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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

  • Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Berlin, Germany

  • Malmo, Sweden

  • Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

Intro

Why 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

  • Navigating the city with less tourists is a plus

  • There are a ton of Christmas markets in Copenhagen and a big one in Berlin

  • Copenhagen has delicious traditional Christmas food at certain establishments

  • The Nyhavn canal is frozen in the early mornings around 4:00-6:00 am and is beautiful because the lights from the city reflect off the ice

    • Great for photos

Important Info

Copenhagen, Denmark

General

  • http://www.visitcopenhagen.com

  • Most residents speak English

  • Currency: DKK, Danish Krone or Kroner (plural)

    • Check Google for the current exchange rate

  • Mixed gender bathrooms are normal

  • J-walking is looked down upon, at least at intersections

  • Talking loudly in public, especially on public transit is looked down upon

  • Watch where you walk, there are a lot of bike lanes that are easy to step into by mistake

US Department of State for Denmark

PASSPORT VALIDITY:

  • Recommend at least 6 months beyond your period of stay

BLANK PASSPORT PAGES:

  • One page per stamp

TOURIST VISA REQUIRED:

  • Not required for stays under 90 days

VACCINATIONS:

  • None

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR ENTRY:

  • 10,000 Euros (or equivalent)

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR EXIT:

  • 10,000 Euros (or equivalent)

Berlin, Germany

General

  • Most residents speak German, 56% speak English

  • Currency: Euro €

    • Check Google for the current exchange rate

  • Recycle or else you could get fined

  • Talking loudly in public, especially on public transit is looked down upon

  • Many nightlife establishments in Berlin allow smoking indoors. If you plan to go to bars or clubs, be prepared to smell strongly of smoke the next day. Locating a laundromat as well as Febreze (there is a German version of this at the grocery store) is recommended.

  • Locate bars and clubs before arriving. Nightlife establishments are closed usually from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm, and many don’t even open until 11:00 pm.

  • German phrases:

    • Danka - thanks

    • Skoal - cheers

    • Prosit - drinking to one’s health

US Department of State for Germany

PASSPORT VALIDITY:

  • Three months beyond planned date of departure from the Schengen area including transit (strictly enforced).

BLANK PASSPORT PAGES:

  • Two pages.

TOURIST VISA REQUIRED:

  • Not required for stays under 90 days.

VACCINATIONS:

  • None

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR ENTRY:

  • 10,000€ (euros or equivalent).

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR EXIT:

  • 10,000€ (euros or equivalent).

Malmo, Sweden

General

US Department of State for Sweden

PASSPORT VALIDITY:

  • At least three months beyond the period of stay

BLANK PASSPORT PAGES:

  • Space for entry and exit stamps

TOURIST VISA REQUIRED:

  • Not required for stays under 90 days

VACCINATIONS:

  • None

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR ENTRY:

  • 10,000 Euros (or equivalent)

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR EXIT:

  • 10,000 Euros (or equivalent)

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

General

  • https://www.visiticeland.com/

  • Most residents speak English

  • Currency: ISK, Icelandic Krona

    • Check Google for the current exchange rate

  • Weather in Iceland can be extremely volatile, especially wind so take care

US Department of State for Iceland

PASSPORT VALIDITY:

  • Three months required, six months recommended beyond your planned date of departure from the Schengen area.

