The different cultural background that we can find in Europe makes it a very tricky choice to get to know which places we want to visit. In this article I will speak about the region called Scandinavia, or the Nordics, as to help you decide on your route by providing the details on what you can expect from traveling to this area. We consider the Nordics to be Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Norway.

Scandinavia is totally a world apart. The main things that happen in Europe happen up there in a different way, and normally before they arrive in Europe. Even if the population of the 4 countries together does not even sum up to the population in Spain, the economic strength of those 4 countries has always been incredible.

The past they share is completely Viking, to say it in a polite world. One of the most developed and respectful communities nowadays used to be some of the most barbarians in the whole continent. When the Vikings arrived sailing upstream through the rivers with their Drakkars, they set all cities on fire, raped women and killed everything that was breathing in there.

Nowadays, a walk through the streets in Stockholm, Sweden, gives you the most relaxing atmosphere you can ever feel. The main difference the Nordic region has is simply this spirit. Peace and quiet, capital cities that are much more like towns that have grown a bit too much to be considered simply towns. The most pure air in the whole Europe can be found here, so breath deeply and you will feel rejuvenating energy inside.

Some of the most educated and respectful population can be found here too, and if you take a look around everything will be clean and tidy. There are, anyway, differences, specially due to the different taxes between the 4 countries. Norway has simply so much oil that nobody in there would really need to work in order to survive. Money is just under the surface of the ocean, by their coasts. Sweden, even if not that much rich, has the status of a very fashionable city. No poor zones exist in the big cities, and everybody is able to live, at least with the minimum.

Finland and Denmark, probably are more into the door to continental Europe. Even if their economic position keeps being high, a quick look around will tell you that the amount of money to invest in the city is not that much. At same time, and this can be more confusing, Finnish and Danish people are not that much into the trendy style that for example swedes have.

When it comes to touristic attractions, you first place to go should be Stockholm, which is secretly admired by their other three competitor capitals. Stockholm can be considered like the capital of Scandinavia. The center of the town feels like enchanted, placed strategically on a very small island. The rest is everything surrounded by water, being the city of Stockholm formed by an amount of 18 islands. Bridges from here and there, old green and golden roof’s churches and cathedrals, a medieval castle and some beautiful palaces. Stockholm is a city you need to walk through, visit the enormous parks and nature protected zones.

A trip to the North can be a good opportunity to see the Northern Lights in the city of Kiruna, and also visit the Ice Hotel. Built of ice, it is melted every year for security reasons during the summer, and rebuilt every winter again by different architects and designers

At the right side, Helsinki, in Finland, is also a very nice city, but still it does not have the same strength. In any case, some amazing white palaces can be found there, and as always in the whole region, the parks and gardens are some of the best spots. Visiting Lapland to the North is possibly one of the most interesting and freezing experiences you can have, as it is said that Santa Claus has a cottage there!

To the left this time, we can find Oslo, Norway’s capital, and it happens almost the same as with Helsinki. Even having the magic of any Nordic capital, something is missing there that does not give the feeling of Stockholm. Instead, what I would always recommend is to go to visit Bergen, the door city to the fjords. That precious fjords in Norway are between some of the most spectacular natural sightseeing opportunities in the world. Probably not as much as compared with the ones in New Zealand, but still nature has gone crazy there and has created a real paradise for hiking lovers. Climbing up north, you will even have the opportunity to reach the North Cape.

Denmark, being possibly a bit less interesting related to natural sightseeing, offers a beautiful city where bicycles are probably the touristic attraction you will find most often. They are simply everywhere! Copenhagen and its Siren have something of real beauty with the colored houses along the canals. Christiania, the hippy town, will also give a different atmosphere during your visit. At same time, it is probably the place where you will be able to find out more about the past of the Viking civilization and their Drakkars sailing up the rivers. You should take a look at the near city of Roskilde to get to know that.