Scandinavia Discovery: Copenhagen to Stockholm (Self-Launched)
12 days · Denmark, Norway & Sweden
Wingbuddy charges £2,550
No-markup version: ~£2,380 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A 12-day independent version of Wingbuddy's coach tour from Copenhagen through Denmark's Aarhus, an overnight ferry to Stavanger and the Lysefjord, Bergen, the Flåm Railway and Sognefjord, Balestrand, Oslo, Karlstad and Stockholm. Instead of a guided coach and 3-4 star hotels, you'll use Scandinavia's excellent trains, ferries and express boats, stay in hostels and budget guesthouses, and self-book the same headline experiences (Lysefjord cruise, Flåm Railway, Sognefjord cruise, city walking tours). Scandinavia is expensive, so expect higher daily costs than most of Europe — but you'll still save significantly versus the packaged tour, and gain freedom over pace and route.
Day-by-day
Arrival in Copenhagen
Copenhagen, Denmark
Fly into Copenhagen (CPH) and take the Metro M2 from the airport to the city centre (about 30 DKK / £3.50, 15 minutes). Check into a hostel in Vesterbro or Nørrebro. Spend the evening wandering Nyhavn and grabbing a cheap smørrebrød or street-food dinner at Reffen or Torvehallerne. Pick up a Copenhagen Card or City Pass depending on how much you plan to see. Note: Denmark, Norway and Sweden are all card-first societies — almost no cash needed.
🚌Metro M2 from CPH airport to city centre (~£3.50)
🛏Hostel dorm in Vesterbro/Nørrebro (e.g. Copenhagen Downtown Hostel, ~£28-35/night)
- →Evening stroll at Nyhavn
- →Street food at Reffen or Torvehallerne
Copenhagen at your own pace
Copenhagen, Denmark
Self-launched day exploring the city. Walk or bike the historic centre: Amalienborg Palace exterior, Christiansborg Palace, the Round Tower, Rosenborg Castle gardens and the Little Mermaid statue. Join a free/pay-what-you-want walking tour (e.g. Copenhagen Free Walking Tours, tip ~50 DKK) to get the guide context the group tour includes. Rent a bike (~£12/day) or use the Metro. Optional: Tivoli Gardens if open.
🚌Bike hire or Metro day pass (~£10-12)
🛏Hostel dorm in Copenhagen (~£28-35/night)
- →Free walking tour of Copenhagen (tip-based)
- →Cycling the historic centre and harbour
- →Rosenborg Castle gardens
Copenhagen to Aarhus
Aarhus, Denmark
Morning free walking tour or a self-guided loop of the palaces and Nyhavn before taking the DSB intercity train from Copenhagen to Aarhus (about 3 hours, book ahead on DSB for ~200-300 DKK / £23-35). Arrive in Aarhus, Denmark's second city, and check into a hostel near the Latin Quarter. Evening stroll along the Aarhus Å river and dinner at Aarhus Street Food.
🚌DSB intercity train Copenhagen–Aarhus, ~3h (~£28, book ahead)
🛏Hostel or budget guesthouse in Aarhus (~£28-35/night)
- →Morning walk through Nyhavn and Amalienborg
- →Latin Quarter evening stroll
- →Aarhus Street Food
Aarhus to Hirtshals — overnight ferry to Norway
Aarhus → Hirtshals → Stavanger (at sea)
Explore Aarhus in the morning: Aarhus Cathedral (free entry), Den Gamle By open-air museum or ARoS art museum, plus the harbourfront. Take the train north to Hirtshals (about 2h15, ~£22). Board the Fjord Line overnight ferry from Hirtshals to Stavanger (departs evening, arrives early morning; book a reclining seat or shared cabin, ~£55-80 one way). Bring your own dinner or eat on board — food is pricey.
🚌Train Aarhus–Hirtshals (~£22) + Fjord Line overnight ferry Hirtshals–Stavanger (~£60)
🛏Overnight on Fjord Line ferry (reclining seat or shared cabin)
- →Aarhus Cathedral
- →Den Gamle By or ARoS (optional, ~£15 entry)
- →Overnight North Sea crossing
Stavanger and Lysefjord
Stavanger, Norway
Arrive in Stavanger in the morning and walk the cobbled old town (Gamle Stavanger) and the colourful harbour. Book the Lysefjord cruise independently (Rødne or Fjord Line sightseeing, ~£45-55, 3 hours) — you'll pass under Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) and get close to the waterfalls. If you're feeling energetic and have a full day, the Pulpit Rock hike is possible from Stavanger via bus + ferry (allow ~7h). Stay in a Stavanger hostel or Airbnb.
🚌Walking; optional local bus to hike trailhead
🛏Hostel or budget hotel in Stavanger (~£35-45/night)
- →Gamle Stavanger walk
- →Lysefjord sightseeing cruise (~£50)
- →Optional Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) hike
Stavanger to Bergen via the coast
Bergen, Norway
Take the express boat or bus/ferry combination north to Bergen. The Kystbussen (coastal express bus) runs Stavanger–Bergen in about 4.5h (~£35-45) and includes the Mortavika–Arsvågen and Sandvikvåg–Halhjem ferry crossings. Alternatively the fast ferry from Stavanger to Bergen is quicker but pricier (~£65). Arrive in Bergen, check into a hostel in the city centre, then explore the UNESCO Hanseatic wharf (Bryggen), the Fish Market (Fisketorget) and take the Fløibanen funicular up for sunset views (~£11 return).
