How I Traveled Scandinavia For Six Days With Less Than $1000 - MVMT Blog (2024)

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In November 2015, I spent six days traveling solo through Scandinaviatothree capital cities and spent a total of USD $883.39, including all airfare, accommodations, museums, food/drinks, and shopping.I did not create a budget for this trip beforehand as it was a last minute trip that I knew I wanted to take regardless of cost. I had decided last minute to switch jobs and wanted to take advantage of the transition period to travel more “extensively.” As I have had so many readers ask me about the cost of traveling Scandinavia during our Scandinavia series last month, I decided to put together this cost analysis of how I traveled Scandinavia for six days with less than$1000. In the cost breakdown below, I will highlight areas I’m glad I splurged on and areas where I wish I would have skipped or planned better to save money.

Transportation: $283.32 USD

Since I had a limited amount of time in Scandinavia, I decided to fly between each of my destinations, rather than take the train, in order to save time on the road and give myself more time to explore the cities.Once I arrived in each city, I walked everywhere for the most part.The only non-flight costs I incurred for transportation werefor theferry rides between Suomenlinna and mainland Helsinki and the bike rental in Copenhagen. All in all, I think I did a great job with keeping transportation costs low.

Roundtrip flight from Chicago to Helsinki: $167.20 USD

I have been collecting airline miles through American Airlines for years and have racked up more miles than I’m able to use while working a full time job. In order to get a cheap flight to Scandinavia, I used my miles and found a flight from Chicago to HelsinkiforUSD $167.20roundtrip. Idid have a layover each way but was actually able to take advantage of this by spending a few hours relaxing in Paris on my way there and spending a day in Berlin visiting a friend on the way back. I would highly recommend finding longer stopovers in different cities if you can because it’s essentially a free flight to another city. Also, if you have not yet signed up for a travel credit card, either through a specific airline or through a general rewards program, you need to get on that ASAP! Flying with miles has saved me so much money on my trips and is a big reason I am financially able to travel so often. If you are unable to fly with miles, however, I would recommend checking out Skyscanner and Expedia for the best flight deals.

One-way flight from Helsinki to Stockholm: $32.80 USD

I flew Norwegian Air from Helsinki to Stockholm on a Tuesday, which is the cheapest day of the week to fly. My one way flight costUSD $32.80. Although Norwegian Air is labeleda budget airline, it is nicer than some non-budget airlines I’ve been on.I would happily fly Norwegian Air again, especially with its low costs. I booked this ticket pretty last minute and was still able to find a relatively cheap flight from Helsinki to Stockholm.

One-way flight from Stockholm to Copenhagen: $55.80 USD

I flew Norwegian Air again fromStockholm to Copenhagen. My flight cost USD $55.80, which is a little more than the cost of my flight from Helsinki to Stockholm, but I can’t complain considering how last minute I booked this. Had Ibeen able to plan ahead farther in advance, I may have been able to save some money on this flight.

Ferry tickets between mainland Helsinki and Suomenlinna: $11.05 USD

Although I prefer to walk everywhere when I travel, I didn’t have much of an option when it came to traveling between Suomenlinna, where my hostel was located, and mainland Helsinki, wheremostofthe attractions I wanted to see could be found. You can buy ferry tickets at the ticket machines right outside the ferry terminal. A one way ticket costs€2.70 (USD $2.98), or you can buy a 12 hour pass for€5.00 (USD $5.53).

Although I was in Helsinki for two days, I only purchased two 12-hour passes, which cost me a total of €10.00 (USD $11.05),since I timed my trips within the 12 hour time frames. The ferries operate exactly on schedule, so don’t think you’ll be able to catch it if you show up a few minutes late. Follow the timetable posted online, and show up on time (or with time to spare).

The ferries were very nice, with two indoor sections on each side of the main walkway, and outdoor areas as well if you prefer to stand outside.You can also bring your car on the ferry, although you will need to book online in advance if you are planning to bring your car because each ferry can only carry 1-2 cars. If you’ve got a bike or other small transport, you can bring it on the ferry with you without booking in advance.

