12 of the best places to visit in Scandinavia

Three countries make up Scandinavia – Norway, Denmark and Sweden – but they share a similar culture, similar languages, and a similar love of the good things in life. This is, after all, the home of snuggly knitwear, cinnamon buns and hygge (coziness).

In these three nations in the far north of Europe, you’ll find fjords and forests, lakes and islands, reindeer and saunas, iconic wooden architecture, and a distinctively minimalist style of home decor, plus a rich Viking heritage. The best cities in Scandinavia have their own allure; Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo regularly appear on lists of the world's top destinations for a short break.

You could be forgiven for thinking that the region also includes Iceland, Finland, the Faroe Islands and Greenland, but these nations are part of the grouping known as the Nordic countries. Only Norway, Denmark and Sweden can officially be called Scandinavia.

Abundant nature, vibrant culture and excellent infrastructure make this one of the most relaxing parts of the world to visit. Above all, Scandinavia is a place that puts people first – where else will you find trains with onboard play areas for kids and quiet carriages for passengers who prefer not to listen to other people's phone calls?

Whether you're drawn here by rugged Arctic landscapes, summer hiking and lake swimming, foraging in nature or the northern lights, here is our pick of the best places to visit in Scandinavia.

1. Copenhagen, Denmark

Best for Scandi cool

Nowhere in Scandinavia has quite the same easy-living cool as Copenhagen. First-timers should embrace the touristy side of the city and take a boat trip from Nyhavn, the city’s colorful harbor, to get to know Copenhagen from the water. Cruises take in everywhere from the diminutive Little Mermaid statue to the city’s alternative community, Christiania, and the many historic churches and iconic modern buildings along the waterfront.

Beyond the main harbor, the next step is the city’s palaces. The King and his family live in Amalienborg and you can visit the palace next door to theirs, a museum which shows how they live, in a surprisingly down-to-earth way. The glorious rose gardens and Renaissance twiddles of Rosenborg Castle should be the next stop; inside, you'll find a mad confection of portraits and thrones and narwhal tusks passed off as unicorn horns. Then onward to Tivoli Gardens, the city’s central theme park, for rollercoasters and candyfloss.

Finish off with some good eating. Learn to bake pastries in the home of the "Danish" – in fact, they call them "Viennese" pastries here – or take a food tour to discover the city’s specialities. Stopping for coffee or a meal in one of the city's creative restaurants (seasonal ingredients are all the rage here) is another must.

Planning tip: Copenhagen is a very walkable city, but there's also a great public transportation system. Many hotels rent bikes, and Harbor Bus boats are a fun way to explore by water.

2. Bergen, Norway

Best for a bit of everything

Norway’s second city, Bergen has an abundance of charm, from its Hanseatic harborfront, all wooden buildings and tiny alleyways, to the seven mountains that surround the urban core. While it's easy to fill a long weekend here, exploring the fish market on the quay, taking the cable car for mountain views, or staying in a pinecone-shaped forest hut amid the pines on Mt Fløyen, Bergen is also the gateway to further adventure in Norway’s fjord region.

Half-day tours will take you down the closest fjord to drink water from a glacial waterfall, while longer trips like the iconic Norway in a Nutshell self-guided tour will see you ride the scenic Flåm Railway past some of the region’s most jaw-dropping scenery. It’s not all about nature, though: the city has an oversized music, art and food scene to explore, too.

Planning tip: Bergen is a great starting point if you plan to do the famous Trolltunga hike. You'll have to take the bus (or drive) to the town of Odda, a 3-hour trip around the fjords, before starting the hike the next day.

3. Lofoten Islands, Norway

Best for a taste of the Arctic

With red fishers' cabins perched along rocky shorelines, the Lofoten Islands have become a symbol for the Arctic coast of Norway. They’re a destination of a lifetime, a place where orcas hunt great balls of bait fish along the coast, hikers tackle extraordinary mountains over which sea eagles soar, and moose wander happily in the forests.

