‘We had Norway’s glacial lakes to ourselves’: readers’ favourite breaks in Scandinavia and Finland

Saunas, island-hopping, mountain hikes, great design and cosy cafes abound in our readers’ treasured memories of the Nordic countriesA week’s hiking in Jotunheimen national park (230 miles north of Oslo) last summer brought me tranquillity and peace. During four days of challenging hiking and wild camping through the area we saw hardly anyone else, having entire lush green valleys and still glacial lakes to ourselves. We were fortunate to have stunning weather throughout and, despite it being July, still had a reasonable amount of snow to traverse. Norway has a fantastic network of signposted trails and huts which can be found on the Norwegian Trekking Association website.Ben Continue reading...

[Sharply pointed mountain above lakes in a Nordic landscape]

Mount Kyrkja in Jotunheimen national park. Photograph: Image Broker/Alamy

Mount Kyrkja in Jotunheimen national park. Photograph: Image Broker/Alamy

‘We had Norway’s glacial lakes to ourselves’: readers’ favourite breaks in Scandinavia and Finland

Saunas, island-hopping, mountain hikes, great design and cosy cafes abound in our readers’ treasured memories of the Nordic countries

Glorious summer hiking in Norway

A week’s hiking in Jotunheimen national park (230 miles north of Oslo) last summer brought me tranquillity and peace. During four days of challenging hiking and wild camping through the area we saw hardly anyone else, having entire lush green valleys and still glacial lakes to ourselves. We were fortunate to have stunning weather throughout and, despite it being July, still had a reasonable amount of snow to traverse. Norway has a fantastic network of signposted trails and huts which can be found on the Norwegian Trekking Association website.
Ben

An arty cabin break near Aarhus

[A stunning walkway reproducing a rainbow on the roof of the Kunstmuseum in Aarhus in Denmark.]

The Kunstmuseum’s walkway. Photograph: Wirestock/Alamy

We had an amazing family holiday on the Jutland coast neat Aarhus, Denmark’s second city. We stayed in a cabin among pine trees and swam every day. We found helpful swimming jetties, making it simple to get into the sea – they even have hooks for towels. The beaches were wild and so quiet we often had them to ourselves. For an urban fix, Aarhus was a joy to visit. The Aarhus Kunstmuseum is definitely worth checking out for contemporary art lovers, followed by lunch at Cafe Folkeven.
Ben Dunne

Urban Scandi beauty in Stavanger

[White boarded houses on a narrow cobbled street]

Gamle Stavanger –the city’s ‘old town’ Photograph: Andrey Khrobostov/Alamy

Stavanger, on the south-west coast of Norway, feels like the picture-perfect example of Scandinavian urban beauty. The city is welcoming, with quaint Gamle Stavanger (the old town) full of shops selling wool and cute bars serving up local beer (my favourite is bookshop cum bar Bøker og Børst). Head further south to Boresanden if you fancy braving the cold with a surf and follow up with a sauna. For further adventure, head east for Preikestolen for awe-inspiring views over the fjord. Finally, take the ferry to Flor og Fjære to wander round the tropical gardens (opens 9 May).
Anisa

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Frozen lakes, coffee and a sauna in Finnish Lakeland

[Modern cafe by frozen lake]

A cafe on the shore of Lake Vesijärvi. Photograph: David Borland/Alamy

In the south of Finnish Lakeland is Lahti, a town that feels a world away from Helsinki despite its excellent rail link to the capital. Lahti is full of charming little cafes and quiet, down-to-earth people, not to mention scenes straight from a fairytale. I spent a month studying here as a student nurse and was equally amazed by the Finnish approach to public health as I was by how comfortable -22C can feel. Between days on placement, I spent time going for long walks over the frozen Lake Vesijärvi (a truly surreal experience) before enjoying Finnish coffee culture at Kahvila Kariranta, a former railway station turned cafe. There’s lots of ice skating and cross-country skiing, or, if you’re looking to unwind, you’re never far from a sauna, which in Finland is viewed as a necessity not a luxury.
Esther

A horse ride through Norwegian mountains

[Rondane national park]

Rondane national park. Photograph: Norphoto/Alamy

Why hike when you can horse ride? To get off the tourist trail, we opted to explore Norway’s Rondane national park on smallish but strong dole horses (a Norwegian breed) last summer. The horses were gorgeous, incredibly patient – although I can ride, my friend had barely sat on a horse since riding ponies on the beach as a kid – and really sure-footed as they navigated the mountain paths. It was a brilliant way to get deeper into the countryside and take things at a slower pace, giving us plenty of time to take in the views and hear stories about the area from our guide. The holiday was organised by Gutsy Girls.
Fliss

Island of sunshine in Denmark

Bornholm enjoys above average sunshine hours for the Baltic region. Photograph: Image Professionals /Alamy

Bornholm island is Danish, but set in the middle of the Baltic between Poland and Sweden. It has beaches of fine white sand and secluded coves – perfect in summer when the island enjoys sunnier weather than most of the surrounding region. History is everywhere, from one of the largest ruined medieval castles in Europe – Hammershus – to remnants of Soviet occupation in 1945-46 and distinctive circular churches. Fish smokeries offer herring, salmon and eel, while bakeries provide the best Danish pastries. Stay at one of Bornholm’s seaside hotels, enjoy the sunsets and you will never want to leave.**

Robert Gilchrist**

Sweden’s wooden wonder

[Wooden buildings and church on a street]

Nora is one of three ‘wooden towns’. Photograph: Mikdam/Getty Images

The lakeside town of Nora, 130 miles inland from Stockholm, is one of Sweden’s three “wooden towns” (along with Eksjö and Hjo), where all the buildings are made of timber from the surrounding forests. The town and its surrounding area have a timeless feel of a wealthy bygone age belonging to Nordic nobility. I strolled around Nora’s cobblestone streets and visited the perfectly preserved 19th-century villa Göthlinska Gården. I spent another afternoon in Glasstorget (Ice-Cream Square) to try the local ice-cream, Noraglass. On another day, I wandered around the streets of the Kvarteret Bryggeriet creative quarter – full of independent shops, eateries and with a fascinating microbrewery. The nearby lakes (Norasjön, Fåsjön and Usken) are gorgeous and great for swimming and picnics.
Jo

Design gems near Copenhagen

[Garage with futuristic roofing]

The petrol station designed by Arne Jacobsen, with hints of the Starship Enterprise. Photograph: Niels Quist/Alamy

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