🗺️ 10–14 days in Scandinavia: how to combine Norway’s fjords and Copenhagen without rushing

The “Copenhagen + Norwegian fjords” combo looks perfect on paper: a bit of hygge, a slice of city architecture and that iconic view of a fjord with waterfalls. In reality many first‑timers try to squeeze in Stockholm, Trondheim and “at least one glacier” on top – and end up with a holiday where they mostly drag a suitcase instead of breathing in sea air.

This article offers two calm, realistic 10–14 day scenarios: one via Oslo, one via Bergen. No frantic city hopping, clear logistics and options both for public transport only and for hiring a car just where it genuinely adds value.

🧭 Overall itinerary logic: how many days and how not to overload the plan

A comfortable time frame is 10–14 full days “on the ground”, not counting flights to and from Scandinavia. Less than 9–10 days means you will have to sacrifice something important; more than two weeks often runs into budget and time‑off limits.

A few principles that keep the trip sane:
– No more than 3–4 main bases: Copenhagen, Oslo or Bergen, one fjord region and, optionally, one extra city.
– At least 3 nights in Copenhagen so the capital does not turn into a rushed stopover.
– In the fjords, aim for 3–4 nights in one region instead of moving every night.
– Long transfers (overnight train, ferry, flight) are best “woven” into the route so that they save an overnight stay instead of simply eating up a day.

With this in mind you get two very workable skeletons: Copenhagen + Oslo + fjords and Copenhagen + Bergen + fjords, each of which can be stretched from 10 to 14 days.

📊 Two basic itineraries for 10–14 days

🚆 Option 1: via Oslo – trains and ferries

This option suits people who prefer trains and ferries to internal flights. It is a good choice if flights into Copenhagen are much cheaper than flying directly to Norway.

Example 10–12 day itinerary:
– Days 1–3: Copenhagen
Arrival, first walk around the centre and Nyhavn, a bike ride along the waterfront, one day for a short side‑trip: north‑Zealand castles, Malmö or a modern art museum.

– Day 4: travel to Oslo
Overnight ferry or day train/coach (depending on budget and timetables). The ferry saves you one hotel night and gives you a mini‑cruise, but check the season and weather.

– Days 5–6: Oslo
Two nights to explore the harbourfront, museums on Bygdøy, the opera house roof, a tram or train ride into hillier neighbourhoods and a general feel for the Norwegian capital.

– Days 7–9: fjords (Sognefjord or Nærøyfjord)

Classic routes combine train + ferry + bus with a 2–3 night stay in one village. The key is not to “tick off” the fjord in a single day, but actually live there: go on hikes, take a kayak out, and wait for a clear break in the weather.
– Days 10–11: back to Oslo and home
One overnight stop on the way back, one buffer day for weather or delays, then your flight home or a return to Copenhagen if outbound flights from there are cheaper.

If you have 14 days, resist the temptation to bolt on another new city. It is usually nicer to expand what you already have: add a day in the fjords, one extra “no plans” day in Copenhagen or a relaxed day in Oslo.

✈️ Option 2: via Bergen – maximum fjords in a compact area

If your main goal is the fjords, many travellers choose “Copenhagen + Bergen” with an internal flight. This cuts down overland travel and lets you spend most of the route in exactly the scenery you came for.

Example 10–12 day itinerary:
– Days 1–3: Copenhagen
A classic first visit to the city: central canals, parks, a couple of neighbourhoods beyond the core and one suburban outing to a forest, beach or nearby town.
– Day 4: flight to Bergen
A short flight, then half a day to wander along the harbour, fish market and wooden quarter, and perhaps a funicular ride for a panoramic view of the city.
– Days 5–8: fjord region around Bergen
Choose one base for 3–4 nights and do day‑trips from there: Sognefjord, Nærøyfjord, Hardangerfjord, side valleys, perhaps a glacier viewpoint. The idea is to avoid moving your luggage every day and build a “fan” of day routes instead.

– Days 9–10: Bergen–Oslo train (optional)
One of the most scenic railway lines in the region. You can ride it all the way to Oslo and spend 1–2 nights there or return to Bergen and fly back to Copenhagen.

– Days 11–12: extra and buffer
Perfect for those who want more city time (Oslo) or more mountains and water (another fjord day).

With 14 days it is easy to stretch the fjord block to 5 nights and add one more overnight in Oslo or back in Copenhagen.

💺 Public transport or car hire: how the route and budget change

Both Norway and Denmark work very well on public transport. In theory you can complete the entire itinerary without sitting behind the wheel once: trains, coaches, ferries and internal flights cover almost everything.

Hiring a car for 3–5 days in the fjord region, however, gives you:
– freedom to stop at viewpoints, smaller waterfalls and picnic spots;
– access to quieter trails and villages with no mass‑market tours;
– the option to stay slightly away from the most expensive, touristy villages and drive in when you want.

The downsides are expensive city parking, high fuel prices and the need to take mountain roads and hairpins seriously.

📌 Public transport vs hiring a car in the fjords

✅ Checklist – which skeleton suits you?

🌤️ When to travel: fjords without crowds vs peak season

For a “city + fjords” trip three things matter at once: weather, daylight and crowds.

– May – early June
There can still be snow higher up in the mountains, but trails start opening, the green is fresh and waterfalls are full. There are fewer people than in July and it is easier to find accommodation. Temperatures are unstable: one day in a T‑shirt, the next in a jacket and hat, but the days are already long.

– July – early August
The most reliable period in terms of warm-ish air and water, tours running and full timetables. In exchange you get the highest prices and busiest trains, ferries and viewpoints. If you are tied to school holidays or dislike cold, this is the safest bet.

– Late August – September
Slightly cooler, but still enough daylight, lots of autumn colour and fewer groups. Prices start to soften and that “rush hour” feeling disappears from the classic fjord routes. You need to be ready for more frequent rain and wind, but for a calm “Copenhagen + fjords” combo this is one of the most rewarding windows.

In winter the fjords also work, but it is a completely different trip: very short days, a limited choice of open trails and more focus on cities and winter activities. For a first “city + classic fjords” journey, it is easier to aim for the warmer months.

✂️ What to skip if you are short on days

The main rookie mistake is trying to glue one or two extra cities onto “Copenhagen + fjords”: Stockholm, Bergen and Oslo on the same trip, plus islands and a glacier.

If you only have 10–11 days, it is sensible to:
– skip Stockholm and other capitals and keep just Copenhagen and Norway;
– choose one fjord region and one base instead of chasing “two fjords in two days”;
– avoid unnecessary night transfers: two calm nights in one place are better than “saving” on a hotel and losing the next day to exhaustion.

With 12–14 days you can gently “add meat”: an extra day in Oslo, one more fjord day or a truly lazy day in Copenhagen without a must‑see list.