Arriving in the islands by flight or ferry, you can explore the miniature capital, Svolvær and visit reconstructed Viking halls high on the hills, or drop in to see ceramic artists working in little harbor towns and walk along perfect white-sand beaches where hardy surfers catch ice-cold waves.

Planning tip: In recent years, the popularity of the Lofoten Islands has led to some sustainability concerns. Avoid peak season and travel after August or before July if you can to reduce the pressure on local infrastructure.

4. Stockholm, Sweden

Best for thrill rides and island hopping

Sweden’s dignified capital offers culture, food, medieval streets, royal history, chic modern design and easy access to a whole lot of islands. Stockholm's neighborhoods straddle 14 islands, with a forested, rugged archipelago dotting the sea beyond.

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Linked by bridges and ferries, the city's cobbled streets are a lovely place for a wander, a dip into a museum or two (we highly recommend Fotografiska) and the daily coffee ritual known as fika, but it’s on the far-flung islands that you’ll find the most idyllic vision of Scandinavia.

Rocky coves, swimming beaches, little art galleries and small hotels with private docks offer a sense of peace and quiet and being in touch with nature – part of what makes this region so special. The recently launched Stockholm Archipelago Trail is a 270km-long hiking trail around the islands, or you can explore by kayak and sailboat. At the other extreme is Gröna Lund, Stockholm's fun-filled, coaster-crammed theme park.

Planning tip: You can easily combine Copenhagen and Stockholm into one trip if you take the train. The journey via Malmö takes less than six hours, passing some spectacular forest scenery. There’s also an overnight train, if you'd prefer to save the cost of a night of accommodation; book on the official SJ Trains website.

5. The Norwegian Fjords

Best for dramatic scenery

Norway’s iconic fjords were carved by glaciers in the last Ice Age and offer all the drama you could hope for from the Scandinavian landscape. There are over 1700 fjords in total along Norway’s coastline, hemmed by towering, rocky cliffs with wooded slopes and tumbling waterfalls reaching down to the water.

See these stunning scars in the landscape from the water on an afternoon cruise from Bergen or hike marked trails alongside them to reach any number of iconic rock formations. You can even tackle the fjords by public transport, with easy train and bus routes to follow (cheaper than joining a tour).

Planning tip: There are concerns about over-tourism, particularly with the growing number of cruise ships and crowds on the most popular hiking trails. For the best experience, hike with a guide and come outside the June–August peak season.

6. Swedish Lappland

Best for an Arctic wilderness adventure

The wilds of Scandinavia open up in Lappland, a sprawl of forests and tundra running across Sweden, Norway, Russia and Finland. It’s a truly wild region, where moose and Arctic foxes live in the forest, waterfalls gush and hikers find space to commune with nature in an empty, uplifting landscape.

If we had to choose one section, it would be the Swedish part of Lappland, which covers a quarter of the country's territory. Traditionally, this is the home of nomadic Sami reindeer herders, though this ancient lifestyle has changed with the impact of climate change and modern development. You’ll still find herds of reindeer wandering across Lappland, along with brown bears and rivers running with salmon.

In winter, this is one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights; in summer, it’s great for hiking and camping under the midnight sun. Start your explorations from Luleå for the south of Lappland, or Kiruna (for the north; both are accessible by road, train or plane.

Planning tip: Stock up on super-strength midge repellent if you visit in the summer and pack long-sleeved tops and full leggings. The insect life in the region is merciless!

7. The Danish Riviera

Best for arty shops and sandy beaches

The coastline north of Copenhagen is known as the Danish Riviera and it spans a string of chic seaside resorts full of designer summer houses and broad sandy beaches. At Humlebæk, the Louisiana is an extraordinary modern art gallery with a sculpture garden and its own beach – perfect for unwinding with a spot of culture.

In Helsingør, you can discover Hamlet’s castle, Kronborg, perched on a peninsula flanked by streets lined with independent shops, while at Gilleleje, wide sandy beaches, ice creams and fish and chip shops make for a perfect beach day in the summer.

Planning tip: Explore the resort strip using the coastal railway line from Copenhagen; there are stops at all the main towns and attractions along the way.