Bike rental in copenhagen: $16.47 USD

When I was in Stockholm, I met two travelers at my hostel who were also headed to Copenhagen the next day, so we decided to meet up in Copenhagen and tour the city together by bike. Copenhagen has one of the strongest bike cultures of any city in the world, so we thought, what better way to experience Copenhagen like a local than to see the sights by bike? We rented a bike for an entire day, which set us back USD $16.47 each.

Accommodation: $171.55 USD

For the most part, I stay in hostels when I travel, and this trip was no exception. I stayed for two nights each in Helsinki, Stockholm, and Copenhagen. In each hostel, I stayed in a co-ed 7- or 8-bedroom dorm room. Overall, I’d say I did a pretty good job with keeping costs down for accommodation. The only way I could have reduced my accommodation expenses would be to book earlier, book hostels farther from city centre, or find hosts on couchsurfing. However, I prefer to stay at hostels when I travel solo because it feels safer than staying with a single host on couchsurfing, and it provides me with an opportunity to meet more people, which is always a plus for me when I’m traveling solo. Alternatively, staying at a hostel farther from city centre would likely have increased my transportation expenses since I wouldn’t be able to walk everywhere, soresorting only to hostels in great locations is not an unnecessary splurge in my books.

Helsinki: $55.24 USD

I stayed at the Suomenlinna Hostel on the beautiful Suomenlinna sea fortressisland, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage site. My 7 bed co-ed mixed dorm room cost€49.97 (USD $55.24)for two nights. By the time I decided I would be traveling to Helsinki, all of the reasonably priced hostels in Helsinki had been booked, except for this quiet hostel in Suomenlinna with a cozy cabin-like feel. I would recommend it to someone looking for a more off-the-beaten path, quiet hostel, but for those looking for a party atmosphere or a place to meet and socialize with other travelers, this hostel may not be your best option. I did like how I was able to pay for my stay via email even after I had left Helsinki because I had arrived late at night and was too busy out exploring Helsinki to remember to check in and pay for my stay.

Stockholm: $50.81 USD

I stayedat the City Backpackers Hostel, one of my favorite hostels in the world. My 7 bed co-ed dorm cost SEK455.61 (USD $50.81)for two nights. I couldn’t believe this steal! I was not expecting to find a hostel for less than USD $30 per night, and certainly not in a hostel as clean, fully equipped, and welcoming as this hostel. You can read my full review of City Backpackers Stockholm here. I would recommend this hostel to anyone, but especially to solo travelers looking to meet other travelers, as the community aspect of this hostel is fantastic.

Copenhagen: $65.50 USD

I stayed at the Urban House in Copenhagen, a hip and energetic hostel near the main train station. My 8 bed co-ed dorm cost DKK440.89 (USD $65.50)for two nights. This was by far the most expensive hostel I stayed at in Scandinavia. It is a huge hostel and I believe the only one in the world with a tattoo parlor. Having seen tattoo parlors on what seemed like every street corner as I was walking through Copenhagen, I knew I had to get a tattoo at this hostel because when else am I going to get a tattoo in a hostel? My tattoo artist was a girl from Italy who ran a tattoo shop in Italy as well as in Copenhagen and regularly travels between the two locations. Of course I had to get a travel related tattoo, so I got one that says “miles to go” – from one of my favorite poems by Robert Frost (“The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, Andmiles to go before I sleep, Andmiles to go before I sleep.”)

Food/Drink: $223.89 USD

Food and drink are expensive in Scandinavia. My best advice for avoiding spending all your money on food is to stay at a hostel with a kitchen and buy groceries to cook yourself.In Copenhagen, I found some cheaper areas such as Christiania, and tried to eat my meals there. In Helsinki, on the other hand, I was unable to find any cheap areas, so each meal ended up being a splurge unless I resorted to the grocery stores.

