The 15 Best Self-Guided Tours in Scandinavia

1.Scenic Fjord Cruise with Audio Guide Commentary

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 5,375 reviews · 1.5 hours · from $44Our pick

Cruise Oslo’s inner fjord for 90 minutes on a quiet electric ship. You’ll pass Akershus Fortress, Bygdøy, Hovedøya, Sørenga, and the Opera House, with indoor seating, a large accessible deck, Wi-Fi, onboard drinks, and optional audio commentary in seven languages.

“Really enjoyable tour, the boat was very new and allowed good views all round while remaining warm. (I think it was -6 on my tour) The audio guide was helpful, though a little clunky knowing which parts went for where you are which could have been my fault not understanding it correctly.”

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2.Molde: Atlantic Ocean Road & Varden Audio Guide Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 473 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $93

From Molde’s cruise pier, ride a bus along the Atlantic Ocean Road and Hustadvika Coast, with an English or German GuideToGo audio tour. Stop at Eldhusøya and Varden, 407 meters above sea level, for sea, fjord, island, and mountain views. Guides such as Marin and Corinna may also assist on some departures.

“The tour itself was really good. We enjoyed the drive to the Atlantic road and the scenery was beautiful. It was a self guided tour so no guide. We did enjoy it and would recommend it. The only problem was the Meeting point. We all went to the green flag but no one came to collect us and we had to find the bus on our own. Otherwise, it was a very good tour.”

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3.Bus Tour with Multilingual Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 317 reviews · 1h 20m · from $78

Ride Geiranger’s famous road in a climate-controlled bus, climbing 11 hairpin bends to Eagle Bend and viewing the Seven Sisters waterfall. You’ll also stop at Flydalsjuvet, with audio commentary in eight languages. This $78 tour suits cruise passengers who want major viewpoints without hiking.

“Beautiful scenery could not have done on our own , great deal”

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4.Self-Guided Round-Trip Full-Day Excursion

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 158 reviews · 10 hours · from $493

You’ll connect Bergen Railway, bus, premium fjord boat, and Flåm Railway in one long day. Expect clear emailed instructions, no guide, and superb views of Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord. Bring food, rain gear, and a charged phone because connections are timed and the day can stretch beyond 10 hours.

“Transport arrangements were clear and we had no issues with getting on the various buses, trains and boat. We experienced sights we would not have seen otherwise, and thoroughly enjoyed the trip from start to finish. Expect some stops along the way that really enhance the day! Highly recommended, and although it may seem pricey, believe me, it was worth every penny.”

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5.Ålesund and Surrounding Islands Audio Guide Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 116 reviews · 3 hours · from $136

You’ll ride from Ålesund to Godøya and Alnes, stopping for island views, Alnes Lighthouse, and the Aksla viewpoint. An audio guide covers the area in English, Italian, Spanish, German, or Norwegian. The small air-conditioned bus keeps the route easy, though tunnels and changing weather can limit views.

“De rit met de kleine touringbus was geweldig en we hebben een heerlijk genoten van de stops. De chauffeur was goed en hielp ook daar waar nodig. 's avonds op het schip zagen we de bezochte vuurtoren ook nog staan. Uitzichtpunt Alska was fantastisch.”

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6.Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour with Audio Guide

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 100 reviews · from $36

Use a 48-hour Stromma bus ticket to explore Copenhagen at your own pace. Ride the Classic route daily, then add Carlsberg, Frederiksberg, Christianshavn, and Reffen on the All Lines ticket. Audio commentary comes in six languages, with free Wi-Fi onboard.

“Everything was fantastic the bus was comfy and the guides were very helpful!!! Would recommend it 10000% over”

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7.Trollstigen & Trollwall Audio Guid Bus Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 84 reviews · from $77

Join West Norway Travel for a three-hour coach tour from Åndalsnes harbor to the Troll Wall and Trollstigen. Driver Alexander and the Voice of Norway app guide you through the Rauma Valley, past waterfalls and peaks, with photo stops at Troll Wall and the 407-meter Varden viewpoint.

“Waren erste mal mit Ihnen unterwegs und werden es bestimmt wiederholen! Vielen Dank Angelika und Ruth”

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8.Malmö Self-Guided Tour w/ Transport Tickets

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 55 reviews · from $70

Travel from Copenhagen across the Øresund Bridge, then explore Malmö independently by rental bike or local bus. See Lilla Torg, Malmöhus Castle, Turning Torso, parks, and the old bathhouse, with transport tickets and a Malmö map included.

