Time off July 2026 - Scandinavian Whirlwind Tour

22 days, 5 countries, 4 Dvorkins, one whirlwind tour. From Reykjavík to Amsterdam by way of Stockholm, Oslo, and the Norwegian fjords. This is the first time we’ve attempted a trip of this scope as a family — the kids are 16 and 14, both still home, and the window for “all four of us on the road together” closes faster than I’d like.

For context on why I take time off: /time-off.

At a Glance

Leg Dates Nights Country
🇮🇸 Iceland (Reykjavík stopover) Jun 28 – Jun 30 2 Iceland
🇩🇰 Copenhagen (with Ammon) Jun 30 – Jul 3 3 Denmark
🇸🇪 Stockholm (meet the Saffitzes) Jul 3 – Jul 7 4 Sweden
🇳🇴 Oslo Jul 7 – Jul 10 3 Norway
🏔️ Aurland (fjords) Jul 10 – Jul 12 2 Norway
⛰️ Voss Jul 12 – Jul 13 1 Norway
🌉 Bergen Jul 13 – Jul 16 3 Norway
🇳🇱 Amsterdam Jul 16 – Jul 19 3 Netherlands

Total: 22 days, 5 countries (Iceland → Denmark → Sweden → Norway → Netherlands), back home Jul 19 via KLM AMS→SEA.

📍 See the full route on Google Maps — 8 stops in one view.

Who’s coming

All 4 Dvorkins (Igor, Tori, Zach, Amelia). Iceland and Copenhagen legs are just us; Stockholm onward we’re traveling with friends.

Things we want to do (by leg)

🇮🇸 Iceland (Jun 28–30) — Reykjavík stopover · 📍 map

  • Pick up the rental SUV at KEF airport
  • Reykjavík city walk + Hallgrímskirkja
  • Blue Lagoon or Sky Lagoon (decide day-of based on weather + crowds)
  • Possible Golden Circle drive if energy permits — Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss
  • Eat a hot dog at Bæjarins Beztu (mandatory tourist obligation)

🇩🇰 Copenhagen (Jun 30 – Jul 3) — with Ammon · 📍 map

  • Hang with Ammon — 2 days, no fixed agenda. His quote: “Yeah 2 days works. There’s not much to see in Copenhagen.” Treating that as both confirmation and upper bound.
  • Walk Nyhavn + canals
  • One nice meal as a family

🇸🇪 Stockholm (Jul 3–7) · 📍 map

  • Gamla Stan + fika in Stortorget square (arrival recovery)
  • Vasa Museum — preserved 17th-century warship
  • ABBA Museum + Fotografiska
  • City kayak tour (private, ~2h, archipelago)
  • Evening Wildlife Safari with Swedish midsummer meal (~4h, van)
  • Södermalm street art + vintage shops
  • Vain Vikings of Runriket — rune-stone trail (4h, private + driver)
  • Skansen open-air museum on the way out

🇳🇴 Oslo (Jul 7–10) · 📍 map

  • Vigeland Sculpture Park, Aker Brygge waterfront
  • National Museum
  • Authentic Oslo Bike Tour — Bjørvika → Akerselva → Mathallen → Grünerløkka (3h, 11 km)
  • Holmenkollen ski jump — zipline! (kids will love)
  • Munch Museum + Grünerløkka neighborhood
  • Oslofjord hike to Vettakollen summit (3.5h, 5.4 km) + dinner cruise

🏔️ Aurland + Voss (Jul 10–13) — the fjords · 📍 Aurland · 📍 Voss

  • Bergen Railway Oslo → Flåm — one of the world’s most scenic train rides (dep Oslo 9:18 AM)
  • Fjordsafari RIB on Aurlandsfjord + UNESCO Nærøyfjord (2h 15m, suits supplied)
  • Fjord cruise Flåm → Gudvangen
  • Viking Village Njardarheimr (Gudvangen) — Viking lunch, axe-throwing, archery
  • Voss Gondola to 820m summit (1.5h return)

🌉 Bergen (Jul 13–16) · 📍 map

  • Bryggen (UNESCO) walking tour
  • Fløibanen funicular + Mt. Fløyen hike (2.5h, moderate grade)
  • Mostraumen fjord fast boat OR Mt. Ulriken cable car
  • Flavours of Bergen food tour (2h)
  • Islets kayak tour (~4h 15m)
  • Morning fish market before flying out

🇳🇱 Amsterdam (Jul 16–19) · 📍 map

  • Rent bikes + roam Jordaan neighborhood
  • Anne Frank House (PRE-BOOK!)
  • Canal cruise
  • Rijksmuseum + Vondelpark
  • Foodhallen (covered food market)
  • A’DAM Lookout rooftop swing
  • NDSM Wharf or Zaanse Schans windmills before flying home (KL 6038, 3:10 PM Jul 19)

Goals for the trip

  • Live the Father role from the eulogy: quality time over mere presence. Both kids are home together; the window narrows.
  • Balloon while traveling — long-standing eulogy goal (“ballooning while traveling”). Bring the kit; deploy in parks and airports.
  • Disconnect from work — Good news: no calibrations to sweat this time. I just moved to an IC role at Meta’s AI Lab, so the old Calibration Collapse trap doesn’t fire. Keep work boxed anyway — ramp time is on Meta’s clock, not the trip’s.
  • No death-march optimizing — see optimizing vs satisfying. The goal isn’t to maximize sights per day; it’s to enjoy this with the people we’re with.
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Written ~6 weeks pre-trip. Will write the actual recap when we’re back.