Any "must-see" or "must-do" suggestions when visiting Norway and Sweden? n/t

[shcrane71]

[cbayer]

1. Check out scantours.net

Lots of info on Scandinavia, side trips, etc.

[shcrane71]

2. Thank you! I'll check it out. n/t

[riverwalker]

3. fish market in Bergen

spend the day nibbling and munching (fresh smoked salmon, wild cloudberries, reindeer sausage) and people watching. Outdoor cafes line the waterfront (beer is about $9.00 in USD! Bring lots of money, the dollar does not go far in Norway). The fish soup is to die for.

[shcrane71]

4. Thanks so much.... I've already decided to be a teetotaler while in Norway

I'll give the fish soup a try.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. I was there last summer. Here's what I enjoyed:

Taking the funicular up to the top of the mountain overlooking Bergen
Attending a combination classical and folk concert on Edvard Grieg's estate outside of Bergen
The fish market, where they'll barbecue your choice of seafood on a skewer
Trondheim Cathedral, the northernmost Gothic cathedral in the world
Taking the Hurtigrute ship from Trondheim to Bergen
Taking a self-guided tour of the Hardanger Fjord entirely by public transit (You get a series of tickets and move from trains to boats to buses)
Spending a weekend at my friend's cabin in the mountains
Oslo: the Bygdøy Museums, especially the Folk Museum and the Viking ships
Frogner Sculpture Park
The stunning experience of being caught up in a 150,000-person silent memorial march for the victims of the massacre
The Norwegian Resistance Museum
Taking a canal tour of Stockholm
Seeing the Vasa Museum in Stockholm
Just walking around Old Town and other parts of Stockholm
Riding the clean and fast trains

Food is very expensive. Your hotel will probably include a buffet breakfast: make it one of your two meals a day.
However, the hotels aren't all that expensive by international standards, and all of them seem to have free wi-fi.
Almost everyone speaks English, especially young people. The only place I had to use my pidgin Norwegian was when talking to my older relatives and in buying lunch at the bus rest stop in the middle of nowhere.
If you're bored in your hotel room, you'll find that most of the TV programs are from English-speaking countries and subtitled in Norwegian or Swedish.
If you go in the summer, you'll be amazed at how long the days are. We attended a family reunion on an island near Trondheim (about halfway up Norway) in the middle of July, and it never really got dark. The sun dipped below the horizon at about 11:30 and came back up a couple hours later, but there was always some light in the sky.

[shcrane71]

6. Your trip sounds like quite the experience. Especially if you were there

during the tragic massacre of the children. That was heart-breaking.

We had quite a few of the things you suggested on the itinerary, and we added quite a few more suggestions like: the Hardanger Fjord, the Norwegian Resistance Museum, and a canal tour of Stockholm.

Thank you so much!

[Lydia Leftcoast]

7. The Vasa Museum was the pleasant surprise of the trip

I originally intended to give it the same time I had given the Viking Ship Museum in Oslo, about an hour, but I ended up spending over three hours there. It's not just the ship but also exhibits about 17th century life, films and exhibits about the salvage and restoration process, and even facial reconstructions and analyses of the skeletons found in the wreckage (most people survived, since the sinking was so close to shore, but about 25 people died).

The Tourist Office in Bergen can arrange a fjord tour for you.

[shcrane71]

8. Oh wow! We'll definitely schedule some time for the Vasa Museum.

I always feel cheated when I haven't scheduled enough time for a museum, and I must skip some of the museum's exhibits. I can't tell you how invaluable it is to hear from someone who's recently visited these countries. I definitely don't want to skip any exhibits about 17th century Scandinavian life, or their films.

So we just go to the Tourist Office in Bergen, and they will direct us on which public transportation will allow us a tour of the a fjord? If I understand that correctly, I think that's one of the most wonderful uses for public transport (which I love) that I've ever heard of.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

9. Yes. My brother took care of the arrangements and I tagged along with his family,

but as I recall, there's a train to a bus to a boat to another boat to a bus back to the city. I think we got a set of tickets. The train leaves at 8:00AM or some other ungodly hour, and you're essentially gone all day. There's a three-hour stop at a town in the middle of the day, where you can have lunch (on your own), hike into the hills, or just hang out.

The Bergen Tourist Office also booked the concert at Grieg's home for me. (My brother and his family were not interested.) I just bought the ticket, and they provided a free bus to Grieg's home, which is out in the suburbs and not easily accessible by public transit. We still had to walk the last kilometer or so.

Oslo and Stockholm both have streetcar and subway systems, and Oslo has regular ferry service from in front of the City Hall out to Bygdøy, where the Folk Museum (recommended), the Viking Ship Museum, and a couple of other museums are located.

[shcrane71]

10. I see that Rick Steves also recommends the concert at Grieg's home.

We were going to skip it since we didn't think it would be accessible by any sort of free transportation. Honestly, who knew that the Norwegians were so accommodating??? I'm awestruck. We've got all your recommendations in Stockholm scheduled, including walking around Old Town.

