Holiday guide
The best of Scandinavia
Revered for their superb landscapes, quirky cultures and ability to nurture the finer details of life, the six main Nordic nations have a lot in common. But despite their shared latitudes and spectacular landscapes, these countries are wildly different. They each have special qualities that make a country unique – whether it’s a penchant for sweating in saunas or a passion for carving ice hotels.
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
The destroyed town that became one of Europe’s most beautiful places
Ravaged by fire more than 100 years ago, this remote Scandinavian town bounced back to become one of Europe’s most scenic spots.
- Ute Junker
- Opinion
Nudity, separate doonas: 10 things Australia should adopt from Scandinavia
The Scandinavian nations regularly score highly on “happiest countries” lists. Perhaps we should take a few lessons from them.
- Brian Johnston
How the world’s greatest light show became a $1 billion bucket-list item
Just a couple of decades ago, the idea of travelling to the far north to see the aurora was relatively niche. Everything changed in 2014.
- Andrew Bain
A remote village with just 19 residents has suddenly become a tourist magnet
To keep this tiny village alive, one family has transformed its old storehouses into galleries and dining spaces, while traditional fisherman’s cabins have become stylish accommodation.
- Megan Murray
- Opinion
A week in near-darkness became my daughter’s last true childhood holiday
It’s below freezing, the sun rises at about 11am and is gone at 1.30pm, but this remains one of my most cherished trips.
- Belinda Jackson
Remote island is now the ultimate bucket-list destination for food
Home to the world’s most remote Michelin-starred restaurant, this Faroe Islands town of just 20,000 is a magnet for foodies looking beyond the typical gourmet destinations.
- Tim Ecott
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
Europe’s most beautiful islands are nowhere near the Mediterranean
The Lofotens are made up of hundreds of islands but wherever you are, the scenery is stupendous.
- Brian Johnston
Want to know the secret of the world’s happiest country? Ask its women
Saunas, nature and a lack of corruption are often cited as the reason Finland leads the way on happiness. But there may be another key factor.
- Heidi Fuller-Love
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
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
I visited the ‘happiest city in the world’ – here’s what I learnt
“I’m here to find out if Aarhus is the happiest city in the world,” I told the immigration officer. “It is,” she responded, deadpan, before stamping my passport.
- Greg Dickinson
One of the most beautiful places in Europe is virtually unknown
Most people have never heard of Veitastrond, a lost pocket almost unknown to the outside world despite “the finest ice scenery in Europe”.
- Anabel Dean
- Opinion
I had the perfect stopover in Copenhagen in just five hours
I felt like a competitor in The Amazing Race. “You have five hours in Copenhagen – go!” But then I did something smart, a move that proved to be very useful.
- Lee Tulloch
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
The travel lesson we should learn from Denmark
The cosy Danish concept of hygge might make your travels more mindful and less expensive.
- Brian Johnston
The capital of the world’s happiest country is full of delights
Finland consistently tops lists of the world’s happiest countries. A stay in the country’s capital goes a long way towards explaining why that is.
- Kate Allman
Why I went to Copenhagen and did nothing
My plan is simple: ignore the tourist sights and pick a neighbourhood neither too dishevelled nor too wealthy – and do nothing.
- Brian Johnston
More holiday guides
Affordable travel
From intel on the best budget accommodation to making your dollar stretch further, our experts reveal how to travel light on cash without compromising comfort.
- 39 stories
Australian road trips
Our writers share some of their most memorable Aussie road trips that invariably involve getting lost, discovering somewhere new and eating too many snacks.
- 26 stories