27 Days of Nordic Dreams

Über das Reiseziel: A decade ago, visitors came to Copenhagen just for its canals, cobbled squares, charming streets and pastel painted houses. Now this city is most known for its innovative design, cutting edge architecture and its top-rated restaurants. This historic city of canals has become trendy, cosmopolitan and exciting, without losing its old charms. The fairytalelike port of Nyhavn, the city’s legendary waterfront, is the most traditional sight of Copenhagen, where visitors enjoy the cobbled streets and colorful houses that contrasts with Langelinje quay, where the city’s most famous attraction, The Little Mermaid, is located. Walking along the Langelinje quay, the modern opera house appears on the horizon bringing tourists back into the 21st century. Another of the city’s new waterfront landmarks is the Black Diamond entertainment complex, an additional reason to travel beyond the tiny tourist-focussed centre. The building itself is stunning and provides a unique opportunity to lounge in a deckchair overlooking the water. Two of the coolest areas of the city are Veesterbro and Norrebro, away from the herds of tourists. These vibrant neighbourhoods will allow the most adventurous travelers to mix with the locals and experience the buzzing atmosphere of places like the Norrebro Food Hall, a covered foodie market, or the Ralea, the restaurant where local chefs go to get food after work. Copenhagen’s coolest borough of trendy bars, design stores and eateries, where visitors can experience the culinary revolution the city has to offer, it's just a metro ride from the city centre. The less-travelled island neighbourhood of Christianshavn offers a tranquil glimpse of residential life and canal-side strolls. It’s also home to the “free town” of Christiana, a colourful alternative community built by hippies in the 1970s, which shines with galleries and cafés, and has its own, strict set of rules. Copenhagen is clean, safe and easy to get to know. It is also one of Europe’s greenest cities and its public transport would make New York green with envy. Its centre is reserved for pedestrians and strict anti-pollution laws enforced. It’s an environmentally idyllic spot with plenty of green space and bicycles often outnumber cars, so be careful of stepping out into bike lanes. Wander carefree to the world-famous Tivoli amusement park and the city’s delightful botanical garden, or take to the pavement cafés and restaurants in the summer alongside the locals. Whatever you decide to do in the Danish capital, whether you dig design and dine, or wander in wonder, Copenhagen will keep calling you back like a siren.

Über das Reiseziel: Willkommen in Helsingør, oder wie es in seiner Muttersprache heißt, Helsingør, einem Juwel dänischen Erbes an der Nordostküste Seelands. Helsingør ist reich an Geschichte und Kultur und ein Reiseziel, an dem Vergangenheit und Gegenwart aufeinandertreffen und Reisenden ein fesselndes Erlebnis voller nordischem Charme bietet. Beginnen Sie Ihre Reise am berühmten Schloss Kronborg, der Festung, die William Shakespeare zu „Hamlet“ inspirierte. Dieses UNESCO-Weltkulturerbe erhebt sich majestätisch an der Stelle, an der die Meerenge Dänemarks am engsten ist, und schützte jahrhundertelang den Eingang zur Ostsee. Wenn Sie die großen Säle und dunklen Kasematten des Schlosses erkunden, werden Sie in die Zeit der Renaissance zurückversetzt. Das ganze Jahr über finden in Kronborg zahlreiche kulturelle Veranstaltungen statt, darunter das renommierte Shakespeare-Festival, bei dem die Stücke des Barden vor der Kulisse der imposanten Architektur des Schlosses zum Leben erweckt werden. Schlendern Sie durch die gepflasterten Straßen der Altstadt von Helsingør und erleben Sie die lebendige Geschichte der Stadt. Besonders malerisch ist die Gegend um die St.-Olaf-Kirche mit ihren auffälligen roten Backsteinen und dem beeindruckenden Turm. Besuchen Sie die Museen der Stadt, darunter das Maritime Museum von Dänemark, ein modernes Architekturwunder, das sich mit dem Erbe der Seefahrt des Landes befasst. Das Museum selbst ist eine Augenweide, raffiniert in ein altes Trockendock integriert. Nachdem Sie in die Geschichte und Kultur der Stadt eingetaucht sind, nehmen Sie sich einen Moment Zeit, um in einem der gemütlichen Cafés oder Restaurants in Helsingør zu entspannen und lokale dänische Küche zu probieren. Das Hafengebiet mit seiner Mischung aus alten Lagerhäusern und modernen Gebäuden bietet einen malerischen Ort, um eine Mahlzeit mit Blick auf das Meer zu genießen. Wenn Sie in den Sommermonaten hierher kommen, können Sie auf verschiedene Festivals und Freiluftkonzerte stoßen, die der Ruhe dieser Küstenstadt einen lebendigen Touch verleihen. Egal, ob Sie ein Geschichtsinteressierter, ein Kunstliebhaber oder einfach auf der Suche nach einem ruhigen Zufluchtsort sind, Helsingör ist ein Reiseziel, das eine unvergessliche Reise verspricht.

