scandinavia anyone?

[papemelroti]

hello! can anyone share their experiences traveling to denmark, norway and sweden?
Thinking of staying 2 weeks in these 3 countries rather than going for central europe.

[sakura_bloom]

Anyone care to share their experiences in visiting scandinavian countries?
Any itinerary?
Must see places?
How long to stay in each city?
expenses?
Thanks!

[shegie_285]

Onlybeen to Oslo and it is super expensive, like a big mac meal was 12euro (2011) when it was only 6.50euro in Dublin. And Dublin is meant to be one of the more expensive cities in Europe. A friend went to Copenhagen last year and said the same. So expensive talaga sa Scandinavia.

Oslo - we went to Noble prize museum, palace, and they have a modern theatre there. Their national gallery houses the 'the scream' painting, in case you are into art. They said the fjords are a must-see but nasa countryside ang magaganda. We didnt have time to go.

[wowry]

I've been to Copenhagen and Malmo a year ago and yes its quite expensive so what I did, sinamantala ko ang free breakfast ng hotel then bought some sandwich for lunch then splurge a bit for dinner. Ang sarap ng bread sa Copenhagen! Sa Malmo daytrip lang kaya I can't comment much. I-check ko pictures ko and share here mga places na pinuntahan namin.

[sakura_bloom]

thanks mga sis!
will be going sa scandinavia this March.. Sana hindi ako maubusan ng pera!
Any reasonable hotel/hostels for accommodations?

[shegie_285]

^We stayed at Best Western Hotel, but it was I think 10 minute walk away from the Royal Palace galing sa likod.  Ang Royal Palace ang harap nya ang main street.  But okay ang breakfast sa hotel nila. Like sis wowry said ang dami naming kumain ng breakfast dahil nga mahal. Tapos meryenda na lang then dinner.

[frankikay]

hi sis! dito ako norwya and naikot ko na scandinavia kaso nga lang sa mga country side tour kami palagi. every year kasi kami magcacamping ni hubby.  so wala ako masyadong mairecommend kung sa capital ang gusto mong puntahan.

[michi247]

Aside from KLM, ano pa ba ang may biyahe going to Norway?

[shygirlme]

^where in Norway sis? Emirate sis and Qatar airways medyo madami lang stop over (well same lang din ni KLM). Emirates MNL-DBX-Oslo then yun next destination mo kung san sa norway

[michi247]

^ Trondheim, ang mahal kasi ng KLM.

Thanks, check ko Emirate and Qatar kung ok din price.

[shygirlme]

^You can try Emirates. Manila-Dubai-Oslo-Trondheim.  from Oslo SAS na sasakyan nyo.

[Frozen Toes]

More things to do in Helsinki, Stockholm, and Oslo please. Finnair's airfare from MNL seems reasonable. I'm considering it. 

[snowflakes08]

^ Sis what season are you planning to go in Scandinavia? Spring/Summer will be best kasi kapag autumn/winter or kapag nag-snow konti na pwede puntahan.

Stockholm:
Old Town (Gamla Stan)
Royal Palace (Kungliga Slottet)
Vasa Museum (Vasa Museet)
Skansen (if matapat ka ng mid-summer meron celebration dito)
Gr?nalund (like EK pero their rides are not the usual at meron games na prizes are big box of chocolates or cookies)
Kungstr?dg?rden (Cherry Blossoms during Spring)
Drottningholm Palace (best during spring/summer then you can see the baroque garden)
Absolut Ice Bar

If you want shopping -- H&M overload like everywhere! In Kungstr?dg?rden walking distance ang Nordiska Kompaniet (NK) high end shopping mall, Gallerian mall, and designer brands Longchamp, LV, Gucci, Sephora etc. Buy also local swedish chocolate Marabou (so far wala pa ako nakita nagtitinda sa Pinas sabi it is only exclusive in Sweden/EU) and they are good like Cadbury na.

Helsinki:
You can take the cruise from Stockholm to Helsinki din...

Helsinki Cathedral
Senate Square (dito din ang Helsinki Cathedral)
Market Square
If ang Sweden meron Marabou then Finland have Karl Fazer Caf? (Karl Fazer chocolates though available in Duty Free)
Shopping: Stockmann Mall (located in the city center)

[kachich]

^Hi Sis! I might go to Oslo and Linkoping next month. Weekends lang ako free, so I might not be able to tour around talaga - can you suggest places to go to / eat / shop? Baka I can have a day trip to Stockholm from Linkoping (hopefully!!).

[snowflakes08]

^ Take a day tour to Stockholm -- its worth it!  Magkakalapit lang naman ang Royal Palace, Old Town (Gamla Stan), Kungstragarden (within city center kasi sila). For me kasi not much to see in Linkoping pero punta ka sa Cloetta Shop nasa Gamla Linkoping then the cathedral also. If you are going to Stockholm check SJ train website pwede ka na din magbook ng ticket. X2000 high speed train pero meron na din naman regional train na ang difference lang is 10-15mins from X2000 tapos mas mahal pa ang ticket. Travel time is like 1.5 to 1.45mins kapag train if by bus mas mura pero medyo mas matagal more than 2 hours.

Go to Stockholm ng Saturday instead of Sunday mas shorter kasi nakaopen ang mga stores. For example ang NK mall kapag Saturday until 6pm lang kapag naman Sunday late na ang bukas 11am close na ng 5PM.

