20 Day Scandinavia driving route from Hamburg
Planning a campervan holiday through Scandanavia? You’re not alone! More and more travellers are opting for a self-drive holiday as a more affordable way to get connected to the region’s incredible people and landscapes. Driving is a great way to experience the most breathtaking places in Scandinavia allowing you to enjoy the views from the road whilst giving you the freedom to stop along the way. With many of the popular destinations being so close together it can be easy to visit more than one country during your road trip.
If you are planning a campervan holiday through Scandinavia, it is important to consider your starting point. Scandinavia can be an expensive region to visit, that’s why many visitors choose to hire a motorhome from Hamburg, Germany and take the short drive north into Denmark. Early booking and the ability to pay in Euro’s can mean big savings on the cost of your rental.
Once you collect your campervan in Hamburg, the open road awaits! While there are so many beautiful destinations to choose for a motorhome holiday, this 20-day itinerary focuses on enabling you to experience Denmark, Sweden and Norway for a road trip that will take your breath away.
Day 1-2: Hamburg, Germany
After a long flight, it’s worthwhile spending your first day exploring Hamburg. Hamburg is an incredibly beautiful city to visit, nestled around two gorgeous lakes and a maze of narrow canals and with its spectacular architecture, it has plenty of attractions. Take a walk around the city enjoying delicious German fare and taking in the Hamburg attractions like the Hamburg Town Hall and the vibrant St. Pauli Hamburg’s renowned entertainment strip, Speicherstadt, the Hamburg Kunsthalle and so much more!
Day 3: Fehmarn Island via Lübeck, Germany
Travel: 392km (via Lübeck & Schwerin)
From Hamburg, point your campervan north and head to Fehmarn Island. The incredible sights Lübeck has to offer is an easy excuse to stretch your legs as you walk through the doorway of the Holstentor guarding the western entrance of the Altstadt (Old Town) where you will feel like you have been transported to another time. Walk along the city street and it will reward you with views of old gabled merchants’ houses, guildhalls and incredible churches decorated with Medieval and Renaissance art.
Continue onto Fehmarn Island an incredible Baltic Sea Island Paradise known for its secluded sandy beaches making it a perfect place to unwind and relax. Spend a few hours enjoying the beauty of the location before taking the Car Ferry from Puttgarden to Denmark. Scandlines has 48 sailings from Puttgarden to Rodby Harbour in Denmark daily with the entire journey taking between 15-30 minutes. Stay the night in Rodby or travel straight through to Copenhagen.
Day 4-5: Copenhagen, Denmark
Travel: 160km
You will fall in love with the vibrant and cosmopolitan capital city of Denmark, Copenhagen. As soon as your feet hit the cobbled streets you will feel at one with the cool vibe of the city with quaint townhouses converted into restaurants, it’s colourful streets and the friendly charm of the locals. The City centre is packed with unique things to do like the Nyhavn Harbour with its brightly coloured renovated buildings lining the canal, The Little Mermaid, a 1.25 metre bronze statue depicting a mermaid becoming human unveiled in 1913, the Tivoli Gardens, Christiansborg Palace and many more.
Day 6-7: Gothenburg, Sweden
Travel: 160km
A drive along the amazing 4 kilometre Øresund Bridge connecting Denmark and Sweden will have you on your way to Sweden’s second-largest city, Gothenburg. Located on the west coast of Sweden, Gothenburg is a chilled out ’hip’ city with an incredible foodie culture and a coastline to die for. All of Gothenburg’s cultural sights and museums are located within walking distance of each other making it very easy to explore the city on foot. Gothenburg must-visit attractions include the Gothenburg Museum of Art, The Gothenburg City Museum which is home to Sweden’s only surviving Viking Ship, the Haga district dating back to1648 with cobblestone streets, preserved houses, trendy cafes and plenty of vintage and second-hand stores and the Liseberg amusement park. A short walk from the Gothenburg city centre will bring you to the incredible Änggårdsbergen nature reserve popular for hiking and mountain biking with an everchanging landscape of valleys, ridges, winding walking paths and incredible scenery.
