A Scandinavian cruise is a great way to see diverse and beautiful capitals. The Cruise ship only docks in each port for a limited time. So make sure to have a game plan to hit the ground running; use this port guide to ensure you plan to make the most of your time onshore.
Cruising is an excellent option if you are traveling with a group. There are a lot of activities and shows to see for all ages.
Only having to unpack once and relax while you travel to the next destination is a treat. Hotel hopping is fun, but sometimes you need a vacation from that vacation afterward.
We chose to take a 7-day Princess Sky Cruise to Denmark and Norway in July. Below is the Cruise Itinerary.

Itinerary

Leave out of Southampton, UK

Should you take the cruise ship shore excursions?

Each cruise will offer shore excursions for the ports they stop at. We chose to arrange our excursions. Tour group travel is not our style, and I enjoy planning our trips and finding hidden gems. Finding off-the-beaten-path touristy areas is what I enjoy the most when traveling.

Specifically, these ports are all main cities, so there is plenty to see and public transportation everywhere. If this cruise was heading to the Islands where there is snorkeling or visiting caves, consider signing up for a shore excursion. Save your money on cruise excursions at these ports on this cruise. I promise you will see way more without the tours!

Scandinavian Port Guide:

Kristiansand, Norway

This port was the first stop after a day at sea; most attractions were very close to the port. The city is pretty walkable. Most shops and coffee spots open at 9-10 a.m. So, if you get off the boat early, explore and go to the most popular tourist attraction first. There will be no lines; you can see so much more than you would when the crowds start showing up. Pro Tip for not booking cruise ship shore excursions.

Transportation around Kristiansand

• Bus stops all along the shopping district

• Electric scooters to rent. Contactless payment on a scooter.

Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen’s seaport is about 5 miles from the city center. Do not be fooled by the cruise company offering bus rides to the city center for $15. There is a bus stop a short walk away from the cruise port. The public bus drops you off at the same spot as the cruise bus does, and it is only $3.

Once you get off the bus, there is a metro station; grab a day pass for $10. The metro is very simple and easy to use. There are only four lines, and two lines go to all the major tourist spots you would like to visit here. Copenhagen is a large city. Transportation is the best way to get around and see different areas. 

On this cruise, we docked in Copenhagen for two days. Our 3rd stop was originally Skagen, Denmark. Skagen is a small fishing and painting village on the peninsula of Denmark. It is known for seeing the Baltic and North Seas meet. Due to severe weather and rough seas, the captain allowed us an additional day in Copenhagen.

Here are a few things to do in Skagen. This town is pretty walkable, and if you want to walk from the cruise to the point where the two seas meet, you can see all the top attractions. 

-Råbjerg Mile is the largest migrating dune in Northern Europe between Skagen and Frederikshavn, Denmark. 

– Grenen is a sandbar in which you can see the seas meet

-Sand-covered Church

– Multiple beaches and trails for a bike ride

– Art museums 

Copenhagen, Denmark Day 1

We planned to see as much of the city as possible on the first day. After getting off the ship, we hopped into a taxi that drove us into the city. It cost $35, and after we found out how easy the metro was and how easy it was to get to, we opted to use public transport. From the cruise port, Take the city bus; the first stop will be at the metro.

We started our day at the King’s New Square. The area had beautiful flowers and greenery around the statue in the courtyard. Outdoor seating was available for people as well. The Guinness World Records Museum, Magin du Nord ( department store), Det Kongelige Teater, and the House of Amber are all in this area. This is an excellent focal point to navigate the other places to explore. Across the street is the Nyhavn Canal, where the roads are lined with colorful houses, one of Copenhagen’s most iconic sites. Like Kristianstad, see the most popular tourist areas before the town wakes up, an excellent opportunity for pictures and enjoy the sites. Once everything in the city awakens, returning to these areas is always fun, seeing how different they look. 

From there, we learned how to use the metro to get to our next stop to see the most photographed statue, The Little Mermaid. Some people will say the statue is smaller than they imagine. It was the average size of a woman sitting on a rock. She is located in the Osterport region. Some people are disappointed with their experience here. If you are a Disney Princess fan, you will like it. There is also a lovely park across the street called Kastellet. Inside is a windmill and an old military base with a museum. Outside this area is the Gefion Fountain and a 19th-century church. 

Afterward, we went to the Church of Our Saviour, one of the most famous churches in Denmark. The design and architecture of this building is beautiful. You can see it from miles away. Its gorgeous gold and black features with a spiral roof are unique compared to other traditional churches. Here, people can climb their way to the top of the church for a fantastic view of Copenhagen; if you are scared of heights, this is not for you. The church does require you to book your tickets in advance to limit the crowds; you can do this here ( we booked our tickets that day). You will climb 400 steps, with the last 150 steps outside on the spiral staircase. The staircases become ladders as you reach the top of the tower inside. 

Nearby is the Freetown, Christianshavn neighborhood. This area is car and bike-free. It is a self-governed district created in the 70s by the hippies. People still live in the community today. There are two rules: you are not allowed to take pictures on Pusher Street, and there is no running as it causes panic. This area has many quirky little shops, cafes, and lakes to hang around and relax. A Thomas Dambo’s scrap wood Gaint welcomes you into this city. Make sure to take a picture with him. Christianshavn has a hidden gem that has grown in popularity recently. 

