Scandinavia

It’s no surprise that the months of June, July, and August are the most popular for visitors visiting Scandinavia. People pick this period for a variety of reasons, not the least of which is the pleasant, sunny weather and the wonderful ‘summer house’ seaside culture present across the region.

The only airline that flies directly from New Delhi to Stockholm is Air India. It takes about 8 hours to fly from the United States to Sweden, and it is the shortest flight accessible. Instead of a Swedish visa, Indian passport holders need a Schengen visa to visit Sweden.

While the aurora borealis may be the reason most people think of Scandinavia when they think of places to visit, it isn’t the only one. Scandinavia is much more than a multicoloured glow in the sky. Scandinavia is made up of various countries, all of which are unique in their own right, despite the fact that they are sometimes lumped together.

We have curated a list for you that you should definitely scroll through to know more!

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1. Koli National Park, Finland 

The Koli National Park’s sceneries are not just beautiful, but also inspiring. The breath-taking vistas from the Koli Hills, which were voted the greatest hiking destination in Finland in 2013, have inspired many notable painters. The park’s hiking trails weave through centuries-old, moss-covered forests, through waterfalls, and through meadow-like clearings, totalling nearly 80 kilometres.

Take the trek up Ukko-Koli Hill and you’ll be rewarded with the best-known view in Finland – the panorama of Lake Pielinen – when you reach the summit, which is almost 350 metres above sea level.

2.Geirangerfjord, Norway

Norway is unquestionably a fjord-rich country. With a projected attendance of roughly 1,200, it’d have to be something spectacular to stand out from the crowd. The Geirangerfjord satisfies all of the criteria that make it Norway’s fjord king. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is over nine miles long and slightly under a mile wide. Surrounded on both sides by sheer cliffs, the Geirangerfjord is home to several spectacular waterfalls and some of the world’s most magnificent hiking paths.

3. Lofoten Islands, Norway 

There’s an ancient saying that goes, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way,” and getting to the Lofoten Islands in northwest Norway will need a lot of will. It takes the better part of a day to travel there by plane and boat, but it is definitely worth it.

Landscapes that look like they could only have been built by the most imaginative of game designers have been bestowed on the isolated islands north of the Arctic Circle. The glacial waters of the fjords, which are so clean that they reflect the sky and the colourful, painted fishing houses that line their shores, are backed by stark and towering mountain peaks.

4. Ice Hotel, Sweden 

The Ice Hotel in the small town of Jukkasjärvi in northern Sweden is the only place you should go for a perfect chill out stay. In the late 1980s, the hotel began as a single room. Every year, around seventy deluxe suites are built using ice blocks collected from a nearby river. Beautiful murals and ice statues carved by local sculptors adorn the igloo-style rooms. Nothing will melt because the rooms are kept at a constant temperature of -5 to -8 degrees. That’s really cool.

5. The Atlantic Road, Norway 

If you enjoy thrilling drives, the Atlantic Road should be at the top of your list of must-see destinations. On Norway’s western coast, the Atlantic Road winds its way through an archipelago of islands. With five miles of switchbacks as twisted as a dragon’s back, eight bridges, and several viaducts, the road connects the islands. It has been given the honorary title of Century Construction in Norway.

6. Råbjerg Mile and Rubjerg Knude Lighthouse, Denmark

If you visit Denmark’s Rbjerg Mile, don’t stay still for too long. The imposing sand dunes advance at a rate of just under sixty feet per year, engulfing everything in their path. The dunes, a natural phenomenon, can reach heights of up to 130 feet. That’s a lot of sand, and it’s the closest thing Scandinavia has to a desert.

The Rbjerg Mile covers a surface area of just under half a square mile, propelled by the winds that blow through the area. One of the most recent victims of the shifting sands is the Rubjurg Knude Lighthouse.

7. Loyly Sauna, Finland 

The Löyly Sauna in Finland’s capital city, Helsinki, really is worth getting steamed up about. Although it’s easy enough to get a sauna pretty much anywhere in the country, this one is special and just shouldn’t be missed. Stunningly stylish, the waterfront installation looks out over the Baltic. As well as enjoying a traditional smoke sauna followed by a dip in the sea, there’s a very classy restaurant and some great cafe terraces where you can enjoy the views.

Has Scandinavia really tempted your travel taste buds? If it has and you’d like to know a little more, taking a trip to the same with Triplou comes highly recommended. Inside you’ll find lots of tips on how to plan your trip to Scandinavia, even more incredible places to visit while you’re there and some fantastic photos which will keep your travel juices flowing.

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