Über das Reiseziel: Malmo is Sweden's third largest city by population. Once an isolated city on the southern tip of Sweden, Malmo is fast becoming a major multicultural centre. With the completion of the Oresund Bridge in 2000 connecting Sweden to Denmark, Malmo is now only a 30 minute car or train ride from the centre of Copenhagen. With canals, beaches, and historical sites Malmo makes a wonderful tourist destination. Malmo is compact enough that you can walk to most of the major attractions. The historical city centre around the Main Square, Stortorget, offers an interesting mixture of old and new buildings, which can be perfectly explored on foot. West of the main square of Stortorget, there is the old town, Gamla Staden. It's a pleasant area filled with bars, restaurants and some very fine old houses. Some of these include the famous and cute little one storey houses which barely look big enough to house one lonely fisherman. Sankt Petri Kyrka, St. Peter's Church, is tucked away at the back of Stortorget, on Goran Olsgatan. It's a red-brick church, it’s the oldest building in Malmo, and an example of Baltic Brick Gothic from the 14th century. Pride of Malmo, its magnificent City Hall was the largest of its kind when it was built back in 1546. Today's town hall facade in Dutch Renaissance style was added in the 1860s and replaced a neoclassical facade from the beginning of the 1800s. On the facade you can see sculptural ornaments. Lilla Torg translates as "Little Square" and was built in the late 16th century as a commercial area for smaller market traders. Its present-day centrepiece is another of the city's quirky public artworks: the bedside lamp. The square is surrounded by some impressive medieval buildings and is also one of the top nightlife spots in the old city as it is home to many bars and pubs. In the pleasant green parks and coastal suburbs, such as Sibbarp, you get a good glance of the Swedish nature and landscape. Malmo is a creative and inquisitive city and Sweden most multicultural metropolis. Once a grey industrial city, it has reinvented itself as a modern and cool city with a vibrant night life.

Über das Reiseziel: Gothenburg is Sweden's second city and Scandinavia's largest port. Despite this, a great mix of city bustle and small town friendliness has made it famous as Sweden's friendliest city for years. In a nutshell, Gothenburg is a lively city with interesting sights and an unrivalled seaside atmosphere. Poseidon rules the city, the gigantic bronze sea god statue bares his muscles in the middle of Gotaplatsen, the city’s art centre, but his domain extends far beyond. Seafarers auction their catch weekday mornings at the Fiskekorka, meaning fish church. It is an indoor fish market which got its name from the building's resemblance to a Gothic church. Though Gothenburg is a bustling city, it can be pretty and restful, especially in the many parks. Slottsskogen has lakes, birds, and a zoo with Swedish animals. Just beyond are the famous Botanical Gardens, with collections from all around the world. Museums abound, but two are of special interest. The Röhsska Museum, the national museum of Swedish design and applied art and the Gothenburg Art Museum, housed in a magnificent building flanked by the theatre and concert hall, it features a world-class collection of Nordic art. Gothenburg's Cathedral, Domkyrkan, was built in 1815 on the ruins of two earlier churches which burnt down in 1721 and 1802. The neo-classical building is located at Vastra Hamngatan in the middle of the city centre. Gothenburg is not at all an industrial city as such but more a logistic centre. No grim environments or tall chimneys at all. Instead you have a huge amount of green areas, archipelago and loads of sport and culture. The bustle of crowds, the cosmopolitan restaurants, the cafes along the popular Avery, and the nearby western cost of Sweden make this city a humming one.

