I am going to give you a description of the Scandinavian and Nordic countries
Essential to remember
The Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland) offer an exceptional quality of life but high costs. Budget 100-150€/day for a comfortable trip. Ideal discovery: Copenhagen + Stockholm + Oslo in 10 days.
What does Scandinavian countries mean?
Originally, it meant to designate the peninsula but over time it came to designate the region and then a group of countries. Scandinavia has a connotation meaning cold country or winter country.
The Scandinavian countries have another culture, that of the northern countries; at first, people seem cold but you need to take more time to discover it.
There is no common language but the Scandinavian languages can be understood even if each country has its own language. The Scandinavian languages share the same root.
Did you know?
Norway has a sovereign wealth fund exceeding 1,500 billion dollars in 2024, funded by oil revenues. This represents about 280,000 USD per inhabitant: the largest sovereign wealth fund in the world.
In any case, there are fabulous landscapes in this region which is 2 – 3 hours from France. Example: the volcanoes and icebergs in Iceland, the fjords in Norway, etc.
The Scandinavian countries are a model for all of Europe for freedom and gender equality, men and women. They share a common history.
The model and system, political and economic, is similar in these northern countries.
The Scandinavian countries are part of the European Union but have not wanted to change their currencies.
They have their own currency and all have a strong economy.
| Country | Capital | Daily budget |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark | Copenhagen | ~150€ |
| Sweden | Stockholm | ~140€ |
| Norway | Oslo | ~180€ |
| Finland | Helsinki | ~130€ |
| Iceland | Reykjavik | ~200€ |
Which Scandinavian country to choose?
Which Scandinavian country to visit for a weekend? Denmark
A country located north of Germany, Denmark with its capital, Copenhagen, is one of the most expensive countries in Scandinavia, its language is Danish. Its eastern part borders the Baltic Sea.
It is mainly known for several things, the Little Mermaid, its monarchy which is one of the most recognized along with that of England.
It is indeed one of the most striking symbols for the Danes who are proud of their queen.
You will find many places with photos of the Danish prince and princess.
It is a very patriotic country that promotes natural energy in their political and economic model.
If you visit Copenhagen, you will see a lot of bicycles. There are also many concentrations of wind turbine fields.
It is also the country of LEGO! For geography fans, Greenland theoretically belongs to Denmark. Even Greenland is an autonomous state called an overseas county.
You can also take the opportunity to spend an afternoon in Malmö, Sweden.
I went to Denmark for 5 days and I really want to go back!
My opinion and advice on Copenhagen: Tourism-wise better than Stockholm but for going out, Copenhagen is less good than Stockholm. Here are the accommodations in Copenhagen.
For more information, here are some paper guides:
Which Scandinavian country to live in? Sweden and Lapland
Located between Finland and Norway, it is the best-known country in Scandinavia. Its language is Swedish.
The capital of this Scandinavian and Nordic country is Stockholm. It borders the Baltic Sea.
Sweden is known for its 13th-century Vikings, it is also a very eco-friendly country and a model for Europe.
It is said that Stockholm is one of the greenest cities in the world and is also one of the best cities to live in.
If you have a weekend in this Nordic country, I also recommend the city of Gothenburg which is a very pretty city to see in summer as well as in winter.
It is the largest port city in Scandinavia. Here are accommodations in Gothenburg.
If you want to go there in winter, I recommend Swedish Lapland, which is the Swedish region in the north of the country’s lands to see the northern lights.
It is one of the best-known regions in Sweden among the Nordic countries.
If you want to see a third Swedish city and visit Denmark, go to Malmö, it is a city with good cafes to relax.
My opinion and advice on Stockholm: I think it is very pleasant to live in Stockholm. However, winter can be depressing.
The 5 days I stayed in Stockholm were pure happiness.
I did not really get to meet Swedes but the Swedes I know and met while traveling are all super nice.
In my opinion, it is a city with fewer things to visit than the big European capitals but is ideal for a few days or to live in because it is pleasant to live there. Here are the accommodations in Stockholm.
For more information, here are some paper guides:
Which Scandinavian country to visit in winter? Finland and Lapland
Sharing Lapland and the Baltic Sea with Sweden, Finland is the country and land of Santa Claus. Its language is Finnish.
Its capital is Helsinki. It is the only country where the euro is used among the Scandinavian or Nordic countries. You will not have to exchange currency.
If you want to know more, here is an interview of my brother who went there in May 2013: Finland!
Helsinki, its capital, is much less attractive than the other Scandinavian capitals but it can be your base to go to Estonia or Russia or to go up to Finnish Lapland. Here are the accommodations in Helsinki.
My experience
My most beautiful Scandinavian memory: the Norwegian fjords in June, seen from a ferry between Bergen and Stavanger. Waterfalls, dizzying mountains, midnight sun. It is one of the most striking European landscapes.
For more information, here are some paper guides:
Which Scandinavian country has not joined the European Union? Norway
A country known for its fjords and salmon farms, it made headlines in the 201X years due to these murder tragedies.
