Help Me Choose between Norway and Iceland for Potential Travel in November 2024

upended on 31/12/2023 - 09:19

I am considering traveling with family to either Scandinavia and/or Iceland in November 2024. The biggest attraction for us is seeing the Aurora Borealis, or the Northern Lights as they are commonly referred to. We will also like to cover Denmark in the same trip.

If we do Scandinavia along with Denmark, I am thinking we will only focus on either Norway, Finland or Sweden. Norway is on the top of our list with some time in Oslo, a train journey from Oslo to Flåm, and northern lights at Tromsø in Northern Norway. Denmark will happen either before or after Norway. We are less inclined on visiting all three countries in Scandinavia as most big cities are similar. That said, we could do a day trip to Malmö in Sweden travelling via Øresund Bridge.

We are equally keen on visiting Iceland and are wondering if it makes sense to do Iceland and skip Scandinavia altogether. I have read that the northern lights are also visible from Iceland.

Early November will be close to end of autumn with winter officially starting in December. We are considering giving ourselves between 15 and 20 days for this trip.

Has anyone who has been to Norway and Iceland please comment on which one to visit along with Denmark? To clarify, our options are either Norway + Denmark OR Iceland + Denmark.

Also, if you can recommend attractions to visit in each country, that would be great.

Poll Options

  • 6
    Norway PLUS Denmark
  • 0
    Iceland PLUS Denmark
  • 4
    All of Scandinavia PLUS Denmark
  • 15
    Norway PLUS Iceland
  • 2
    Just Focus on the 3 Scandinavian Countries
  • 7
    Too Cold in November
Travel Iceland Norway

Comments

  • BugsBunnyAUS on 31/12/2023 - 09:34
    +2

    If you do Norway, instead of just the Flam, do Oslo -> Myrdal (Flam railway) -> Cruise through fjord to Gudvangen -> Bus to Voss -> Train to Bergen. Bergen is a really nice town worth a day or two as well.

    Stunning way to spend a day (you can split it over two if you wanted to). It's all easily doable to book yourself (except the bus, I think that's just turn up and pay), no requirement to book via an online agency for some inflated price. www.vy.no is the Norwegian rail operator website.

  • dtc on 31/12/2023 - 09:35
    +2

    Copenhagen to Oslo is around 1hr 20 min flight (or at least an 2hr ferry trip from north Denmark to south Norway/Kristiansand) and to Reykjavík is 3.30 flight. So while it is obviously a longer trip, it’s only a couple of hours difference and there are heaps of cheapish flights

    I have never met anyone who regretted going to Iceland (except maybe that ship which ran aground!) . It’s also meant to be the best spot for the northern lights, especially up north (Akureyri)

  • sumyungguy on 31/12/2023 - 10:15
    +2

    I visited Iceland in December but didn't see the Aurora. A few years later visited Tromsø (Dec), mission accomplished. Your odds are better in Tromsø because it's inside the Arctic Circle. I think the best mindset is to expect you're not going to see the Aurora. The Nordic capitals do have their appeal: Reykjavic for the Blue Lagoon etc; Stockholm for the Vasa museum; Oslo was our connection to Tromsø; Copenhagen is the capital of Scandi chic. All charming walkable cities. PM me if you want more details. BTW Scandinavia is Norway, Sweden, Denmark. Nordics adds in Iceland, Finland, Greenland.

    • upended on 31/12/2023 - 10:56
      +1

      BTW Scandinavia is Norway, Sweden, Denmark.

      Thanks for clarifying. I was under the impression Scandinavia includes Norway, Sweden and Finland. Nordics include Scandinavia plus Iceland, Denmark and Greenland. I stand corrected - I always mistakenly assumed that Finland was always part of Scandinavia given it is located next to Sweden.

      I will PM you soon. Thanks for the offer.

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 31/12/2023 - 11:17
    +1

    Have a look at Nordic Travel - Norway in a Nutshell, great itinerary and was the basis of a self guided 8 day trip we did in pre Covid.

  • try2bhelpful on 31/12/2023 - 17:01
    +1

    Never been to the Scandi countries but the specials on Iceland shows it is spectacular. However it is hellishly expensive and midges are an issue.

  • BoltThrower on 01/01/2024 - 05:44
    +1

    I randomly saw this on IG and remembered your post. Enjoy! https://www.instagram.com/p/C0v6ZEiSNsd/

    • upended on 01/01/2024 - 08:08
      +1

      That is awesome! Thank you for sharing.

  • try2bhelpful on 01/01/2024 - 08:12
    +1

    Google “Armstrong”and “Iceland”. Alexander Armstrong did a series travelling in Iceland. It did look amazing.

    • upended on 01/01/2024 - 08:54

      Thank you!

      • try2bhelpful on 01/01/2024 - 10:10
        +1

        Glad to help. I watched the series when it was on the telly and it, certainly, made me consider going.

  • neme on 03/01/2024 - 13:37
    +1

    As a Norwegian, I'd say stay in Oz and enjoy the beach 🏝️ 14 years since I moved to Oz almost to the day.

    I wouldn't spend too much time on Denmark. Maybe two full, non-jet-lagged days in Copenhagen, but there's not a ton to do elsewhere. Legoland is cool if you're interested. Amsterdam is more fun, but perhaps less family friendly if you're bringing kids.

    I never found Sweden particularly interesting either, it was just a place to go for cheap booze (ursäkta, söta bror)

    Iceland is spectacular in summer, but November is a bit more gloomy and very dark. You'd only have 5-7 hours of proper daylight to explore.

    Norway has some stunning scenery for sure, and there's much to see. I would recommend going middle of the year, though.

    • upended on 04/01/2024 - 00:58

      Thank you. Completely agree with you about Iceland. I read somewhere that the sun rises by 10am and sets by 4pm, starting mid-November. That will only leave us with 6 hours of daylight. We have already decided to skip Denmark if we go on this trip. We have also ruled out Sweden and Finland. That leaves us with Norway. Maybe we travel elsewhere and look at these countries in their spring / summer.

    • try2bhelpful on 04/01/2024 - 06:48

      https://www.hurtigruten.com/en-au/about-us/voyages/the-origi…

      We’ve been looking at one of the these for October. Have you any experience with this or can you say if the cruises in the middle or top would be better. Thanks.

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