Über das Reiseziel: Oslo ist pulsierend und modern mit vielseitiger Architektur, ausgefallenem Nachtleben und Weltklasse-Museen. Zwischen dem Oslofjord und den Wäldern gelegen, steht in der Hauptstadt die Natur im Mittelpunkt, wo Sie in der Nähe des Stadtzentrums nach Herzenslust segeln, Ski fahren und wandern können. Dies ist definitiv ein Ort für Outdoor- und Tierliebhaber. Während Sie an üppig grünen Inseln und hoch aufragenden Felsvorsprüngen vorbeischweben, entfaltet sich die Stadt vor Ihren Augen - von ihrem kompakten Zentrum rund um die Kais bis zu den bewaldeten Flanken der umliegenden Hügel. Oslo wird durch seine Vielfalt noch schöner und bietet ein Durcheinander von modernen und alten Gebäuden, die der Stadt ein eklektisches Flair verleihen, mit dem aus Stahl und Glas bestehenden Munch-Museum, das dem altmodischen Charme des Stadtmuseums weicht, und den zerklüfteten mittelalterlichen Mauern der Festung Akershus, die über dem Fjord leuchtet. Die meisten Besucher werden Schwierigkeiten haben, sich zwischen den zahlreichen Museen Oslos zu entscheiden, die für fast jeden Geschmack etwas bieten: ein Auge in Auge mit dem eindringlichen Bild von Edvard Munchs Der Schrei in der Nationalgalerie, eine Chance, im Holmenkollen-Skimuseum in den Schuhen eines olympischen Skispringers zu stehen, oder ein Fenster in Geschichte und Kultur auf dem unvergesslichen Wikingerschiff. Polarschiff Fram oder Volksmuseen auf Bygdøy. Und Oslo ist sicherlich das kosmopolitische Herz Norwegens, mit einer schnell wachsenden Café- und Barkultur, erstklassigen Restaurants und einem Nachtleben, das von Weltklasse-Oper und Jazz bis hin zu Indie-Rock reicht. Die florierende Restaurantszene der Hauptstadt wurde mit vier Michelin-Sternen ausgezeichnet. Der Stadtteil Grünerløkka liegt in der Nähe des Munch-Museums und wimmelt nur so von geschäftigen kleinen Straßencafés und schicken Bars. Das kosmopolitische Herz Norwegens ist eine blühende, wirklich pulsierende Stadt und hat wirklich für jeden etwas zu bieten.

Über das Reiseziel: Clinging tenaciously to the hills surrounding its deeply indented fjord, Bergen’s stunning scenery and exciting cultural tradition make it unique among European cities. Once the capital of Norway, Bergen has always played a leading role in the nation’ history. Squeezed between mountains and bounded by water, the centre of town stretched between the harbour Bryggen and Torgalmenningen, the main square. Bergen’s most sensuous spot is the Torget, at the foot of the harbour, your nose will tell you what’s being sold. Here you can choose fish from open tanks and watch traders net, weight and clean the creature you’ve chosen. Looking towards the right side of the harbour you’ll see the pointed gables of Bryggen’s roofline. This row of heavy-timbered medieval buildings, typical of Hanseatic architecture, has survived half a dozen disastrous fires since its construction in the 16th century. Bryggen now features restaurants, bars and arts-and-crafts workshops. Housed in one of the best-preserved buildings, the Hanseatic Museum presents an interesting picture of commercial activity during those times. Starting from Torget or Bryggen, explore the jungle of houses on the slopes of Mount Floien. A steep hike above these houses will reward you with increasingly spectacular views of Bergen and the fjord beyond. Welcoming Bergen has numerous places for an evening beer or glass of wine. This beautiful and charming city has a dynamic cultural life and lively atmosphere and is the perfect place to explore the Sognefjord and other fantastic Norwegian fjords.

