Choosing between these Scandinavian capitals isn’t easy. While they share similarities, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo have enough differences that make each destination distinct from each other. With this short guide, we’re here to help you answer the question – Should I visit Stockholm, Copenhagen or Oslo?

Christianborg Palace Copenhagen — Christianborg Palace, Copenhagen

Where are these cities located?

Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo are located in the Scandinavian Triangle. Out of the three, Copenhagen is the lowest on the map, while Oslo and Stockholm are located up north, closer to the North Pole.

If you’re visiting from popular destinations in Western Europe such as Spain, France, the UK, Germany and Italy, then Copenhagen would be the easiest to get to.

The distances between each city aren’t that far if you have a lot of time, but they are also quit lengthy if you only have a few days to explore Scandinavia.

How do I get to these cities?

From Stockholm, it takes about 7.5 hours to get to Copenhagen by car, and about 5 hours by train.

From Copenhagen, it takes 6.5 hours to get to Oslo by car, and about 8 hours via public transport.

From Oslo, it takes about 6.5 hours to get to Stockholm by car, and just under 6 hours by train.

For this reason, if you’re planning on visit more than one (or all) of these cities, I would recommend you fly. There are frequently departing flights to and from any of these cities, and they only take a little over an hour usually. Many budget airlines fly to these destinations for an extremely affordable price, so you should always check Skyscanner for the cheapest fares available.

Stockholm

Visit Stockholm if...

You’re looking for a bustling, modern city with both ‘old charm’ and a contemporary feel.
You love novelty museums such as the ABBA Museum, Fotografiska Museum and Vasa Museum.
You enjoy a young, university vibe.
You are looking for a full cosmopolitan experience – trend restaurants, bars, live music and shopping,
You are looking for a slightly more extraverted city.
You want to visit the most affordable city out of these three.

In a nutshell, Stockholm is...

In front of the Royal Palace in Stockholm

To be honest, all three capitals on this list have a similar vibe, but Stockholm (to me, at least) was definitely more extraverted in nature over the other two. Stockholm is the most populated city out of the three by quite some margin (in fact, its population is almost double of Copenhagen’s), and you really feel it. It’s the honorary ‘Capital of Scandinavia’, as it’s actually the most populated city in the entire region.

With this, comes all the benefits and drawbacks of being in a big city. This means that you’ll get a larger choice in restaurants, nightlife, shopping – all those things. On the flip side, I did find Stockholm to be by far the most crowded of the three cities. Oslo and Copenhagen were, at times, eerily quiet, but Stockholm always had a livelier vibe to it, even on weeknights.

Having said this, its crowdedness is nowhere near as bad as other bustling capitals such as Prague, Vienna or Budapest. It’s still a pleasant city where you can get peace and quiet, but also have access to a more social experience if you want.

City Hall interior Stockholm — Inside City Hall in Stockholm

In terms architecture, Stockholm has a great mix of new and old buildings, as well as interesting museums. Stockholm City Hall, Gamla Stan and the Royal Palace are all spectacular sights of old you should visit, while newer establishments such as the ABBA Museum and Moderna Museum keep Stockholm fresh and exciting. I would say it’s a more ‘varied’ destination over the other two in this regard.

Gamla Stan stockholm — Inner alleyways of Gamla Stan in Stockholm

City Hall exterior Stockholm — Outside City Hall in Stockholm

Because of this, you might find that Stockholm lacks a bit of an identity - compared to Copenhagen.

Where to stay in Stockholm

Is Stockholm the city for you? Check out our top recommendations for the best places to stay in Stockholm, ranked by the size of your budget!

Budget: City Backpackers Hotel

You literally will not find a better central hostel in Stockholm than this! Not only does the City Backpackers Hotel have cozy, affordable hostel rooms, but it’s also smack back in the city center and even has a co-working space.

You can take a closer look at City Backpackers Hotel by clicking here.

Mid-Range: Clarion Hotel Amaranten

This is a great option for those with a little bit more of a budget. This comfortable hotel is also located very centrally, and is frequently praised for its friendly staff and comfort.

You can take a closer look at Clarion Hotel Amaranten by clicking here.

Luxury: At Six

At Six is a stylishly modern hotel, known for its editorial interior design and contemporary art. Located right in the heart of Stockholm, it’s also one of the city’s very best rated hotels.

You can take a closer look at At Six by clicking here.

Handpicked Stockholm Tours

Want a hassle-free sightseeing experience? Check out these tours we’ve handpicked for you to ensure that you get to see the best out of this Swedish capital.

