Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
If you are going vast distances or hopping between the countries in the region, then the passes work out.
After all, each train ride with the pass is about an $80 USD value, and fares are often that high or higher on
long-distance train journeys.
Buses
Buses are cheaper but slower than train travel. An extensive range of buses connects cities and even most
national parks throughout the region. Buses booked a month or more in advance can be found for as cheap
as $10 USD. However, those tickets are limited in number, and typically buses cost $35-50 USD.
In Finland, student discounts are available if you show a valid ISIC card. There is also a BusPass travel
pass, which offers unlimited travel for $200 USD for seven days and $330 USD for fourteen days.
Regional and national bus companies include:
GoByBus:
gobybus.se
Swebus:
swebus.se
Abildskou:
abildskou.dk
Nor-Way:
nor-way.no
Nettbuss:
nettbuss.no
Matkahuolto:
matkahuolto.fi/en
Flying
There are four large airlines based out of Scandinavia:
SAS
(flysas.com): A Star Alliance member, it operates the largest flight network in the re-
gion.
Finnair
(finnair.com): A Oneworld member based out of Helsinki, this airline operates a
small number of flights to major destinations in the region via their hub in Helsinki.
Norwegian Airlines
(norwegian.no): Norwegian budget airline with extensive flights
throughout the region.
Cimber Sterling
(cimber.dk): A budget airline based out of Denmark that has flights
around Denmark and to big cities in the region.
Booking months in advance can get you fares as low as $50 USD for flights around this region of
Europe. Prices are generally more expensive here than elsewhere. You won't find very good flight deals,
and unless you are really short on time (and long on money), buses and trains offer better value. The farther
north you go, toward the Arctic, the more expensive and infrequent flights tend to be. In Denmark, flights
to some of the smaller islands cost as much as $200 USD for a forty-five-minute flight.
The budget airlines discussed in previous chapters also have flights in and out of the region to other parts
of Europe.
