9 Day Scandinavian Road Trip Itinerary

I bought a Volvo through the overseas delivery program. This means that even though I live in the United States, I had a car, my car, to drive around Scandinavia for up to two weeks. I had the privilege of taking this trip with my father and one of my sons. We picked the car up in Gothenburg, Sweden. The possibilities of what to use our time for seemed endless, but we decided the thing we most wanted to experience were Norwegian fjords, so we headed toward Norway to make our Scandinavian road trip dreams come true.

Scandinavia itinerary, Scandinavian road trip itinerary
Sunset over the water in Fredrikstad, Norway

We had a little over a week to explore Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, so we made our plan for a 9-Day Scandinavian road trip. We concentrated on Norway since that was the county that most intrigued us. Enjoy planning your road trip around Sweden, Denmark, and Norway.

Day 1: Start in Gothenburg, Sweden

Road trip to Norway from Sweden. thedailyadventuresofme.com
Trolley traveling through downtown Gothenburg. We never got used to these and almost got run over!

Gothenberg was a bit off of our radar, but we came to pick up my Volvo at the factory. We were delighted that we had a chance to experience the waterfront of this western Sweden city. We had nine days to explore Europe with the car. It is the perfect starting point for a loop trip around western Sweden, central and southern Norway, and Denmark.

We stayed the night at the Clarion Post Hotel, lovely and ideally located for exploring Gothenburg on foot.

You can read more about the first three days of my trip in Exploring the Coast of Western Sweden.

Day 2: Drive through Western Sweden to Oslo, Norway

Stone Ship Western Sweden road trip stop
My dad and I love stopping at most every historical marker we pass. This Stone Ship was one of our favorite random finds.

Our drive up Sweden’s coastline provided stops at an exciting stone burial ship and castle. We especially enjoyed exploring the gorgeous medieval town ofĀ Fredrikstad, Norway.

We then drove on to Oslo, where we stayed at the Oslo Thon Hotel, which had an excellent breakfast buffet and is located right near the Opera House. (3 1/2 hour drive time)

Day 3: Explore Oslo, Norway Followed By an Evening Drive to Flam

Just part of our Norway road trip itinerary
In the time of the Vikings, when an influential person died, they were buried in their ship. We learned so much at the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, Norway.

From our hotel, it was an easy walk through downtown to the palace. Most of the museums are farther away from the town center but are worth a visit. (4 1/2 hour drive time)

Day 4: Explore Flam, Norway

Norway itinerary
Hanging with my dad on the banks of Undredal, Norway

Our time exploring around Flam was my favorite day on the trip. We stayed at theĀ FlĆ„msbrygga Hotel right on Norway’s longest fjord.

Day 5: Drive to Bergen, Norway

Norway's waterfalls are a key part of our Norway itinerary. Travel in Scandinavia itinerary.
It is only a half-mile hike off the road between Flam and Bergen to the beautiful Stalheimfossen.

We took the long way to Bergen because we wanted to chase waterfalls. We saw some incredible ones and a pretty unbelievable public restroom. Read about exploring the nearby Waterfalls Valley. Nowhere did I more understand how Norway became associated with trolls then by hiking through the moss-covered rocks among the brightly colored saxifrage flowers in these mountains. (3-hour drive including a fabulous ten hairpin road under a waterfall)

Day 6: Explore Bergen, Norway and Drive to Stavanger, Norway

Bergen Bay funicular Scandinavia by car
The view over Bergen Bay from the top of the funicular

These two seaside towns on the western coast of Norway were fun to explore. Our favorite part was taking the funicular to the top of Bergen. The view was outstanding, and there are the sweetest goats at the top! We stayed at the Bergen Thon, which was fine and close to town, but if I visited again, I would splurge and stay in at theĀ Radisson Blu Royal Hotel,Ā which is right on the harbor. (4 Hour drive to Stavanger).