For lunch, we stopped at Restaurant Kronborg. The place offers the famous Danish open sandwich(Smørrebrød); additionally, they serve gluten-free bread. You can also find homemade Danish Akvavit and Mjod. The food was delicious, and the wait staff was very informative on the menu. Afterward, we strolled down Stroget, a pedestrian street filled with many shops, from high-end to small consignment stores. After checking out many shops, we headed to Torvehallerne, a food hall offering cheeses, baked goods, sandwiches, fresh fish, and trinkets.  

Copenhagen, Denmark Day 2

We found ourselves a coffee shop, Cinnamon and Coffee. The best cinnamon roll I’ve ever had! They offer multiple flavors to choose from. I highly recommend this place if you come here. Afterward, we strolled the surrounding streets, admiring the beauty. Later, we walked through a few parks.

As big as this city is, it was quiet and still. We visited Marble church and Rosenborg Castle. We stopped in Magsin du Nord, a department store on six floors! It was pretty impressive everything they had.

We wish we had more time in Copenhagen, but I am sure we will be back! Due to most attractions opening late morning, it made it difficult to be on a cruise and be back at a set time and allotting time to wait for transportation to get back to the ship.

Things we did not get to in Copenhagen

The Six Forgotten Giants– there are six giants created by Thomas Dambo. The six creatures are Little Tilde, Thomas on the Mountain, Teddy Friendly, Oscar under the Bridge, Sleeping Louis, and Hilltop Trine. Finding the Giants could be a day trip. The Giants are about 30-40 mins by train/ subway outside the city. Once you are in that area, each Giant is relatively close. We thought about doing this the second day. Unfortunately, the cruise ship was leaving at 1:30, and the seaport was not close to the city.

Oslo, Norway Day 4

This spot was maybe my favorite out of all the ports we visited. I do wish we had more time to explore this area. There is so much to see and lots of museums to explore. If you want to do some of the museums I would maybe limit it to 1 or 2 if you are doing a cruise. If you are staying in Oslo you definitely  have more free time to explore.  The area the cruise is docked is beautiful.  Very modern flare with a lively seaport. About 5-10 min from the cruise is the Nobel Peace center. There is also a tram spot right outside of it. I would recommend taking the tram especially if you are heading to the Vigeland Park, this is one of the furthest attractions. 

Listed are the top attractions to visit in Oslo. Most are within walking distance of each other, which is very lovely, especially when you are on a time crunch to get back to the cruise ship.

Karl Johans gate

 The main street in the city of Oslo is filled with shops and cafes. The road connects the Oslo Central Station and The Royal Palace. This road also contains many other tourist attractions linking the two spots together. 

The Royal Palace

A park and garden surround the Palace. The yards around the Palace are grand. The changing of the Guards takes place daily at 1:30 p.m. The King and Queen reside here. The Palace is open for visitors at certain times of the year. Check here for more information. 

The Norwegian Parliament

Also known as Storting, is the legislature of Norway.

Akershus Fortress

 You can view The Medieval Castle from the seaport across from The Nobel Peace Center.

Oslo Opera House

This is a must-see; I highly recommend seeing what events are showing while visiting. This is a unique spot where the outside of the building is used for seating for outside performances. The views are lovely from the top of the building. It is encouraged to take a walk up top of the Opera House.

The National Museum

The largest museum in the Nordics, home to arts, crafts, and design in Oslo. In this museum, you could spend a whole day exploring. You are up close to so many incredible artworks. Here, you can find Edvard Munch’s famous painting “The Scream” along with some of his other artwork; alongside him are other amazing artists on display. This was a must-see. Be prepared; you cannot wear jackets or bags throughout the museum. There are lockers to store your belongings. Security is located throughout the museum to ensure you do not cross the lines to the paintings. 

Munch Museum

 The Munch Museum is dedicated to Edvard Munch, the famous artist of “ The Scream” painting. Many of his famous artworks hang in this museum. It was recently built in 2021 before he had a museum outside of Oslo. There are four versions of “The Scream”—each painting route between several museums. There is always a painting in the Munch Museum and The National Museum in Oslo. Check online before visiting to see which painting is on display before your visit. 

Vigeland Park

The park has over 200 sculptures; Gustav Vigeland created all the sculptures. The park is outside the city center. The park is free of charge and open every day. 

Oslo City Hall

Open to the public every day. The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony is held here each year. 

Nobel Peace Center

Unfortunately, the museum was closed for renovations on our visit. Check their website linked above for updated information. Here, you can take a guided tour and a walking tour. Even though it was closed, seeing the building in person was pretty amazing. 

Fjords cruise

You can find boat rides along the seaport with guided tours of the Fjords. Explore different options online depending on your preference. Tours can range from 1-3 hours. 

Viking Museum

This museum is currently closed and set to reopen in 2026. Open museums include:

The Fram Museum tells the story of The Polar exploration, and the Kon-Tiki Museum discovers the story of the Heyerdahl expedition. 

Oslo is a city filled with lots and lots of museums. This is only a glimpse of what this fantastic city has to offer. 

One thing when traveling to any country outside of the U.S. Payments are contactless payment. You will rarely need cash for any purchases. Public restrooms are not accessible; there is a charge and contactless payment. Most shops do not offer bathrooms as well. Try to plan accordingly and use the main tourist attractions for bathrooms or malls. When paying by card, also choose the country you are in for currency; your credit card will pick the lowest conversion rate for the transaction. Also, ensure you travel with a 0% foreign transaction fee credit card with contactless payment. Apple Pay is widely accepted as well.

What travel essentials do you need for an international trip? Click here for a list of my travel must-haves.

Disclosure: *This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link!*