Traveling Through All the Scandinavian Countries in a Rental Car

Scandinavia consists of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. You’d probably love to visit all three of these countries in a single trip with a rental car, but is that even possible? Absolutely! It is, and below we’ll describe this amazing road trip through Scandinavia. Covering the entire trip with a single rental car is the most expensive option, but at the end, we’ll give you tips on how to save a lot of money by not driving part of the route in a rental car and renting two different cars instead.

We’ll start this tour in Copenhagen. Denmark’s cosmopolitan capital is brimming with Danish design and architecture, famous museums, castles and palaces, beautiful parks, and activities for the whole family. When it comes to family fun, the Tivoli amusement park is the top attraction. The colorful buildings around Nyhavn are home to bars and restaurants. A visit to Rosenborg Castle is a must, as is a stop to see the Little Mermaid statue. Nearby is Kastellet, a beautifully restored 17th-century fortress

After a few days in the Danish capital, it’s time to hop in your rental car. If you rented a car at Copenhagen Airport, you’ll drive almost immediately across the Øresund Bridge and through the Øresund Tunnel to Malmö in Sweden. Driving across this iconic international link is quite an experience, but the toll is high. Malmö is a city full of contrasts where the old town and ultra-modern architecture blend seamlessly. Don’t forget to visit the quirky Disgusting Food Museum! Since the road between Malmö and Helsingborg isn’t particularly interesting, you can also drive from Copenhagen to Helsingør in your rental car and take the ferry from there. Helsingør, by the way, is a charming little town to explore and a great place to visit the impressive Kronborg Castle.

You’ll find yourself right in the middle of nature reserves just outside Helsingborg. To the east of the city lies the Söderåsen National Park , with hills and valleys covered in beech forests. You can take beautiful hikes along babbling streams and enjoy the views of Skåne along the way. If you drive your rental car north along the coast, you’ll arrive in Kullaberg. This is often called the most adventurous nature reserve in southern Sweden. In addition to hiking and biking, you can go diving, rock climbing, kayaking, and rappelling, among other activities.

After such an active day, you’ll undoubtedly be hungry. You can enjoy a delicious dinner in Falkenberg, which is known for its wide variety of restaurants. Skrea Beach attracts many tourists in the summer. About a kilometer further north lies Varberg, a very pretty town with spas and an imposing fortress. The Kallbadhuset (sauna and bathhouse) near the harbor is a real highlight.

You won’t get a good sense of the Swedish countryside from the highway. So, instead of driving north on the E6 from Varberg in your rental car, take the road toward Åskloster. Take the occasional detour to the coast, for example, to the Tjolöholm Peninsula. There, you can take walks around the Neo-Tudor-style manor house of the same name, which offers beautiful views of the Kattegat. The village of Särö is full of expensive villas, and the Västerskog nature reserve is nearby. Here you’ll get a taste of the archipelago further north, but first it’s time to visit Sweden’s second-largest city.

Gothenburg is perhaps Sweden’s trendiest city and certainly has a reputation for being much friendlier than the capital, Stockholm. In the historic Haga neighborhood, you’ll find cozy cafés and quirky shops where you can find everything from Scandinavian interior design to vintage clothing, spice shops, fashion, and art. It’s a strikingly green city, with a large garden right in the center that was laid out in the 19th century: Trädgårdsföreningen.

Are you visiting in the spring and a bird lover? Then take a trip to the northeast, to Lake Hornborgasjön, where every spring thousands of cranes perform their noisy mating dance.

A trip to the Gothenburg archipelago is a must. You’re not allowed to drive your rental car there, but ferries run very frequently—for example, to the island of Vrångö, which boasts stunning nature and pristine beaches. Until the mid-17th century, the border with Norway lay just north of Gothenburg. The remains of the Norwegian fortress of Bohus, beautifully situated at the fork of the Göta River, bear witness to this.

Between Gothenburg and the current Norwegian border, you’ll drive through the beautiful coastal region of Bohuslän. Visit quaint fishing villages and savor delicious, fresh seafood. There are plenty of ways to actively experience nature here: kayaking among the skerries, crab fishing, swimming, biking, and hiking. The smaller islands in this archipelago are usually car-free, but you can often get quite close to them. For example, you can drive to Marstrand, but the historic part of the town (including Carlstens Fortress) and the nature reserve are located on a separate islet, which is only accessible by ferry. You’ll also need to take a ferry for the stunning (and sometimes very steep!) hike on the islet of Dyrön.