I was in Europe in 2009. I asked Italians, French, Belgians, and Dutch people where they would recommend an American to visit, and they all said Oslo and Stockholm. I've got to see what all the hub bub is about.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

11. I think you'll like them

But take a lot of money.

[bikebloke]

12. Fjords in Norway

Go to western Norway and see the fjords. About 33 years ago, I worked on a fruit farm there for a couple months. Spectacular scenery. Though working outside in the chilly rain everyday wasn't that much fun.

[shcrane71]

13. Just got back from the trip, and made it to the Fjords.

They were magnificent. Oslo has the cleanest and best smelling airport I've ever been in. Also the train from Oslo airport to the city is fantastic.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

14. Glad you had a good time!

I can't wait to go back, but a cousin from Norway is visiting this weekend and staying with my brother. We're meeting up this evening for dinner.

[Lars77]

20. Aw man i just saw this post, i was going to reply.

I'm an Oslo native. Did you go to the Munch Museum?

[shcrane71]

24. Loved Oslo!!! First, you have the best-smelling, most beautiful airport in the world.

I felt like I had landed in a northern lodge. The whole thing smelled of cedar and really delicious seafood. The train from the airport to Central Station was also just as clean, incredibly quiet, very comfortable seats.

I made it to the national museum where there was a whole room devoted to works by Munch, but we missed the Munch museum. I'm very sad about this. I made it to Vigland Park (beautiful), the Viking museum, the Kon-Tiki museum, the Folk museum, and the Nobel Peace museum. There's so much that I missed in Oslo. After the trip, we wished we had scheduled less time in Bergen, and more in Oslo.

It wasn't until I got home that I was able to read why all these kids were running around in red/blue suspenders -- the Russ??? kids. Here's another thing that was endearing about Oslo: The gentleman that we purchased our train tickets into Central Station said, "Please don't be too disappointed with us." That's so endearing. I was thinking, "We're from the Midwest, I guarantee we're going to be dazzled". We loved Norwegians.

[Lars77]

25. "Please don't be too disappointed with us."

hehe, we have this weird image of ourselves. It's kind of complicated. I think that we in a way have very high standards and our country kind of projects this perfect image abroad, but of course we have issues like everyone else.

There is also this idea that we are all lazy because we have the oil revenue and that we don't innovate because of this, and everyone just takes off sick days because we are lazy. In my experience working in the UK and Germany and living as a student in Kentucky i think we actually work harder than most, but we don't realize it.

We are a weird people

[shcrane71]

26. I think you're too hard on yourselves, but at the same time, I wouldn't change that.

It's nice to be around people who are not conceited even though they have many reasons to boast. Swedes said that there is a word that doesn't translate into English that basically means, "meh, good enough". For instance, "Does he have the aptitude to fulfill this position?" Answer: "His brains are 'meh, good enough' (whatever that Swedish word was)". I wonder if this is a Scandinavian mindset. Albeit, the Swedes in Stockholm seemed to be a bit more boastful.

We asked Swedes what they felt about Norway. One young Swede who was telling us to visit some island off Stockholm seemed a bit put off when we asked if it was as pretty as the fjords in Norway. But for the most part, we heard from Swedes that they felt Norwegians were justified if they held a grudge against Sweden for maintaining neutrality during WWII.

Kentucky must have been such a culture shock from Norway. Here in the upper Midwest region, we have many immigrants from Scandinavian countries. I told my mother about the "meh, good enough" attitude (she's a quarter Swedish), and she didn't see what was unusual about that. My mother always tried to instill that a no person is better than another person. I now think this attitude came from Scandinavia.

[Lars77]

27. Stockholmers are famous for being arrogant.

They're like the parisians of scandinavia.

About the WWII thing, it's mostly tounge in cheek. But it came up again recently because it was revealed just this weekend that the Swedish government allowed German troop trains through the country so the Germans could supply and reinforce the troops at the battle of Narvik. The Swedes lied to the Norwegian and English governments. Apparently the Norwegian prime minister wrote in a note to the Swedish PM that he hates the Swedish and it was the PMs fault. The note was never delivered.

Kentucky was a culture shock, because it was in west kentucky just 20 mins from TN. But i know American culture so it was ok The tea party debate at the university was pretty funny though when the one guy said that Europeans are protesting against socialized medicine and people are dying in french ambulances.

I raised my hand and told him what's what, he seemed really embarrased. I guess he did not count on any Europeans being there.

[shcrane71]

28. I'm so glad you were there to tell Kentuckians how Europeans truly feel.

It's unusual for Americans to hold passports let alone travel outside of North or South Americas from what I've been told. Unless people are exposed to other ideas, they'll never know. Thank you for going to Western Kentucky as well. I'm certain you're helping some people to become a bit more skeptical about the US propaganda that's shoved down our throats from a very young age.

