NewsBite

Scandinavia

Advertisement
Jessica Rowe (right, with her mother, Penelope) in one of the “silly hats” she packed for her Scandinavian cruise.

I spent two weeks on a Nordic cruise with my mum. Here’s how it went

Mum rolls her eyes at me when I tell her about my fascination with Norse goddess Freya.

  • Jessica Rowe

Latest

Lapland, Sweden.

This stunning winter wonderland is actually more magical in autumn

Autumn in the far north of Scandinavia means crisp mornings, warm sunny days and a colourful fanfare of foliage. It’s the ideal time to venture outdoors.

  • Rob McFarland
The Finnish ambassador hypothesised that Finns are happy because they care for one another.

Finns are still the world’s happiest people. But lonely Americans slide down the rankings

While European countries dominated the top 20 rankings, there were some exceptions. Australia made it in, although it fell one spot.

  • Kirsten Grieshaber
The scenic Archipelago Trail.

Now you can hike from island to island in Sweden

The new Stockholm Archipelago Trail connects 225 kilometres of new and existing trails across 22 islands.

  • Julietta Jameson
Julesild takes pride of place on dining tables at Christmas in Norway and across Scandinavia.

The surprising Scandinavian Christmas dish said to bring good luck

Ah, Christmas. A time for roast turkey, stuffing, vegetables, maybe a bucket of prawns, a few glasses of champagne, and … a large jar of pickled herrings?

  • Ben Groundwater
Majestic landscapes at Pulpit Rock.

Ranked and rated: Which Scandinavian country is the best destination?

Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland or Greenland? We compare the contenders across five categories to help you decide which to visit.

  • Sarah Marshall
Advertisement
The old town and coastline of Lysekil, Sweden.

Despite Russia conflict, cruisers can’t get enough of this region

Northern Europe cruises are expected to hit an all-time high this year, and the Baltic Sea is at the heart of the interest.

  • Brian Johnston
Sweden, Norway and Denmark consistently top world happiness index lists.

Ten things we’ll never understand about Scandinavia

Denmark, Norway and Sweden get universal praise for their way of life, but some things about Scandinavia strike outsiders as peculiar.

  • Brian Johnston
In Copenhagen, tourist passes are good value.

How to do the most expensive part of Europe on the cheap

Scandinavia is notoriously expensive, but savvy travellers can cut the cost of visiting Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

  • Brian Johnston
Steam and a float, in a floating sauna.

Try not to scream: Doing a sauna, Finnish-style

Discover the joys of sauna going, a revered Finnish pastime that involves both Zen-like relaxation and something akin to an adrenaline sport.

  • Brian Johnston

Original URL: https://www.smh.com.au/topic/scandinavia-llw