Aside from Marabou chocolates... you can buy Cloetta products - eto mga gusto ko... Kexchoklad (Chocolate Wafer), Ahlens Bilar (Cars Gummy Candies iba't ibang variety) and Polly (parang chewy choclate na marshmallow). Pez candies din yung may kasama dispenser.

Food - honestly hindi ko peg ang local swedish food like reindeer, herring or seal hehe! On Thursday common ang pea soup and pancakes (not US pancake style). Pyttipanna (in short left over food na ginawa parang lasagna hehe!), Princess Cake (Prinssestarta), Crayfish (if you are coming in August ayan may celebration for that), Potatis Gratin (Potatisgratang) gusto ko ito para siya lasagna na potato. Fast food try their local Max, more on burger parang Burger King at Jollibee pero masarap at mura meron din nito sa Arlanda airport. Coffee - I go to Wayne's or Espress House both Swedish house brand pero meron din naman Starbucks. Syempre ang meatballs! sa Ikea meron din cafeteria so you can eat there. Eat a lot of Salmon (Lax) authentic Norwegian at hindi masyado mahal haha! 

P.S.
Meron din Stockholm Quality Outlet but its quite far if coming from Centralen pero may train at bus naman then meron na din Ikea sa outlet. Google na lang for exact spelling ayaw kasi magtranslate sa GT kapag special character input ko.

[Frozen Toes]

^ Super helpful tips! Any suggestions for pasalubong other than chocolates?

I'm busy up until 3rd quarter of this year so I'm shooting for winter travel. My best friend and I are hoping to catch Aurora, so we'll probably go around November.

In Finland, I plan to buy lots of Moomin toys and trinkets, hit their beloved saunas, do a bit of shopping at Stockmann, and join the Tough Viking obstacle race. Yes, in winter. Brrr. Will start training for it around June.

In Sweden, I'm interested to visit Vasamuseet, Gamla Stan, the Nobel Museum, The Scream at the National Museum, and Icebar (yay!)

In Norway, we'll book Norway in a Nutshell. Hopefully, we can stay overnight in Bergen. I think I'll like it better than Oslo.

Then, we'll fly to Iceland for Aurora and other touristy Icelandic things.

[kachich]

Thank you thank you so much @snowflakes08!!! Hopefully I will be able to get to Sweden early morning of Saturday so I can tour Stockholm, will be coming from Oslo pa. Not planning on exploring Link?ping na, will get chocolates as you suggested, where to buy these? Cheaper ba in airport or grocery? Link?ping airport out ko from Sweden.

[shygirlme]

For me mas masarap si Freia compare sa Marabou. Kaya if youre in Norway get Freia na. Minsan may sale sila sa groceries. Try nyo din yung Freia pudding tapos lalagyan ng vanilla sauce! Sarap!

[snowflakes08]

^^ Mahal sa airport buy ka na lang sa groceries (ICA/ICA Maxi, Coop Konsum/Daglivs for sure makikita mo mga yan kasi para sila SM Hypermarket sa dami haha!). Sa ICA or Coop kasi minsan may promo buy 2 Marabou for 30-35 SEK. Kapag may nakita ka promo ganun bili ka na kasi mura na yun. Schweizer Not is hazelnut then Helnot is whole hazelnut then meron Oreo, Mint, Licorice, Daim, Fruit and Nut at madami pa variant. Yung mga Cloetta candies buy mo na lang sa Linkoping dun kasi ang factory at meron candy store ang Cloetta mismo. Nasa Gamla Linkoping ang shop ng Cloetta so makikita mo siya for sure pero meron din sa ICA/Coop.

@Frozen Toes bili ka sa Gamla Stan ng Dalahorse... Wooden horse siya in different sizes/colors pero most popular ang color red at sikat din symbol/drawing. Trolls and vikings din pero hindi ko peg hehe!  Sa Gamla Stan kasi dun madami bilihan ng souvenirs magkakatabi sila kaya hanap-hanap ka muna before buy kasi may store na mahal minsan may mura or may offer na 3 keychains/magnets for 100 SEK. Fjallraven Kanken backpacks nga din pala is a local brand din kung interested ka meron sa mga Intersports and Naturkompaniet shops. I also like Goteborgs Ballerina cookies masarap siya for me palagi ako naguuwi nito.

Yes buy Moomins in Helsinki mas madami than Stockholm. Malapit ang bilhan ng souvenir sa Senate Square kung saan ang Helsinki Cathedral. Sa tapat ng Cathedral dun ako nakabili ng mga Moomins.

Don't forget to ask for tax free sa mga shops and kahit sa mga souvenir shops nagooffer din sila just ask for tax free and show your passport kasi ang laki talaga ng savings.

In Winter, bundle up in complete winter attire kasi kailangan talaga! Hindi ako lamigin na tao pero exage talaga ang weather lalo na kapag naglalakad. I always say if malamig na sa Stockholm it is much more in Helsinki! Konti oras lang ang araw sa daytime kaya feeling ang haba ng gabi. In Helsinki gumagamit ako ng earmuffs kasi sumasakit ang tenga ko sa lamig. Baon ka din ng madami lotion/moisturizer. Winter and snow can vary each year may times maaga ang snow at dropping temp may times naman mga January pa pero ang sure by Autumn malamig na.

Enjoy the Northern Lights sis! Madami may bucket list niyan para ma-experience! 

[kachich]

Thanks shygirlme and snowflakes08!
Laki pala ng difference ng cost of living between the two countries, hirap pagkakasyahin yung baon ko hahaha