Overview: A guide to traveling to four countries in Northern Europe during December; Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Iceland. Please note, this guide is utilizing a layover in Iceland.
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Destinations
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Intro Paragraph
[insert intro paragraph and info regarding traveling in December for the holidays]
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Important Info
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Copenhagen, Denmark
General
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http://www.visitcopenhagen.com
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Overview: A guide to traveling to four countries in Northern Europe during December; Denmark, Sweden, Germany and Iceland. Please note, this guide is utilizing a layover in Iceland.
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Destinations
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Tip |
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IntroWhy traveling to Northern Europe in the middle of winter is worth it Although it’s very cold, Copenhagen during the holidays is beautiful. There are winter activities, both inside and outside, including ice skating and socializing over board games. There’s a huge hygge culture in the winter with an abundance of heat lamps, blankets to wrap up in, and faux fur draped over seating areas. The city is decorated in red woven hearts and twinkling Christmas lights; it’s truly charming. To me, visiting a place outside of peak tourist times (usually winter) is beneficial because it gives me a more realistic feel of how it is to live in that place outside of summer. If you can handle the winter, then the summertime will be much better. More reasons to visit in December
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Copenhagen, Denmark | General
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Berlin, Germany | General
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Malmo, Sweden | General
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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland | General
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Berlin, Germany
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General
Danka - thanks
Skoal - cheers
Prosit - drinking to one’s health
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US Department of State for Germany PASSPORT VALIDITY:
BLANK PASSPORT PAGES:
TOURIST VISA REQUIRED:
VACCINATIONS:
CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR ENTRY:
CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR EXIT:
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Malmo, Sweden
General
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US Department of State for Sweden PASSPORT VALIDITY:
BLANK PASSPORT PAGES:
TOURIST VISA REQUIRED:
VACCINATIONS:
CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR ENTRY:
CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR EXIT:
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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland
General
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US Department of State for Iceland PASSPORT VALIDITY:
BLANK PASSPORT PAGES:
TOURIST VISA REQUIRED:
VACCINATIONS:
CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR ENTRY:
CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR EXIT:
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General Prep
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Bring cash
Alert credit cards and banks of travel
Practice DuoLingo phrases (not required)
Tipping not expected but rounding to 10% for exceptional service is nice to do
Take photos of documents
Print out to back up (passport, ID, Covid card), leave copy at home and take one with
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Stay Info
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Copenhagen, Denmark
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Berlin, Germany
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Airbnbs available
St Christopher’s Inn Berlin Alexanderplatz
Generator Hostel
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Malmo, Sweden
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Airbnbs available
Going for a day trip
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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland
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Airbnbs available
Hotel at airport (ideal for layovers)
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Flights & Transportation
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Copenhagen, Denmark
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Uses officially marked taxis
Denmark doesn't have Uber or Lyft
Bikes are very popular and common, along with renting bikes
4 metro lines 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Easy way to go all over town
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Berlin, Germany
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Clever Shuttle
A bus taxi: rideshare eco-taxi where you share the ride with other peeps, almost like a bus
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Malmo, Sweden
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Malmo is walkable
Can walk to most landmarks
Bikes are very common
Most hotels offer bike rentals
Bike rental apps: Donkey Bike or Malmö by Bike
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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland
City Center area is walkable
Location: from Old Harbour to the Hlemmur bus terminal
Electric scooters are available
Bus transportation in Reykjavik is easy, cheap, and gets you to the best spots in the city
Straeto, Reykjavik’s public transport company: bus routes, times, and fares
Regular bus ticket: 480 kr (3.30 USD) during the day and 960 kr (6.55 USD) at night
Buses travel up and down Hverfisgata street, but it's best to wander Laugavegur, the main shopping street, on foot
There’s no Lyft or Uber
Travel Between KEF airport and Reykjavik
Airport transport bus service:
Shuttle bus is fairly priced and travels to and from Keflavik Airport frequently
Ride time: 45 to 60 minutes
Taxi:
Starting price is around $110 USD
Reykjavik
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Bus transportation in Reykjavik:
Regular bus ticket: 480 kr (3.30 USD) during the day and 960 kr (6.55 USD) at night
Airport transportation:
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Bus service:
Shuttle bus is fairly priced and travels to and from Keflavik Airport frequently
Ride time: 45 to 60 minutes
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Taxi:
Starting price is around $110 USD
If your layover is in Iceland and you are flying Icelandair