BLANK PASSPORT PAGES:

  • Two pages required for entry stamp

TOURIST VISA REQUIRED:

  • Not required for stays less than 90 days

VACCINATIONS:

  • None

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR ENTRY:

  • Any amount over 10,000 Euros or equivalent must be declared

CURRENCY RESTRICTIONS FOR EXIT:

  • Any amount over 10,000 Euros or equivalent must be declared

General Prep

  • 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

Stay Info

⭐ 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

Malmo, Sweden

Airbnbs available

  • Day trip via train

    • You can take the Metro from downtown Copenhagen to the CPH airport, then board the train to Malmo from there

    • Takes less than an hour

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

  • Airbnbs available

  • Hotel Aurora at airport (ideal for layovers)

    • 5 minute walk outside of airport

    • Breakfast is provided

Flights & Transportation

Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Copenhagen is very walkable

  • Uses officially marked taxis

  • Denmark doesn't have Uber or Lyft

  • Buses are available, cheap and clean

  • 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

  • How to get around Copenhagen

Berlin, Germany

  • Clever Shuttle

  • Lyft is available in Berlin

  • Berlin is very walkable but big so there is a lot of ground to cover

  • U-Bahn trains available

    • Train from Berlin airport (BER) to Alexanderplatz in Berlin is about an hour long

    • Only some stations have lockers

  • A bus taxi: rideshare eco-taxi where you share the ride with other peeps, almost like a bus

Travel between Copenhagen and Berlin

  • Fastest route:

    • There is a plane you can take for 1 hour

  • Scenic route:

    • There is a train you can take for 6-7 hours

    • You can sleep on the train or see the German countryside

Malmo, Sweden

  • 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

Travel between Copenhagen and Malmo

  • You can take the Metro from downtown Copenhagen to the airport, then board the train to Malmo from there

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

  • There’s no Lyft or Uber

  • Electric scooters are available

  • City Center area is walkable

    • Location: from Old Harbour to the Hlemmur bus terminal

  • 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

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

  • Bus transportation in Reykjavik:

    • Regular bus ticket: 480 kr (3.30 USD) during the day and 960 kr (6.55 USD) at night

  • Airport transport bus service:

    • Tickets can be purchased on Icelandair flight (during flight)

    • 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

Flying Icelandair

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

Budget & Personal Expenses

Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Stays

  • Transportation

  • Food

  • Other (souvenirs, etc.)

Berlin, Germany

  • Stays

  • Transportation

  • Food

  • Other (souvenirs, etc.)

Malmo, Sweden

  • Stays

  • Transportation

  • Food

  • Other (souvenirs, etc.)

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

  • Stays

  • Transportation

  • Food

  • Other (souvenirs, etc.)

Flights and Transportation

  • Taxi: CPH airport to City Center of Copenhagen is $20-$40

  • Bus: Copenhagen bus tickets average around $7 per ride

  • Train: Copenhagen to Malmo is $12/person

  • Train: Berlin to Copenhagen around $97/person to $110/person

    • The price can change depending how far you book in advance, we recommend checking as we ended up flying instead and the flight was only an hour vs 6-8 hours.

  • Train: Berlin airport (BER) to Alexanderplatz in Berlin is

  • 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

National Foods

Copenhagen, Denmark

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

Berlin, Germany

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

  • Dong Xuan Center - Viatnamese food store

Malmo, Sweden

Foods to try:

  • Kanelbulle

  • Filmjölk

  • Toast Skagen

  • Foraged berries

  • Husmanskost

  • Prinsesstårta

  • Lingonberries

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

Foods to try:

  • Kjotsupa

  • Lamb (Stew)

  • Hot Dog (Lamb)

  • Seafood (Lobster Soup)

  • Skyr (Cake)

  • Fermented Shark

  • Ice Cream

Recommended Establishments & Activities

Coffee Shops & Breakfast Spots

Museums, Castles & Memorials

Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Buka

  • Kaf Bar

  • Cafe Claude’s Hands (hot egg)

  • Hart Bagery (bakery - owner worked at Noma)

  • The Villa Hotel (pastry and espresso cafe inside)

  • Bastard Cafe (board games, Hygge culture)

  • Landbageriet (focaccia and cinnamon rolls)

  • Lille Petra (incredible skyr breakfast)

  • Lagkagehuset Groennin (cafe by castle park)

