Whether or not Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo or Helsinki, Reykjavík and Tórshavn – Scandinavia has some cool and relaxed locations to supply: ideas for essentially the most lovely metropolis journeys within the north.
Scandinavia is a well-liked journey vacation spot, and the various nature, specifically, attracts many guests to the far north. However 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 definitely only some on the display screen, however the distant islands are an actual spotlight. And Reykjavík can be a necessary a part of a visit to Iceland. Not forgetting Finland’s capital, Helsinki, the place you’ll be able to 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 certainly one of them – and in a broader sense, additionally Iceland and the Faroe Islands. So right here’s the entire overview of the Scandinavian capitals – with many ideas and additional data.
Stockholm: The Historic
Along with Copenhagen, Stockholm is definitely probably the most fashionable 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 presents an important mixture of royal class and old-town allure, Swedish nonchalance and Scandinavian design. The guts is the previous city Gamla Stan with the Stortorget and its colourful homes. The Royal Citadel and the Nobel Prize Museum are additionally positioned in Gamla Stan – and the colourful streets with the medieval ambiance are great for strolling via.
Like all Scandinavian capitals, Stockholm is correct on the water. One of many quite a few boat excursions is an efficient strategy to discover the town and, ideally, to go on a visit to the skerries, the offshore islands, straight afterwards. In Stockholm, it’s also possible to 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. After which there’s the fashionable district of Södermalm, the colourful artwork within the subway and the quite a few museums. If you lastly get uninterested in sightseeing, it’s finest to search 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. Probably 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 a necessary a part of a go to to the Danish capital. Additionally fashionable is Nyhavn, the place you’ll be able to sit on the harbor promenade, particularly in summer season. From there, it’s also 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, it’s also possible to stroll via one of many largest pedestrian zones in Europe or make a journey to Tivoli, the oldest amusement park on the earth. Foodies also needs to plan a visit to the Torvehallerne market halls and the previous butchers’ quarter “Kødbyen”.
Oslo: The Inexperienced
Even when Oslo glitters in blue in entrance of the opera as the town’s trendy landmark, Norway’s capital is actually inexperienced. Positioned 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 variety of avenue artwork and attention-grabbing sculptures within the metropolis. Crucial sights within the centre are the Royal Citadel, the Cathedral, the Parliament Storting and the Metropolis Corridor, the place the Nobel Peace Prize is awarded yearly in December.
With virtually 700,000 inhabitants, Oslo is the second largest metropolis in Scandinavia – and but it doesn’t really feel prefer it. You’ll be able to, for instance, begin straight from the port district of Aker Brygge to the islands within the Oslofjord and change off utterly. 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
Though Helsinki was based in 1550, it was an insignificant metropolis for a very long time. Solely since 1917 has it been the capital of an unbiased Finland. Right now, with 635,000 inhabitants, Helsinki is the third largest metropolis in Scandinavia after Stockholm and Oslo. Town is completely relaxed, which will be partly as a result of quite a few saunas, that are merely a part of the lifestyle for Finns.
However Helsinki’s landmark is the cathedral, which rises utterly white over the 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 proper locations. The ocean and the islands usually are not far in Helsinki both, and so they positively belong on the to-do checklist, particularly in summer season.
Reykjavík: The Colourful One
If you consider Scandinavian capitals, Reykjavík is definitely 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 the earth is a mixture of vibrant homes, Scandinavian design and pleasant individuals. The residents usually are not deterred by the cool temperatures, even in summer season, however fairly meet as much as chill out in one of many scorching springs and luxuriate in what appears like endlessly lengthy days.
Along with the Hallgrímskirkja as a landmark and the futuristic Harpa live performance corridor, a stroll via the colourful buying avenue Laugavegur is a should on the to-do checklist for Reykjavík. You’ll discover some cool avenue artwork right here and all through the 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, crucial and largest metropolis within the Faroe Islands is without doubt one of the smallest capitals on the earth. Tórshavn is the financial and cultural middle and is a necessary a part of a go to to the archipelago in the midst of the North Atlantic. If you stroll via the small alleys within the historic middle, you shortly get the sensation that you’ve 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 jap harbor, you’ll find the Løgting, one of many oldest nonetheless present parliaments on the earth. And proper subsequent door, you’ll be able to ring the Prime Minister’s bell straight. Along with a couple of museums, additionally, you will discover good eating places and cafes within the capital and a small buying avenue. Final however not least, Tórshavn can be an ideal start line to find these spectacular islands.
Our Ultimate Phrase
Kati and I all the time like to journey to Scandanavia. The individuals and the vibe are intoxicating. They simply appear to get it. And it reveals. From nice artwork and museums to unimaginable out of doors actions, Scandanavia has all of it. Out of the highest 7 happiest nations on the earth, 5 are from Scandanavia and manner outscore nations just like the USA and Germany. I feel it reveals that heat climate and decrease tax charges don’t convey individuals happiness fairly 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.
