Take a journey to the land of the Vikings and the Northern Lights. This is an area of the world that’s resplendent with history, natural beauty, and inviting people. Remember Travel can give you the Scandinavian adventure you’ve always dreamt of.
Denmark
Denmark presents visitors with everything from a world-class city in Copenhagen to historic castles, wind-swept offshore islands, quaint villages, and more. Denmark has a mild climate with no extremes of heat or cold. In the summer months of June to August, the average daytime temperature is 70°F, and in February, the average temp is around 34°. It holds the title of being the only Scandinavian country connected to the European mainland (Germany). Still, Denmark is actually made up of over 400 islands, many of which are uninhabited. The capital, Copenhagen, is situated on Sealand, which is the largest island. Not only is Denmark a wonderful nation to visit in its own right, but it serves as a great starting point to explore more of Western Europe.
Norway
In Norway, you’ll find snow-tipped peaks and glacier-laden fjords, a wilderness haven from which pastoral and cityscape spaces have been carved. Norway was derived from the Vikings to mean “the way to the north”: they used the term more than a millennium ago to describe the shipping route along the west coast of Norway. Norwegians have been seafarers since the dawn of history, so it’s natural that the country’s name reflects that.Norway is a land of tradition and modernity. You’ll find medieval churches and trendy shopping districts; folk dances and raves. One of the last great natural frontiers of the world, Norway invites exploration, with its steep and jagged fjords, salmon-filled rivers, glaciers, mountains, and meadows. In the winter, the shimmering aurora borealis are the lure, before giving way to the midnight sun of summer.
Finland
Finland offers visitors a tremendous variety of sights and experiences: cosmopolitan Helsinki and rugged wilderness. Despite the fact that Finland is an industrialized nation, it has kept its bucolic roots; in fact you can get a first-hand look at how the country grows its fruits and veggies by visiting with one of the several hundred English-speaking farmers who have opened their homes to temporary guests.Or, enjoy the great outdoors in one of about 350 campgrounds that dot the country. The waters separating Finland from Sweden are dotted with thousands of islands, some of them forested, some of them wind-scoured and rocky, and most of them uninhabited. Between May and August, when the waters are ice-free and the northern lights dance in the sky, you might opt for a cruise that takes you past the many lighthouses that inhabit the region.
The Netherlands
Most people travel only to the uniquely atmospheric capital, Amsterdam; the rest of the country, despite its accessibility, is comparatively untouched by tourism. Amsterdam is a very historic city; it’s been a city that wayward sailors have visited for quite some time. One thing that you’ll undoubtedly notice in Amsterdam are the bikes; it seems that everyone is riding a bike, not necessarily for the health benefits, but more because of the ease of mobility. If you leave Amsterdam for a while, explore places such as Haarlem, Leiden and Delft, each of which has a beautiful canal-riddled city center. Don’t miss a visit to The Hague, the seat of the government and the Dutch royals.