Scandinavia in General

Scandinavia is a historical region in Northern Europe, with a common ethnocultural North Germanic heritage, related and sometimes hardly understandable and pronounceable languages and amazing nature, cherished by its citizens.

If you ever dreamed about a real winter fairy tale or polar adventures or about a break from everyday city stress, noise, traffic jams, winter vacation in Scandinavia is a must do. Each country will open for you the most secret corners will help to relax your body and soul, recharge your batteries with the pure energy of the North, which is best of visiting Scandinavia in winter.

Climate and Weather

Scandinavian countries have different climatic features. If you want to know how cold is Scandinavia in winter before planning your itinerary, the best will be to research the region you travel to.

For example, the weather on the west coast of Denmark forms a maritime climate, because of what here weather is not too cold and sunny. The average winter temperature in December, January and February is practically the same here, and the thermometer consistently shows 0 ° C. The same climate is typical for the south of Sweden.

In the regions of the Scandinavian Mountains in Sweden and Norway, the climate is close to alpine, with low temperatures, especially in winter.

Although December justifies the reputation of the first month of winter, January is considered the coldest month in Sweden and Norway. The coldest month in Finland in February. The average Scandinavian winter temperatures depending on the region vary between 0 and -15 C.

Those who have already traveled to Scandinavia in winter say that most of this region becomes like a snow-covered paradise on earth.

The duration of the day in Scandinavia depends on region and its proximity to a polar circle. On average, daylight hours in Scandinavia in winter last about 4-5 hours.

Undoubtedly, a tour to Scandinavia in the winter is a real pleasure, however, you have to be well equipped with warm clothing. So if you are going to Sweden, Norway Finland or Denmark for your winter vacation, don’t forget to put some warm sweaters in your luggage while packing for a flight.

Winter Activities in Scandinavia

Winter tourism in Scandinavia is incredibly diverse, giving the opportunity to engage in a great variety of activities: from making ice sculptors and skiing to dog sledging and swimming in the icy cold water, limited only by your imagination and physical preparedness.

You might prefer to spend your evenings’ sitting in a cozy chair and enjoying winter landscape outside the window of ski resort hotel, but you definitely should put few Scandinavian winter destinations in your list which will make you leave your warm location.

One of them is a small town of Wuollerime in Sweden. Every year in February one of the most beautiful winter festivals in Scandinavia takes place where – the festival of 1000 ice lanterns. The Sami, the indigenous inhabitants of these places, from ancient times believed that ice combined with fire brings good luck.

Swedish Lapland offers you snowmobiles, walks through the Lapland winter forest, visiting an ice hotel in Kiruna and Alpine skiing in the best ski resort of Åre. Lapland – 100% winter from December to April, unspoiled nature, mild and dry climate. Children will be happy to visit the village of Santa Claus.

Trysil is one of the largest ski centers in Norway, which is geographically close enough to Sweden. Trysil is also famous for stable whether it is especially pleasant to travel here in winter, in December-January. Visiting Scandinavia in winter and not skiing there would be a big loss for you. Some tracks in Trysil are specially designed for riding at night – they are equipped with additional lighting devices, allowing you not to worry about safety. Skating at night is able to give tourists unforgettable impressions because at this time the Norwegian landscapes are especially attractive.

You might want to take a tour on the dogs’ sled along a snow-covered plain with incredible speed. By putting a face to the wind, you will understand what life was like in earlier times, when dog sledding was a much more common way of moving.

Ice fishing is extremely popular in Scandinavia in winter, especially in the north, where there are a lot of lakes, winter fishing disposes to relax and warm in the sauna or by the fire in the evening after a busy day.

During your visiting Scandinavia in winter, do not forget to Install the app Norway Lights and feel free to go to the “hunt” for the northern lights.

Christmas in Scandinavia, especially in Norway and Denmark is a real feast of light, a variety of entertainment and traditional fun throughout the winter. White snow and Christmas decorations add a touch of magic to the holiday. Fire in the fireplace. The sonorous voices of children playing in the snow. And, of course, countless gifts and Christmas markets. In Norway, Christmas is called “Jul” (‘Yul’), and the traditions of this holiday date back to the pre-Christian era, and although we know little about it, we know that at that time it was customary to sacrifice animals and drink beer. In other words, some of the rituals were quite similar to modern ones.

It does not matter what kind of activity you will prefer while traveling to Scandinavia in winter, you will always remember it.