Do you know what is the capital of Scandinavia? Well, it is a silly question because Scandinavia is not a country at all and therefore does not have a capital. It is a region that consists of several countries that are some of the most pristine places in the world to visit. To be exact, Scandinavia includes Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, but the lines are blurred when Iceland and Finland are thrown into the mix. If you have yet to visit these destinations, you are missing out on a lot of fun. Get a chance to visit Norway, Iceland, and Sweden, among other countries, by having a quick stopover with connective flights across the vast Atlantic Ocean.
Are you planning to visit any of the Scandinavian / Nordic nation’s capitals? It is a chance to experience the remarkable, breathtaking wonders of each Scandinavian city. You will get to have a deep appreciation for each difference that each city brings out. The various capitals have a variety of things to offer and are more than worth visiting. If you are planning to explore Scandinavia, you must check out all the capital cities. Here is a guide to all 5 of the Scandinavian capitals as well as the best places to stay in any budget.
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen is one of the Scandinavia hipped metro cities. It prides itself on the exquisite cycling lanes as well as minimalist designs. Get your shopping hat on as the town has lots of design stores, luxurious boutiques as well as cafes which provide the world’s best styles. Do you enjoy a variety of delicious meals? Danish cuisine is more dynamic than you could think. You can start with casual choices like the Smorrebrod, which is butter and bread and top up this meal with smoked salmon, prawns, cheese, among other tasty options.
Copenhagen has more than 15 Michelin starred restaurants. The two-star Noma is one of the best restaurants worldwide. You ought to pay a visit to this restaurant and dine in it. However, if you are searching for budget-friendly meal options, you can choose the Vesterbro neighborhood. There are numerous quaint cafes that you can select. Take a coffee break and visit the rest of Copenhagen city. For a change of scenery, you can visit Christiana. It is a self-governing residential enclave which is famous for cannabis as well as street art.
There are plenty of music venues, shops as well as cafes. Get a chance to hang out by the beautiful lake as well as several treehouses. You can visit the Amalienborg palaces, which is home to the Danish royal family. One can explore the grounds and go near the King’s garden. If you have a deeper appreciation for art, you can visit some of the world’s renowned collections. Some of them are the Danish national gallery and the Louisiana museum of modern art.
Cycling is also the ideal way to savor the moment while in Copenhagen. The city was designed with sustainable living at heart. You can use the donkey republic mobile app to get a bicycle. There is also another app known as Bycklen. It’s available 24/7 throughout the year. Get to access their services via having an online account. The electric bikes are equipped with a touchscreen navigation system, so you won’t have to worry about getting lost within the city.
Best Places To Stay in Copenhagen
If you are visiting Copenhagen anytime soon or in the future, below are the recommended best places to stay in Copenhagen, broken down by your budget:
Best Luxury Hotel: Nimb Hotel Copenhagen
Rated by users as one of the best hotels in Copenhagen, this five-star hotel is located in the famed Tivoli Gardens. It is a boutique-style hotel that is housed by lavish Moorish-style buildings. The designer rooms are elegant with classical stylings and antique furniture, and there are on-site dining and amazing park views.
Best Mid Priced Hotel: Hotel Bethel
Located within an 11-minute walk of The David Collection in Copenhagen, and 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) of The Round Tower, Hotel Bethel includes free WiFi throughout the property. It is within walking distance to several well-known attractions – 1.8 kilometers (1.1 miles) from Torvehallerne, 1.9 kilometers (1.2 miles) from The Hirschsprung Collection, and 1.8 kilometers (1.1 miles) from Danish Royal Library. Each room in the Hotel is equipped with a desk, a flat-screen TV and a private bathroom, and you can enjoy continental breakfast every day.
Best Budget Hostel/Hotel: Steel House Copenhagen
Steel House is a modern hostel, located within 5 minutes walk from the Tivoli Gardens and Copenhagen Central Station. It has an in-house café, bar, and indoor pool, and you can also use free WiFi throughout the property and a 24-hour front desk. The hostel offers private rooms and dormitory rooms. The dormitory rooms come with lockers with convenient power sockets by each bed, while the private rooms have their own bathroom with a shower.
