Karen Cooke

Visiting A Scandinavian Wonderland

Scandinavia - made up of Denmark, Finland, Sweden, Iceland and Norway - is a unique destination that has to be experienced to be truly understood.

Denmark is the smallest of these Scandinavian countries and home of the Little Mermaid along with other fairytales. This country is incredibly rich in history. It provides visitors with an unusual combination of bustling cities filled with modern buildings alongside tranquil countryside, scattered with historical sites such as forts and castles.

If you are a connoisseur of music, you are sure to enjoy one of the numerous music festivals held throughout the year, including the ever-popular Roskilde Festival. These music festivals include a vast selection of music: blues, gospel, classical, Irish, rock, jazz, country, folk and blues. The major music festivals are held from June through to August each year, followed in September by a lavish Århus Festival, incorporating a traditional Viking Festival. The Århus Festival is an experience not to be missed, complete with jousting, jesters and copious lavish traditional feasts.

Finland, also a fine blend of centuries-old culture and modern design, is full of intriguing cities scattered throughout the countryside. Travel outside of Helsinki to discover the Lapland wilderness or breath-taking lakes towards the east. In as little as an hour and a half from Helsinki you can find yourself in beautiful Iittala, home of some of the world's most superb glass designs. This region is full of the finest quality glass-blowing along with many exquisite glass exhibitions by local artists.

While you are visiting Finland you simply must experience a relaxing, yet exhilarating, traditional sauna. You will find these a part of most Scandinavian luxury tours.

With such incredible waters around Finland, you can spoil yourself by chartering a yacht to sail around the peaceful islands for a few days? or weeks! There are also many exciting luxury cruises of Finland on offer.

Believe it or not, Sweden has much more to offer than Ikea and ABBA. The classical city of Gothenburg is definitely worth visiting for its upmarket design, shopping and the Gothenburg Opera. Even if you don't indulge in an operatic show, the modern, prominent Gothenburg Opera building itself is worth visiting. In contrast, Malmö, just 20 minutes from Denmark's Copenhagen, has a more continental atmosphere. This is an ideal region to relax in a five star resort, overlooking the cosmopolitan seafront. While there are many activities on offer in this region, it's also the ideal place to get away and relax, sipping your cappuccino or a glass of fine vino while watching the local fishing boats.

Iceland is known for its clean cities and friendly locals, along with its nature, art, festivals and fashion. For a true Scandinavian experience, here you can walk on a glacier or go whale-watching, then follow that by enjoying award-winning gourmet cuisine. There are also a variety of galleries and museums to be found amongst designer fashion houses.

An essential part of any luxury Scandinavian holiday is to unwind in one of Iceland's many outdoor thermal swimming pools.

At the northern end of Scandinavia is Norway, where the weather is surprisingly mild, considering its proximity to the North Pole. Here you can discover the history of Norway's famous artists, explore the plentiful fjords, experience dog sledding - or just watch dog sledding in action from the sidelines.

If you ever thought that luxury holidays don't include train trips, think again! The train ride between Norway's Bergen and Oslo is quite amazing and has been described throughout the world as being the most comfortable and beautiful train rides. You will be taken at high altitude through some of the most mesmerising Scandinavian wilderness that is sure to leave you lost for words.

Along with your choice of 5-star Scandinavian hotels, there are many superb chalets throughout this region, ideal for a luxury honeymoon. As for which of the five Scandinavian countries would be best to visit - they each have something individual to offer. It is well worth allowing enough time to visit each of these Scandinavian beauties- you won't regret it!

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