The capital of Norwegians is Oslo and it is the westernmost country of Sweden. Its language is Norwegian. It has not joined the European Union.
It is one of the richest countries in the world and also one of the most expensive in the world, with abundant gas and oil resources. See the accommodations in Oslo.
The Nordic country has a coastline where the mountains merge with the sea.
Many Europeans go there to find work, and given the country’s strong economy, it is worth finding a summer job there. There are not enough Norwegians and they lack manpower.
If you want to visit another Norwegian city, I recommend Bergen, which is a port city, where you can visit the fjords of the region and go to the fish market. Here are the accommodations in Bergen.
I was in Bergen at the end of October and really liked this city; you can go to the mountains and have a nice view of the city. There are many hikes to do in this country.
I notably did the hike called “Trolltonga,” Troll’s tongue, which is 2 hours from Bergen.
The hike is difficult for those who are not used to it; it lasts about ten hours.
A tip that might be useful to you: you need to be well equipped to do it because there are strong winds at height and you can quickly catch cold.
If you are poorly equipped for the cold climate, there are Norwegian second-hand stores; that’s how I equipped myself.
It is also one of the countries where you can observe the northern lights, whales and orcas, or even go dog sledding. I recommend going to Tromso, which is a beautiful city in winter. See the accommodations in Tromso.
Advantages
- Exceptional quality of life
- Total safety
- Preserved nature (fjords, lakes)
- Design everywhere
- English spoken everywhere
Weak points
- Very high costs (restaurants, alcohol, hotels)
- Very cold and dark winters
- Expensive restaurants (€40-60 per person)
- Alcohol sold in a state monopoly
- Sometimes reserved public
During the summer, you can rent a car and take a trip going to Stavanger and Bergen and you have time to pass through Sweden Norway and go to Gothenburg.
It is a pleasant country to live in with a warm welcome, to visit but extremely expensive.
For more information, here are some paper guides:
Norway and Sweden are part of the Scandinavian peninsula.
When to go to the Scandinavian countries?
In winter for the northern lights, snow, nature in January or December.
Summer in June, July, August or September for the landscapes
What to visit in the Scandinavian countries? visit the Faroe Islands
Lost in the middle of nowhere, I didn’t even know where it was before writing this article 😀 but I come out with a better geography of these countries now.
It is located west of Norway and east of Iceland.
It is a state but also an autonomous province of Denmark. The inhabitants have quite different traditions here.
It is located halfway between Iceland and Scotland with a population of 50,000 inhabitants.
It is also a place I would like to go but I think there isn’t much to see!
The classic trap to avoid
Avoid the Scandinavian countries in winter for your first trip. Short days (4 hours of sun in December), extreme cold (-15°C), many activities closed. Prefer May-September for the fjords and the midnight sun.
It is a place where you can go and see few tourists.
Which Scandinavian country to visit in August? Iceland
It is the country I want to visit, located at the very north of Europe, this mysterious country is made up of several islands, the majority of its population lives in the capital of Iceland, Reykjavik.
Iceland is not part of the European Union.
Very well known for its volcanoes, including one of its eruptions of Eyjafjöll, Iceland made a lot of news in 2010 due to the halt of all air flights for several days across northern Europe, forcing travelers to sleep and/or be stuck in airports.
This summer is also called the land of fire and ice because of this mixture.
Located in a volcanic zone, Iceland is also known for its geysers (in fact this word is of Icelandic origin) and its northern lights.
My opinion and advice on Iceland: It is the Nordic country to visit in Scandinavia, very different from the others.
The country is less touristic than the others and offers many charms (Lagoons, Volcanoes, Mountains, etc.) for those who want to visit the land of fire and ice.
If you have two or three days, follow this article on Iceland, follow the link.
See the accommodations in Reykjavik.
For more information, here are some paper guides:
To delve deeper into the subject, the guide on Baltic countries Estonia provides additional practical advice. You will also find interesting leads in our article on most beautiful countries, and if you are preparing the next part of your trip, the one on 2 cheapest countries is timely.
Having been to Iceland twice, including once to see the northern lights, I recommend going through the agency on the site Guide to Iceland, which has very good customer service and offers very advantageous prices for daily or multi-day tours.
I used them to see the northern lights, here because: it is the only site specialized solely in Iceland.
You can find information about the Scandinavian countries and Europe in the section advice on Europe
Other questions?
Why are the Scandinavian countries rich?
Most Scandinavian countries have their own currency.
They have based their economy on their own resources and produce many local products and consume Scandinavian-made goods, hence their strong economy.
In Europe, there has been a focus on exchange and price wars, which has distributed resources to everyone.
Which Scandinavian country to visit first?
Denmark (Copenhagen) for ease and charm. Norway (fjords) for nature. Iceland for landscapes.
Which is the cheapest Scandinavian country?
Finland and Denmark are the most affordable (relatively). Norway and Iceland are the most expensive.
What season for the Scandinavian countries?
May to September for nature and the midnight sun. December for the northern lights and Christmas markets.
