Best Places to Visit in Scandinavia

Posted by Tomas Papinigis  |  May 07, 2018

Scandinavian countries have always been admired because of their mysterious mountain landscape, charming old towns, and exclusive culture. When visiting Scandinavian countries, it would be difficult to see all the beautiful places in few days, so start planning your trip right now – pick the most attractive places and take on an unforgettable tour!

The Best Places to Go in Norway

North Cape is one of the most beautiful places in Norway. Situated in Northern Norway, it’s the northernmost point in Europe and features a 307-meter high rock. North Cape can be reached through an almost 7 km long underground tunnel. This place is also an amazing spot for bird watching tours, sightseeing from the boats, and royal crab catching. Moreover, during the summer, you can enjoy the White Nights.

Another spectacular place to spend your holidays is the Lofoten Islands. This place is famous for its spectacular landscape, rocky coastline, traditional fishing villages and high-rising mountains. The archipelago is formed by several islands, located behind the polar circle, and it is famous for having the warmest climate beyond the Arctic Circle. The average temperature in January is -1,5 degrees of Celsius, and in the summer about 13. For lots of tourists, this place is an incredible discovery and a huge surprise.

lofoten-island

Oslo Cathedral is also among the must-visit places during your stay in Scandinavia. This is a favorite place of many tourists, who are planning a trip to the Oslo. The Cathedral was built in the 17th century and captures the attention of any visitor with stunning stained glass windows, an impressive altar, a unique pulpit, spectacular organ and gorgeous arched vault. It is also the most important church in Oslo, where the throne inheritances and the royal wedding ceremonies take place.

The Vigeland Park is a famous destination to visit in Oslo, and it offers free entry throughout all seasons. This park is known as the most famous work of a Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland. The sculptor was considered as one of the most interesting persons of the 20th-century art scene. There are 212 sculptures in this park and every year over a million locals and tourists visit the park. All the figures are cast from stone and bronze and symbolize the eternal values of life and moments of beginning and end.

Vigeland-Norway

It is necessary to include The Royal Palace in the plans of your trip. This is the most famous building of the Norwegian capital, where Norwegian monarchs continue living up to this day. The king of Norway hosts guest delegations here organizes receptions. Also, the leaders of other countries stay in the Royal Palace during their visits to Norway. Near to the palace, there is also a park with more than 2000 trees and beautiful flowers. If you choose not to visit the Royal Palace, then you must definitely visit this park.

Where to Go in Sweden

A delightful way to explore Stockholm is through the 50-minute Royal Canal Tour. In this tour, you will travel by a 100 passenger canal boat, you will also have the opportunity to listen to the audioguide in 11 different languages. After leaving the city center on, you will get a chance to see the beautiful and famous buildings by sailing along the Djurgarden Canal.

canal-stockholm

During your vacation in Sweden, you must visit one of the best places in Stockholm – Nobel Museum. The museum in the city center was opened in 2001 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Nobel Prize. When visiting the museum, you will find out about the entire history of the Nobel Prize, and also learn about the most important people, who have contributed to the global change, life prosperity, earth, and space perception. It is interesting that everyone, who has received the Nobel Prize, has signed-in in the guest’s book of this museum’s cafe.

To experience a wide range of Swedish food and attend one of the biggest summer events, visit the ‘A Taste of Stockholm’ Food Festival. This event takes place during the first week of June in the King’s Garden. This is the best place for gourmets, who aspire to try the taste of the foreign cuisine during the holidays. Every year, the festival attracts more than 350,000 visitors, who can enjoy food, while listening to great music.

Another thing you should see is a 130-meter wide panoramic view from SkyView which is a rather new attraction in the largest hemispherical spherical building on earth, the “Ericsson Globe”. Two elevators depart every 10 minutes, and the total time of the trip takes about 30 minutes. SkyView has been very popular since its inception in 2010. In the first year, it has been visited by about 160,000 passengers, so it is recommended to reserve a seat before arriving. Nearby the “SkyView”, there is a restaurant, a cafe, and a souvenir shop, for your comfort.

ericsson-globe

Ronneby Brunnspark was created 300 years ago, whose rather interesting design has been awarded several times for its beauty. In the summer, this park becomes a very popular place for tourists and locals. The park consists of various natural reliefs, ponds, green areas, waterfalls and a natural forest with a small lake. Also, in this park, you will see around 50 species of flowers, each producing a distinctive scent. It is one of the best places to go during your vacation to see some amazing Swedish nature.