🚌Kystbussen coastal express Stavanger–Bergen with ferries (~£40)
🛏Hostel in central Bergen (e.g. Bergen Hostel Montana or Marken Guesthouse, ~£35-45/night)
- →Bryggen Hanseatic wharf
- →Bergen Fish Market
- →Fløibanen funicular (~£11)
Bergen to Balestrand via the Flåm Railway
Flåm & Balestrand, Norway
Take an early train from Bergen to Myrdal (Bergensbanen, ~2h, book on Vy, ~£25-35), then ride the famous Flåmsbana down to Flåm (~1h, book in advance at norwaysbest.com, ~£50). In Flåm, board the express boat along the Sognefjord to Balestrand (~1.5h, ~£40). Balestrand is a tiny fjord village — check into a hostel or guesthouse, take a lakeside walk and watch the light on the fjord. Book your onward bus to Oslo/Oslo-bound route ahead.
🚌Vy train Bergen–Myrdal (~£30) + Flåmsbana (~£50) + Sognefjord express boat to Balestrand (~£40)
🛏Guesthouse or hostel in Balestrand (~£45-55/night)
- →Flåm Railway
- →Flåm village
- →Sognefjord express boat
- →Balestrand lakeside walk
Balestrand to Oslo
Balestrand → Oslo, Norway
Catch the express boat from Balestrand to Bergen or Sogndal, then connecting bus/train to Oslo. The most common independent route: Balestrand–Sogndal bus (~£10), Sogndal–Oslo express bus (NOR-WAY, ~9h, ~£45-60) or a Sogndal–Oslo flight for speed (~£70). The scenic route via Fagernes passes Lake Tyrifjord and lets you stop at Borgund Stave Church if you break the journey. Arrive in Oslo and check into a hostel in Grünerløkka or Sentrum.
🚌Balestrand–Sogndal bus + NOR-WAY express bus to Oslo (~£60) or optional internal flight
🛏Hostel in central Oslo (~£35-45/night)
- →Optional Borgund Stave Church stop (~£8)
- →Lake Tyrifjord scenery
- →Grünerløkka evening walk
Oslo city day
Oslo, Norway
Self-guided Oslo: Vigeland sculpture park (Frogner Park, free), the Royal Palace exterior, Oslo City Hall, the striking Snøhetta opera house (free to walk on the roof) and the harbourfront at Aker Brygge. Optional: Munch Museum, Fram Museum or a free/paid walking tour to get the guided context. Use the Ruter public transport app for trams and metro (~£10 day ticket).
🚌Ruter day pass (~£10)
🛏Hostel in central Oslo (~£35-45/night)
- →Vigeland Park
- →Royal Palace and City Hall
- →Oslo Opera House
- →Optional Munch Museum (~£15)
Oslo to Karlstad to Stockholm
Karlstad & Stockholm, Sweden
Take the train from Oslo to Karlstad (about 2.5-3h, book on SJ or Vy, ~£25-35). Karlstad is a pleasant riverside break — grab a coffee and lunch by the Klarälven. Continue by train to Stockholm (about 2.5-3h, ~£25-35). Alternatively do it as one long day with a change. Arrive in Stockholm, check into a hostel in Gamla Stan or Södermalm, and walk the old town in the evening. Optional: a self-guided or pay-what-you-want walking tour of Gamla Stan, the Royal Palace, Cathedral and Parliament.
🚌Train Oslo–Karlstad (~£30) + Karlstad–Stockholm (~£30)
🛏Hostel in Stockholm (e.g. Generator Stockholm, ~£30-40/night)
- →Karlstad riverside stop
- →Evening Gamla Stan walk
Stockholm at your own pace
Stockholm, Sweden
Explore Stockholm independently: Gamla Stan's alleys, the Royal Palace, Stockholm Cathedral, the Riksdag, Södermalm's hip neighbourhoods and viewpoints at Monteliusvägen, and the Östermalm food halls (Östermalms Saluhall). Optional: a self-booked archipelago boat tour (~£20-35), or museums such as the Vasa Museum (~£15) and Fotografiska. Eat at a local Swedish restaurant or grab budget-friendly lunch at a 'dagens lunch' spot (~£12).
🚌SL public transport day pass (~£15) + optional ferry
🛏Hostel in Stockholm (~£30-40/night)
- →Gamla Stan and Royal Palace
- →Södermalm viewpoints
- →Arkipelago boat tour (~£25)
- →Vasa Museum
Departure from Stockholm
Stockholm, Sweden
Last morning in Stockholm — a final coffee and pastry in Gamla Stan or a walk along the water. Take the Arlanda Express (~£25, 20 min) or the cheaper Flygbussarna bus (~£10, 45 min) or SL commuter train to Arlanda Airport for your flight home. If you're continuing, trains to Gothenburg, Oslo or Copenhagen are bookable on SJ.
🚌Flygbussarna bus to Arlanda (~£10) or Arlanda Express (~£25)
🛏—
- →Morning walk in Gamla Stan
- →Last-minute souvenir shopping
Self-launched vs. Wingbuddy
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Wingbuddy | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£2,380 | £2,550 |
| Duration | 12 days | 12 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £170 per person (7%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Wingbuddy-style trips? Check them out here.~£2,380
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Scandinavia Discovery: Copenhagen to Stockholm (Self-Launched) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £2,380 per person for 12 days in Denmark, Norway & Sweden. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Wingbuddy?+
Yes — Wingbuddy charges around £2,550 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £2,380 — a saving of roughly £170 (7%) per person.
How long is the Denmark, Norway & Sweden trip?+
This itinerary runs 12 days, covering 12 day-by-day stops through Denmark, Norway & Sweden.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a adventure, culture, hiking trip through Denmark, Norway & Sweden, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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