Icelandair allows a free stopover for up to 7 days due to Iceland promoting tourism
Check out Reykjavik if you can
There is an option to buy bus tickets from the airport to Reykjavik on an Icelandair flight
Keflavik is a nice option too
Blue Lagoon is near the airport
Hot springs with geothermal seawater surrounded by volcanoes
Will not be open at times due to volcanic activity
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Budget & Personal Expenses
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Copenhagen, Denmark
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Stays
Transportation
Food
Other
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Berlin, Germany
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Stays
Transportation
Food
Other
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Malmo, Sweden
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Stays
Transportation
Food
Other
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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland
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Stays
Transportation
Food
Other
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Flights and Transportation
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Train: Copenhagen to Malmo - $12/person
Train: Berlin to Copenhagen
EasyJet Flight: Copenhagen to Berlin - about $100 round trip
EasyJet Flight: Copenhagen to Berlin with 2 bags - about $215 round trip
Small cabin bag: 1 x under seat cabin bag (max. 45 x 36 x 20 cm)
Large cabin bag: 1 x large cabin bag (max. 56 x 45 x 25 cm
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National Foods
Copenhagen, Denmark
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https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/capital-region/copenhagen/restaurants
Foods to try:
Pastries, Danishes
Hot dogs
Smørbrød (open faced sandwich)
Fish
Pork
Danish beer
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Berlin, Germany
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Foods to try:
Turkish and Greek food
Currywurst
Doner kebab
Jelly donut
Beer with flavor added
Eisbein - pork knuckle
Bouletten -
Kassler - thick boiled ham
With cheese noodles
Ka- Potato pancake with applesauce on top
Turkish simit (pastry) with Turkish tea
Turkish bakery breakfast (sukush? Turkish?)
Dong Xuan Center - viatnamese food store
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Malmo, Sweden
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Foods to try:
Kanelbulle
Filmjölk
Toast Skagen
Foraged berries
Husmanskost
Prinsesstårta
Lingonberries
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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland
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Foods to try:
Kjotsupa
Lamb (Stew)
Hot Dog (Lamb)
Seafood (Lobster Soup)
Skyr (Cake)
Fermented Shark
Ice Cream
Recommended Establishments & Activities
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Coffee Shops & Breakfast Spots
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Museums, Castles & Memorials
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Copenhagen, Denmark
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Buka
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Kaf Bar
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Cafe Claude’s Hands (hot egg)
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Hart Bagery (bakery - owner worked at Noma)
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The Villa Hotel (pastry and espresso cafe inside)
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Bastard Cafe (board games, Hygge culture)
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Landbageriet (focaccia and cinnamon rolls)
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Le Petit something [find name and insert] (breakfast with skyr)
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General Prep |
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Stay Info | |
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⭐ Pro tip: If you want to make friends with people traveling from Australia, staying at a hostel and socializing in common areas increases your odds significantly. I recommend hostels in Europe, not the US. | |
Copenhagen, Denmark | |
Berlin, Germany |
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Malmo, Sweden | Airbnbs available
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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland |
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Flights & Transportation | |
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Copenhagen, Denmark |
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Berlin, Germany |
Travel between Copenhagen and Berlin
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Malmo, Sweden |
Travel between Copenhagen and Malmo
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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland |
Travel Between KEF airport and Reykjavik
Reykjavik
Flying Icelandair If your layover is in Iceland and you are flying Icelandair
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Budget & Personal Expenses | |
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Copenhagen, Denmark |
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Berlin, Germany |
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Malmo, Sweden |
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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland |
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Flights and Transportation |
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National Foods | |
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Copenhagen, Denmark | https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/capital-region/copenhagen/restaurants Foods to try:
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Berlin, Germany | Foods to try:
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Malmo, Sweden | Foods to try:
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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland | Foods to try:
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Recommended Establishments & Activities
Coffee Shops & Breakfast Spots | Museums, Castles & Memorials | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Coffee Fellows Cafe
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Malmo, Sweden
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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland |
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Copenhagen, Denmark
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Danish Architecture Centre
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Castles: Website
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Christianborg Palace
