Scandinavian Vacations and Holidays
Introduction to Vacations in Scandinavia
The idea of traveling to Europe for a vacation may sound easy at first thought, but deciding which part of Europe to visit may not be as easy, simply because every part of Europe are so uniquely fascinating and have so much to offer to travelers and holiday goers.
Vacations in Scandinavian countries offer travelers a unique experience with its perfect mix of scenery, history and trend-setting urban design. The region promises natural beauty and picturesque towns for most tourists as well as scenic yet thrilling landscape for adventure seekers.
Located in the northern region of Europe and north of the Baltic sea, Scandinavia is the largest region in Europe consisting of five countries, namely Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. These Nordic countries have a very diverse landscape and nature.
Denmark is the smallest, flattest and most continental of the Scandinavian countries, exploring the cities by bicycle or by foot can be an unforgettable experience of a lifetime.
Sweden is the largest country in Scandinavia and is a modern land immersed in rich cultural heritage and natural beauty.
Norway is famous for its scenic yet thrilling deep fjords, picturesque landscape, observing the Northern Lights (or Aurora Borealis), not to forget tracking of polar bears in the remote island of Svalbard.
Finland, with hundreds of thousands of islands and lakes scattered around the country, is also a great vacation destination in winter months. Some of the most exotic activities available are the reindeer safaris, ice swimming, icebreaker cruise, downhill skiing and observing the spectacular Northern Lights.
Iceland offers fascinating scenery of volcanoes, glaciers, geysers, and waterfalls, and is a must-go destination for adventure trekkers.
In addition to the five official countries of Scandinavia, places in the proximity are often worth a visit, in particular the canal city of St. Petersburg in Russia and Tallinn in Estonia.
Best time to Travel to Scandinavia
Despite the northern latitude, the Scandinavian countries enjoy a rather mild climate (relative to other places with the same latitude), thanks to the Gulf Stream effect. Summer nights are very short, and there is even Midnight Sun in some northern most part of the region due to the high latitude. In the central part of Scandinavia, in particular the Oslo-Stockholm-Copenhagen triangle, nothing is out of the extreme so anytime is a good time to travel. However, in the northern part of the region, May to September is the best time to travel except for the resorts in the mountainous area where winter sports takes place when December to April is the peak season.
Best Way to Travel Scandinavia for Vacations
One of the best ways to vacation in the Scandinavia is by cruise. There are various cruise operators offering vacation cruise to Scandinavia ranging from luxury packages to more affordable ones. Supported by their strong economy and small social differences, the standard of living in the Scandinavia is generally high, and it can be relatively costlier than most parts of the world for vacation travelers.
Vacations and Holidays in Scandinavia
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