I had no idea that Sweden helped the Nazis during the war. That's gross. I did watch a Norwegian film about a someone "watching" a Norwegian pensioner where that activity was alluded to, but I don't recall the name of that movie. In trying to learn more about Scandinavia, I watched as many films as I could find on Netflix from Norway and Sweden. I think that Norway should invest a bit more in their film industry. Albeit I appreciate Troll Hunter for it's B-movie/Mystery Science Theateresque entertainment, I know Norwegians have much more to offer.

[waddirum]

15. I was just in Sweden and Norway at the beginning of May

My brother bought a Volvo, and they had a special promotion where you pick up the car at the factory in Gothenburg. We drove it around for 10 days and 2000 miles before returning it for shipment back home.

Highlights included the "Kingdom of Chrystal" in Sweden, where we saw numerous glass factories, museums, galleries, and outlet stores. What a nice drive.

We also went pretty deep into the Fjords of Norway. It was before the tourist season started so many of the hotels and restaurants were still closed. But it was unbelievably beautiful. Amazing photos.

Both countries were very expensive. It was quite a shock paying for gasoline.

[shcrane71]

16. Is it cheaper to buy a Volvo directly from the factory?

We took a tour of the Fjords set up by their visitor center. They are unbelievably beautiful.

Did you go into Stockholm at all? We heard that Gothenburg is a must-see, but we didn't get there. If you're there again and are in Stockholm, make sure to check out the Akkurat bar. Beers are quite expensive, but they have a HUGE selection, and the people are so nice.

[waddirum]

17. I'm not really sure about the pricing and tax advantages of taking delivery in Sweden

My bro purchased the car through a state-side dealership, and the car will eventually be delivered to the dealer.

I think it is more of a promotion type of thing for both Sweden and Volvo. The package included 2 round trip tickets, 2 nights at a Raddison Blu in Gothenburg, 3 nights at Raddison Blu in Stockholm, a 24-hour museum and transit pass for Stockholm, a Volvo factory tour, and a lunch at the visitors centers.

Stockholm was great... one of the nicest cities in Europe in my opinion. We didn't really go to any bars, but made it to the Opera. Gothenburg was nice too. We were there for Walpurgis night, and we checked out the bon-fire celebration in the park.

[shcrane71]

18. That's the best car buying experience I've ever heard.

I want to buy a Volvo now, and get a trip to Stockholm. We went to so many museums in Stockholm. I think the medieval museum is one of the best historical museum's ever. The Vasa museum, and Skanson were hard to get out of because they were so interesting.

What was Walpurgis night like? I had to look it up, and it looks like a lot of fun. Did they cover buildings in plastic to save them from getting sprayed with champagne?

[waddirum]

19. I was very impressed with my brother's Volvo XC60

The MANY safety features built into Volvos place them into another category compared to other autos. The Volvo complex in Gothenburg also has a Safety Museum, containing many examples of Volvos that have been smashed up (either in factory tests or on real highways).

The "Volvo Experience" also included limo/taxi to and from the airports and other perks. It's a great way to buy a car. I think BMW has something similar.

Walpurgis night was pretty tame. There was a bonfire in the park and a live band in the bandshell. It was mostly young kids, many of whom were intoxicated. However, no one was damaging property or anything.

We spent 4 hours at the Vasa Museum. I didn't expect it to be that interesting, but it really was.

[Lars77]

21. Yeah BMW and all the germans has it has it

I currently live in Bavaria. I've been to BMW Welt (BMW World) in Munich sometimes. There's Americans there every day taking delivery of their cars, going on the autobahn and having some fun before it's shipped to the states.

They have a handing over the car ceremony and factory tour and everything. I think Mercedes, Porsche, VW, Audi they all do it down here. It's a big experience thing. The Mercedes museum in Stuttgart is fantastic. Audi even has a kind of Audi center in Munich Airport with a fleet of cars where you can fly an and test drive and everything.

Also the arcitecture is cool.

BMW Welt top, museum with the logo on it, office buildings shaped as four cylinders to the right:





This is where customers get their cars:


A friend of mine from Kentucky is coming over here in August to visit. He's never been to Europe before and told me "I hope Europe isn't totally backwards". We'll see what he says after visiting BMW. hehe

Mercedes Benz:





Porsche:

Their factory straddles a main road into Stuttgart. Finishes chassis are transported on the glass bridge over the road.

[waddirum]

22. cool pictures -- thanks

Have you ever been to Immenstadt-Allgau? I have good friends from there and visited back in the 80s.

[Lars77]

23. No but i've been in the Allgau area. Did a four country roadtrip in a sunday afternoon.

Germany-Austria-Switzerland-Liechtenstein.

I study down here in Bavaria, doing an MA in transatlantic studies (which is why im a DUer).