800+ years of history and today, the palace is home to the Parliament, the Prime Minister's Office, and the Supreme Court
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Rosenburg Castle
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Royal Library Gardens
Garden haven, small pond, looks like a medieval garden with hedges
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The Wall
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Malmo, Sweden
Malmö Castle
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Malmö Castle was built from 1537 to 1542 on top of ruins from an old fort
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Grocery & |
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Berlin, Germany
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Malmo, Sweden |
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Retail Shops | Food Halls & Markets | ||||
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Cinema [find name and insert]
Tivoli Gardens
Amusement park dating from 1843
Raclette mac and cheese food stand
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Berlin, Germany
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Cucaracha bar
Carlsberg Brewery Tours
That one bar with graffiti after Kebabistan [find and insert]
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Grocery & Retail Shops
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Food Halls & Markets
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Stroget Shopping Mile
5 minutes from Christiansborg
Shopping area with boutiques, cafés, and restaurants
Fotex Foods
Netto
Botanical garden shop [find name and insert]
Pharmacy Apotek
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Berlin, Germany
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Stortorget
Shopping square and historic market created in 1540
Historical Square, Lilla Torg
Square located in the centre of the city, close to the main shopping square “Stortorget”
Created in 1540 and was used as a shopping square then and still is today
Oldest square in Malmo
Triangeln
Eclectic, urban mall offering eateries and high-end stores
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Notable Neighborhoods | Notable Eats | ||||||||||
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TorvehallerneKBH
Fresh food market
Coffee Collective
Roert KBH (smorrebrod)
El Mercado (tapas)
Ma Poule (ham shop)
Tante T (tea)
Omegn & Venner (cheese shop)
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Christmas Market by NyHaven
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Christmas Markets
Gluhwein
Hot Toddies
Currywurst
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Flea market [find name and insert]
Pop-up hidden Christmas Market on that one street
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Malmö Saluhall
In a repurposed dockside industrial space
Clemens Kott & Husman
Find pizza place name
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Lava at Blue Lagoon
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Notable Neighborhoods
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Notable Eats
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Copenhagen, Denmark
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Berlin, Germany |
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Historical Square, Lilla Torg
Square located in the centre of the city, close to the main shopping square “Stortorget”
Created in 1540 and was used as a shopping square then and still is today
Oldest square in Malmo
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Art Districts & Murals | Music Venues | ||||
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Killer Kebab
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Thai Takeaway
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Kebanistan
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Delicatessen
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Dandelion Burger
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Hidden Dim Sum
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Studio X Kitchen (must get folded eggs)
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Mum’s Deli
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La Tre Street (Pho)
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Aamanns 1921 (amazing new Nordic food $$$)
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Kaffe Konceptor (alcoholic coffees)
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Hofbrau Munchen (well known)
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Zeit Fuer Brot (amazing bakery)
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Turkish place for breakfast (find name)
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Doner place near laundromat for currywurst and doner [find name and insert]
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Art Districts & Murals
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Music Venues
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Clemens Kott & Husman
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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland |
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Tours & Other Activities | Hot Springs & Bath Houses | |||||||||
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M-Bia (underground industrial music)
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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland |
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Tours & Other Activities
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Hot Springs & Bath Houses
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Copenhagen, Denmark
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Berlin, Germany |
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Malmo, Sweden |
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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland
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Copenhagen, Denmark
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Berlin, Germany |
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Malmo, Sweden |
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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland Blue Lagoon Iceland
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Itinerary Example
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Copenhagen, Denmark
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Day 1 (Monday)
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Group leaves home airport
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Day 2 (Tuesday)
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Group arrives in Copenhagen at noon/around midday
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Day 3 (Wednesday)