Day 7: Explore Stavanger, Norway, and Take an Overnight Ferry to Denmark

Norwegian road trip / Road trip Scandinavia
There is ample opportunity in Stavanger to learn about Norway’s industrial past. This is part of a recycled park in front of the Norwegian Petroleum Museum.

We wanted to break up the drive to Stavanger, so stayed overnight at the Grand Hotell in Stord. Stavanger surprised us. It was just the easiest place for us to catch a ferry, but it has a lot to offer about how Norwegians immigrated to the United States and the petroleum and canning industry. The ferry ride was very convenient, like a cruise ship with hundreds of cars below. After a good night’s sleep, we woke up in Hirtshals, Denmark. (10-hour ferry ride)

Day 8: Drive through Denmark to Copenhagen

Exploring Copenhagen on my Scandinavian road trip. Best road trips in Scandinavia.
The charming waterfront street of Nyhaven in Copenhagen, Norway

It is a 4-hour drive to Copenhagen, and you get a chance to see the farms and forests of Denmark. Read more about our time in Copenhagen, viewing the spring colors at Tivoli Gardens, one of the world’s oldest amusement parks.

Day 9: Visit Hamlet’s Castle, then Take a Ferry to Sweden.

Road trip though Denmark. Road trip though Scandinavia
The Kronborg, or Hamlet’s Castle outside of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Kronberg Castle is just one hour north of Copenhagen. We stayed at the Stand & Badehotel MarienlystĀ in HelsingĆør. Although it was hard to find, the decor in the rooms is among the prettiest I have ever seen, and the buffet breakfast right on the water was unbelievable! The ferry back to Sweden only takes about 30 minutes, and the drive back to Gothenburg is less than 2 hours.

Riding Ferries in Scandinavia

We are water-loving, boat people who found all the different ferries one of the most exciting parts of the trip. They are deceptive from the outside- they hold so many cars and big trucks. The cafes on-board provide a perfectly timed pit stop, and they often saved us hours of driving. Talk about lunch with a view! They all accepted credit cards, and only the overnight ferry required a reservation.

How is it Driving in Scandinavia?

Other than there being a lot of construction in Norway, Scandinavia is a delight to drive in. The roads are very well-maintained, wide, single, or double-landed highwaysā€” really one of the easiest areas in the world in which to drive.

And you will drive through some neat and long tunnels in Norway. TheĀ LƦrdalstunnelen right outside of Bergen is over 15 miles long, perhaps the biggest traffic tunnel in the world!

What are the Costs of a Scandinavian Road Trip?

Although Norway produces a majority of the gasoline in the world, Norway’s fuel is the most expensive in the world due to the high taxes! It must be how they pay for the excellent roads. Sweden is the fourth highest, so it will still eat up a lot of your budget.

Sweden and Norway also have toll roads. The tolls are all taken with cameras, so you need to set up a toll pass online, preferably before you start driving. Volvo paid our tolls in Sweden. You can deal with yours hereā€”register as a foreign driver in Norway here, which will also pay for your Norway ferry charges.

Look for your rental car here:Ā Compare Car Rental Rates in Norway.

Possible add-ons to your road trip

I am pleased with the choices that we made for spending our time in Scandinavia. If I had more time, I would do the following:

  • Explore Stockholm. I have never been to this capital of Sweden and hope to one day, but itĀ is a 7-hour drive from Gothenberg, and I had my sights set in the other direction on Norway! When in Stockholm, I would love to explore the Stockholm City Hall and learn more about the government there.
  • Spend more time in Norway and travel north. We waited until the last moment in Bergen to decide not to do this. The main reason we chose to go south was the freak April snowstorm that hit while we were in Flam. By April, I am so done with snow.
  • Climb to Troll’s Tongue or Trolltunga. This 5-hour hike to an outcrop dangling high over a fjord is not too far from Stavanger in southern Norway. Neither my 70-year old father nor 10-year old son was up for this hike, but I would love to return to do it.