8. Aarhus, Denmark

Best for second city charm

Denmark’s second city, Aarhus is hailed as one of the happiest cities in the world, thanks in part to its modest size, high quality of life, and commitment to volunteering. It's a lovely spot for a weekend trip, with its cobbled streets and the excellent experimental modern art gallery ARoS at its heart.

Aarhus is also a jumping-off point for exploring more of the Jutland region, from Lego House and Legoland in Billund to the charming old town of Ribe and the Wadden Sea wetlands beyond it – all good options for an easygoing family trip to Denmark. Make bookings ahead for Legoland, particularly during the busy summer season.

Planning tip: While flights run direct to Aarhus, renting a car is recommended if you plan to explore the surrounding countryside.

9. Oslo, Norway

Best city break destination

Oslo is shaping up to be the best city break destination in Scandinavia, with a revamped harborfront, powerhouse art galleries, a slew of great hotels to choose from and the Oslofjord and all its delights on its doorstep. Low-cost flights with Norwegian Air Shuttle and other discount carriers seal the deal.

There are loads of ways to keep busy. Take a silent electric cruise of the rocky islands and pick your favorite; explore the art trails in Ekebergparken, home to the view that inspired Edvard Munch's painting The Scream; or wander the thrift shops of Grünerløkka.

Foodies on a budget can take advantage of inexpensive (by Norwegian standards) food halls offering a diversity of local and international flavors. And when it reopens in 2027, the Vikingskipshuset – centered on a collection of excavated Viking longships – will provide another excellent reason to visit, on top of the Nasjonalmuseet.

Planning tip: As with all of the region’s capitals, you can save money with a city pass that gives you free entry to museums and free use of public transport. If you’re planning to visit a lot of galleries and museums, it's a good investment.

10. Gotland, Sweden

Best for Viking history

Sweden’s largest island, easily reached by car ferry from the mainland, Gotland is known for its trading history and legends of buried Viking gold. Over 700 Viking treasures have been found on the island, earning Gotland a reputation as a real-life treasure island.

You can view some of these treasures at the Gotlands Museum in the well-preserved medieval town of Visby, the island's largest settlement. Beyond this UNESCO-listed hub, you can discover dramatic rocky landscapes, cozy boutique hotels, clear seas and easy hiking trails during a stay on this family-friendly island.

Planning tip: Ferries to Gotland run by Destination Gotland leave from Nynäshamn, south of Stockholm, and Oskarshamn, in Småland; the crossing takes about 3.5 hours, and you can take the car.

11. Odense, Denmark

Best for fans of fairy tales

Denmark’s third-biggest city, Odense is the hometown of Hans Christian Andersen, and Denmark's most famous fairy-tale writer has left his mark in the shape of a beautiful museum, H C Andersens Hus. Inside, interactive exhibitions encourage you to look at the world from the Little Mermaid’s point of view and see what you’d look like in the Emperor’s New Clothes.

Beyond the museum, the tiny city – an ideal size for a low-stress family break – has divine cobbled streets and Harry Potter-like wonky alleyways to explore, plus a great international food hall, Storms Pakhus, for when you get hungry.

Planning tip: Odense is only 1.5 hours from Copenhagen by train, so the easiest way to visit is to take a day trip from the capital.

12. Stavanger, Norway

Best for fjord views

Classically Norwegian, the town of Stavanger is another great gateway to adventures on the country's magnificent fjords. Beyond the city's historic heart – studded with white wooden houses – and the iconic Norsk Oljemuseum (hinting at the source of the region's oil wealth), Stavanger is a hub for exploring a cinematic landscape of deep, silent fjords.

For heart-stopping views over Lysefjord, climb to Preikestolen, or Pulpit Rock – an epic adventure that is one of Norway's best hikes – following an 8km round-trip trail starting close to Stavanger (the path was laid out by Sherpas from Nepal). You can reach the trailhead by rental car or on a bus tour.

Planning tip: If you visit Preikestolen, take care at the edge. From the lip of this precarious outcrop, it's a sheer drop of 604m to the fjord.