Scandinavia is one of the most expensive regions in the world for travellers. Here’s our best advice for saving money on a trip to northern Europe.
Are you planning a trip to Scandinavia and the Nordic region? If so, you’re probably wondering about the high prices. Is the region really so expensive? Can I afford to visit? I understand those questions, as I hear them from people every day.
So, first things first, this article is my attempt to answer all of those questions in one place. Put your calculator aside for a moment and let me reveal all of my best Scandinavia budget travel tips!
Is Scandinavia really so expensive?
The short answer is yes. For most people and in many cases, Scandinavia and the Nordics is one of the world’s most expensive regions for travellers. But that’s not the whole truth.
First things first, Norway stands apart as the most expensive with Iceland a close runner-up. While the other countries are pricey too, they are a little cheaper than Norway and Iceland.
But regardless of which country or countries you choose to visit, the real truth is that the region is only expensive if you don’t adjust your habits to the local culture. If you’re used to staying in luxury hotels, driving everywhere, visiting theme parks and eating out twice per day, then northern Europe is going to very quickly bust your budget.
However, the great thing about visiting the region is that none of those things are needed to enjoy an authentic Scandinavian experience.
So, it’s true that Scandinavia and the Nordic region will never be a destination for budget travellers. But once you’ve made the decision to go, it doesn’t have to cost an absolute fortune, as long as you adapt to the local culture. Let’s take a look now at how to go about doing just that.
Embrace the outdoors lifestyle
Nature is the theme park of Scandinavia. Staying in a cabin or on a campsite is one of the biggest joys of visiting the region. Not only do you get to explore the spectacular scenery with just wildlife for company, it saves you a packet.
In fact, it doesn’t have to cost you anything at all. Wild camping is free and legal. That’s thanks to allemannsretten, which is the freedom to roam law implemented across the region. Denmark, Norway and Sweden all allow the right for anyone to access the countryside, although the rules do differ slightly between countries.
Of course, wild camping is not for everyone. But staying in a cabin or on a campsite is still a budget-friendly option. Sleeping in tents is the cheapest option, but most campsites also offer simple wooden cabins.
Many of these offer a kitchenette so you can cook your own meals, but if not, there will be one available in a shared facility building on the campsite. Cabins not on campsites tend to have more facilities, possibly full kitchens and bathrooms. No matter where you are travelling, a cabin will often be far better value than a hotel, especially if you are a group of three or more.
What to do? It’s simple, really. Enjoy nature! There are marked hiking trails and cycle paths all over Scandinavia. Whether you want a gentle ramble along a riverside path or to take on one of the famous all-day hikes to iconic destinations, there will be an option that suits you.
Before I move on, remember that embracing the outdoors life isn’t limited to rural areas. All Scandinavian cities offer fantastic access to nature, from the mountain hikes around Bergen to the vast archipelago of Stockholm.
Embrace slow travel
When visiting an expensive country, it can be tempting to pack your itinerary as full as possible to reduce the amount of time you need to spend there. So my first piece of advice may seem somewhat counterintuitive: slow down!
Slow travel has been something of a travel trend in recent years. The concept is simple. It encourages travellers to take a breath and consider their motivations and desires more carefully.
Embrace a ‘less is more’ attitude and you’ll have a richer experience. This works especially well combined with my earlier tip on embracing the outdoors.
Slow travel in cities
Author and travel photographer Lola Akinmade Åkerström runs the website Slow Travel Stockholm. She says there is a “frustratingly frequent habit of speeding through all the best known landmarks of a city in 24 or 48 hours.”
Given the high prices in cities like Stockholm, it’s an understandable habit. Yet Scandinavian cities are fantastic for slow travel. They are compact and easy to get around with multiple green spaces.
But how does slowing down and staying for longer in a city cut costs? Simple. There are plenty of apartments with kitchens to rent on AirBnB and these days even through Booking.com.
It may seem counter-intuitive to stay for longer when on a budget, but cheaper accommodation, much lower cooking costs and the ability to spend longer enjoying the same attractions can all keep the final bill down when compared to a hotel and eating out.
Slow travel in nature
The same ethos applies outside the cities. Much of what I said earlier about embracing the outdoors lifestyle applies here. Instead of staying in a different cabin every night, why not stay in one place for three or four nights?
Spend a day or two hiking in the local area, and another day taking a day trip. You will feel calmer, absorb more of the Scandinavian lifestyle and save money.
Choose countries carefully
As I mentioned earlier, Norway and Iceland typically have the highest prices in the region. So if you want to explore Nordic lifestyle on a budget, consider focusing your time on one or more of Denmark, Finland and Sweden.
It breaks my heart a little to even suggest this! I’ve lived in Norway for more than eleven years now. The natural environment is simply stunning but there’s no denying it’s easy to run up a big bill.
That being said, the opportunities to save money by staying on campsites and cooking your own food are perhaps higher in Norway than in any of the other countries! So if the outdoors lifestyle sounds attractive to you, don’t rule out Norway just yet.
But what if you’re not keen on the idea of slow travel nor the outdoors lifestyle? Or perhaps your Scandi wish-list includes art and design, Sweden or Denmark or even Finland could be better choices for you.
If you want to sample more than one Scandinavian country, why not base yourself in Copenhagen? You can learn a lot about Scandinavian history in the fantastic museums and take advantage of good train connections to visit smaller Danish communities.
As an added bonus, it’s quick and easy to cross the Øresund bridge into Sweden, where Malmö awaits.
Choose the train
The train is a wonderful budget travel option in Scandinavia, and one I feel is hugely underrated. Its biggest downside is the lengthy travel time when compared to air travel. But if you’re embracing slow travel, the train becomes part of the experience.
That’s especially true on some of Norway’s iconic lines like the world-famous Oslo to Bergen railway. Night trains on many routes offer a potential saving on hotel accommodation.
In Norway, it’s possible to travel between Oslo and each of the other major cities by rail. Also, consider travelling between the Scandinavian capitals by train instead. It’s often cheaper than flying and you’ll be saving a lot of hassle.
Plan ahead
Trains not for you? No problem. Not a fan of cabins? No worries! If you want to travel quickly around the region by flying and you simply prefer hotels to cabins, all is not lost when it comes to your budget.
It’s still possible to make travel savings simply by booking and paying in advance. This is a must for flights and trains within the Scandinavian countries. The total price can be half or even less simply by paying at least a few weeks in advance. You lose flexibility, but that’s the price you pay for saving money.
You can also generally save on hotels by booking in advance but also paying up-front. Many of the hotels offered by Booking.com will offer a saving of at least 10% if you pay when you book. Of course, this usually means you forego the possibility of cancellation. So, you should only do this if you are sure about your plans and willing to take the risk.
I hope these tips give you some ideas and encourgement to visit Scandinavia even if you’re nervous about the cost. I promise you it’ll be worth it. Have a great trip!