The Best Places to Visit in Finland

Helsinki is one of the best cities to visit in Finland. To better understand its unique history, make sure to visit the Helsinki City Museum. Here you will find many exhibits, from traditional Finnish clothes, till the 19th century home interior. Also, more than 500-year-old historical artifacts are kept here. It is important to note, that this Helsinki City Museum is free for visitors throughout the year. The museum is located next to the Senate Square, which is in the oldest part of the city. While visiting this place, you can also go to the other four free Helsinki museums – Hakasalmi Villa, Burgher’s House, Worker Housing Museum, and Tram Museum.

Discover a variety of natural works from all around the world in the Museum of Natural History, which is one of the three central national museums in Finland. The other two museums are the Kaisaniemi Botanic Garden and the Kumpula Botanic Garden. The collection includes botanical, zoological and similar specimens from various parts of the world, that are useful not only for research but also for educational purposes. In the museum, you can spend a wonderful time on your vacation with children because sightseeing exhibitions will be especially interesting for them.

helsinki-natural-museum

While on holiday in Finland, consider trying at least one adventure park. We recommend you to try the Sarkanniemi Amusement Park because attractions in this park are family-friendly. In this amusement park, you can also visit the planetarium, the aquarium and the observation tower, so every visitor in the park will be entertained. Sarkanniemi park is a perfect choice for a short day trip.

Sompasauna is a public sauna in Helsinki, built by a group volunteers. Up to this day, visitors enjoy this entertainment without the care of the lifeguards or staff. The sauna is open during the daytime and everyone can use it for free. Sompasauna is located in the southern part of Kalasatama district, which can be reached within 20 minutes by walking from the Kalasatama metro station. This is the best place to go with your friends and enjoy a hot sauna while admiring a beautiful landscape. In Finland, to visit a public sauna is a common practice among the locals, so it is worth to every tourist to try this adventure.

Chapel-of-silence

To get away from the city noise, visit the Kamppi Chapel of Silence. The wooden walls, made from the northern fir, will ensure that no sounds will interfere the quiet inside. Chapel welcomes the representatives of different religions and not only believers but also ordinary passersby. It is important to know that there are no mas or other ceremonies, it is just a peaceful home, where you can concentrate and relax. Tourists like to visit this building for its unique design and simple but impressive environment.

What to Do in Denmark

While walking in Copenhagen, it’s nearly impossible to miss the unique and ancient Round Tower. It is the viewing tower and astronomical observatory, that is connected to the academic library. The 17th-century tower has a vintage style, and the combination of yellow and red bricks create a unique design. This tower impresses not only with its shape but also with a wide corridor, that rises upwards like a spiral – this is the only way to reach the observation deck and the library hall, where various exhibitions and concerts often take place.

round-tower

National Museum of Denmark is the largest museum of culture and history in this country. This museum was formerly a royal family residence, which was built back in the 17th century, and the museum was founded here in 1807. If you want to learn some Danish history and get acquainted with the culture of this country, then you must visit this place without a doubt. The National Museum of Denmark also has a children’s museum and a variety of educational activities. Visiting this museum is completely free!

Explore impressive animals in Givskud Zoo Park. Open since 1969, the park was originally named “The Lion Park” because these animals were the only ones in the Zoo. In 1970, Asian elephants were brought here, and today you can see more than 700 different animals that represent about 70 species. This zoo is one of the ten attractions that has been awarded 5 stars and has a total 325,000 visitors per year. In 2019, it is planned to open another part of the Givskud Zoo Park, named Zootopia, on the occasion of its 50th anniversary.

Visit the former royal residence – Christiansborg Palace. This palace is located in Slotsholmen Island. In the 12th century on this was the place where the city fortress was built. Today, we see the palace which has been restored at the beginning of the 20th century and is now the Danish Parliament. The Christiansborg Palace is the best place for tourists, who want to explore royal apartments and mansions.

christiansborg-copenhagen

Copenhagen City Hall is located right in the central part of Copenhagen. It was built in 1892-1905, and the architect Martin Nyrop gave this hall a romantic styling. Nowadays, there is the headquarters of the municipality council and the mayor of Copenhagen. During the trip, you can get free access to the building and admire the amazing interior. There are also paid excursions in English and Danish languages. Within the complex, you will find a beautiful garden where you will be able to relax. The tourists visiting the hall, are amazed by the tallest and the most impressive tower in Copenhagen, which is slightly over 346 feet tall. The top of the tower is a perfect place to enjoy a wonderful panoramic view of the city.

When traveling, remember to learn a few words in another language and stay informed about the events happening during your trip. We hope that these tips for finding the best places to go in Scandinavia will help you properly plan your holidays and experience the most memorable adventures. We wish you good emotions, wonderful weather and unforgettable holidays!