Helsinki: $76.43 USD

The food in Helsinki is expensive, and you really have to try hard to find something cheap. Do not assume that just because you’re getting a plate of cold, dry food that you must not be paying much for it. My best tipis to check the prices on the menu before you order anything, and try to stay at a hostel with a kitchen and buy groceries from the grocery store to cook yourself if possible.

Here is a list of my food and drink spending in Helsinki:

• Grocery/convenience stores: USD $19.75 – I visited the supermarket a few times in Helsinki to buy water, snacks, and toiletry essentials I had forgotten at home.
• Viaporin Deli and Cafe: USD $15.58 – This is the cafe/restaurant/brewery on Suomenlinna island that I mentioned in my Suomenlinna post. The brewery was closed when I went, but the cafe served several of the beers they brewed locally. I ordered one of their home-brewed beers and a large bowl of tomato bisque soup that was just what I needed on a cold Finnish day.
• Fazer: USD $21.68 – This was probably the worst food splurge on my entire trip. I was desperately looking forbreakfast on a Sunday morning, but nothing was open. It also happened to be Father’s Day that day, so that limited my options even more. Finally, I found a breakfast place that was open and looked pretty casual, so I went inside without even checking their prices, thinking it couldn’t be too much since the breakfast buffet looked like it was just bread and yogurt and other cold foods. Boy, was I wrong. I ended up paying over $20 for this meal, and it was probably the least satisfying $20 meal I’ve ever had. I would for sure skip this.
• Molly Malone’s: USD $8.52 –I met a friend at this cute Irish pub on my last day in Helsinki. There was live music and good beers, and that’s all I can really ask for. The wait staff was very relaxed and casual. This was a good spend.
• HKI+: USD $10.90 – I had a big bowl of pho here right before I departed for Stockholm. I could have done away with a cheaper meal, but this really hit the spot, and anyone who knows me knows my obsession with pho. I would do it again.

Stockholm: $68.13 USD

I definitely splurged a bit on food in Stockholm, but the local dishes I splurged on were entirely worth it. A trip to Stockholm is not complete without a meal of Swedish meatballs, and thelaxpudding dish I had was to die for. The beers were extremely pricey, but I don’t regret that either as it was one ofmy most memorable hostel bonding experiences. I could have saved entirely on food on this trip had I taken advantage of the free dry pasta available at my hostel, but like I said, I don’t regret the spend.

Here is a list of my food and drink spending in Stockholm:

• Cafe Sten Sture: USD $14.45 – This is an old underground prison that has since been converted into a restaurant that serves traditional Swedish food. I saw a sign outside for Swedish meatballs and of course could not resist.The meal was a bit pricey, but I would recommend it simply for its atmosphere.
• Robert’s Coffee: USD $3.34 – Sometimes whenyou’re traveling, you just need a cup of joe to keep you going.
• Cafe Co: USD $3.70 – Or two.
• Schweizerkonditoriet: USD $14.45 – I had the most delicious local dishof laxpuddingat this cute little cafe in Gamla Stan (Old Town). The meal was pricey,but I’m very glad I tried this as it was extremely tasty and I had neverheard of or tasted something like this before.
• The Flying Dog: USD $32.19 – My entire hostel room of seven people went out together on my last night in Stockholm and got some drinks. This is the only hostel I’ve stayed at where my entire dorm room went out together.While the beers here were extremely pricey (at USD $10-11 per beer), it was worth it for me because of the unique experience and memories behind the beers.

