Scandinavia, Baltic, Amsterdam/Belgium

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surarj
surarj

I am trying to plan a trip to Northern Europe and would love some advice.

The kids are 11 and 8 and experienced travelers. We will be spending Week #1 with my parents and brother (but without my husband). Week #2 is a cruise to the Baltic Capitals (Helsinski, St. Petersburg, Stockholm, Tallin, north of Berlin). Week #3 we will all travel together. Husband will join us for weeks #2 and 3.

I'm trying to figure out what to do during weeks #1 and 3. My dad can't walk around too much. Husband loves to spend time in the great outdoors. My brother and I like to see the scenery and the sights. Mom and kids will need some down time, so I have at least one day a week set aside for relaxation. We don't like to do TOO much, but at the same time this is a chance for my parents to see this part of Europe so I don't want to miss anything important.

We will fly into Copenhagen, Denmark and OUT of Amsterdam.

I was thinking we could spend week #1 in Denmark, with a day trip from Copenhagen to Southern Sweden. Denmark is a small country, and I won't have my hubby with me :) so I thought that would be the more relaxing option.
Some ideas: Hans Christian Anderson house, Tivoli Gardens, Roskile - viking museum and cathedral, Frederiksborg Castle, Helsingor - bridge to Sweden. We don't care to see legoland since we are coming from California and have easy access to ours :) Any other ideas? What about Aero?

Then I thought we could spend Week #3 (actually, six days) in Amsterdam and possibly Belgium. OR should we go back to Sweden? The cruise only takes us to Stockholm and cruising the Archipelago, but we won't have much time there. I booked our outgoing flight from Amsterdam, thinking we would go there, but now I'm wondering if we should spend that last week in Sweden since it will be harder to get up there again, whereas I know we will be coming back to France and Germany/Austria, so we can see Amsterdam and Belgium some other time. Plus hubby loves to spend time outdoors. We would still have to get to Amsterdam to make our flight, so maybe we could at least spend a day or two there. I wish I had realized all this before booking the tickets, as it takes a day to get to Amsterdam from Copenhagen (by train). If we went to Amsterdam and Belgium, any ideas for five full days of sightseeing?

Also, how would you recommend getting around in Denmark and Sweden? Amsterdam/Belgium? (if we go) My husband loves to drive, but I realize it's the opposite side of the road so that may be stressful. When it's just my brother and parents, I'm wondering if we can get around by trains and taxis. My dad won't be able to walk huge distances and biking is not an option.

I would appreciate your input! Thanks.

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applecrisp
applecrisp

If you headed to Amsterdam, take a canal cruise. I found it online, it seems kind of neat.
For your last question, I would recommend public transit. It will be easier for everyone.

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flyingdutchgirl
flyingdutchgirl

Hi,

There's lots you could do in the Netherlands and Belgium in week 3. Distances are very short. Don't just stay in Amsterdam, that would be a shame! You could make a little tour of the Netherlands and Belgium. Kids will like the islands in the north of the Netherlands; Haarlem, the sand dunes of the coast; the Hague and in Belgium you could visit Brugge, Ghent and/or Brussels. All are within easy reach of each other by public transport and have train stations in the city centre.

I wouldn't recommend driving unless you're used to parking in very tight spots and in busy city centres. If you can do that though, then by all means! The traffic is fairly orderly otherwise.

Drop me a PM if you need info on the Netherlands or Belgium!

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brinky
brinky

don't forget that if you drive, you need to park your car as well. it seems like you will be staying in cities and parking is very expensive there.

Since you already say that you will be going back later to visit France/Germany, I would not go into Belgium at this point. The Netherlands have plenty of things to see and do to keep you busy. I would explore more of the Netherlands in your case and save Belgium for another time (even though I'm from Belgium myself and should be promoting it ;-)

Anyway, if you do a search on the forum, you'll find plenty of posts with interesting sights in the Netherlands.
You can do a lot of walking in the Netherlands (not really hiking) or biking as well. The Netherlands are a biking country! This might be something for your husband?

Enjoy your trip!

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hildej
hildej

If you are going to Holland, only in the big cities is it difficult to park. You should go and travel around Holland, for example your take a botter trip in Elburg on het Veluwemeer. Your husband would like it as it is outdoors and for anybody that does not want to walk it is a great couple of hours out. I would def recommend it. Do not stay in just Den Haag or Amsterdam.

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annascaul28
annascaul28

i loved Bornhom and the island off it...which I think you can stay on called Christianso was spectacular...very rural but very scandinavian and peaceful.
my husband and 2 kids loved it too.
we rented a farmhouse, but there are lots of hotels in the little towns.
It would be v cool to stay on christianso.

