Country profile: Croatia
The Scandinavian capitals, long linked by history and their proximity to the water, are now centres for innovative design and technology as well as gastronomic excellence. Anna Maria Espsäter looks at what’s new
Copenhagen
Copenhagen sits on two islands – and this makes all the difference during the summer months when the city really comes alive.
Across the strait from Sweden, Copenhagen is home to several Royal Palaces, the quaint harbour area of Nyhavn, the pedestrianised shopping mecca, Strøget, and the somewhat underwhelming Little Mermaid statue of Hans Christian Andersen fame. Exemplified by the waterside restaurant, Noma, which has regularly been voted ‘the world’s best’, Copenhagen is a culinary destination parexcellence.
The Danish capital retains something of a small-town feel and visitors are never far away from the countryside here.
Oslo
With Norway’s capital situated on the Oslo Fjord, unsurprisingly many of its key sights can be enjoyed outdoors. These include Vigeland Park, the world’s largest sculpure park, and a more recent addition, Ekeberg Park, a sculture and national heritage park that is free to visit. Then there’s Holmenkollen ski jump and museum; Akershus Fortress, a medieval castle; and the kilometre-long shopping street of Karl Johan. Not to be missed are the Viking Museum and the new Astrup Fearnley Museum of Modern Art.
A 30-year project is revitalising a large area along the Oslo Fjord and creating a National Museum on the waterfront.
Stockholm
The largest of the four cities, the Swedish capital is comprised of 14 islands, where the Baltic Sea meets Lake Mälaren. The surrounding archipelago is home to some 30,000 islands, islets and skerries, as well as one of Scandinavia’s finest art centres, Artipelag, which opened in 2012.
Well-known for its Old Town, founded in 1252, Stockholm’s main sights, old and new, are spread out over those 14 islands, which are home to Royal Palaces, historic buildings and excellent museums, including the maritime-themed Vasa Museum and the more frivolous ABBA Museum.
Helsinki
Across the Baltic to the east, and spread out over no less than 312 islands, the Finnish capital has the smallest population of the four cities.
The focal point of centenary of independence celebrations in 2017 (to mark the occasion Finnish passports and ID cards gained a new look with artwork portraying the landscape of Finnish Lapland, the Northern Lights, and snowflakes) Helsinki is now looking forward to a plethora of openings and events throughout 2018.
Scenic Helsinki has plenty of parks and green areas in the centre, right by the Baltic, including an open-air museum and central market. Key modern sights include the abstract monument to composer Jean Sibelius in Sibelius Park, while the great outdoors can be enjoyed on nearby Suomenlinna Island.
Design and architecture
Innovative design and architecture are big themes across the Nordic region.
Oslo, in particular, is in the midst of a complete architectural revamp of epic proportions. Also known as Fjord City (oslohavn.no), it is revitalising old port areas and former industrial sites. That new National Museum (nasjonalmuseet.no) is due to open near the Fjord in 2020. Meanwhile, in Copenhagen, the new BLOX building (blox.dk), officially inaugurated in May this year, will house the Danish Architecture Centre/Danish Design Centre. The unique venue
will combine homes and recreational and professional spaces.
Nearby Copenhill, an artificial ski slope and hiking area built atop a new green waste management centre, is set to open this autumn. At 85 metres the ski centre’s café roof will have a viewing platform with incredible views of the Danish capital.
Also coming soon
New openings and sustainability: Oslo airport, Gardermoen, has opened a new, sustainable terminal and the Norwegian capital is gaining a reputation as the greenest city in the world. It has been named European Green Capital for 2019, while Lonely Planet recommends Oslo as one of its top 10 places to visit in 2018.
In Finland, the Amos Rex Museum (amosanderson.fi), which will include a large exhibition hall underneath the Lasipalatsi Square in Helsinki, is set to open in August.
In Stockholm the National Museum (nationalmuseum.se) will reopen in October after an extensive renovation, while the Strindberg Museum (strindbergsmuseet.se) is open again, also after refurbishment.
The Jewish Museum (judiskamuseet.se) has new premises in the Old Town and in the archipelago,
Utö Fitness Centre will open this month with an outdoor gym, yoga park, hiking and jogging trails.
Upcoming events: There are events aplenty across the four capitals in 2018. Stockholm is hosting Europride (europride2018.com) from
July 27 to August 5 and for LGBTQ travellers there is a new tour operator StandOut Travel – Gaycation in Sweden (standouttravel.se), focusing on day trips, tailor-made tours and weddings.
This year has been dedicated to the tribute of Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman, who would have been 100 in 2018, with multiple events take place across the city.
In Copenhagen, Tivoli Gardens (tivoli.dk) is celebrating its 175th anniversary with lots of events throughout the year, while the Copenhagen Jazz Festival (jazz.dk) will mark its 40th anniversary this year (July 6-15).
Food & drink: When it comes to gastronomy, restaurant openings and new bars, the scene is booming in all four capitals.
In Oslo, Galt (galt.no) received its first
Michelin star only five months after opening and HIMKOK (himkok.no) has been named one of the world’s best 20 bars.
The new Oslo harbour promenade is home
“My personal Scandinavian city favourite is Helsinki: the elegant Lutheran Cathedral is a beautiful building. With a free day to explore Finland’s capital, our guests can really get to know this amazing city”
Julian Appleyard, Commercial Director, Great Rail Journeys
to a number of hip and trendy restaurants while out in the Grűnerløkka district is the new and already hugely popular Vippa foodhall (vippa.no). Housed in the shell of a former warehouse, the emphasis is on sustainability and multiculturalism – it offers everything from sushi to pho to ghoulash.
Scandic’s Stockholm hotel, Downtown Camper (scandichotels.se) has opened The
Nest Cocktail Lounge, as well as an openair pool, sauna and shower, all atop its roof. There are also more than 20 new restaurants due to open across town.
In Helsinki, Chapter cocktail bar
(chapter.fi), has recently opened a fine dining restaurant with the same name.
Copenhagen’s aforementioned Noma (noma.dk), by now something of a grandfather of new Nordic cuisine, has reopened in a new location, complete with urban farm. The Copenhagen Street Food Market (reffen.dk) is also moving to a new location this spring.
These establishments, offering everything from Nordic cuisine to international fare, just scratch the surface of what are now truly varied culinary destinations.
Where to book it
GREAT RAIL JOURNEYS – 0800 240 4470
The Highlights of the Baltics & Scandinavia is a 19-day tour of seven countries by rail, including Stockholm, Copenhagen and Helsinki, as well as Riga, Tallinn and St Petersburg. Prices start from £3,995pp for departures May to September 2018 and May to September 2019. Save up to £200pp on 2019 dates when booking before June 1 2018. greatrail.com
SAGA TRAVEL – 0808 274 4312
Aimed at the 50-plus market, a 14-day Scandinavian capitals and St. Petersburg cruise starts from £2,119pp. It includes Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm and offers VIP door-to-door service, full-board, accommodation, activities and a gala buffet. travel.saga.co.uk
KIRKER HOLIDAYS – 0207 593 1899
A six-night Royal Palaces of Denmark tour, focusing on Copenhagen and the surrounding area, is priced from £2198pp and includes return flights, B&B, three dinners, sightseeing and a Kirker lecturer. kirkerholidays.com