Day 8-9: Marstrand & Strömstad, Sweden
Travel: 164km
Located only an hour’s drive from Gothenburg, the picturesque island of Marstrand island offers an incredible day trip experience. Take the passenger ferry and you will arrive at a small island filled with beautiful houses, quaint shops, cobbled streets, surrounded by nature and the jetties are filled with boats of all sizes. You can enjoy a walk around the entire island along the waterfront, explore the shops and enjoy a picnic lunch or dine at one of the trendy café’s with views of the coast before hiking up to Martrands Fortress - Carlstens Fästning (Castle) which has the most incredible views and offer guided tours year-round. When you return on the passenger ferry continue to Strömstad one of the smallest coastal cities in Sweden, Strömstad where you can spend the night before taking the ferry to Vestfold the next day.
Day 10-11: Sandjeford, Norway
Take the ferry from Strömstad to the charming coastal town of Sandjeford in Norway a part of the small county of Vestfold offering a pleasant escape from bustling vibrant Scandinavian cities. Take your time exploring the sandy beaches and sheltered coves, climbing over the smooth rocky slopes, wander through the art galleries and museum, visit the ancient Viking burial mounds in Tønsberg and hike along the coastal paths taking in the incredible views of the ocean and breath in the delicious fresh saltwater air.
Day 12-13: Oslo, Norway
Travel: 122km
The vibrant and modern Oslo is Norway’s capital city and one of Europe’s fastest-growing cities. Live music a huge part of its culture so if you are interested in festivals, they have plenty of them with large outdoor festivals being held during the summer months. The city has plenty of captivating landmarks to see like the Opera House, the Astrup Fearnley Museum in addition to the famous works at the National Museum (closed until 2020). There are plenty of nature-based experiences to discover in and around Oslo; take an ice bath at the Tjvholmen pier in the city centre, view the waterfalls and walk the hiking trails of Akerselva where you can immerse yourself in nature and spot an array of bird and marine life.
Day 14: Örebro
Travel: 522km
The drive from Oslo to Stockholm will take between 6-7 hours so taking a break in the beautiful city of Örebro offers a good midway point where you can take time out to stretch your legs. The main attraction of the city is the Örebro Castle, built in the 13th century and which stands on an island in the city centre. Another attraction close by to Örebro is the open-air village museum showcasing houses from the 18th – 19th centuries. From Örebro you can continue onto Stockholm or if you prefer to stay the night, park up in a local campsite and head out the next morning.
Day 15-16: Stockholm, Sweden
Celebrated as the capital of Scandinavia and one of the most beautiful cities in the world, with its medieval architecture Stockholm is immersed in centuries of history and culture, blended with modernity. The sights and experiences in this city are endless with so much to see, do and experience. Visit an incredible array of museums, explore the immense history and culture of the medieval Old Town on foot along narrow cobblestone alleys, visit The Royal Palace and the daily changing guard parade, explore Drottingholm Palace or the Royal Opera House and one can simply not miss the Abba Museum. You will be spoilt for choice in Sweden’s capital city with so many incredible restaurants, cafes and bars to experience and a visit to Folkungagatan (SoFo) filled with creative shops, vintage clothing, music and more is a must. If you have an extra day up your sleeve a day trip to visit Birka, an old Viking outpost included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Day 17-18: Jönköping, Sweden
Travel: 324km
Today you drive from Stockholm to the city of Jönköping in southern Sweden located on the shores of Lake Vättern. Jönköping is a vibrant city with beautiful beaches and nature on its doorstep. The city centre consists of picturesque streets and canals that open into three different lakes giving the city a tranquil vibe. In Jönköping, you can visit the Matchstick Museum, the Habo Church made completely out of wood dating back to 1680, Jönköpings Läns Museum, the Rosenlunds Rosarium and if time allows you can visit the idyllic towns of Gränna and Visingsö offer breathtaking views, cute houses, cobbled roads, castle ruins and hiking trails with incredible nature experiences.
Day 19: Copenhagen, Denmark
Travel: 337km
Another drive along the scenic 4 kilometre Øresund Bridge will take you on your journey back to the capital city of Denmark, Copenhagen. Today you can spend your day exploring some of the Copenhagen neighborhoods outside the city centre like Vesterbro, Norrebro, and Christianshavan, relax on some of the beautiful white sand beaches on the Danish coast and enjoy a Copenhagen canal tour.
Day 20: Hamburg, Germany
Travel: 341km
You will arrive back to where the journey started today in Hamburg. Drop off your motorhome in the motorhome and if there is time, continue exploring the sites of Hamburg and the delicious German fare before it’s time to head home.
How to Book
Apollo has a range of 2-6 berth campervans and motorhomes to hire from our depot in Hamburg. Get live availability and pricing on our website and book direct for the best rates.