Oslo, Norway
Most travelers enjoy visiting Norway due to its spectacular fjords. Nonetheless, Oslo is a must-visit, as well. Take this opportunity to look at the edgiest capitals in the Nordic region. You can head out to Astrup Fearnley Museet for the fascinating art scene. It is a breathtaking modern sail-like structure that is in the Oslofjord and houses some magnificent contemporary art pieces. An individual can also look at the Rod Bianco, an exquisite gallery that tends to showcase the artworks of both current and less known artists. To see Oslo at its best, you must immerse yourself into the colorful café culture. It’s a chance to enjoy the different delicacies that will leave you yearning for more.
Grunerlokka is the ideal starting point to see this great city. It was once a dive bar, but nowadays, it combines Korean, Icelandic, and Norwegian techniques and ingredients to its cuisines. The bass, a trendy corner also located in Grunerlokka, is an alternative take to ancient Norwegian fare. Oslo has typical artisan shops, which are excellent for a warm cup of joe. In as much as this city has plenty of modern styles, there is a rich history that celebrates the city’s origin.
You can visit the Akershus Festning, which is at the harbor in Oslo. It is a sprawling medieval elaborate fortress that dates to the 14th century which has medieval castles and active military installments. You can use the drawbridge to enter the fortress before the crowds begin to flock in. There is also the Vikingskipshuset, which provides a unique chance to view into the life of Norwegian’s Viking ancestors, and three longboats that go recovered in the 1800s from the Oslofjord’s.
Best Places To Stay in Oslo
For those looking for a hotel in Oslo, here are the best places to stay in Oslo, in any budget:
Best Luxury Hotel: Hotel Continental Oslo
Superbly elegant Hotel Continental is centrally located in Oslo, just 500 feet from Oslo’s main street, Karl Johan. This is the only 5-star hotel in Norway and offers individually decorated rooms with free in-room Internet access. The rooms include a cable TV, a mini-bar, and an in-room safe. The bathrooms include amenities with a separate shower and bath. Hotel guests can enjoy fine dining at the Restaurant Eik Annen Etage, and also included are a free 24-hour gym and the lobby lounge featuring Edward Munch lithographs.
Best Mid Priced Hotel: Thon Hotel Storo
Thon Hotel Storo is located next to the Storo Storcenter shopping center, between the Storo and Nydalen neighborhoods, about 3.1 miles from the city center. The Hotel offers an on-site restaurant, bar, and a fitness center. The modern rooms at Thon Hotel Storo feature a smart TV, free WiFi, Bose stereo system, and Jensen beds. A mini-bar, safe, and desk are also standard in all rooms, with some featuring a balcony, seating area, and even a coffee machine.
Best Budget Hostel/Hotel: Saga Poshtel Oslo Central
This amazing hostel is located at the heart of Oslo with only a 10-minute walk away from Akershus Fortress, and 8 minutes away from the central station. The Royal Castle is a 15-minute walk, and bars and restaurants around Aker Brygge are just 2,650 feet away. Rooms have shared or private bathrooms, and there is a communal kitchen that is available to all guests.
Helsinki, Finland
Once in Helsinki, you should not miss visiting the Lutheran Cathedral, which is a colossal domed cathedral that serves as Helsinki’s unofficial symbol of the city’s magnificent charm. Finland prides itself on the highest number of saunas, so there is roughly one sauna for every two persons. The Finns enjoy alternating between plunging into the frigid lakes and the sauna. To experience this, one ought to visit the countryside. The initial SkySauna has a sauna that is gender specified. There are two which are heated while one is a harbor-fed pool.
Enjoy the fantastic rooftop bar, which gets fully packed when there is an array of sunlight. You also want to visit the SummerSauna as it’s another adventure in waiting. It is a ferry that has a sauna for nearly ten individuals. There are very many islands that are inter-connected to Helsinki via a short ferry. One famous one is the Suomenlinna. It was once a mighty sea fortress in the Baltic. It got established in the 1700s by the Swedish rule.
However, in 1800, the Swedish gave up the fort to Finland. There are small bohemian populations as well as artists who inhabit the island. Helsinki prides itself on the long summer sun. It thus enables tourists and locals to enjoy a swim at the brisk Baltic. There is another island by the name Pihlajasaari island. It is quite uncommon among tourists. However, you can take a trip and enjoy a Karhu beer on the white sandy beaches to take a break from the city.