Berlin, Germany

  • Coffee Fellows Cafe

Malmo, Sweden

  • Katarina

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Danish Architecture Centre

  • Castles: Website

  • Christianborg Palace

    • 800+ years of history and today, the palace is home to the Parliament, the Prime Minister's Office, and the Supreme Court

  • Rosenburg Castle

  • Royal Library Gardens

    • Garden haven, small pond, looks like a medieval garden with hedges

Berlin, Germany

  • The Wall

  • East Side Gallery

Malmo, Sweden

  • Malmö Castle

    • Malmö Castle was built from 1537 to 1542 on top of ruins from an old fort

    • It is the oldest preserved Renaissance castle in Scandinavia, and today it is used for a variety of different experiences and exhibitions

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

Theaters & Theme Parks

Bars, Beer Gardens & Breweries

Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Cinemateket

    • National center for cinema culture showing Danish films on 3 screens, plus a restaurant & cafe

  • Tivoli Gardens

    • Amusement park dating from 1843

    • Raclette mac and cheese food stand

Berlin, Germany

  • Lichtblick-Kino

    • Compact cinema, seating 32 people, showing documentaries & foreign-language films with subtitles

Malmo, Sweden

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Cucaracha bar

  • Carlsberg Brewery Tours

Berlin, Germany

  • Eschschloraque (hidden bar)

  • Hofbrau Munchen (well known)

Malmo, Sweden

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

Grocery & Retail Shops

Food Halls & Markets

Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Stroget Shopping Mile

    • 5 minutes from Christiansborg

    • Shopping area with boutiques, cafés, and restaurants

  • Fotex Foods

  • Netto

  • Pharmacy Apotek

  • Botanisk Have (botanical garden)

    • We just went to the shop which was very cute

Berlin, Germany

  • Thrift stores

    • We went to one in Alexanderplatz within the Mitte neighborhood

Malmo, Sweden

  • 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

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

Copenhagen, Denmark

  • TorvehallerneKBH

    • Fresh food market

    • Website

      • Coffee Collective

      • Roert KBH (smorrebrod)

      • El Mercado (tapas)

      • Ma Poule (ham shop)

      • Tante T (tea)

      • Omegn & Venner (cheese shop)

  • Christmas Market by NyHaven

  • Christmas Markets

    • Gluhwein

    • Hot Toddies

    • Currywurst

Berlin, Germany

  • Flea markets

    • We went to one in the Mitte neighborhood

  • Pop-up hidden Christmas Markets

    • We went to one in the Mitte neighborhood

  • Dong Xuan Center

    • Viatnamese food store

Malmo, Sweden

  • Malmö Saluhall

    • Malmö Saluhall

      • In a repurposed dockside industrial space - apparently the pizza there is very good

      • Clemens Kott & Husman

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

  • Lava at Blue Lagoon

Notable Neighborhoods

Notable Eats

Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Nyhavn Harbor

    • Nautical vibe, colorful shore-side with tall ships docked along the quays

  • Nyboder Houses

    • Orange former naval barracks, worth checking out!

  • Freetown Christiana

    • An intentional community and commune in the Christianshavn neighborhood

      • Functioning alternative society

      • No photos

      • Don’t interact with dogs due to recent tension there

      • Cars are banned, bicycles are the main mode of transport, and horses roam free

      • Pusher street is a little weird and the locals aren’t supporting it due to recent gang violence - can be avoided

      • Christmas Market (and maybe regular market?) is before pusher street and an exit exists next to the market

Berlin, Germany

Malmo, Sweden

  • 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

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Killer Kebab

  • Thai Takeaway

  • Kebanistan

  • Delicatessen

  • Dandelion Burger

  • Hidden Dim Sum

  • Studio X Kitchen (must get folded eggs)

  • Mum’s Deli

  • La Tre Street (Pho)

  • Aamanns 1921 (amazing new Nordic food $$$)

  • Kaffe Konceptor (alcoholic coffees)

