Top Tips for Travelling Around Scandinavia

Looking for tips on the best way to travel around Scandinavia? Whether you’re sailing or railing, travelling around Scandinavia is a bucket list essential for every keen traveller. Explore the sights of Sweden, discover the wonders of the Northern Lights or find the iconic Little Mermaid statue of Denmark to tick off your to-see list – read our top tips for travel to Scandinavia and start your Nordic adventure.

What are the countries in Scandinavia?

The specific countries that are generally included within the Scandinavia region, also known as the Nordic countries, are not always set in stone – it’s often up for debate as to whether Greenland and the Faroe Islands are included, but almost all agree that the main countries are Sweden, Norway, and Denmark.
• Sweden
• Norway
• Denmark
Generally included:
• Iceland
• Finland
Associated islands:
• Greenland
• Faroe Islands
• Åland Islands

Explore Sweden

For a touch of Swedish history, why not explore Stockholm Old Town? As the capital of Sweden, Stockholm has a lot to offer – and its Old Town, Gamla Stan, is no exception. As one of the largest and most preserved medieval cities in Europe, relive Sweden in days gone by with narrow winding cobblestone streets. Once you’ve stepped back into reality, find quaint and popular things to do in Sweden including exploring the Stockholm Cathedral, discovering the Royal Palace – one of the largest palaces in the world – or finding battle equipment in the Royal Armory to get you started. Full of life and history oozing from every corner, consider Stockholm one of the top places to visit in Scandinavia.

Top Tip: If you’re keen to stick to a strict budget, camping in Scandinavia is often completely free! This means you can travel around the Nordics, pitch a tent for the night and sleep beneath the stars to keep costs down. Just remember this will mean carrying your camping equipment with you, which can be heavy!

Escape to Norway

Still wondering what to do in Scandinavia? The Northern Lights are a must-see. Explore the wonders of the Aurora Borealis right from Norway. Lights litter the sky during the darkness of a cooler night, displaying a wide colour palette of greens, pinks and violets between the months of late September and late March. During this seasonal period, the sun sets earlier and rises later, meaning this is your best chance to see the extraordinary lights.

In recent years, media reports have suggested the lights will become dimmer and will not be seen as clearly from certain parts of the Nordics. However, scientists have said that this is not true for Northern Norway – the country will not see any difference to the way the sky lights up at night. So head North for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Top Tip: Already seen the Northern Lights? How about the “Midnight Sun”? In the summer months, the sun hardly goes down so this is a great opportunity to visit the best things to do in Norway under the midnight rays. Better still, why not join one of the public celebrations that mark the longest day of the year?

Discover Denmark

The most southern Scandinavian country, Denmark is a beautiful haven of windmills and traditional thatched cottages, with Greenland and the Faroe Islands also both belonging to the Kingdom of Denmark. For Scandinavian culture, head to the capital city of Copenhagen – with the iconic Little Mermaid statue to discover, the Tivoli Gardens amusement park to explore and the Rosenborg Castle to learn about Dutch Renaissance history. There are countless things to do in Denmark, whatever may spark your interests.

If you’re looking for the top things to do in Denmark combined with some extraordinary scenic views, why not explore Wadden Sea National Park? As the largest national park, it’s the perfect place to retreat and take part in bird watching, or discover the habitat of mysterious seabed creatures. Once you’re done getting to know the local wildlife, take a stroll around the nearby towns of Ribe and Esbjerg to experience local culture.

Top Tip: To avoid blowing the budget when you travel to Scandinavia, consider making a teetotal trip. Alcoholic drinks are taxed highly within this region of the world, making even a single tipple expensive. Shopping at supermarkets instead of eating out can also help to keep the costs down.

What is the best way to travel around Scandinavia?

When it comes to seeing this remarkable region, here are some of the best ways to get around and get even more from your trip:
See Scandinavia by sea
Whether you’re holidaying to Sweden, discovering the delights of Denmark or planning a multi-country trip, travelling around Scandinavia is a must-do on many people’s bucket lists. And if you have a bigger budget to spend, why not take a cruise? Whether you choose 4 days, 6 days or even a 15 day sail, explore Nordic capitals such as Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm while relaxing in the knowledge your Scandinavia travel is taken care of.
Discover inexpensive inter-railing
What better way to travel to Scandinavia without blowing the budget than inter-railing? With a pre-paid rail pass that allows you to visit over 40,000 destinations in 30 European countries, you can travel Scandinavia by train easily and safely on a budget to suit you. To get the most out of your trip, why not extend the time period on your pass and travel more of Europe, too? Find out more about travelling to places like Croatia, Madrid and more in our travel blog.

What to wear in Scandinavia?

Ensuring you take the right clothes is essential to making the most out of your trip. And what better way to stay warm than with wool? With properties that help to regulate body temperature, alongside anti-bacterial features meaning they’re perfect for travel wear, pack up your wool jumpers and woolly socks to create an essential base layer. Don’t forget to layer up with your seasonal protective coats, waterproof trousers and your trusty backpack to see you through your adventures travelling around Scandinavia.

Travelling around Scandinavia this Autumn? Don’t forget to use the #mycraghoppers hashtag on Twitter or Instagram in your travel pics.