Whether Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo or Helsinki, Reykjavík and Tórshavn – Scandinavia has some cool and relaxed locations to supply: suggestions for probably the most stunning metropolis journeys within the north.
Scandinavia is a well-liked journey vacation spot, and the varied nature, specifically, attracts many guests to the far north. But the Scandinavian capitals are additionally positively well worth the journey – and that doesn’t simply apply to the well-known highlights of Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo. Tórshavn, the capital of the Faroe Islands, is actually just a few on the display, however the distant islands are an actual spotlight. And Reykjavík can be an important a part of a visit to Iceland. Not forgetting Finland’s capital, Helsinki, the place you may benefit from the sea-view sauna even in summer season.
By the way in which, do you know that the Scandinavian peninsula really solely contains Norway and Sweden, in addition to the northwest of Finland? Culturally, nevertheless, Denmark can be one in every of them – and in a broader sense, additionally Iceland and the Faroe Islands. So right here’s the whole overview of the Scandinavian capitals – with many suggestions and additional info.
Stockholm: The Historical
Together with Copenhagen, Stockholm is actually one of the standard capitals in Scandinavia, if not in all of Europe. And with round 950,000 inhabitants, it’s positively the biggest metropolis within the far north. Stockholm affords an important mixture of royal class and old-town allure, Swedish nonchalance and Scandinavian design. The coronary heart is the outdated city Gamla Stan with the Stortorget and its colourful homes. The Royal Castle and the Nobel Prize Museum are additionally positioned in Gamla Stan – and the colourful streets with the medieval environment are great for strolling by way of.
Like all Scandinavian capitals, Stockholm is correct on the water. One of the quite a few boat excursions is an efficient solution to discover town and, ideally, to go on a visit to the skerries, the offshore islands, straight afterwards. In Stockholm, you can too stroll within the footsteps of Astrid Lindgren and ABBA or marvel at a centuries-old ship that sank within the harbour on the Vasa Museum. And then there’s the stylish district of Södermalm, the colourful artwork within the subway and the quite a few museums. When you lastly get uninterested in sightseeing, it’s finest to seek out one of many cool cafés and take a fika, the Swedish espresso break.
Copenhagen: The Cozy One
With simply over 600,000 inhabitants, Copenhagen is considerably smaller than Stockholm – and but or maybe due to this, Denmark’s capital is without doubt one of the hottest locations in Scandinavia. Copenhagen is pure coziness. The most well-known Copenhagener is the little mermaid. The Lille Havfrue sits on her rock within the harbor – and even when she’s a bit unassuming, she’s an important a part of a go to to the Danish capital. Also standard is Nyhavn, the place you may sit on the harbor promenade, particularly in summer season. From there, it is usually not removed from the royal palace Amalienborg and the opera, one of many stylish new buildings in Copenhagen.
The roof of the Amager Bakke waste incineration plant was laid out as a dry ski slope and attracts quite a few guests as CopenHill. In Copenhagen, you can too stroll by way of one of many largest pedestrian zones in Europe or make a journey to Tivoli, the oldest amusement park on this planet. Foodies must also plan a visit to the Torvehallerne market halls and the previous butchers’ quarter “Kødbyen”.
Oslo: The Green
Even if Oslo glitters in blue in entrance of the opera as town’s fashionable landmark, Norway’s capital is admittedly inexperienced. Located straight on the fjord, Oslo is surrounded by deep inexperienced forests, a preferred native recreation vacation spot for residents. In Ekelandpark, inexperienced is even mixed with artwork – and additionally, you will discover a number of avenue artwork and attention-grabbing sculptures within the metropolis. The most vital sights within the centre are the Royal Castle, the Cathedral, the Parliament Storting and the City Hall, the place the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded yearly in December.
With nearly 700,000 inhabitants, Oslo is the second largest metropolis in Scandinavia – and but it doesn’t really feel prefer it. You can, for instance, begin straight from the port district of Aker Brygge to the islands within the Oslofjord and change off fully. On the Bygdoy peninsula, additionally, you will discover quite a few attention-grabbing museums, such because the Vikingskipshuset or the Kon-Tiki Museum. And issues get different and artistic within the stylish Grünerlokka district and round Oslo’s Mathallen market corridor.
Helsinki: The Youngest
Although Helsinki was based in 1550, it was an insignificant metropolis for a very long time. Only since 1917 has it been the capital of an impartial Finland. Today, with 635,000 inhabitants, Helsinki is the third largest metropolis in Scandinavia after Stockholm and Oslo. The metropolis is completely relaxed, which could be partly because of the quite a few saunas, that are merely a part of the lifestyle for Finns.
But Helsinki’s landmark is the cathedral, which rises fully white over town. The Finnish capital has much more church buildings value seeing: from the Russian-Orthodox-style Uspenski Cathedral to the Chapel of Silence to the rock church Temppeliaukio Kirkko. And for foodies, the Vanha Kauppahalli market corridor and the Teurastamo slaughterhouse district are the right locations. The sea and the islands aren’t far in Helsinki both, and so they positively belong on the to-do listing, particularly in summer season.
Reykjavík: The Colorful One
When you consider Scandinavian capitals, Reykjavík is actually not the very first thing that springs to thoughts. And but the city with its 120,000 inhabitants is value a go to. The northernmost capital on this planet is a mixture of vibrant homes, Scandinavian design and pleasant folks. The residents aren’t deterred by the cool temperatures, even in summer season, however slightly meet as much as chill out in one of many sizzling springs and luxuriate in what looks like endlessly lengthy days.
In addition to the Hallgrímskirkja as a landmark and the futuristic Harpa live performance corridor, a stroll by way of the colourful procuring avenue Laugavegur is a should on the to-do listing for Reykjavík. You’ll discover some cool avenue artwork right here and all through town. And for foodies, a detour in the direction of the Alter Hafen and the Grandi district, with its meals corridor and the chocolate manufacturing facility is a should.
Tórshavn: The Hidden One
With simply over 20,000 inhabitants, an important and largest metropolis within the Faroe Islands is without doubt one of the smallest capitals on this planet. Tórshavn is the financial and cultural heart and is an important a part of a go to to the archipelago in the midst of the North Atlantic. When you stroll by way of the small alleys within the historic heart, you rapidly get the sensation that you’ve got landed someplace in a village and never within the capital. The little homes with turf roofs, so typical of the islands, are too cute.
On the Tinganes peninsula, proper by the small japanese harbor, you can find the Løgting, one of many oldest nonetheless current parliaments on this planet. And proper subsequent door, you may ring the Prime Minister’s bell straight. In addition to a couple museums, additionally, you will discover good eating places and cafes within the capital and a small procuring avenue. Last however not least, Tórshavn can be an ideal start line to find these spectacular islands.
Our Final Word
Kati and I at all times like to journey to Scandanavia. The folks and the vibe are intoxicating. They simply appear to get it. And it exhibits. From nice artwork and museums to unimaginable outside actions, Scandanavia has all of it. Out of the highest 7 happiest nations on this planet, 5 are from Scandanavia and method outscore nations just like the USA and Germany. I believe it exhibits that heat climate and decrease tax charges don’t deliver folks happiness slightly caring for each other by way of healthcare and wholesome life expectancy together with the liberty to make key life choices make Scandanavia a mannequin of society for the remainder of us.