Über das Reiseziel: Sweden’s capital – a Nordic vision of waterways, parks and spire-filled skylines – is justifiably renowned as one of the most handsome cities in Europe. Spread over no less than 14 islands and surrounded by literally thousands of smaller, rocky islets, it combines the drama and open skies of Scandinavia with the verve, dynamism and urban cool of Western Europe. The soul of the place lies in its many faces: the stucco walls of the Old Town, the contemporary pulse of the galleries, the consumerist buzz of the shopping heartlands, the deep peace of the parklands, the thumping bass of the nightlife and, increasingly, the gourmet draw of the restaurants. Stockholm’s location on the shores of the Baltic Sea means seasonal variations hit hard, and many locals will tell you that the only thing to match the beauty of a summer’s evening in Stockholm is the winter charm of its frozen lakes and snow-fringed skylines. It’s certainly true that Stockholm’s unique character is a major reason for its popularity among travelers and, in a continent where charismatic urban destinations come thick and fast, it says plenty that the city’s cultural scene is vibrant enough to rival anywhere else in northern Europe. On top of its exhibitions, museums and concerts, meanwhile, it’s also a deeply romantic setting in which to while away a long weekend – you’d have to be hard-hearted not to fall for the mix of preserved medieval architecture, sweeping water vistas and unfailingly intense nightlife. Most importantly though, it’s worth stressing just how much this is a city apart. It’s the most populated urban area in Scandinavia, yet two thirds of it are still comprised of water and greenery. And if this doesn’t seem probable, well, you’ve got the ideal excuse to go and check

Über das Reiseziel: Helsinki is situated on a little peninsula on the southern tip of Finland. Approach Helsinki from the sea and you’ll see neoclassical buildings of elegant lines and pastel colours, and a marketplace overflowing with strawberries and salmon. The city has grown with attention to harmony. In summer many residents abandon urban tranquillity for their country cottages, but in winter the capital comes alive with theatre, political institutes and over 20,000 university students. Architecture buffs will love Helsinki. The handsome neoclassical buildings surrounding Senate Square were designed almost singlehandedly by German architect Carl Ludwig Engel in the early 19th century, just after Helsinki replaced Turku as Finland’s capital. The crowning piece is the Lutheran Cathedral, which has recently been refurbished and looks better than ever, with the 12 apostles on the roof once again looking down at the world below. Elsewhere in the city, the bold, simple creations of the city’s great 20th century architects, notably Aalto and Saarinen, blend with the clean neoclassical lines. The stunning Jean Sibelius Monument, dedicated to Finland’s most famous composer, consists of hundreds of steel pipes sculpted by Elia Hiltunen. The monument is in Sibelius Park. The Kansallimuseo, National Museum, has wonderful displays of Finnish culture. The exhibits of the City Museum illustrates the history of the city. The islands surrounding Helsinki make excellent daytrips. The sandy beaches and smooth rocks of Pihlajasaari make it a popular summer spot for tanning Finns. Every summer there are many free outdoor concerts in one of the city’s numerous parks. Afternoons, all kinds of music resound on the leafy Esplanadi. Helsinki is a small city if you compare it to those gigantic cities around the world but the spirit is still quite cosmopolitan. Helsinki is a beautiful city, especially in the summer. The streets are clean and you can always find a peaceful spot, in case you need one. Some say that Helsinki is "the biggest village in the world" and it is a great place for tourism, history, museums, galleries, theatre, music, shopping, restaurants, clubs, etc. all environmentally friendly, free of pollution and traffic congestion.