In only over a week, we saw stone circles, cute fishing villages on the Norwegian, Baltic, and North Seas, snow-covered mountains, fjords, and one of the world’s oldest amusement parks. It was one of the best road trips I have taken. I hope this Scandinavia road trip itinerary helps you make your Scandinavia road trip dreams come true!

 

Where have you taken your favorite road trip? Please let me know in the comments.

If you liked it, please share it. Thank you!

32 thoughts on “9 Day Scandinavian Road Trip Itinerary”

  1. I’m so glad I found your site & itinerary. My family will be taking advantage of the Volvo overseas delivery program this summer. Did you pass any glaciers during your travels? We’re wanting to walk up to or get really close to a glacier but will be traveling with an infant which disqualifies Glacier hiking. The Nigardsbreen glacier seems like too much of a detour but I’m not sure if the Fjaerland glacier is one that you see in the distance or if you’re able to get close. Thanks for documenting your adventure!

    Reply
    • How fun, Crystal? What car are you getting? We did not see any glaciers that I knew of on this trip, although I did in Iceland. Have a great time!

      Reply
  2. I first read this to learn more about Gothenburg, but then saw that you helped answer other questions of mine. My husband and I are flying into Copenhagen towards the end of June and spending a quick 8 days driving through 4 countries. We plan to stay one night in Gothenburg, and hope to do a night somewhere along the southern Norwegian coast so that the next morning we can catch a ferry to Hirtshals and proceed south to Hamburg and finally back to Copenhagen. So my question for you is….. did you ever have a desire to ride a European train? We are trying to decide if we will rent a car the entire time or only part of the time. You mention has expensive gasoline is…. so I am guessing that train fare may actually save us money as would NOT having to drive a car onto a ferry. What do you think? Thanks so much,
    Maggie

    Reply
    • Maggie- We went on this trip for the main purpose of using our car, so didnā€™t explore trains. At one point I looked into going to Stockholm and would have left the car in Gothenburg to do that, because the train there was faster and inexpensive. I have taken trains through Italy, France, Austria and Germany and it has been a great way to travel. It is definitely worth comparing. Have a fabulous trip.

      Reply
  3. I have never heard of this overseas delivery program, and honestly it sounds like the most amazing perk to buying a car EVER. But even without that, I have been really wanting to explore Scandinavia, but unable to choose just one area to base myself. Maybe this is seriously what I need to do! This is an awesome itinerary.

    Reply
  4. This Volvo overseas delivery program is new to me, and I have to say it is pretty interesting concept ! What a smart way to incentivise customers to buy Volvo ! Will certainly check out the price offers in my country ! =p
    From your photos, I guess Norway is my favourite ! Love the nature trail at Stalheimfossen ! Also, those colourful houses at Nyhaven is so cute ! Love to plan a Scandinavian road trip some day ! =)

    Reply
  5. This Scandinavian road trip looks amazing! I’ve only ever been to Stockholm and I fell in love with the minimalistic vibes and Nordic environment! I dream of visiting Bergen, Norway and this road trip looks like it shows the best of the best.

    Reply
  6. It’s nice to hear about some of the smaller or lesser-known places, especially Flam, which I’d never heard of before. I would have loved some more information about the places though, particularly about the history or the stone burial ship

    Reply
  7. What an informative itinerary you have put together. I have been to all these places but only by plan though I would really like to do a road trip through Scandinavian like this one. So I can take everything in more and go at my own pace. Thanks for the tips about the trolls too because I would have never known and would get caught with a fee.

    Reply
  8. Was wondering what time of year you did this- I didnā€™t sure it in there but might have missed. We are taking a sort of last minute planned trip early November and wanted to see if there was a possibility to plan a similar itinerary?

    Reply
  9. We too are buying our Volvo through Overseas Delivery, this June. Thanks for all the ideas. We may spend 14 days in Sweden and perhaps a bit in Norway. Scenic drives, beautiful hotels, and exploring cities by foot are what we have in mind.

    Reply

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