Is Scandinavia as expensive as I'm told ?

[Misty77]

I've heard that Scandinavia is a very expensive place to visit. I'd quite like a trip to Stockholm, and was wondering if anyone can give me an idea of just how expensive ? Getting there and the hotel prices seem reasonable, but what about food, drinks, transport etc ?

[dzug]

It's not cheap, but relatively it's not as expensive as it once was. Quality will be good and many people regard it as good value for money
Drinks will be expensive - they are highly taxed.

[KebabMeister]

I've only been to Copenhagen, Denmark, and I've been told that Norway is more expensive whereas Sweden is around the same as Denmark. I'm British but I live in Germany and I found Denmark to be much more expensive than both the UK and Germany. A pint cost around �4.90; jumbo twix �2; hotdogs around �4 - can't remember the price of other stuff but a decent 2 course meal was around �15+ for one. Having said that I'd go back again. Money isn't everything since it's so beautiful there.

I'm actually considering going to Stockholm at the beginning of December so the prices haven't put me off!! :)

[Andyvon]

I went to Iceland six years ago. I know we paid the equivalent of twenty pounds for two small pizzas and coffee in Pizza Hut in Reykjavik. Everyone there had two or three jobs to try to keep their heads above water.
I don't know whether prices have come down but it's apparently because most things have to be imported and there are few exports. I think that's the same in other Scandanavian countries. I went to Finland too and that was also very expensive, but not as bad as Iceland.

[JonnoGenie]

Norway is expensive, but as Dzug infers not as shockingly so as it once was (as our own taxes have gone up so much in recent years).

Like anywhere though, you can do things to make it a bit cheaper. For example rather than say going to a cafe/restaurant for lunch, buy the 'components' from a deli/bakery and make your own. think creatively and you can save a lot.

In Oslo they have something called the 'Oslo Card'. This covers admissions to several attractions over a number of days. I remember it as being very good value for money (unlike the equivalent scheme in New York).

If you enjoy a tipple in the evening, take your maximum duty free allowance with you. Spirits from a shop can run to about �80/litre, you can imagine what it costs out. All wine is of course imported, and starts at around �40 a bottle for house wine (in a restaurant). Beer in an everyday bar will be �5 and up a half litre.

Go to the nearest Spar, load up on mixers. Empty the hotel room fridge, and keep your mixers in it. Enjoy a cocktail or two in your room before heading out in the evening. That alone should help axe your restaurant bills...