Best Places To Stay in Helsinki
Here are the best places to stay in Helsinki whether you are traveling in luxury or budget:
Best Luxury Hotel: Lapland Hotels Bulevardi
The Hotel is located on the main boulevard and close to several noted attractions, Helsinki Cathedral and Music Center is 0.7 miles away, a 7-minute walk from Kamppi Shopping Center, and only 1,950 feet from Helsinki Bus Terminal. All rooms include a desk and a flat-screen TV and are fitted with a private bathroom with a designer bath or shower. Several rooms also come with a Sauna, and some are fitted with a terrace. A Lappish style breakfast buffet is available every morning at restaurant Kultá as well as offering ala carte meals.
Best Mid Priced Hotel: Hotel F6
This boutique hotel is located just next to the Esplanadi shopping street and has air-conditioned rooms with available WiFi. The Aleksanterinkatu shopping street is also just a 5-minute walk away, and the Market Square is a 4-minute walk away. Flat-screen TVs, mini-bars, electric kettles, and wooden floors are standard in all rooms. The Hotel serves a Finnish home-style breakfast daily, and guests can enjoy drinks in the bar. Free to use bicycles are available for guests wishing to explore Helsinki on wheels.
Best Budget Hostel/Hotel: Hostel Diana Park
The hostel is a mere 10-minute walk from Helsinki Train Statio and offers free WiFi with access to a fully equipped communal kitchen. The Helsinki Cathedral is 0.6 mi, and Esplanade Park is only 1,950 feet away. The Helsinki Market Square is only a 13-minute walk away. All rooms have an in-room sink and access to the shared bathroom facilities. The hostel has a 24-hour reception and offers security lockers.
Stockholm, Sweden
Stockholm is one of the largest metropolitan cities, which is shockingly navigable as well as intimate. It is located strategically on Lake Malaren waters and there are 14 islands connected by nearly 50 bridges as well as underground metros. This capital of Sweden is the perfect blend of the new and the old. It’s a city that prides itself on renowned industrial designs as well as a trendy bar. There are the cobblestone lanes that meander vis the Gamla Stan which is Stockholm’s old town.
The city has lively art as well as museum scenery. If you are searching for the perfect museum, you can always bet on the Moderna Museum. It features prominent art pieces by Andy Warhol as well as Salvador Dali. But, for art lovers that is not all. You can have a sneak peek at the Vasamuseet. The museum recognizes the crafty Swedish fashion, the gigantic unsuccessful Vasa warship. The Vasa warship was 225 feet long, and 160 feet tall. It failed the Swedish crown by tipping within minutes, thus sinking with so many casualties. It was expertly salvaged in the year 1961 and reassembled into what it has become today.
Take a tour of the Kungliga Slottet. It serves as the royal castle and houses most of the governmental buildings. You can get a guided tour through the baroque-style interior. Don’t forget about the Ikea and the Swedish meatballs. Other mind-blowing itineraries will change your whole perception of Sweden. The country is known for Stockholm’s coffee shops, museums as well as independent boutiques. If you still crave meatballs, you ought to sample the Skagen, moose as well as pickled herring.
Stockholm is the Swede’s top priority when it comes to life balance. Nearly thirty percent of Stockholm encompasses a designated green space. It makes cross-country skiing as well as ice skating possible during the winter and during the summer, and one can get to enjoy kayaking from the center of the city. There are nearly 24000 rocky archipelago islands as well as islets in Stockholm, which have become covered with adorable red cottages and pines.
Best Places To Stay in Stockholm
Here are our recommended and best places to stay in Stockholm on any budget:
Best Luxury Hotel: Lydmar Hotel
The Hotel is near the National Museum; this waterfront hotel has great views of the Old Town and Royal Palace. The Hotel offers a popular bistro-style restaurant and even art exhibitions. Lydmar Hotel’s spacious rooms have free WiFi and are individually decorated with wooden floors. Some rooms feature original stucco work, wood beams, and high windows. The restaurant serves European fare from escargots to steak tartare. During summer, the outdoor terrace offers a relaxing ambiance where guests can enjoy fresh cocktails.
Best Mid-Priced Hotel: NOFO Hotel
Located inside a building built in 1780, this charming boutique hotel is just 1,000 feet from Medborgarplatsen Metro Station right in Stockholm’s contemporary Södermalm district. It has a tranquil inner courtyard and free WiFi. All rooms of NOFO Hotel are individually decorated with styles from New York, London, Paris, Rome, and Scandinavia. Most rooms have views of the courtyard or the Katarina Church. The Hotel is less than 15 minutes stroll from Stockholm’s Old Town and Götgatan shopping street.
