Discovering the Best Things to do in Scandinavia
There’s nothing quite like escaping into the great outdoors to escape life's daily stresses. And you don’t have to travel far from the UK to experience different cultures and some of the best natural scenery in the world. Exploring the best things to do in Scandinavia by reading this blog will open your eyes to a wealth of new experiences to help you recharge your batteries and return home refreshed and inspired.
We’ve picked out some of the best places to visit in Denmark, Norway and Sweden below if you’re looking for fresh air, incredible views, and a holiday you’ll always cherish.
Captivating Copenhagen
There’s no doubt that Copenhagen is one of the best places to visit in Scandinavia. Tivoli Gardens has been going strong since it opened in 1843. It’s one of the world’s oldest theme parks, but as well as all the excitement, it’s a beautiful place to relax and enjoy your surroundings.
You can go for a stroll after a busy day’s sightseeing, stop for a picnic or delicious Danish cuisine from its many restaurants or take in a live open-air concert or theatre show.
Other incredible outdoor pursuits in Copenhagen include swimming in one of the four harbour baths, renting a solar-powered boat to go sailing or a floating hot tub so you can enjoy being in the water without feeling cold. There are also many waterside dining options if you’d prefer just to watch others taking the plunge.
Copenhagen also boasts many great walking and cycling trails, so you can go exploring at your own pace and see more of the natural scenery away from the busyness of the city centre.
Our final recommendation is to visit CopenHill for a unique spot to climb, ski, snowboard, hike, or run. It’s a lot of fun and a great way to see the city from a different perspective.
Norway’s natural delights
Bergen and Oslo are two of Norway’s most popular holiday destinations and provide many of the best things to do in Scandinavia. Let’s take a closer look at each of them in turn below.
Bergen
While Bergen might not be the best location in the country to see the Northern Lights, they can occasionally be viewed from there. However, to increase your chances, it’s best to travel further north from your base here to get a glimpse of this natural wonder.
What Bergen does have in abundance is places to hike. There are seven surrounding mountains, including Mount Fløyen and Mount Ulriken, where you can escape into the wilderness and enjoy the serenity of Norway’s awe-inspiring nature.
Another memorable day out in Bergen involves taking a short fjord cruise. Your camera will need to work overtime to keep up with the sensational scenery during your voyage. You can’t fail to be blown away by the calmness and tranquillity of your surroundings, which are unlike anything else in the world.
After a busy day hiking or sailing, you may want to take time out to watch the sun setting. There are various places to do this near the centre of Bergen. One of our favourites is the district of Bryggen, famous for its colourful waterfront houses and mountainous backdrop.
Oslo
Norway’s capital city offers many outdoor activities. Cycling and hiking are two great ways to get active while seeing the sights from a different viewpoint. We highly recommend taking a hike to Grefsenkollen for the superb panoramas over the city, fjord and forests.
You can also go horse riding and kayaking whether you’re experienced or a complete beginner. The city also has golf courses and a ToppGolf driving range if you fancy practising your swing in a different environment.
And if you’d like a refreshing swim, there are several great beaches along the coast, including Operastranda, Sørenga and Huk. Oslo is a beautiful destination, whatever time of year you visit, and its outstanding natural beauty will make you want to be out in the fresh air as much as possible.
Embrace Stockholm’s great outdoors
The final stop on our mini Scandinavian tour is the capital of Sweden, Stockholm. It’s another fantastic city if you love exploring. There are several nature reserves in the area, which are perfect for cycling and hiking. Östra Järvafältets naturreservat and Kungliga nationalstadsparken are favourites of ours and idyllic places to reconnect and forget all your cares.
If you’re visiting Stockholm in the summer, there are many popular outdoor swimming pools to choose from. You don’t need to go far to find a place to cool down and enjoy some exercise in the Swedish sunshine. Eriksdalsbadet, for example, is in the heart of the city and has four pools plus all the other facilities you need for a wonderful day out.
When you’re holidaying in Stockholm in the winter, you should add Hammarbybacken to your itinerary because it’s a brilliant facility for skiing and snowboarding without travelling out of the city.
Where in Scandinavia will you go?
One of the great benefits of our Scandinavian multi-centre holidays is that you can visit multiple destinations in one trip. For example, if you’re keen to experience the best places to visit in Scandinavia without travelling back and forth, you could spend time in Oslo, Stockholm, and Copenhagen.
It’s also worth bearing in mind we’ve only been able to cover a few highlights of each destination in this blog. There’s so much more to explore during your Nordic adventure.
Please get in touch if you’ve got any questions, or you can design your own Scandinavian trip.