Near Smögen, you can explore ravines and caves and swim off the granite cliffs. Further north, park your rental car in Strömstad to board the ferry to the Koster Islands, a marine nature reserve. Underwater, there’s a steep gorge with a coral reef at a depth of 40 to 100 meters. You can go on a kayaking trip around the islands, spotting seals on the rocks.

After crossing one of the two toll bridges over the Svinesund, you’ll be in Norway. If you drive across the old bridge, park your rental car immediately after the bridge and follow the path to the Hjelmkollen bunker. You’ll have a magnificent view of the two imposing bridges over the Iddefjord. Further along that fjord lies the town of Halden, home to Norway’s largest fortress Fredriksten towers high above. In the evening, it’s beautifully illuminated. King Frederick II gave his name to that fortress, and the city named after him, Fredrikstad, was also a fortress. This is very evident around the oldest part of the city, Gamlebyen, one of the best-preserved fortified towns in Northern Europe.

From Fredrikstad, it takes about an hour and a half to drive to Oslo in your rental car—at least, if you take the highway. But if you have the time, follow Route 22, which runs along Lake Øyeren, among other sights. The Norwegian capital is beautifully situated at the end of the long Oslofjord and surrounded by wooded hills. Akershus Castle is located by the harbor, with the former Aker Brygge shipyard across the water—now a lively shopping and entertainment district. The small Bygdøy peninsula is home to many museums, including the Vikingskipshuset, where you can see Viking ships; the Frammuseet, dedicated to Arctic expeditions; and the Folkemuseet, featuring traditional Norwegian houses and characteristic stave churches.

Whether you take your rental car on the ferry or not, the trip to Denmark is fantastic, especially the first 100 kilometers through the Oslofjord. This ferry departs from Oslo at 3:00 p.m. and arrives in Frederikshavn, Denmark, at 1:00 a.m., so it’s a good idea to have already booked a place to stay for the night. If you’re making this trip in the opposite direction, you’ll depart at 11:55 p.m. and arrive in Oslo at 10:00 a.m. the next morning. Another option is the high-speed ferry between Larvik, Norway (departure at 5:30 p.m.) and Hirtshals, Denmark (arrival at 9:15 p.m.), but then you’ll miss that beautiful cruise through the Oslofjord.

Want to get some fresh air? The northernmost tip of Jutland has kilometers of beaches. The North Sea coast is a bit wilder (with sand cliffs), while the waters of the Kattegat are much calmer and shallower, making the beaches there more suitable for children.

Aalborg is a charming city on the Limfjord with a rich history and numerous cultural attractions. The old town, with its colorful houses, has a very village-like feel. On warm days, Vestre Fjordpark —a large water park in the western part of the city—is highly recommended. In addition to swimming, you can go kayaking there. Drive your rental car along back roads for just over 2 hours to Aarhus, which also boasts a beautiful historic center. A must-see is the open-air museum Den Gamle By, where you’ll take a fascinating journey through time.

Lego fans should, of course, head to Billund to visit the one and only Legoland. On the way back to Copenhagen, you’ll pass through Odense, one of Denmark’s oldest cities and the birthplace of Hans Christian Andersen. Statues of characters from his fairy tales can be found throughout the city.

Can this Scandinavian road trip by rental car be any cheaper?

Absolutely, much cheaper in fact. Here are a few options. Choose the one that works best for you to save money on your road trip through Scandinavia.

• Don’t rent a car in Copenhagen
  For the first leg of your road trip, skip the rental car and take the train from Copenhagen to Malmö. Rent a car there and return it in Oslo. Or take public transportation to Helsingborg, board the ferry there, and rent a car in Helsingør. Car rental companies in Sweden and Norway are used to their customers crossing the border and generally charge little to no extra fees for this.

• Rent a car only for the Swedish portion of your trip
  You’ll be visiting three countries, but you can choose not to cross the border in your rental car. For the final leg of your trip through Sweden, veer slightly off the route and take the car to Karlstad, where you can catch the high-speed train to Oslo.

• Take the ferry without a rental car
  Taking a (rental) caron the ferry between Norway and Denmark is quite expensive, but many people prefer to be able to continue driving in the same rental car right from the dock. You can choose to return the rental car in Oslo and rent another car at the arrival port of Frederikshavn for the final, Danish leg of your road trip. Or take the ferry from Oslo to Copenhagen. Then you won’t need a rental car at all, unless you want to take day trips from the Danish capital.

With all the tips we’ve provided above, you’ll pick up the car in one location and return it at another. Renting a car for a one-way trip is perfectly possible and can save you money on this trip, since you’ll avoid paying tolls and/or ferry fees.