We just bought a used 07 1.2 dynamic.

We are thinking of taking a drive through Europe (Scandanavia and Baltics).

Does anyone have any advice/experience to offer?

Thanks

Be sure that ALL your papers are in order and up to date.

If you're going to be driving in the northern parts of Norway, Sweden and Finland, be sure to fit proper tyres for the conditions. Pack at least one blanket in case you get stuck somewhere.

Watch out for the Danish motorways, people drive like utter cocks.

Also, if you see a red Panda Multijet driving around Copenhagen, chances are it's me

(Very very few Multijets have been sold here)

I'll keep and eye out because Copenhagen will be a stop.

We're thinking of going from holland through denmark and sweden, down through the baltic states and back through poland and germany.

I just hope the Panda is up to it!

Can't see why you wouldn't make it...

Jim is planning something similar for next month, only he's taking his classic Panda Sylvia...

https://www.fiatforum.com/panda-classic/121579-anouncing-2009-fiat-forum-panda-adventure.html

Make sure you take your vehicle registration document/insurance with you. Each time I've 'experienced' any Police for traffic related 'events' in mainland Europe they were more interested in my right to drive the car than anything else.

Only driven in the south of Germany, was quite good. Take it easy and keep out of trouble.

sorafferty said:

We just bought a used 07 1.2 dynamic.

We are thinking of taking a drive through Europe (Scandanavia and Baltics).

Does anyone have any advice/experience to offer?

Thanks

Click to expand...

May I join you on this excellent adventure and shout "Are we there, yet, from the back seat"?

If you make it to Estonia, you MUST take the ferries to the Islands of Muhuu, Sareema and Haapsalu! (Forgive my spelling - and I have no excuse: my Missus is Estonian and we've only been married 9 years!) These Islands are other-worldly for their beauty and history - I can remember massive castles, huge lighthouses, windmills, beautiful lakes and a massive crater where a meteorite landed thousands of years ago. OK have a beautiful blue-eyed blonde Estonian chick with you probably helps you see things through rosier-tinted spectacles, but these Islands really are something else! Also go to Parnu, the summer beach resort; sun, sea, sand, surfing, wind surfing, health spas...need I say more? It is about a two hour drive from Parnu to the city where you catch the ferries to the Islands - if you are interested I will ask my wife its name. I can also recommend a very good tour guide for you - my brother-in-law! Tallinn is, of course, a must see - but not a great place to drive; ancient streets, some quite bad roads and some not very safe suburbs if you wander off the beaten track. I would say stay in a cheaper Estonian Hotel (Tahertorni springs to mind) with safe, guarded parking, perfect English speakers and take the taxi into and out of town.

If you go further east, Narva on the border with Russia is worth seeing and there is also an off-road driving adventure near Johvi (in an old mine, I believe), guided kayaking on easy rivers, beautiful freshwater lakes...

But - be aware: there is poverty you would not believe, lots of old communist buildings, lots of Russian mafia and places to avoid...

If in doubt, hire my brother-in-law!

Fogot to mention - always keep your headlights on and do not speed - ever.
Other than that, Estonians are fairly good drivers, patient, tolerant and not too agressive. But - when passing cyclists out on country roads, give them a very wide berth - chances are they are absolutely sozzled on 187% vodka and will fall off in front of you! Happened to my B-in-Law once - gave him the eebeejeebies....

Edit - Haapsalu is the fortress town/port on the north west coast where you catch the ferry to the Islands and the Islands are Muhuu, Saarema and Hiumaa.

Finally, you will think that Estonians don't say very much - and they don't! Other English people I know find this disconcerting and some even think it rude. It is not - that is just the Estonian way and they are a very warm and friendly people; they would offer you their last bite to eat and give you the best food and shelter they have but go without themselves.

My particular Estonian is very warm and friendly...

Presumably, your route toward Scandinavia from the Hook would be E30 east then E45 north at Hannover. On the drive though Germany keep an eye in the mirror for "trains" of cars travelling very fast up to outside lane. Try to avoid the Hamburg area during the rush hour especially on a Friday afternoon in the vicinity of the Elbe tunnel.

After Hamburg, there are several onward routes. Carry on north along the E45 through Schleswig Holstein and cross the border directly into Denmark or catch a ferry direct to Sweden, Finland, Estonia etc. from one of the German ports along the Baltic coast. (Kiel - Oslo 20 hours, Kiel - Gothenburg 14 hours, Lubeck - Malmo 9 hours, Lubeck - Helsinki 30 hours, Warnemunde - Tallinn 24 hours).

If you choose the Denmark route, carry on north though Jutland along the E45. At Kolding, you can choose to turn east onto the E20 and drive straight to Sweden, or carry on north to Frederickshaven to catch the ferry across the Kattegat to Gothenburg. The E45 east route will take you over the wonderful Storebaelt Bridge (215DK or 30 Euro toll, one way) then across the spectacular Øresund Bridge (30 euros) and into Sweden at Malmo. The ring road around Copenhagen is being widened to four lanes and it can get very congested during rush hours. From here, you can carry on travelling north to explore Sweden and Norway (E20 to Gothenburg or via the E4 across to Stockholm.) Remember, distances can be deceptive on relatively empty roads. You'll be doing a lot of driving but there are plenty of rest stops and services. Unattended "Automat" petrol stations are common - you just fill up and pay by credit card. Some roads are strangely wide and straight and you'll soon learn why dipped headlights make sense in summer. Cars seem to float in the heat haze and the lights warn you someone's there from several kilometres away. (Some roads double up as runways for the air force).

Once in Scandinavia, make sure you always drive on dipped headlights and always have your car documents available. However, I have to say I've never been stopped by the police during 20 years of driving these routes. Speed limits are generally much lower than in the UK and increasingly enforced by cameras. Speed cameras are of a different design and there's no requirement to make them visibly obvious. In Sweden, policemen armed with long poles and parked at the side of the road are conducting random breath tests. DO NOT DRINK AND DRIVE ANYWHERE IN SWEDEN.

I think you'll enjoy driving in Scandinavia - much less traffic, excellent roads and in summer, the weather can be superb.

wow - thanks for all the advice!!

I'm 10 times as excited now.

silkblack - all that sounds amazing especially the islands. not to worry about the post communist bloc/buildings/mafia... We have travelled through Russia a few years back and have travelled through Bosnia etc. so we know the situation well.

mitchc3 - thanks, that's really valuable advice.

Dr. Chris - em, well, I'll already have a passenger doing that so maybe one is enough

sorafferty said:

Does anyone have any advice/experience to offer?

Click to expand...

Drive on other side...

As a general rule, the Swedish police operate random breath tests by working in pairs. One officer selects cars/drivers for testing and indicates that they should pull off the road and stop. The other officer comes up to the car with the breathalyser device fitted to the end of a pole which he pokes though the drivers window and asks you to do that blowing thing. (Cue jokes). Don't ask me why the need for the pole - probably some sort of health and safety nonsense. They can stop anybody, anytime without reason or explanation. One of my Swedish friends told me he would expect to be stopped several times a year. This is in the Västergötland region mainly along Route 40. I don't know how keen the police are further north or east. If stopped, do not be tempted to laugh uncontrollably during this procedure. Swedish traffic cops carry guns.