alcohol is expensive in Finland but it's pretty cheap in Denmark though (in the supermarket).

Danish beaches are amazing, especially on the West coast of the mainland. In Finland I prefer the beaches at lakes. And Finland being 20% lakes, they're pretty easy to find!

København, then Malmö. Lots to do in and around both cities and activities (sporting type) only an hour or two drive from both.

Lake beaches are definitely better than sea beaches in Finland, the sea is pretty cold but the lakes can be lovely and warm if its a good summer, like swimming in a bath.