Trip ideas · Swedish west coast, Oslo and the Skagerrak ferry
Swedish west coast, Oslo and the Skagerrak ferry: a One-Week Road Trip From Copenhagen
Best in July, also good in June and August
From Copenhagen and back: seven nights, 1,437 km, the longest day about 4 h 50 at the wheel. Driving costs €200–€320 + 3 tolls not priced.
No Gothenburg congestion tax in July (also none on public holidays and days before them): July. Watch for: Oslo toll ring: foreign cars are invoiced afterwards by EPASS24; register the car in advance or pay the highest category.
Use this route in my plan Your checklist for Denmark, Sweden, Norway: vignettes, zones, kit and dates.
Day by day
Kilometres and hours are motorway estimates between the cities named, without stops or traffic. Where you sleep in a smaller place nearby, the real place and its distance are given.
Day 1
Copenhagen → Gothenburg 312 km · about 3 h 40 driving
Day 2
A day out from Gothenburg No long drive
Day 3
Gothenburg → Oslo 294 km · about 3 h 20 driving
Norway's capital at the head of the Oslofjord; E6 over the Svinesund bridge (about 290 km). Toll ring applies. Source
Day 4
A day out from Oslo No long drive
Day 5
Oslo → Kristiansand 324 km · about 4 h 50 driving
Southern Norway coast town and ferry port for Hirtshals (about 320 km from Oslo on the E18). Source
Day 6
Kristiansand → Aalborg 75 km · about 1 h driving · plus the Fjord Line Hirtshals–Kristiansand ferry
Ferry Kristiansand–Hirtshals, then about 65 km to Aalborg on the Limfjord.
Day 7
Aalborg → Odense 260 km · about 2 h 55 driving
Hans Christian Andersen's city on Funen; last day over the Great Belt Bridge to Copenhagen (about 165 km). Source
Day 8
Odense → Copenhagen 172 km · about 2 h 10 driving
Why go in July
- No Gothenburg congestion tax in July (also none on public holidays and days before them): July. Source
- No rush-hour surcharge on the Oslo toll ring in July: July. Source
- H.C. Andersen Festivals in Odense city centre: late August (2027 dates not published on the page read). Source
What to watch for
- Oslo toll ring: foreign cars are invoiced afterwards by EPASS24; register the car in advance or pay the highest category (all year). Source
- Gothenburg congestion tax applies to foreign cars on weekdays outside July; invoice sent to owner (weekdays Aug–Jun (06:00–18:29)). Source
- Danish miljøzoner: diesel cars need a particle filter (Euro 5+ counts as compliant); foreign-registered cars first registered before 1 Jan 2011 must be registered before entering (all year (since 1 Oct 2023)). Source
- Danish miljøzone diesel rule: Euro 5 or newer counts as meeting the particle-filter requirement (all year). Source
- Gothenburg congestion tax, per passage (weekday peak); free in July: 22 SEK (free in July). Source
- Oslo toll ring, petrol car, per toll point (47 NOK rush hour; diesel 42/50): 38 NOK (all year). Source
What the week costs to drive
| Item | Cost | Worked out from |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel for 1,437 km | €144–€263 | Each country's average petrol and diesel price (week of 28 September 2026), 5 to 8 litres per 100 km. Fuel prices |
| Tolls | €56 | Øresund Bridge (Copenhagen–Malmö), car up to 6 m, single trip, online ticket DKK 420 (about €56.19) Source |
| Driving the week | €200–€320 + 3 tolls not priced | Rounded to €10 |
Not included: Great Belt (Storebælt) Bridge, car under 6 m, single trip (operator); Kristiansand toll ring (Ferde), car (operator); Ferry Kristiansand–Hirtshals, car one-way (operator); hotels, food and parking. For your own car and exact days, use the trip cost calculator.
The rules on this route
Driving in Denmark · Driving in Sweden · Driving in Norway
Use this route in my plan to get every vignette, zone, kit rule and deadline for these countries in one checklist, with dates. The speed limits and sign words pages can then show only these countries.
Next on the road
Sources
- No Gothenburg congestion tax in July (also none on public holidays and days before them)
- No rush-hour surcharge on the Oslo toll ring in July
- H.C. Andersen Festivals in Odense city centre
- Oslo toll ring: foreign cars are invoiced afterwards by EPASS24; register the car in advance or pay the highest category
- Gothenburg congestion tax applies to foreign cars on weekdays outside July; invoice sent to owner
- Danish miljøzoner: diesel cars need a particle filter (Euro 5+ counts as compliant); foreign-registered cars first registered before 1 Jan 2011 must be registered before entering
- Øresund Bridge (Copenhagen–Malmö), car up to 6 m, single trip, online ticket
- Great Belt (Storebælt) Bridge, car under 6 m, single trip
- Kristiansand toll ring (Ferde), car
- Ferry Kristiansand–Hirtshals, car one-way
- Southern Norway coast town and ferry port for Hirtshals (about 320 km from Oslo on the E18).
Dates and prices as published when checked. Events move: check the organiser's page before you book.