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Chill in Copenhagen
Daytrip to Hven (Island in Sweden)
Ferry to Hven:
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Day 4 (Thursday)
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Go to Tivoli
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Day 5 (Friday)
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Leave for Berlin in the morning via flight (ideally Friday for weekend clubbing)
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Berlin, Germany
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Day 5 (Friday)
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Leave for Berlin in the morning via flight
Arrive in Berlin
Club night in Berlin
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Day 6 (Saturday)
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Day in Berlin
Club night in Berlin
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Day 7 (Sunday)
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Leave Berlin to Copenhagen via 7 hour train and sleep OR fly out
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Copenhagen Leg 2
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Day 7 (Sunday)
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Leave Berlin to Copenhagen via 7 hour train and sleep
Be back in Copenhagen by (insert time)
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Day 8 (Monday)
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Wake up in Copenhagen, go to Malmo for the day
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Malmo, Sweden
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Day 8 (Monday)
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Go to Malmo for the day, then come back to Copenhagen
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Copenhagen Leg 3
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Day 8 (Monday)
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Come back to Copenhagen from Malmo
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Day 9 (Tuesday)
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Chill in Copenhagen
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Day 10 (Wednesday)
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Chill in Copenhagen
Go to Aire Ancient Baths
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Day 11 (Thursday)
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Depart in the evening to Iceland
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Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland
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Day 11 (Thursday)
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Itinerary Template | |||||||||||
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| Download and print the Northern Euro Trip itinerary template ✨ | ||||||||||
⭐ Need to know
⭐ Summary
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Copenhagen, Denmark | |||||||||||
Day 1 (Monday) | Group leaves home airport | ||||||||||
Day 2 (Tuesday) | Group arrives in Copenhagen (hopefully morning or midday)
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Day 3 (Wednesday) | Chill in Copenhagen
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Day 4 (Thursday) | Chill in Copenhagen
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Day 5 (Friday) | Leave for Berlin in the morning via flight (ideally Friday for weekend clubbing) | ||||||||||
Berlin, Germany | |||||||||||
Day 5 (Friday) | Leave for Berlin in the morning via flight
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Day 6 (Saturday) |
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Day 7 (Sunday) | Leave Berlin to Copenhagen via 7 hour train and sleep OR fly out
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Copenhagen Leg 2 | |||||||||||
Day 7 (Sunday) | Leave Berlin to Copenhagen via 7 hour train and sleep
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Day 8 (Monday) | Wake up in Copenhagen, go to Malmo for the day
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Malmo, Sweden | |||||||||||
Day 8 (Monday) | Go to Malmo for the day, then come back to Copenhagen
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Copenhagen Leg 3 | |||||||||||
Day 8 (Monday) | Come back to Copenhagen from Malmo
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Day 9 (Tuesday) | Chill in Copenhagen
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Day 10 (Wednesday) | Chill in Copenhagen
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Day 11 (Thursday) | Depart in the evening to Iceland | ||||||||||
Keflavik & Reykjavik, Iceland | |||||||||||
Day 11 (Thursday) | Arrive in Iceland
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Day 12 (Friday) | Fly to home airport in evening |
One Bag Packing List Example
Pack
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Thin scarf thing
Merino wool gloves
Thin merino wool hat
Sweater blue cashmere
Thermal shirts (
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3)
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Green shirt
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Grey Henley
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Red down puffer vest
Yoga pants (3)
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Wool skirt
Technical fleece
Merino wool socks
Long down puffer
Thermal leggings for skirt
Loungewear items
Socks, panties, bras
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Waterproof boots
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Swimsuit (Reykjavik hot springs?)
Berlin clubbing outfit
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Shiny black leggings
Lace black top
Light crop black hoodie
Second pair of shoes
Socks, panties, bras
Waterproof boots
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Swimsuit
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Toiletries (see subtask for full list)
Bag/purse thing
Headphones
Ear plugs
Swimsuit
Phone
Wallet
Pen
Wearing to
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Airport
Adidas
Long black water resistant down coat (maybe)
Yoga pants
Thermal shirt
Toiletries
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Tylenol
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Medications
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Tylenol
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Deodorant
Conditioner
Shampoo
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Face wash or scrub
Body wash
Flossers/floss
Razor
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Brush
Tampons
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Earplugs
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Chapstick
Makeup & Skincare
Foundation
Sponge with holder
Mascara
Eye shadow crayon
Day cream
Night cream
Face wash or scrub