10 DAYS IN SCANDINAVIA

Want to know how to dress like a cool Scandinavian? Visit my packing guide for Copenhagen and Stockholm here.

Display of colorful lampshades suspended from the ceiling over a round table covered with a red cloth. The lampshades are in various shapes, sizes, and colors, including red, green, blue, white, and patterned. On the table, several table lamps are arranged with a variety of shades and bases, some lit, creating a vibrant and eclectic display.

  • Take a day trip out of the city to explore Viking history, or visit Stockholm’s Nordic museum

  • Dinner at a modern Scandinavian restaurant

Three gourmet dishes on a wooden table: a white bowl with a delicate pasta dish garnished with microgreens and pink fish roe, a small cast iron skillet with a grain-based dish topped with orange spheres, a dollop of white sauce, and herbs, and a scallop shell with a seafood dish decorated with green peas, edible flowers, and microgreens.

Day 9

  • Explore some of the city's best design shops

  • Sunset cocktails overlooking the city

Display of various types of fresh bread and baked goods in a bakery, with loaves on shelves and baguettes arranged on the counter.

Day 10

  • Final pastry before your transfer to the airport for your return flight home

View of Nyhavn harbor with colorful buildings, sailboats, people walking and cycling, and cloudy sky in Copenhagen.

Here’s an example of an itinerary for a 10-day trip to Copenhagen and Stockholm that blends culture, cuisine, and history into an effortless journey to Scandinavia.

  • Arrive in Copenhagen and check in to your hotel

  • Enjoy lunch and walk around doing some light shopping

Day 1

Colorful ceramic cups and bowls on white shelves inside a pottery store or workshop, with decorative flags hanging overhead.

  • Visit Christiansborg Palace to experience stunning interiors and learn about the royal history

  • Lunch at a classic Danish restaurant

  • Walk to the top of the Round Tower for a panoramic view of the city

Day 2

A marble table at a café with breakfast items including a plate with slices of bread, a boiled egg, a small bowl of jam, a piece of cheese, and butter; a cup of latte with foam art; a glass of water; a pair of sunglasses; a small glass of pink juice; three eggs in egg cups; and a red table outside with a cup and a paper on it.

  • Start your day with breakfast at a charming local cafe

  • Take a guided river cruise to learn the city’s history and experience life on the canal

  • Dinner at a farm-to-table restaurant

Day 3

Interior of a grand, ornate hall with elaborately decorated white plaster ceiling, large crystal chandeliers, colorful medieval-style tapestries on marble walls, black and white checkered flooring, and a lone person standing in the distance.

  • Take an easy car or train out of the city for a day trip to the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art

  • Return to the city for a tasting menu dinner highlighting the best of Copenhagen’s culinary scene

Day 4

A grassy park area with people walking and sitting, overlooking a body of water with a sailboat in the distance, under a clear blue sky with some trees around.

Day 5

  • Tour the Design Museum Denmark for an inspiring exploration of Danish design

  • Get lunch and enjoy drinks and people watching along the canal

Interior decor with a silver, curvilinear sculpture and a textured, metallic wall behind it, set on a polished marble floor.

  • Head to the airport for an easy 1hr 15 minute flight to Stockholm

  • Check in to your hotel and enjoy dinner at one of Stockholm’s many aesthetic restaurants

Day 6

A cozy restaurant interior with checkered green and white flooring, wooden chairs, large windows with greenery outside, and warm lighting from round pendant lights hanging from the ceiling. Several groups of people are dining at tables and the bar area.

  • Visit the Vassa Museum and learn the tragic story of the 17th century warship

  • Enjoy an afternoon “fika,” the Swedish tradition of coffee and pastries

  • Take an evening river cruise to discover more about the history of Stockholm

Day 7

A large wooden historic ship displayed indoors at a museum, viewed from the front and slightly to the side, with visitors walking around below.

Day 8

Ready to start planning?