Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Buying your own food in Scandinavia is a must if you want to save money. Locals in this region of the
world eat in far more than they eat out simply because of costs. All my friends in the region would never
dream of eating out as often as we do in the United States. They simply couldn't afford to do so. During
the summer months, farmer's markets offer a plethora of berries and fresh fruit that can be good and cheap
snacks. If you do have to eat out, quick meals such as pizza, kebabs, fast food, or burgers, as well as outdoor
sausage vendors, will be your cheapest food. This region of the world isn't a culinary dream either, so you
aren't really missing out by not dining out or by sticking to the cheap eats.
TRANSPORTATION
Local transportation is relatively inexpensive in Scandinavia. Local trains and buses in the cities are around
$5 USD per ride. All the major cities in this region of Europe offer weekly metro passes that are cheaper
than purchasing single-ride tickets. If you are in a place for a while, consider buying them.
Trains
In Sweden, the majority of intercity trains cost $40-75 USD. They will cost $100-150 USD if it is a long
overnight sleep train, like the fourteen-hour trip from Stockholm to Lulea up north. The farther north you
go, the longer your train travel is and the more money it costs. If you want cheap train tickets, you need to
purchase them at least one month before your departure date. Students and those under twenty-six are eli-
gible for discounted train tickets.
Trains around Norway cost about $70 USD, depending on the distance and when you buy your ticket.
Booking your train at least a week in advance (a “minipris” ticket) will get you a 50 percent discount. For
example, from Oslo, the capital, to Bergen, on the west coast, the train costs $70-142 USD. It's $142 if you
book the day of, but $70 USD if you book in advance. I always book in advance here because the substantial
savings are worth the lack of flexibility in my schedule.
Train travel across Denmark (Jutland to Copenhagen) costs around $62 USD if you book the day of.
Shorter distances of two hours or less are around $30 USD. Denmark is a really small country, so travel
doesn't take that long. The closer you get to the travel date, the higher the cost. The train from the airport to
Copenhagen center is $7 USD.
The Danish rail system offers cheap tickets called “Orange tickets” via their website (dsb.dk/om-
billetter-og-kort/indland/billetter/dsb-orange). They are only available via the website, and you have to print
out the ticket before you board the train. These tickets are a third of the cost of what you can buy at the
railway station.
In Finland, train tickets cost between $60 USD and $80 USD regardless of the distance you travel. Book-
ing in advance will get you a 25 percent discount off the day-of price. Groups of three or more can also get
discounts of 15 percent off the ticket price.
Intercountry travel isn't that much more expensive than traveling around each country. A train from
Stockholm to Oslo is about $57 USD, Stockholm to Copenhagen is around $75 USD. Copenhagen to Oslo
varies between $60 USD and $120 USD.
Rail passes are offered for all the countries in the region, and I think they offer one of the best ways to
save money here if you're traveling long distances. The global pass discussed in the Western Europe section
covers all the countries in this region also. Additionally, there is a regional pass (eurail.com/eurail-passes/
regional-pass/scandinavia) that begins at $322 USD for four days of travel. (You get 15 percent off when
booking two or more tickets.)
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