  • Domhusets Smørrebrød

Berlin, Germany

  • Zeit Fuer Brot (amazing bakery)

  • Turkish restaurants

  • Doner restaurants

  • House of Small Wonder

Malmo, Sweden

  • Clemens Kott & Husman

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

Art Districts & Murals

Music Venues

Copenhagen, Denmark

Berlin, Germany

  • East Side Gallery

  • Murals and graffiti are all over Berlin

Malmo, Sweden

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

Copenhagen, Denmark

Berlin, Germany

  • M-Bia (underground industrial music)

  • Schokoladen (tiny disco dance hall but not necessarily disco music)

Malmo, Sweden

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

Tours & Other Activities

Hot Springs & Bath Houses

Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Canal Tour

  • Broens Skøjtebane ice skating rink

    • Open in winter, food and drinks available

  • Broens Street Food

    • Relaxed outdoor space with street food stands and alcoholic drinks

  • Superkilen

    • City block painted red and pink, public park in the Nørrebro district of Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Cisterne

    • Underground art

  • The Round Tower

    • Astronomy tower from 17th century

      • $6 per person

Berlin, Germany

Malmo, Sweden

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

  • Northern Lights

    • Priority

  • Food Tour

    • Cost is about $100 for 3hr tour - which is about the cost of 3ish small meals (tacos, burger, entrees all cost about $45 each)

Copenhagen, Denmark

  • The Ancient Baths

    • Ancient bath house

Berlin, Germany

Malmo, Sweden

Keflavik/Reykjavik, Iceland

Blue Lagoon Iceland

  • About:

    • Hot springs with geothermal seawater

    • Plethora of volcanic landscapes, rising pillars of steam

    • Winter months (December-February) offer the chance to see the Northern Lights

  • Getting there:

    • 15 min drive from Keflavik Airport

    • 45-minute drive from Reykjavik

    • Visitors can also take a bus or a guided tour from Reykjavik to the Blue Lagoon

  • Reservations:

    • Will want to book asap

    • Must book several months in advance to ensure your space, likely will be turned away at the door without a reservation especially during peak tourist season (June-August)

  • Things to note:

    • It’s a requirement to shower naked in public before entering the lagoon, to ensure that the highest hygiene standards are maintained. Though uncomfortable for some, nudity is not taboo in Icelandic culture, so worry not; no one’s looking.

    • Towels and swimsuits are available for rent, visitors are also welcome to bring their own towels and swimsuits

  • Hours:

    • January-May, 08:00-21:00

    • June 1st -August 20th, 07:00-24:00

    • August 21st - January, 08:00-22:00

Itinerary Template

DOWNLOAD ITINERARY

Download and print the Northern Euro Trip itinerary template ✨

⭐ Need to know

  • Copenhagen will be the base to visit the other countries

  • You will need a flight to and from Copenhagen over the course of 12 days

  • Be prepared to travel with your bags, one bag recommended

    • It is possible to travel with one bag in winter

    • This has been tested by men and women

  • If you cannot travel with all your bags, be prepared to leave them in a locker or a stay of some sort while you are in Berlin and Malmo

    • Bringing extra bags have additional costs due to baggage fees with airlines as well as locker or additional stay fees

⭐ Summary

  • Copenhagen for a few days

  • Berlin for the weekend for exploring and clubbing

  • Back to Copenhagen

  • Copenhagen to Malmo for a day trip

  • Back to Copenhagen

  • Copenhagen to Keflavik for layover in Iceland

  • Iceland layover on the way back to US

Copenhagen, Denmark

Day 1 (Monday)

Group leaves home airport

Day 2 (Tuesday)

Group arrives in Copenhagen (hopefully morning or midday)

  • Chill in Copenhagen

    • Explore or chill out

    • Try new delicious food

Day 3 (Wednesday)

Chill in Copenhagen

  • Explore or do activity

  • Try new delicious food

Day 4 (Thursday)