“Easy to find bikes and train and company were fast to respond when we had questions. Great way to see Malmo on your own terms”

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9.Self-Guided Day Trip to Oslo

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 46 reviews · 16 hours · from $628

Travel from Bergen to Oslo without a guide, combining the Bergen and Flåm railways, a scenic bus ride, and cruises on Aurlandsfjord and Nærøyfjord. You’ll visit Flåm and finish in Oslo, but food, drinks, and the return journey to Bergen are not included.

“Overall good. I liked the mix of bus, train, ferry.”

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10.The Ancient Viking Stronghold of Aros: A Self-Guided Audio Tour in Aarhus

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 36 reviews · 1 hour to 1 hour 15 minutes (approx.) · from $11Best value

Start at DOKK1 and follow a GPS-guided VoiceMap walk through Aarhus, from the Viking Museum and cathedral to Millers Street, ARoS, Den Gamle By, and the Botanical Garden. The English tour takes about an hour and includes offline audio, maps, and lifetime access.

“It was really hard to get connected to the tour. We were given 3 different numbers to enter with no indication as to which one. When I finally got connected and paused the tour, it kept going back to the beginning. The content seemed informative but I gave up after a while. Overall disappointing”

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11.Norwegian Coastal Cities: Smartphone Audio Guide App

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 27 reviews · 365 days · from $35

Use the Aoyo Audio Guide app to explore Ålesund, Trondheim, Bodø, Tromsø, Kirkenes, Hammerfest, and Svolvær at your own pace. GPS points out sights as you walk, while short English or German audio clips explain local history, architecture, and culture. Transportation and entry fees are not included.

“alA good idea to get the feel of the town. Brief history and information. At times didn't cover some major attractions.”

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12.4-Day Stockholm Archipelago Self-Guided Kayak and Wild Camp

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 18 reviews · from $555Top rated

You’ll receive a safety and navigation briefing from The Kayak Trail team, then paddle stable double kayaks between Stockholm’s islands at your own pace. Sleep wild, cook outdoors, and choose between remote reserves, cafés, saunas, hikes, or a lazy day, with 24-hour phone support.

“6 days self guided tour made in the beautiful archipelago of Stockholm.”

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13.4-Day Kayak & Wildcamp the Archipelago of Sweden – Self-guided

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 16 reviews · from $833

Meet Do the North at Norrköping Centralstation at 10:00 am, then transfer to St. Anna for a safety and navigation briefing. Paddle between thousands of islands, camp where permitted, and cook with provided gear on this private, self-guided four-day outing.

“The sunsets, the starry skies, the islands, the eagles and the sauna! We just got back from four days of absolute happiness kayaking and wild camping in St Anna archipelago. A big thanks to Thomas and his crew for organising this triRead more”

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14.Self-Guided Fjord Tour to Senja and Local Lunch

★★★★★★★★★★3.7 · 11 reviews · from $195

Take the red Arctic Route bus from Tromsø to Senja, crossing by ferry and stopping at Ersfjord Beach, lakes, and Hamn resort. Your phone provides the English audio guide, while lunch includes fish soup and two tastings. This is a long, self-guided day with no vegetarian meal option.

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15.Self-Guided Trip to Oslo with Sognefjord cruise (5h)

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 3 reviews · from $538

Travel from Bergen to Oslo in 14 hours by ferry, Flåm Railway, and Bergen Railway. You’ll cruise Sognefjord, Norway’s longest and deepest fjord, then ride steep mountain tracks through dramatic scenery. This is a self-guided trip, with tickets and instructions sent by email.

“This was a very easy well organized self-guided tour that showcases the amazing Sognefjord and Flåm. Bus journey includes a phot stop at the top of the valley that leads to to Sognefjord. The electric Fjord ship was just fabulous but if you need a seat and want to be outdoors make for the back of the second deck and sit on the black deck boxes. We choose and extended stop in Flåm and we found that to be painful as you are trapped in a tourist shopping town with few decent food options. The train museum was worthwhile and that’s it. We waited to have lunch and that was…”

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