Best Budget Hostel/Hotel: Castle House Inn
The Castle House Inn is positioned right in the middle of Stockholm’s Old Town, just a 3-minute walk from the Royal Palace. WiFi access is available throughout. The closest metro station is a 6-minute walk away from the Hotel. Several rooms have private bathrooms while others have shared facilities. The Hotel is only 800 feet from the picturesque Stortorget Square and the Nobel Museum. You can take a walk down the old cobbled streets and hit the boutiques and cafes. Several popular restaurants and bars found nearby draw in crowds for cheerful evenings and nightlife.
Reykjavik, Iceland
Iceland is quite famous due to its breathtaking landscapes. They include volcanoes, glaciers, thousands of waterfalls, hot springs as well as fjords. If you want to travel by air, the primary airport is Keflavik. It’s a 40-minute drive from Reykjavik, which is Iceland’s capital. Most travelers spend a little part of their travel time within the city before venturing out into the rugged, fascinating wilderness. However, there are various reasons why you can choose to spend time in the city more so during the weekends.
Icelandic enjoy a refreshing drink in the dark winters all through the warm summers to celebrate the changing seasons. There is an unofficial pub crawl within Reykjavik, which goes by the name Runtur. Enjoy the beautiful nightlife by partying through the weekend at bars as well as clubs. Many pubs within Laugavegur Street will turn your weekend into your best living days. There are other options, including the Prikid as well as Lebowski, where you can choose to spend your time. There are other top spots that you can visit during the day. Cafés such as Solon are worth a visit before your turn to the night dance halls.
The city has plenty of cultural sceneries with many music festivities as well as concerts. Enjoy the magnificent orchestra headlining into the airwaves. There is a shiny, bright, cubic Harpa. It hosts nearly everything to do with orchestras. Get a unique chance to enjoy the musical performances. The Hurra provides an intimate atmosphere with a little touch of staging and dancing floors in the compact bar. The night entertainment isn’t all there is to Reykjavik city.
Various restaurants offer delightful modernized Scandinavian dishes. Try the fermented sharks, among other classic cuisines. They include the reindeer burgers and puffins at Grillmarkadurinn. You can check out the new Scandinavian fare at the Nordic Houses DILL restaurant. If you are searching for a more casual meal, you can head out to Bejarins Beztu Pylsur. They serve the best hot dogs in Iceland. They are lamb-based hotdogs with a little ketchup, mustard, onion as well as mayonnaise topping.
Best Places To Stay in Reykjavik
Here are our recommended and best places to stay in Reykjavik on any budget:
Best Luxury Hotel: Tower Suites Reykjavík
The suites are located on the 20th floor of a contemporary glass tower. The stylish penthouse suites are right in central Reykjavik and have panoramic views of the city or ocean. Each room has floor-to-ceiling windows and free WiFi, with a complimentary mini-bar and Nespresso coffee maker. All rooms in the penthouse are fitted with a private bathroom. There are restaurants and coffee shops located on the ground floor. The Harpa Concert Hall is 1.1 mi from the location.
Best Mid Priced Hotel: CenterHotel Midgardur
This Hotel is located on Reykjavik’s main shopping street, the Laugavegur, and features an on-site bar and restaurant with free WiFi. The Hallgrímskirkja Church is a mere 2,650 feet away. The bright rooms at CenterHotel Midgardur are equipped with a flat-screen TV, a mini-bar, and a private bathroom. Views of the Icelandic sea, mountains, or city are featured in some rooms. The restaurant serves traditional dishes mixed with modern and international cuisine.
Best Budget Hostel/Hotel: Loft – HI Hostel
Centrally located, Loft – HI Hostel offers easy access to Reykjavik’s popular tourist and retail hot spots. It is located a 10-minute drive from Reykjavik Airport, and an airport transfer is available for guests. The hostel features a 24/7 reception, as well as a shopping mall and a rooftop terrace. For added convenience, it offers laundry facilities, luggage storage, and a safe.
There are 19 modern rooms at Loft – HI Hostel, each offering all the necessities to ensure a comfortable stay. On-site dining options include a restaurant, which is an ideal place to have a meal. In the evening, guests are welcome to wind down in the lounge bar. Guests can also try one of the many bars and cafés in the surrounding area.
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