The Top 10 Places in Sweden | NeverStopTraveling Stockholm-Royal Palace / photo: Ola Ericsson, Imagebank.sweden.se How does one describe a country that has given the world the Vikings as well as the Nobel Peace Prize, little Swedish meatballs as well as Absolute Vodka, Volvo as well as ABBA, IKEA and H&M and…well, you get the idea. Sweden is an incredible country that is often missed by those who only venture about Southern, Central or Eastern Europe. It has a spectacular landscape, incredible cities, an educated population (most of whom speak English) and a history and culture much older than ours in North America. Up north you’ll find a pastoral landscape and dense green forests, while to the south there are all those little red island cottages scattered across the Stockholm Archipelago. In between is a pastoral countryside filled with ancient Viking burial grounds, wonderful biking and hiking paths and a heartland in which tradition is still king. Stockholm / photo: Phil Price 1) Stockholm 2) The Stockholm Archipelago 3) Gothenburg
Denmark Travel Information and Travel Guide The Danes are, overwhelmingly, a happy bunch. In fact, if you believe those contentment surveys that come out every couple of years, Denmark is one of the happiest nations on earth with some of the best quality of life. Along winding cobbled streets Danes shop and dine at some of the most exciting places in Europe. Copenhagen’s restaurants have more Michelin stars than any other Scandinavian city, and Denmark as a whole would doubtless have more still if the inspectors from Michelin ever troubled themselves to leave the capital and head for Aalborg or Århus & around. Even standards in a workaday Danish café are generally very high. Beyond the capital and the bigger cities, Denmark offers a mix of lively towns such as Ribe and Odense plus rural countryside, medieval churches, Renaissance castles and tidy 18th-century villages. Centuries on from the Viking era, Denmark remains very much a maritime nation, bordered by the Baltic and the North Sea. Ready to go? Read more
The Ultimate Guide to the Northern Lights in Iceland | Gu... Hunting the Northern Lights by Boat in Iceland Finally, a fantastic way to enjoy the incredible phenomenon of the aurora borealis in Iceland is by watching them on a boat tour. These tours take you out to sea, far from any light pollution, and offer you a fantastic opportunity for a sighting. These tours are very convenient and head straight out to the bay of Eyjafjordur or Faxafloi bay from their respective town’s downtown harbors. You won’t have to travel far from either port to be clear of city lights to catch a sighting. While you won’t have the same mobility as a standard bus or super jeep tour, you’ll have more than if you’re trying to hunt for it in town. Photo from Amazing 2-Hour Northern Lights Cruise with Transfer from Reykjavik Harbor However, a boat trip’s primary advantage is not the ‘hunt’ for the northern lights. If there’s no aurora to be enjoyed, most tours will offer you a complimentary second chance. What to Wear for a Northern Lights Hunt in Iceland
Sweden Travel Information and Travel Guide Frozen wastelands, cosy cottages, virgin forest, rocky islands, reindeer herders and Viking lore – Sweden has all that and mad style, too. Swedish Style In some ways, visiting Sweden feels like walking right into a fashion or home-decor magazine. There are no boring outfits on the streets of Stockholm, and the care with which houses and cottages and cafes and public spaces are decorated and kept up throughout the country is truly inspiring. But Swedish style is never too showy; form and function are tightly linked in this society known for valuing moderation, practicality, order, simple lines and clever designs. Landscape Truth be told, the best thing about Sweden is its natural beauty. The Sami The northern part of Sweden is home to the indigenous Sami people, whose traditionally nomadic lifestyle is built around reindeer herding. Vikings & History Read more
Lively Oulu Finland’s fourth largest city Oulu is a gateway to urban culture as well as to the unique nature of the North. The city is located on the shores of the Bay of Bothnia – where modern business and technology meet Northern peace and exoticism. When strolling around the city, you will soon realise how important role nature and outdoor activities play in Oulu. Even though Oulu is known for its year-round cyclists (its cycleway network is the most extensive in Finland), everything in the centre is within walking distance. Scroll down to find out our favourite places to visit when in Oulu. Coast and Archipelago Coastal Finland with its stunningly beautiful archipelago offers a variety of fascinating destinations that are easy to reach. Coast and Archipelago
