🧭 Scandinavia in 10 days: a ready-made tour of four countries

Why 10 days and this particular loop?

Most "ready-made" Scandinavian tours last between 7 and 14 days. Nordic Visitor honestly writes: in 10 days, you can visit three capitals and one fjord, and if you add Helsinki and night ferries, you get an almost perfect loop around the north — without feeling like all you're doing is moving from point to point.

Fjord Tours and other Norwegian companies cover Oslo–fjords–Bergen in the same 10 days, while Rick Steves uses a similar route, Stockholm → Copenhagen → Oslo → fjords → Bergen, as part of his three-week plans. Tour operators and travel experts argue about the details — which capital to start from, how many nights to stay in Bergen, where to take breaks. But they agree on one thing: 10 days is the "golden minimum" to experience Scandinavia in four countries at once.

The itinerary we will discuss below is based on a combination of these approaches:

● it is based on real tours and train/ferry schedules;

● it is logical for independent travel;

● it includes cities, fjords, and a night sea crossing;

● covers the classic combination: Denmark + Norway + Sweden + Finland.

And yes, this is not only "Scandinavia in 10 days", but also a convenient basis: some will take it as a whole, some will skip the fjord and add more Helsinki, while others will focus more on Norway.

Route map: "Four capitals + one fjord"

First, a rough outline, without details about times and hotels.

1. Stockholm — 2 nights. Arrival, exploring the islands and the old town.
   
2. Copenhagen — 2 nights. Train/plane, Danish hygge and a few castles.
   
3. Oslo — 1 night. Night ferry from Copenhagen, a day in the Norwegian capital.
   
4. Norwegian fjord (Bergen area/Norway in a Nutshell) — 1–2 nights. Mini-immersion in the mountains and water.
   
5. Helsinki — 2–3 nights. Flight from the fjords, Finnish maritime north and sauna.
   

This itinerary fits well with the actual 10-day programmes offered by Nordic Visitor and TourRadar: they combine at least three capitals, a night ferry and a fjord section, sometimes adding Helsinki as a fourth stop.

To get a clear picture of how everything fits together day by day, it's handy to look at this compact "grid":

This is the "skeleton" that follows the logic of many 10-day tours: Nordic Visitor, TourRadar and a number of private operators offer very similar itineraries. Next, we'll go through the days and add some life to it.

Days 1–2. Stockholm: islands, old town and getting ready for the north

Starting from Stockholm is convenient for several reasons.

Firstly, it is a major air hub: it is easy to find reasonable tickets from Europe and even direct flights from overseas. Secondly, it is geographically the "middle" of the circle: from here it is equally convenient to fly on to Copenhagen, Helsinki and Norway. Rick Steves and Nordic Visitor often start here.

On the first day, it's easiest to give yourself a soft landing: settle in the area between the central station and Gamla Stan, walk along Drottninggatan, go out to the water and turn into the old town. It is not necessary to go through a checklist of all the museums — it is enough to feel the scale, the smell of cinnamon and how the city lives around the water.

On the second day, you can pay tribute to the "classics":

● Djurgården Island with the Vasa Museum, ABBA Museum and walking paths;

● ferries between the islands;

● an evening in one of the districts — Södermalm, Östermalm — according to your interests (coffee shops, bars, viewpoints).

Nordic Visitor recommends spending at least two days in Stockholm — experience shows that anything less would be a shame.

Day 3. Stockholm → Copenhagen: train or plane

The third day is a transition day. You need to travel to Copenhagen.

There are two options:

● day train (via Malmö and the Øresund Bridge) — about 5–6 hours;

● a short flight (just over an hour in the air).

Travel guides such as Rick Steves and Colimbista like to emphasise that the railway in the region is part of the fun: a smooth ride, views of southern Sweden and the Øresund Bridge itself, connecting Malmö and Copenhagen.

If you choose the train, the logical itinerary is "morning flight → daytime views → evening Copenhagen", with accommodation in the Indre By or Vesterbro area and a walk to Nyhavn and the waterfront.

Day 4. Copenhagen: hygge, castles and bicycles

A day in Copenhagen is an opportunity to experience the "southern north": there is no polar night here, but there is light, water, mild winters and a very vibrant city life.

