A quick summary of beautiful Scandinavia and some useful info
Scandinavia refers to a region of Northern Europe where the countries are closely linked by history, culture, and language. Most commonly, Scandinavia refers to Norway, Denmark and Sweden, though it can also include Finland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands.
The Baltic nation of Estonia isn’t technically part of Scandinavia, but its capital city Tallinn is geographically close to Helsinki and Stockholm. Many people who visit Helsinki also stop by historic Tallinn for a taste of Eastern Europe.
Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Estonia are all coastal countries, and so sailing, fishing and cruising are popular parts of the culture. Norway has one of the longest coastlines in the world, intersected with thousands of glacial fjords.
Both Stockholm and Helsinki are archipelago cities, meaning they are made up of lots of islands. Tallinn, Copenhagen, Oslo and Norway’s second city Bergen are all easily accessed by boat. Trade and travel between these 6 ports has thrived for centuries.
The Scandinavians have a proud seafaring history, having once been ruled by the adventurous Vikings. But there are also spectacular landscapes to discover inland. Norway is one of Europe’s most mountainous countries, and Sweden is famous for its rolling countryside and colourful villages.
- Discover it all on a classic Scandinavia tour
The cities of Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm are trendsetters for the rest of the continent, with distinct approaches to fashion, cuisine and lifestyle. Helsinki and Tallinn are both world-leaders in technology startups, with backdrops of historical old towns and modern arts districts.
You can take part in all kinds of activities on a Scandinavian tour. For cultural experiences, you can try diverse restaurants serving local specialities like fish, reindeer, juniper berries and sweet pastries. In each city, find theatre, art galleries and museums abound.
For thrills out in nature, you’d be hard pressed to find a place better than Scandinavia. Picture yourself wandering through vivid mountain trails and flower-lined valleys. You could swim in crystal clear lakes and try the adventure sports you’ve always dreamed of.
All 5 countries are famous for being safe, politically stable, and excellent holiday destinations all year round.
Here’s a few quick facts about each country:
Norway
Capital: Oslo
Population: 5.5 million
Currency: Norwegian Krone
Language: Norwegian. In some northern districts, Sámi is also an official language.
Total Area: 385,207 km2
Time Zone: Central European Time (CET) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST) in summer
Country Code: +47
Emergency services: 112
Location: Norway is located in Northern Europe on the Scandinavian Peninsula, bordering the North Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean. It shares a long border with Sweden and shorter borders with Finland and Russia in the far north.
Form of government: Constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy.
Sweden
Capital: Stockholm
Population: 10.5 million
Currency: Swedish Krona
Language: Swedish. In some northern districts, Sámi is also an official language.
Total Area: 447,425 km2
Time Zone: Central European Time (CET) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST) in summer
Country Code: +46
Emergency services: 112
Location: Sweden is located in Northern Europe on the Scandinavian Peninsula. It shares a long border with Norway to the west and a shorter border with Finland in the north. To the south, Sweden has coasts along the Baltic Sea and the strait of Øresund, as well as a bridge connecting it to Denmark.
Form of government: Constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy.
Denmark
Capital: Copenhagen
Population: 5.9 million
Currency: Danish Krone
Language: Danish
Total Area: 42,943 km2
Time Zone: Central European Time (CET) in winter and Central European Summer Time (CEST) in summer
Country Code: +45
Emergency services: 112
Location: Denmark is located in north-western Europe on the Jutland peninsula and across many islands, including Zealand, where its capital city is found. It only has one land border, to Germany in the south, but it’s connected to Sweden by a bridge. The rest of Denmark’s border is made up of coastline.
Form of government: Constitutional monarchy with parliamentary democracy.
Finland
Capital: Helsinki
Population: 5.6 million
Currency: Euro
Language: Finnish and Swedish. In some northern districts, Sámi is also an official language.
Total Area: 130,678 km2
Time Zone: Eastern European Time (EET) in winter and Eastern European Summer Time (EEST) in summer
Country Code: +358
Emergency services: 112
Location: Finland is located in the northernmost part of Europe and borders both Sweden and Norway to its north, as well as Russia to the east. Its southern borders are coastal, stretching along the Gulf of Finland, the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia.
Form of government: Parliamentary republic.
Estonia
Capital: Tallinn
Population: 1.4 million
Currency: Euro
Language: Estonian
Total Area: 45,339 km2
Time Zone: Eastern European Time (EET) in winter and Eastern European Summer Time (EEST) in winter
Country Code: +372
Emergency services: 112
Location: Estonia is located in northeastern Europe. It borders Russia and Latvia to its east and south, and has north and west coasts on the Gulf of Finland, the Gulf of Riga and the Baltic Sea.
Form of government: Parliamentary republic.
