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Any Scandimaniacs out there?

The homeland of the Vikings, famous for its lively port cities steeped in history, jaw-dropping nature, and that pleasantly mild climate—which, let’s be honest, is a bit of a godsend now that Southern Europe is basically frying in summer—the Scandinavian countries are all the rage right now.

Because of the rugged terrain and the long old distances between capitals and major cities, flying has pretty much been the go-to for tourists hopping between countries in the region. Trains across borders have historically been a bit thin on the ground, but that’s all set to change real soon:

Malmö To Oslo Without Changes

This upcoming summer, starting June 15, a new train will launch from Malmö, in the southwestern part of Sweden, via Gothenburg, Sweden's second-largest city, all the way to Oslo, the capital of Norway.

The news was shared by Swedish rail company Snälltåget, who confirmed the new daily service in both directions.

Historically, getting from Sweden’s west coast to the Norwegian capital has been a bit of a faff: commuters either had to change trains at least once or slog it out on a 7-hour bus. And get this, there aren’t even any flights between Malmö and Oslo.

Needless to say, this is a major development.

The northbound service will leave from Malmö Central Station at 6:38 am, reaching Oslo Central Station at 1:13 pm. On the way back, southbound services are scheduled to leave Oslo at 2:48 pm, calling at Malmö at 9:25 pm.

Will Tickets Cost An Arm And A Leg This Time?

Scandinavia’s not exactly a bargain to get around, so you’re probably wondering how many hundreds of Swedish or Norwegian krone you’ll be forking out this time. Believe it or not, the cheapest rebookable fares start at a mere SEK 149.

That’s just about $16.50.

We should also mention that, although the train sets off from Malmö, it effectively doubles as a slick link from Copenhagen, Denmark, to Oslo, Norway: the Danish capital and the southern Swedish city are just a 20-minute rail hop across the Øresund Strait.

If you’re in Copenhagen and Oslo’s the next stop on your Scandinavia jaunt, you can easily take one of the 80 daily trains to Malmö (DKK 90, about $14.20), then switch to onward trains going to the Norwegian capital without breaking a sweat.

That's 3 Scandi countries in one go.

As for the train route, it's also calling at Lund, Helsingborg, Halmstad, and Varberg. Once it reaches Gothenburg, the train will stop at the main central station, but at Mölndal and Gamlestaden, before proceeding towards Trollhättan, and finally on to Norway.

In Norway, it stops at Sarpsborg and Fredrikstad before finally reaching its destination.

The 3 Star Destinations On The New Route

Malmö, Sweden

A bustling port in southwestern Sweden, Malmö is best known for its mix of Old and New.

It’s home to a well-preserved historic centre, Lilla Torg, dotted with coffee shops, half-timbered houses, and criss-crossed by quaint cobblestone alleys. Within short walking distance, the striking red Malmö Castle, surrounded by a moat, houses several museums.

At the same time, the city has a skyscraper-dominated port, with the spiralling Turning Torso and sleek Västra Hamnen waterfront. Think glassy waterfront apartments, wide pedestrian promenades, hip cafés and quirky art galleries.

Malmö is deeply anchored in Scandinavian tradition, yet it's futuristic and forward-thinking at the same time, and that's why it's so inherently fascinating.

Gothenburg, Sweden

Sweden's second-largest conurbation after Stockholm, Gothenburg is an elegant Scandi city that sits somewhere between the medieval allure of the 15th century and the opulence of the French-inspired Belle Époque.

In Haga, cobbled lanes weave around picturesque landshövdingehus—old houses with stone ground floors and timber upper storeys—and old squares, while main avenues like Avenyn bustle with modern trams that glide smoothly past ornate fin-de-siècle buildings.

In fact, Avenyn is called the Swedish Champs-Élysées, due to its high concentration of swanky shops, restaurants, and designer boutiques.

In the Old Fish Market area, maritime charm blends with hipster pop-ups, and the harborside is always buzzing with cyclists, joggers, and strollers. You know, your classic Swedish cityscape: colorful façades, cosy cafés, sporty folks, and sleek modern design.

Oslo, Norway

Norway’s capital and main administrative hub, Oslo, is a stylish cosmopolitan hub that perfectly balances the rugged charm of Scandinavia's well-documented Viking past with cutting-edge urban design.

Gamlebyen, one of the oldest districts, is your usual maze of cobbled streets flanked by timber-framed, brick townhouses. Simultaneously, over at Karl Johans gate, Oslo's main shopping street, it's grand 19th-century edifices and chic cafés that dominate the scene.

Oslo is tucked in the heart of a fjord, maybe not as jaw-dropping as the ones out in Western Norway, but scenic nonetheless: pretty much everywhere you go in the city, water is never far from view.

Down by Bjørvika, the central waterfront district, you’ll find the marvel of contemporary architecture that is the Oslo Opera House. Part of a revitalized harbour full of modern buildings and cultural spots, it’s designed to look like a partially submerged fjord glacier.

Vinicius Costa

Vini, our senior lead writer at Travel Off Path, has over 60+ countries under his belt (and currently weaving tales from Paris!), and a knack for turning off-the-beaten-path experiences into informative stories that will have you packing your bags.