We’re back from our magnificent motorhome trip to Scandinavia. We traveled for a month through Sweden, Norway, and Finnish Lapland.
Today, we’re offering a practical guide on how to easily reach Scandinavia by motorhome.
- Several possible routes: The main choice is between the route via Denmark (longer but flexible) and the ferry from Germany (faster and more relaxing, but more expensive).
- Anticipate costs: Scandinavia is an expensive destination. Plan a substantial budget for fuel, food, and especially tolls (bridges and roads).
- Prepare your documents and vehicle: European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and registration on EPASS24 for Norwegian tolls are essential before departure.
- The freedom of wild camping: Enjoy the “right of public access” (Allemansrätten) in Sweden and Norway for unforgettable nights, while respecting the environment. 🌲
Before hitting the road towards Sweden or Norway, good preparation is essential. This not only helps avoid unpleasant surprises but also allows you to travel with peace of mind. Here are the key points to check.
Necessary documents
Valid identity card or passport: for Sweden and Norway, a simple identity card is sufficient if you are an EU citizen. We showed both when taking the ferry there and back. However, we did not have to show these documents when crossing the Sweden-Norway or Sweden-Finland borders.
Driving license: a B license is sufficient for most motorhomes.
Insurance and green card: essential for driving abroad. Remember to request a certificate from your insurer covering Scandinavia; it’s better to be safe than sorry!
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC): useful for medical care in Sweden or Denmark. For Norway (outside the EU), it remains valid thanks to existing agreements.
The EHIC is free and personal (each family member must have their own, even children). It allows you to receive coverage for necessary medical care during a temporary stay in a country of the European Union, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Switzerland.
Where and how to apply?
- Online: via your Ameli account (section My procedures > Order a European Health Insurance Card). This is what we did, super fast: 2 minutes flat!
- By phone: by calling 3646 (free service + cost of a call).
- In agency: directly at your health insurance fund.
Processing time:
Allow approximately 2 weeks to receive it by mail.
If you are leaving quickly, you can request a provisional certificate valid while waiting for the card (immediately downloadable on Ameli).
Validity period:
The EHIC is valid for 2 years and renewable free of charge.
Budget and anticipated costs
A road trip in Scandinavia is a unique experience, but you need to plan for certain expenses, as these countries have a much higher cost of living than ours:
Fuel: prices are higher than in France, especially in Norway.
Our tip: don’t jump on the first petrol station you see! By looking around a bit, you can find stations with significant price differences. And most importantly, anticipate: don’t wait until you’re running on empty! As soon as you find a station with a decent price, top up your tank.
Bridges and ferries: some crossings can be expensive (Øresund Bridge between Denmark and Sweden, ferries to reach Norway). Added to this are the very numerous internal ferries in Norway!
Parking and service areas: in Sweden, many free parking spots; in Norway, some tourist areas are paid, especially for iconic hikes.
Food: the cost of living is high. Plan a small stock of dry goods before you leave if you can. Be aware that we saw pasta packets for 4 or even 5 €!
Preparing your motorhome / converted vehicle
Before embarking on a long journey, a complete vehicle maintenance is recommended:
- Mechanical revisions: tires, brakes, oil level, coolant.
- Cold weather equipment (depending on the season): antifreeze liquids, extra blankets, auxiliary heating.
- Gas: in Scandinavia, bottles are not always compatible. Bring an adapter or fill your bottles before departure.
- Electricity: bring an adapter for local sockets (Type F sockets, like in Germany).
- Useful applications: Park4Night, CamperContact, offline Google Maps.
The different options for reaching Sweden and Norway
There are several ways to access Scandinavia by motorhome. The choice will depend on your starting point, the time you have, and your budget!
By road only (via Denmark)
This is the most classic solution to reach Sweden without taking a ferry. It’s often the choice of many travelers.
Main itinerary: France → Germany → Denmark → Sweden.
Two major bridges allow the crossing:
- The Storebælt Bridge (between the Danish islands of Funen and Zealand).
- The Øresund Bridge (between Copenhagen and Malmö in Sweden).
These structures are spectacular but toll-paying, and the price can be high. Make sure to check before you leave to avoid unpleasant surprises.
This solution has the advantage of offering total freedom, without time constraints, and also allows you to discover Denmark if you have the time.
Disadvantage: it’s much longer and more tiring!
Combine road and ferry
This is often the most practical option to reach Norway directly without going through Sweden:
by passing through Denmark by motorhome, then taking the ferry Hirtshals → Kristiansand to arrive directly in Norway.
But again, the travel time is much longer.
By ferry
A comfortable solution to shorten the road and travel overnight. Several connections exist:
From Germany:
- Kiel → Gothenburg (Sweden).
- Travemünde → Malmö or Trelleborg (Sweden), this is the one we chose.
- Rostock → Trelleborg (Sweden).
From the Netherlands:
- Eemshaven → Kristiansand (Norway).
From Denmark:
- Hirtshals → Kristiansand, Stavanger, Bergen (Norway).
Advantages: rest during the crossing, huge time saving if, like us, you are not long-term travelers or nomads and do not have unlimited travel time.
Disadvantages: prices vary depending on the season and are quite high. Clearly, this is the most expensive solution.
Disadvantages: prices vary depending on the season and are quite high, clearly this is the most expensive solution.
Traveling by motorhome through Scandinavia is freedom in its purest form! But a few small tips can really simplify your life.
First, allow plenty of time for journeys: the roads are magnificent, but often winding, and you stop all the time to admire the landscapes. Here, you don’t drive fast, you savor! Clearly, it happened to us to take 3 hours in Norway to cover barely 150 km! Seriously, think about it and above all, don’t underestimate travel times!
For parking, you’ll easily find dedicated areas and many natural spots, especially in Norway and Sweden. The Park4Night app is your best ally! Just remember to respect the golden rule of wild camping: leave nothing behind.
But you will also find many campsites or service areas. Be careful, however, as prices can quickly climb!
For gas, check your adapters before you leave: bottles and fittings are not the same as in France. And for water or emptying, most service stations and campsites offer free or cheap terminals.
Finally, don’t forget that the weather can change very quickly. Even in summer, keep a down jacket, a beanie, and an umbrella handy! You can easily experience three different types of weather in the same day!
Our choice and our opinion
For our part, we chose to reach Sweden by ferry from the port of Travemünde, in Germany.
Why this choice? Simply to save time! As you know, we are not long-term travelers or nomads. Like you, we have a limited number of vacation days and we must respect them. So, the ferry option allowed us to save two days of driving!
And also less fatigue, because driving a large vehicle like a motorhome requires concentration.
This solution is not the most economical, but no regrets! In addition to the time saved, we loved the experience with the children and we will do it again, because yes, we already plan to return!
