Four days in enough for an overseas trip, right? I am confronted with this question at least once a year. With only short windows available to travel much of the time, one has to make the most of it. Which is why I end up making choices like planning a long weekend split between Copenhagen and Malmö.
These are the sorts of trips that raise eyebrows. All that way for just a few days? What a waste! At least that’s what my coworkers say. Yet it’s not, not at all. These have been some of my richest experiences, whether three days in Istanbul, 40 hours in Barcelona, or a long weekend in Scandinavia.
I took this trip back in 2023, but since I finally wrapped up the last posts, I thought I’d republish the summary.
Trip Rundown
This was my first time visiting any part of Scandinavia. I’ve long wanted to visit Norway. But this quick trip was a great introduction. I enjoyed the Danish capital for two full days, walking along the iconic Nyhavn waterfront, seeing the castles and palaces, and enjoying some Danish smørrebrød. The old city is picturesque. I recommend visiting the top of the Rundetaarn for a nice view of the city, and Christiansborg Slot is a must-see. Since I visited in January, the famous Tivoli park was closed. Not that I would have been able to fit that into the short schedule.
Halfway through my four-day stint I popped across the Øresund Strait to Malmö, Sweden. It has a lovely old town, and I enjoyed learning about the historical fight for control of this narrow channel into the Baltic Sea. Malmö has a lovely old town and some great places to eat.
I flew Scandinavian Airlines to and from Copenhagen, an experience I enjoyed for the most part. It was only my second time in premium economy. I’d certainly do it again since I snagged and excellent deal (and covered it using Chase Ultimate Rewards points—around 60,000 UR round-trip is an excellent deal), but I wouldn’t choose it over coach at a more typical price point.
All Posts in One Spot
- SAS Plus Review: Flying the A330 to Copenhagen and Back
- Review: Radisson Collection Royal Hotel Copenhagen
- Copenhagen in 17 Photos
- Copenhagen Castles: Why You Want to Tour These Two Gems
- Two Days in Copenhagen: Winter in the Danish Capital
- Hotel Review: Story Hotel Studio Malmo, JdV by Hyatt
- Malmö, Sweden in 15 Photos
- 3 Things to See in Malmo, Sweden
- 3 Places to Eat in Malmo, Sweden
Final Thoughts
Although I enjoyed my visit during the heart of winter, I’d love to make it back to Denmark in the summer, visiting areas outside the capital. It’s a small country (you could fit 10 Denmarks in California), but there’s plenty more to see. Taking the kids to LEGOLAND Billund would be cool.
Even though I want to see Norway, the trip I really want to take would require at least a couple weeks. Visiting a city or two is easy to do in a weekend. Seeing vast stretches of the country is not. It’s more likely I enjoy another long weekend in Scandinavia, such as a visit to Stockholm, before I finally get around to planning the Norway trip.
