scandinavia anyone?

[yabutize]

We have a 16-hour layover in Oslo (arriving midnight from Amsterdam) before heading back to Los Angeles. Has anyone tried sleeping at the airport? Plan namin to do a day trip in the morning when everything opens up. Our flight doesn't leave until 3:55 pm the next day.

[mrs. sweet]

Hi. Planning Scandinavian trip this September, madali lang ba DIY? Any tour packages you can recommend?

[michi247]

^^ may malapit na hotel sa Oslo airport, check mo Radisson Hotel. Para mas makapahinga kayo kaysa magstay sa loob airport.

[yabutize]

^Thank you, I found it nga. 3 minute walk from  the airport. Ill book na lang para proper rest  for the day trip the next day. Thank you!

What are the must-sees in Oslo? I have the Viking Ship Museum already on the list. Also, what Norwegian food/restaurant should we try?

[michi247]

^ 5 hours layover lang kami dati sa Oslo kaya hindi na kami umikot sa labas. Pero nung nasa planning stage kami, nagbasa-basa din ko. Check mo yung Oslo Pass kung magmuseum kayo.

https://www.visitoslo.com/en/activities-and-attractions/oslo-pass/

[yabutize]

^Thank you, I will look into this pass. Is it easy to navigate around the city (coming from the airport)? Are the attractions relatively close to one another?

[snowflakes08]

Hi. Planning Scandinavian trip this September, madali lang ba DIY? Any tour packages you can recommend?

Yes madali lang ang DIY Helpful naman sila and magaling mag-english if in case gusto mo magtanong. Accessible naman sa trains, buses and walking ang mga tourist spots. 

[mrs. sweet]

^Thanks for the reply. I availed an organized tour na lang, they arranged accommodations, trasnfers and some daytours/HOHO buses

[kachich]

Currently in Norway for about a week already. Spent the weekend in Oslo -- everything is expensive! Bought Freia chocolates (Cheaper in Kiwi / Rema1000)  -- price range is from EUR 3 - 5 (depends on the flavor). My hotel was in the middle of the city (malls here and there) so I was able to walk on the attractions. Only places I've been to: Akershus Fortress, Oslo Opera House, Royal Palace, Oslo Cathedral, Botanical Garden near Munch Museum. Farthest I went to was the Frogner Park. Didnt bother to go inside the museums.

My take on Oslo: If you're into shopping it's not the best place to be. Architecture wise - buildings are almost the same with other EU countries (but better in Prague/Paris imo). The Oslo Opera House is something different as it was on top of water. Frogner Park is also nice - I thought it was only French who made naked sculptures/figures. Maybe because I did not visit the museums, or learned about the viking way? I enjoyed reading the escapes of the thiefs in Akershus Fortress though.

But I like/love and enjoy the scenery outside of Oslo. I like the mountains and in between lakes.

[shygirlme]

^Yes expensive ang Freia lalo pag hindi sale. Minsan nagsisale sya 5 for 100nok (yung malalaki)

[kachich]

^no sale on my whole stay in Norway   Tapos -- ngayon ko lang nalaman that they imposed higher taxes pala on anything with sugar to encourage the people to eat healthy.

Currently in Linkoping, Sweden -- was able to go to Cloetta shop, namurahan ako sa chocolates, dami ko nabili kasi ang layo ng presyo sa Norway eff (the problem is handling these kasi I will be travelling around pa) Next to find Marabou in Stockholm (at the end of my trip!) 

[shygirlme]

^yes sis actually lahat sa Norway mataas ang tax. People who live near Sweden dumadayo pa just to buy foods, liquors even cigarettes kasi mas mura sa Sweden.

[michi247]

^agree, lahat mahal sa Norway. hehe! Yung softdrinks lang nila halos triple ang price sa atin.

[kachich]

Now in Copenhagen. Feel na feel ko na ang mahal ng scandinavia dahil hindi na ako sponsored ng company =)) Got Anthony Berg and Toms chocolates. Konti lang with Toms-didnt really like them, pampasalubong lang masabi na gawang Denmark.

Will be back in Stockholm pa next week, Marabou naman. 🤣😆

[iloveChristmas]

Denmark is so beautiful and I agree ang mahal nga but the beauty of the country is so worth it. Good thing I stayed with relatives and I didn't do much shopping, more of touristy stuff ginawa ko. I can't wait to go back since I was only there for 3 days.

[kachich]

Got back from the trip almost 1 month ago! For me mas mahal in Norway and Denmark kesa sa Sweden (probably because of the conversion?), cant remember with Iceland kasi did not convert during the time I was there.

In terms of capitals:
Reykjavik: I like small towns (yung halos nalilibot ko na thru walking lang) -- maganda din structures and buildings dito, sarap mag leisure walk, then tambay sa coffee shop. Ang sarap ng flavored Skyr (from Iceland, but also available in Norway, Sweden shelves) and Icelandic chocolates!! Food wise -- I remember na bland sa panlasa ko.

Copenhagen: Structures and buildings are on top as well, I like the variety of cuisines around, and the food as well. Too bad, I find this city too expensive (Tap water seems undrink-able, or nasanay lang ako sa water ng Sweden and Norway?).

Stockholm: Did not expect much from this city kaya siguro ako nagandahan (at namurahan). Structures/buildings wise -- better ang Copenhagen, but availability of cuisines marami din, cheaper food options as well so sobrang nakakatuwa. Chocolates are cheaper too.

Oslo: Structures / buildings failed in comparison with Copenhagen and Stockholm. Food -- super expensive, hit and miss din sa food dito from restaurants that I tried (3 Italian restaurants, 1 Asian and several Japanese restaurants), although you can never go wrong if you get sushi and maki. Parang bland ang food nila for me.

[Frozen Toes]

Is there a cheaper alternative to Norway in a Nutshell? The Oslo-Bergen-Oslo route costs at least PHP 18,000. Kinda pricey for a roundtrip train ride.

Anyway, I am so pleased with Norwegian efficiency. My visa application got approved in 3 short days. I love it.

[kachich]

^hi! I checked nsb.no and I chose the cheapest fares, roundtrip will be about 700-900NOK (about 5000-6000PHP). I chose Oslo Central Station / Oslo Lufthavn to/from Bergen.

[mrs. sweet]

^kachich, halos same places pala tayo. may helsinki, bergen, flam and malmo lang kami and more recent sa amin. among those places, Iceland ang pinaka-like ko. I expected much sa Stockholm, because a friend of mine said it's beautiful there. But, I didn't find it that nice, but food choices are better nga than other Scandinavian countries.

[kachich]

Iceland seems like (South Island of) New Zealand, no? The snow capped mountains / volcanoes, the amazing waterfalls around (better in Iceland though), and the black sand seas with crazy waves (South Island offers turquoise lakes naman) . Reykjavik (although more expensive and food choices are blah) seems better than Auckland.