Stockholm Top attractions all-inclusive Gran Tour - all of Stockholm’s highlights in one day.
Stockholm Like a Local: Customized Private Tour - in this private tour, you’ll get to experience all the must-sees and hidden gems of Stockholm.
Walking Tour of Stockholm Old Town - affordable walking tour, allowing you to learn all about Stockholm Old Town’s history.

Copenhagen

Visit Copenhagen if...

You’re visiting from more well-known destinations such as the UK, Italy, France, Germany, Spain – it’s closer.
You’re more of a fan of old architecture, versus modern architecture.
You love castles, palaces and attractions related to the Danish Royal Family.
You love theme parks (see: Tivoli Gardens).
You want a cosier, introverted holiday.
A family-friendly, whimsical atmosphere is something important to you.

In a nutshell, Copenhagen is...

Christianborg Castle Copenhagen — Christianborg Castle, Copenhagen

Copenhagen is the capital of comfort. In line with the Danish’s affinity for hygge (I know hygge is both a Danish and Norwegian concept, but I feel like the Danish subscribe to it even more than the Norwegians do from personal observation), Copenhagen is a city that just feels comfortable.

Even though it’s cold sometimes, and even though the slightly monochrome colour palette of its buildings can make things feel gloomy, there is somehow always a sense of family and safeness in Copenhagen. Perhaps it’s the comforting colours of Nyhavn that evokes a sense of warmth, or maybe it’s attractions like the Little Mermaid and Tivoli Gardens that are always a hit with children – Copenhagen is somehow always warm and welcoming.

Asher nyhavn copenhagen — Asher at Nyhavn, Copenhagen

entrance to Tivoli Gardens — One of the entrances to Tivoli Gardens

If you’re a fan of castles, then there are plenty for you to visit in Copenhagen! Check out Rosenborg Castle, Frederiksborg Slot, Christianborg Slog and Amalienborg. A short distance away from capital, you can also find Kronborg Castle and Fredensborg Palace.

Copenhagen is slightly more expensive than Stockholm, but noticeably cheaper than Oslo.

Where to stay in Copenhagen

So you’ve chosen Copenhagen! Here are picks for the best places to stay in Copenhagen.

Budget: Urban House Copenhagen by MEININGER

Urban House Copenhagen by MEININGER might just be one of the coolest hotels I’ve seen. This is a great budget hostel option.

You can take a closer look at Urban House Copenhagen by MEININGER by clicking here.

Mid-Range: Steel House Copenhagen

With a name like Steel House Copenhagen, you’d be forgiven if you thought this was hotel was more industrial rather than comfort. But with a stunning interior, comfortable beds and a relatively affordable price tag - this is a great choice for mid-range budget travelers.

You can take a closer look at Steel House Copenhagen by clicking here.

Luxury: Nimb Hotel

Located in Copenhagen’s famous Tivoli Gardens, this stylish boutique hotel is housed in an impressive Moorish-style building. It’s an absolutely stunning luxury hotel.

You can take a closer look at Nimb Hotel by clicking here.

Handpicked Copenhagen Tours

There’s a lot to see and do around Copenhagen. If you have a bit of a budget to go on a tour, you should check out these Copenhagen tours that we’ve handpicked for you:

Copenhagen Sightseeing Cruise With Live Guide - extremely affordable, fun sightseeing cruise from the canals of Copenhagen
Grand Day Trip around Copenhagen - this day trip will take you to Kronborg Castle, Frederiksborg Castle, the Viking Ship Museum and more.
Hamlet And Sweden Day Tour from Copenhagen - Two Countries in One Day! - if you want a taste of Sweden, this day trip will take you to Malmo (Sweden’s second largest city), as well as other Copenhagen highlights.

Oslo

Visit Oslo if...

You’re looking for a slightly offbeat destination.
Cleanliness is a top priority.
You want to visit a Norwegian fjord.
Having a quiet, introverted holiday is important to you.
You don’t mind spending a bit more on a holiday.

In a nutshell, Oslo is...

You can read a more extensive summary about my thoughts on Oslo in my other blog post, but in summary, Oslo is a great city if you’re looking for a taste of Norway. Norwegian culture is perhaps the most ‘novel’ out of the Swedes, Danes and Norwegians because of its Viking history, love of contemporary arts and the role of nature in its culture.