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surarj
surarj

Hello everyone! I wanted to THANK you for the feedback. I have been reading with interest and have now made our tentative itinerary, as follows. As someone suggested, we will save Belgium for another time :)

Question: I'm trying to figure out which railpasses to get! We will travel by train all around the Copenhagen area and also to Aero (last part by ferry) and Malmo. Our hotel is Southeast of Copenhagen, about ten minutes train ride (zone 3). We will be in Copenhagen for at least three days in a row.

We will also use the trains to get around Amsterdam, so which pass should we get? We will be in the city for two days, but they are not consecutive.
I have figured out our Denmark plans, for the most part, but I am now going to figure out our Netherlands itinerary . This is what I have so far. I may rearrange some things after reading about how much time it would take:

Day 1, Monday: Arrive in Copenhagen in the early morning. REST. Walk around Stroget (main street) and harbor area.
Day 2, Tuesday: Hillerod and Frederiksborg Castle, national art museum (whoever wants to go)
Day 3, Wednesday: Amalienborg Palace, Christianshavn for lunch, Tivoli Gardens - amusement park (latter half of the day)
Day 4, Thursday: Keep main luggage at hotel because we will have to pack our stuff in backpacks for the overnight trip. Train to Roskilde (viking ship museum and cathedral), Odense (Hans Christian Andersen house) and end up in Aero. stay in Aero (island)
Day 5, Friday: See Aero by day and take ferry and train back to Copenhagen by night.
Day 6, Saturday: REST/laundry until late afternoon. Take train to Malmo, Sweden for a few hours and have dinner there (it's very close to CPH).
Day 7, Sunday: Hubby arrives in AM, kids REST and we pack and board CRUISE by 3.

Cruise

Day 16, Tuesday: Disembark cruise early AM. REST/laundry. Stay in CPH.
Day 17, Wednesday: Keep main luggage in hotel. Early morning ,rent van and drive to Helsingor and Kalmar, Sweden (4 hours from hotel without stops). Explore Kalmar/Oland. Stay in Kalmar.
Day 18: Explore Kalmar in the morning. Drive back to CPH to pick up luggage and catch a cheap flight to Amsterdam later in the evening (websites?). Stay in Amsterdam.
Day 18, Thursday: Amsterdam
Day 19: Friday: Rent van and drive around Netherlands
Day 20: Saturday: Rent van and drive around Netherlands
Day 21, Sunday: Amsterdam
Day 22, Monday: Depart for USA!

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flyingdutchgirl
flyingdutchgirl

Hi Surarj,

You can get public transport chip cards (one for each member of your family) that are valid wherever you travel in the Netherlands. Note that on trains, you're kids are young enough to qualify for a so-called 'railrunner' ticket, which is only 2,50 euros or so! Really cheap and convenient.

Driving around in a rent van sounds exciting, but I urge you to let the decision depend on your itinerary in the Netherlands. If you're going to stay in the metropolitan area in the west (Amsterdam, Haarlem, Leiden, The Hague et cetera) a car will slow you down, parking will be a nightmare (note also that not all hotels have parking spaces!) and that heavy traffic continues almost throughout the day. And all of these cities have very walkable downtowns.

However, if you are considering driving also to Friesland (gorgeous lakes, sailing, pretty old villages etc) or Groningen (beautiful countryside, and Groningen city is a gem that many tourists pass by), then renting a care makes sense, since the best sites are not that conveniently connected by public transport, especially if you want to go boating or do something of that nature.

Enjoy!

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surarj
surarj

Flyingdutchgirl, yes, we will definitely be using public transportation in metropolitan areas! That is the beauty of being in Europe :)

However, I was thinking of getting a van to drive around in the countryside. My dad can walk but for long distances, so it will be hard to manage without a van. I may contact you directly to narrow down the places to visit outside of Amsterdam - there are great ideas in this post but sadly we won't have time to do it all! also, is there a website that explains the train pass? If we only take the train within Amsterdam and surrounding areas, is there a pass just for that? (versus. the entire country, in case it would be cheaper to do it that way) Thanks.

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flyingdutchgirl
flyingdutchgirl

Sure! Feel free to send me a message.

On the so-called 'chip-card' for Amsterdam transport, this site has a fairly good explanation of how it works and the key transport terms in Dutch: http://amsterdamtips.com/tips/ov-chipkaart.php, It's valid on buses, trams and the metro.

You can use the same card in trains, but you have to special-activate it before it is accepted on the intercity railway system. Not very user-friendly, sadly, it's still a fairly new system and has only been around for a year. Train personnel will understand that it's confusing (at least I hope so!) so it's probably easiest to just ask someone in the train station to help you...

The 2,50 euro tickets for kids can be bought from the vending machines and are valid all day on all trains (but not on local city transport like the aforementioned trams and buses in Amsterdam). More info here: http://www.ns.nl/cs/Satellite/travellers/arrange-buy/ticket-pass-types?packedargs=language%3Den

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