Most people follow the pattern of "old town + neighbourhoods + something else of interest". Some visit castles (Christianborg, Amalienborg, perhaps a trip to Kronborg or Frederiksborg), some focus on gastronomy (Torvehallerne, Reffen, small wine bars), some stroll around Nyhavn and Christiania, and then head to the Nørrebro or Vesterbro districts.

Nordic Visitor gives Copenhagen a day or two on its 10-day tours; Rick Steves also allows at least a day for the city. This is enough to get a feel for it, but not to exhaust it.

Day 5. Copenhagen → night ferry to Oslo

This day is a bit of a rush. If you haven't had time to do something in Copenhagen yet, you can leave the morning for catching up: one museum, a walk in the park, another coffee shop.

Towards evening, board the DFDS Copenhagen–Oslo ferry. This is a classic night crossing, which Rick Steves and other experts regularly include in their itineraries as a "mini-cruise": you save one night in a hotel and get an evening with views of the harbour, dinner, possibly a sauna or bar, dawn in the Oslo Fjord and breakfast as the ship enters the port.

It feels like a separate little trip within the trip — especially if you choose a cabin with a window in advance.

Day 6. Oslo: fjord, museums and preparation for the mountains

In the morning, the ferry slowly climbs the Oslofjorden. As you stand on the deck and watch the houses, forests and city appear along the shores, it becomes clear why many call this one of the most beautiful sea approaches in Europe.

A typical day in Oslo includes:

● Bjørvika district: the Opera House, MUNCH, new neighbourhoods by the water;

● a walk up Karl Johans gate to the Royal Palace;

● or Vigeland Park/Bygdøy museum peninsula (Fram, Kon-Tiki, Maritime Museum).

Nordic Visitor and Rick Steves give Oslo 1–2 days in their itineraries; in a "10-day" format, one full day is a reasonable compromise.

If you enjoy active recreation, it makes sense to book an evening sauna by the water or an easy hike closer to the city in advance. Oslo is not just a stop "on the way to the fjords"; it gives a very complete picture of the country in itself.

Day 7. Oslo → fjords → Bergen: mini Norway in a Nutshell

The seventh day is the "big transition".

The classic option promoted by Fjord Tours and Nordic Visitor is the Norway in a Nutshell route: Oslo → train along the mountain line to Myrdal → Flåm Railway branch → cruise on Nærøyfjord / Aurlandsfjord → bus/train to Bergen.

You can do this with an overnight stay in Flåm or go straight to Bergen and stay there overnight. In both cases, you will have time to:

● travel along one of the most beautiful railway sections in Europe;

● see the narrow fjord from the water;

● experience the dramatic change in weather and landscape between Oslo and the west coast.

For a 10-day itinerary, this is quite a busy day, but it gives you a strong sense of "we actually saw the real fjords, not just photos".

Day 8. Morning in Bergen → evening in Helsinki

Bergen is a city that you want to explore slowly: Bryggen, the funicular to Fløyen, the market square, the wooden districts. Nordic Visitor and many other operators give it at least one night and one free day.

As part of our 10-day trip, we will have to compromise. The best option is to

● stay overnight in Bergen after the fjord;

● walk around Bryggen in the morning and climb Fløyen (or just stroll along the waterfront);

● fly to Helsinki in the afternoon/evening with one connection (usually via Oslo or Stockholm).

This way, you get a taste of the west coast of Norway and have time to add Finland to your itinerary without turning the last leg into a race.

Days 9–10. Helsinki: sea, sauna and a gentle finale

Helsinki at the end of such a circle works as a "breath of fresh air". After busy days and fjords, it is nice to find yourself in a calm, organised capital on the Baltic Sea.

The evening of day 8 is usually enough for a walk from the train station to Senate Square, a visit to a café, and a look at the illuminated cathedral and bay.

Day 9 is worth dedicating to:

● the area around Senate Square, the embankments and the market;

● modern areas (Kamp, Kallio, possibly the Hernesaari or Jätkäsaari waterfront);

● and, of course, the sauna: public complexes such as Löyly or Kotiharjun provide that Finnish "reset" after travelling.

Day 10 is a spare day. A midday departure allows you to take another walk in the morning, visit the Oodi library or just sit with a coffee and watch the world go by.

Helsinki is not just a tick in the box as the "fourth capital", but an opportunity to spend a couple of days in a city that is much less noisy than Copenhagen and best demonstrates how Scandinavia combines the northern climate with quality of life.