With summer here, it’s time to map out all of the possible vacation destinations (if you haven’t already) and head off somewhere new to explore. Northern Europe encompasses Scandinavia and a few other regions
Even though there are no Scandinavian countries in the top 10 of European travel, this doesn’t mean you should be skipping out on what the region has to offer. In fact, it could be better for you if you’re looking to go on a vacation and not be surrounded by a magnitude of other tourists, all jockeying for a position at the best restaurant or top photo op.
If you’re looking to change your vacation up a little bit, head to one of the following Scandinavian destinations to make for a life-long memory. So pack your bags, bring your passport and get ready for an adventure.
Norway
Norway is a beautiful, albeit expensive, country with just about everything a traveler could want. Head up to the fjords in the northern part of the country with Norwegian Bliss to see something completely unique and new.
Travel up to the city of Bergen, also known as the gateway to the fjords, and enjoy local fish from a streetside restaurant. If you’re looking to catch the fish yourself, there are also plenty of fishing adventure packages you can partake in.
When it comes to cities, you’ll have to stay for a few days in Oslo. The city is quite easy to travel around in and there are plenty of attractions and museums to see. You can’t miss Vigeland Park and all of its rather unique sculptures.
Iceland
This tiny country with an incredibly small population once put the world on hold after a volcanic eruption halted air travel for a number of weeks.
Fortunately, that’s not an annual occurrence and you should make sure and get to Iceland if you can. Most travellers head straight to the capital city of Reykjavik (say that five times fast) and venture to other parts of the country from there.
The country is filled with incredible natural beauty, including the Blue Lagoon and Gullfoss, a multi-sectional waterfall. You can also dip into the natural hot springs in the area so bring a swimsuit even if its negative temperatures. There are plenty of tours like the ones you can find here, which will take you to all the hot spots. You’ll just have to make sure you’re planning enough days to see them all.
Plan your day better and rent a campervan in Iceland if there’s two or three of you and you want freedom and flexibility. That is, you can enjoy amenities similar to a hotel’s without costing too much with the campervan having a soft sofa bed, blackout curtains, and kitchen essentials. Best of all, you are free to visit what’s on your list.
Greenland
If you ever saw the film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, then that was probably the first and only time you’ve ever seen Greenland. Greenland is part of Denmark but is quite different in landscape and overall feel. You won’t find the sprawling cities like you would with Copenhagen, but Greenland certainly makes up for it with its natural beauty.
Similar to Norway, there are plenty of fjords throughout the country for you to visit. The most popular city to visit is Nuuk, which is where you can go whale watching, experience local culture and see fjords all in one. It will be a great adventure and you’ll even get to learn more about killer whale facts.
If you’re looking to get a bit more adventurous on your travels, head over to the city of Sisimiut, which offers plenty of hiking and fishing options. Make sure you pack appropriately for your trip.
If nothing else, you’ll be able to say you went to Greenland which is not something a lot of people can say!
Finland
You may not know a lot about Finland other than it’s quite cold. Travellers usually beeline to Helsinki as it’s a beautiful coastal city, filled with all the natural amenities that capital cities have to offer. You’ll find a whole host of museums, with everything from historical centres to art museums.
When you want to head outside of the city, make your way to Rovaniemi, a natural paradise. Here is where you can find “Santa Claus” along with a large number of reindeer that live in the area (still no word on Rudolph).
One of Finland’s most unique experiences is its nightly views. Being out in nature, you can sleep inside a glass igloo and gaze up to the stars, witnessing the lights as they dance across the night sky. You’ll just have to be OK with being in such a remote area, surrounded by only nature!
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