Tampere - friendly and casual A large city by Finnish standards, with more than 200,000 inhabitants, Tampere has managed to keep the small town feel. The city centre is compact in size, and the atmosphere is friendly and casual. The city is located on a scenic spot on a narrow isthmus between two lakes. Lakeland The largest Lake District in Europe: In a scarcely populated country there’s enough scenery and shoreline for all, allowing you to easily lose yourself in thought or be inspired by the vast clear lakes, intricately splintered by islands, isthmuses and green spits. Lakeland Snaefell Mountain :: isleofman.com Located in the north of the island, Snaefell is the Island's only mountain, standing at 2036 feet (621 metres) above sea level. The easiest access is by car, via the Mountain Road (A18) at the 'Bungalow' (about 1360 ft above sea level), which is the highest point of the 'mountain' section of the Isle of Man TT course. Hill-walkers can tackle Snaefell as part of a longer walk from numerous starting points - plan your route with a map or local guide. Alternatively, take the Isle of Man Electric Railway to Laxey and transfer to the Snaefell Mountain Railway: you can alight at the Bungalow or take the tram all the way to the summit. Height above sea level: 2036ft (621m) OS Grid Reference: SC397881 Ascent and views It is a steady, moderate ascent from the Bungalow to the summit of Snaefell, which can be accomplished in a time of 15-30 minutes, depending on the fitness of the walker. History, Folklore and Tradition The origin of the name 'Snaefell' is Norse and means 'Snow Mountain.'
Fascinating Turku How do you recognise a medieval European town? Some say it is the riverfront, the market square, the castle and the cathedral. That sounds familiar – in fact, that sounds like Turku! Turku is not only the one city in Finland to meet all of the above criteria, but also a vibrant modern city of many events and a European Capital of Culture in 2011. Along the Aura River – the Plough River – you can walk through medieval cobblestone streets. The river is the heart of the city. Officially, Turku has been on the map by the Aurajoki river since 1229, and the buzz hasn’t stopped since. Coast and Archipelago Coastal Finland with its stunningly beautiful archipelago offers a variety of fascinating destinations that are easy to reach. Coast and Archipelago
Visit Turku Flashpacker - Visiting Helsinki On A Cruise: A Free Self-Guided Walking Tour (+ Maps) The approach to the cruise port of Helsinki is spectacular. Occupying a peninsula that is studded with over 300 islands, the so-called Daughter of the Baltic is surrounded on three sides by water. This natural seaport was founded by King Gustavus Vasa of Sweden (to which Finland belonged for many centuries) as a new trading post in southern Finland in 1550. The aim was to woo trade from the Estonian city of Tallinn, thus challenging the Hanseatic League’s monopoly on Baltic trade. Today, Helsinki is known for not only its stunning natural environment but also its architecture, sauna culture, design scene and its unique gastronomy. But if you are visiting Helsinki on a cruise and have only 24 hours or less to explore it, you will need to make some tough choices. Make the most of your cruise stop in Helsinki by exploring its highlights on this free self-guided walking tour. Some articles on this website contain affiliate links. Helsinki Free Self-Guided Walking Tour Helsinki walking tour map
Helsinki Attractions Map | FREE PDF Tourist City Tours Map Helsinki 2023 Helsinki is Finland’s capital city and is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. It’s a multicultural city and home to more than 140 nationalities. What’s great about Helsinki is that it was able to maintain its “small town” feel, despite it becoming a modern city. Exploring Helsinki is pretty easy, thanks to its modern public transportation. To find out how to reach Helsinki’s famous sights and attractions, get a copy of our free printable Helsinki Tourist Sightseeing Map. Helsinki is a compact city and can be possibly explored on foot by healthy and energetic tourists. Another way you can explore Helsinki is by taking the Hop on Hop Off Bus tours.