Because of this, you’ll get to learn about Norway and its history by visiting attractions such as the Viking Ship Museum, Norwegian Folk Museum and Vigeland Park. Oslo’s historical buildings include Akershus Castle, The Royal Palace, Norwegian Parliament and the National Theatre – although I don’t think these are visually as impressive as the ones in Stockholm and Copenhagen.

Oslo is noticeably quieter compared to Copenhagen, and especially Stockholm. It can be pretty dead on a weeknight, and although it does have its fair share of restaurants and establishments, you won’t have as much variety of choice as you do in the other cities. For this reason, Oslo can feel very introverted. It’s also quite an expensive city to visit.

Where to stay in Oslo

Being quite a cosmopolitan city, there’s no shortage of quality accommodation in Oslo. Here are top recommendations.

Budget: The Verdandi Hotel

Located in the city center of Oslo, this stylish hotel has relatively small rooms, but is a great choice for the budget-conscious traveler.

Take a closer look at The Verdandi Hotel by clicking here.

Mid-Range: Hotell Bondeheimen

We’ve spoken about this before in our other blog post, but it doesn’t get much better than the Hotell Bondeheimen’s location. Featuring a gym and beautifully decorated rooms, this will be perfect for those on a mid-range budget.

Take a closer look at Hotell Bondeheimen by clicking here.

Luxury: Grand Hotel

A beautiful property Grand Hotel is a luxurious, 5-star hotel located on Oslo’s most well-known street.

Take a closer look at Grand Hotel by clicking here.

Handpicked Oslo Tours

Although Oslo city’s attractions are in walking distance from each other, other highlights such as Vigeland Park, Viking Ship Museum and Norwegian Folk Museum and Holmenkollbakken Ski Jump are all quite spread out from each other, and it’ll no doubt be easier for you to see these on a tour if you have the budget for it. Check out these Oslo tours we’ve handpicked:

Panoramic Oslo City Sightseeing Tour - visit the Holmnekollen Ski Jump, Vigeland Park and pass through Oslo’s iconic sights such as Oslo City Hall and Oslo Fjord.
Oslo Discovery Tour - this is one of the most comprehensive Oslo tours around, as it takes you through almost 15 of Oslo’s attractions. Perfect if you only have 1 day in Oslo.
The Scenic Roadtrip - Oslo to Bergen via the fjords by private van - this tour is the ultimate experience if you have the budget for it! On tihs trip, you’ll take the scenic road to Bergen and witness Norway’s famous fjords. Would highly recommend this if you have the time and money (but it is pricey).

What all these cities have in common...

Sweden stockholm pond — All of these cities are very green.

Despite their differences, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo all have these in common:

People from all three cities were very friendly, in our opinion.
They all feature old and new architecture, and the architecture is quite similar to each other.
They are not massive metropolises – they can be considered mid-sized capitals with a relaxed vibe.
They offer plenty of green spaces.
They are all relatively expensive to visit, with Oslo definitely being the most expensive.

What about Reykjavik and Helsinki?

Iceland and Finland are often erroneously grouped in with Denmark, Norway and Sweden as part of Scandinavia, but this isn’t really the case. Strictly speaking, these countries are ‘Nordic countries’ (along with Denmark, Norway, Sweden), although most people just use the term ‘Scandinavia’ when referring to any of these countries these days.

Therefore, I haven’t included Reykjavik and Helsinki in this blog post (although it could the subject of a future blog post – let me know if you’d like me to write on that)! I loved visiting all the cities on this list, but my favourite city is actually Helsinki, with Reykjavik being my second favourite city. In short, I found that Helsinki was the prettiest and nicest city to stay in, while Reykjavik served as a useful gateway to Iceland’s magical nature.

You can you can read about my experiences in Finland (including my northern lights experience) and Iceland by clicking on their ‘destinations’ page.

Which One Should You Visit? – Our Opinion

Please take our rankings with a grain of salt, as which city you enjoy all depends on your preferences. But this is our list!

1. Copenhagen

Beautiful castles, comfort and cosiness wins for us. This city is full of character and charm.

2. Stockholm

Getting lost in the streets of Stockholm’s Old Town (Gamla Stan)

A great, cosmopolitan city that caters to the old and new.

3. Oslo

Norway’s quiet capital is an interesting blend of culture and nature.

Visited, or planning to visit any of these Scandinavian cities? Let us know in the comments below!

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Should I Visit Stockholm, Copenhagen or Oslo?

Where are these cities located?

How do I get to these cities?