Copenhagen: $79.33 USD

A couple of my best tips for saving money on food and drinks in Copenhagen are to eat at your hostel, and eat in Christiania.Hostels typically have cheaper food than restaurants outside, as they cater to a budget crowd. Christiania, whichyou should read about here if you haven’t already, has categorically cheaper food than other parts of Copenhagen, and their food is locally sourced and organic, so you’re really gettingthe most bang for your buck. Here is a breakdown of my food and drink spending in Copenhagen:

• Urban House: USD $18.13– This included one sandwich and two beers.
• Vietnamese Restaurant: USD $19.28 – This was my splurge meal and NOT a smart spend. I was really craving Asian food and saw this Vietnamese restaurant down the street from my hostel, so I decided to give it a try. I ordered a bowl of noodle soup, which was delicious, but set me back much more than it should have. I could’ve easily gotten a sandwich at the hostel for USD $5.00.
• Christiania Gyro: USD $5.00 – This is a rough estimate as I paid in cash and can’t recall the exact amount. I remember it being around $5.00 for a large gyro that was tasty and more than enough food for lunch. This was a good spend, and I would recommend eating more meals here if you’re on a budget.
• Carlsberg Brewery: USD $12.32 – This included a tour of Carlsberg Brewery andtwo beers.
• 7-eleven: USD $6.67 – Yes, there are 7-elevens everywhere! I bought a quick snack, which probably turned into an entire meal, at a 7-eleven in Copenhagen.
• Astor Deep Pan Pizza/BOB (Biomio Organic Bistro): USD $19.38 – We went out for drinks on our last night in Copenhagen, and a whole night of drinks only set me back less than USD $20! No regrets on this one at all.
• Train Station: USD $5.22 – I bought some snacks at the train station while I was waiting to leave Copenhagen. This probably ended up being an entire meal, so it was a good spend.

Admission Fees: $38.19 USD

Even though I only spent $38.19 on admissions to museums and other attractions, this is thearea where Icanprobably find the most items to eliminate if I were to do it all over again. There are a lot of free things to do in each of these cities, and unless you have a particular interest in a subject matter covered by a museum, there is no need to pay a fee to visit the museum just because it’s ranked in the top 10 things to do on TripAdvisor.

Helsinki: $11.05 USD

The only “attraction” that set me back in Helsinki was the free walking tour I took on my first day in Helsinki. I tipped my tour guide€10.00 (USD $11.05). Other than that, all of the attractions I walked into, including the churches we visited on the walking tour, were free.

Stockholm: $21.94 USD

I visited the Fotografiska (photography museum) and the famous Vasa Museum in Stockholm. Although the Vasa Museum is one of the most famous attractionsin Stockholm, I do not have a huge interest in ancient sunken ships and thus would not pay theUSD $11.56 I paid to visit this museum if I were to do it again.Ido not, however, regret spending the USD $10.38 admissions feeon Fotografiska, as I have a strong interest in photography and thoroughly enjoyed the museum. My biggest tip is to spend money on museums you think you’ll find interesting and not simply go off of what others are raving about.

Copenhagen: $5.20 USD

The only “attractions” I paid for in Copenhagen were the Carlsberg Brewery and the Church of Our Savior tower. I already included the cost ofCarlsberg Brewery under food/drink since I received two free beers with my entrance to the brewery, so the only cost I’m including here is the cost of ascending the tower at Church of Our Savior. The entrance fee to the tower wasDKK35.00 (USD $5.20). Although this is not an expensive fee, I would have sought outmy panoramic views of the city from the tower at Christiansborg Palace for free had I known about it before I went to Church of Our Savior.

Gifts/Shopping/Miscellaneous: $166.44 USD

I don’t want to categorically say I never shop when I travel because there have been a few emergency situations when I’ve had to buy clothes and other items abroad, but I do not ever choose togo shopping on my travels just to see what I can buy. In terms of souvenirs, I typically only buy postcards for my family/friends and a refrigerator magnetfor myself. All of mysouvenirs together on this entire trip cost about USD $10.00. I also made a random book purchase in Stockholm for USD $11.44. It kept me entertained on my trip, but I could’ve done without it or planned ahead and brought a book from home.

My big miscellaneous spend on this trip was thetattoo, which cost USD $145.00. This is a bit more expensivethan what I would have paid in Chicago, where I live, but like I said above, when else am I going to get tatted in a hostel? Worth it.

Total: $883.39 USD