Chill in Copenhagen

  • Explore or do activity

  • Try new delicious food

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

  • Arrive in Berlin

  • Explore during the day, try new foods or do activity

  • Club night in Berlin

    • Nightlife does not start until 11:00 pm, rarely 10:00 pm

Day 6 (Saturday)

  • Day in Berlin

    • Explore more, do activity, and/or try new foods

  • Club night in Berlin

    • Saturday nights are much busier than Friday nights

Day 7 (Sunday)

Leave Berlin to Copenhagen via 7 hour train and sleep OR fly out

  • We opted to fly out and recommend this as we were exhausted

  • We flew in the afternoon so we had the morning to further explore

Copenhagen Leg 2

Day 7 (Sunday)

Leave Berlin to Copenhagen via 7 hour train and sleep

  • Be back in Copenhagen by (insert time)

Day 8 (Monday)

Wake up in Copenhagen, go to Malmo for the day

  • You can take the Metro from the City Center in Copenhagen to the airport, then board the train to Malmo from there

Malmo, Sweden

Day 8 (Monday)

Go to Malmo for the day, then come back to Copenhagen

  • Explore and try new delicious food

  • You can take the train from Malmo to the Copenhagen airport, then the Metro to the City Center in Copenhagen

Copenhagen Leg 3

Day 8 (Monday)

Come back to Copenhagen from Malmo

  • Explore, do activity or chill out

  • Try new delicious food

Day 9 (Tuesday)

Chill in Copenhagen

  • Explore or do activity

  • Try new delicious food

Day 10 (Wednesday)

Chill in Copenhagen

  • Explore or do activity

  • Try new delicious food

Day 11 (Thursday)

Depart in the evening to Iceland

Keflavik & Reykjavik, Iceland

Day 11 (Thursday)

Arrive in Iceland

  • If you are flying Icelandair

    • Icelandair allows a free stopover for up to 7 days due to Iceland promoting tourism

    • There is an option to buy bus tickets from the airport to Reykjavik on an Icelandair flight

  • Exploring is limited during December as there is 5 hours of daylight maximum

    • Sunrise is between 10:00-11:00 am

    • Sunset is between 3:00-4:00 pm

  • If your layover is around 24 hours

    • Check out Reykjavik if there is enough time during the layover

    • Keflavik is closer to the airport and a nice backup option but a taxi is required to go there

      • Explore, try new food or do an activity (transportation required)

        • Blue Lagoon is near the airport

Day 12 (Friday)

Fly to home airport in evening

One Bag Packing List Example

Pack

  • Thin scarf thing

  • Merino wool gloves

  • Thin merino wool hat

  • Sweater blue cashmere

  • Thermal shirts (3)

  • Yoga pants (3)

  • Wool skirt

  • Technical fleece

  • Merino wool socks

  • Long down puffer

  • Thermal leggings for skirt

  • Loungewear items

  • Socks, panties, bras

  • Berlin clubbing outfit

    • Shiny black leggings

    • Lace black top

    • Light crop black hoodie

  • Second pair of shoes

  • Socks, panties, bras

  • Waterproof boots

  • Bag/purse thing

  • Headphones

  • Ear plugs

  • Swimsuit

  • Phone

  • Wallet

  • Pen

Wearing to Airport

  • Adidas

  • Long black water resistant down coat (maybe)

  • Yoga pants

  • Thermal shirt

Toiletries

  • Tylenol

  • Medications

  • Toothpaste

  • Toothbrush

  • Deodorant

  • Conditioner

  • Shampoo

  • Body wash

  • Flossers/floss

  • Razor

  • Brush

  • Tampons

  • SPF chapstick

Makeup & Skincare

  • Foundation

  • Sponge with holder

  • Mascara

  • Eye shadow crayon

  • Day cream

  • Night cream

  • Face wash or scrub

  • Sunscreen

  • No labels