Travelling to the Scandinavian Countries had always been a dream of mine which is why visiting Norway, Sweden and Denmark was the first thing that came to my mind once the skies opened up in 2022.
Many travel itineraries for these countries are available online so I’ll make this blog short and crisp, sharing only a few important things to keep in mind and tips that can help you if you plan on travelling there.
Part 1 Sweden & Denmark
I first landed in Stockholm which is situated on the confluence of lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea, ruunning from the North of Germany to the South of Finland.
Stockholm’s vibrant colored buildings are so pleasing to the eye!
Stockholm is a beautiful city and one can easily spend 2-3 days there. We stayed a few kilometers away from the city’s centre in a hotel called Park Inn by Radisson at the nearest town called Solna. Solna is connected to the City Centre by Metro and it took us 12 minutes to reach there. The Park Inn Hotel was inside a mall and the Metro station was just a 2 minutes’ walk which was very convenient.
We took a 3 day local pass which was valid for all metro, heritage tarins, ferries and Buses. It cost us around 300 SEK ( 1 Sek~ Rs. 9). The Stockholm Central is not very large but extremely quaint. The best place to spend time is in the old town of Gamla Stan with cobble stoned paths and many cafes.
Swaying in the wind are the lovely flowers and leaves,
in this beautiful garden time truly does freeze.
An extremely picturesque and charming area, one can get many good pictures while walking to the Palace and the Museum. A guide is not necessary but the will to walk tirelessly for hours through unknown yet charming streets is. This is the perfect place to spend a whole day. At Sweden we didn’t shop much, except for a few souvenirs from Gamla Stan.
Tip: Don’t forget to have Churros there with famous Swedish chocolate
Churros with chocolate are truly a delight,
for it’s every bite we had a fight.
Next day, we visited the famous Skansen. It is a wonderful place, lined with old Swedish houses and a zoo inside. It is located near a lake making it a beautiful walk along the shores. We spent a good 4-5 hours there. We sat in a Tram which was lovely to sit in, with wooden walls and a historic feel, it was a delightful experience.
A ferry ride in the lake is a must do activity which can be booked online. With a duration of 2 hours it would take you past all the famous sights of the city and the widely known Underbridges of Stockholm.
The historic Underbridges of Stockholm
2. Denmark is a small country in Northern Europe and has been declared as the happiest country in the world. We spent two days in Copenhagen and one day travelling northwards to see the beautiful Danish country side.
Copenhagen’s city centre filled with the hustle bustle of the Danish people…
In Copenhagen we had booked two rooms in the Hotel Mayfair located in the centre of the city. The Stoget street, the Little mermaid , the Tivoli gardens (one can skip),the Nyhavn,Christianborg Palace were all at walking distance from our hotel.
The Little Mermaid Statue
From Denmark we went to the south of Sweden and visited the City of Lund, Tromso, Helsingborg via Bus. Lund is a beautiful university town. The bus journey passes through the historic bridge of Oresund which is half above the sea and half underwater. The bus even passed through the famous North Denmark country side which was a treat to the eyes.
The beautiful Buildings of Denmark add a pop of color to the city!
Fjords ofPart 2: Norway
Norway is a narrow country in northern Europe which shares the Scandinavian Peninsula with Sweden and Finland. Norway’s coastline is famous for its fjords, which are sea inlets between two steep cliffs. The fjords were carved out by glaciers, as were the country’s mountains.
The serene Fjords of Norway lined with water as well as ice,
truly a mesmerizing paradise!
In Norway we spent six days visiting Bergen and Oslo. Bergen is in the western end of Norway and all the fjords start from there, it is a mesmerizing place and for someone who usually doesn’t like to compare, the beauty of Bergen was incomparable putting that of Oslo’s to a close second.
Bergen is so beautiful it left me speechless!
In Bergen, we stayed at the city centre, I booked a 1 BHK apartment in the Ole Bull Hotel from which all famous attractions are a good walking distance. Bergen is one of the most spectacular cities I have ever visited, with vibrantly coloured houses and intricately designed cobble stoned paths.
A few pictures of Bergen
We took a day tour called Norway in a Nutshell, which was exactly as the name suggested. We visited the breath-taking fjords of Norway and went on the Flam Train Ride which is considered to be amongst the top ten most beautiful train journeys in the world.
In Bergen we went to the Bryggen town; a 400 year old Norwegian town so beautiful and charming that it felt as if we were trapped in time. The Fløibanen train took us on a picturesque journey through the city and the mountains. Over there, Olivia is the best restaurant near the lake, not only with a spectacular view but also delicious food.
In Oslo we just visited the city centre by buying a 1 day city pass which primarily included museums, lake side cafes, a Palace and the Frogner Park which had excellent sculptures by Gustav Vigland ( including the famous “The angry boy” sculpture)
Tips:
1. Use the local mode of commute in every country by getting the travel pass which is cheaper and faster to reach your destinations.
2. Try the churros in Stockholm
3. Gamla Stan is a must visit in Sweden
4. It is easier to visit Lund and Tromso from Denmark than from Sweden
5. Travelling via Ethopian airlines gave me 1 day in Addis Ababa which was more than enough to explore the entire place. Please note that Ethopian airlines provides a free stay in 3* hotel with food during transit. Do visit the Museum and palace. You must see Lucy’s skeleton ( Its where we all came from, right?)
Here are a few fun facts about the Scandinavian countries
1. Scandinavia was coined by Swedish and Danish universities in the 18th century, as they delved into the shared arts, mythology and history of Norway, Sweden and Denmark.
2. Year after year, the Scandinavian (and Nordic) countries consistently make the top 10 spots in the United Nation’s World Happiness report.
3. The Danish flag is the oldest in the world
Denmark’s iconic red flag with a white cross is thought to have first appeared back in 1219, inspiring the Dane’s to victory against Latvia in the Battle of Lyndanisse.
