I’ve spent the last few summers exploring Europe’s Nordic countries, and I want to show you my favorite places so here’s my Scandinavia, top 10. Scandinavia has to be one of my all-time favorite regions. It’s made up of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and Denmark now what’s super interesting is that all these countries are ranked in the top 10 happiest places in the world. They must be doing something right now, aside from being home to the happiest countries, Scandinavia offers some of the world’s most unique landscapes from the fjords of Norway to the sea, and cliffs of the far islands.
1. Lofoten Islands
I just can’t get enough of this place alright. So, let’s start this article off in the Lofoten islands now Lofoten is located in northern Norway and even though it’s in the arctic circle, it feels like you’re on a tropical island there. I was lucky enough to go there about two summers ago. We flew in and road trip through Lofoten, our first pit stop was, at this little fishing village called Henningsvaer to see the world’s most scenic football field. When we got there, we sadly didn’t have a soccer ball, but we had a good time playing on the field and enjoying the incredible views of Henningsvaer we kept on driving and made it to the iconic town of rain. Now, when you think of Norway, this is it: it has those red houses surrounded by massive sea mountains. In my opinion, I’d have to say that rain is the most beautiful town in Lofoten. When I was planning my road to Norway, I remember seeing pictures of this place and I just couldn’t believe it existed now.
If you want to do an amazing hike, I’d recommend hiking to Kvalvika beach. Now it’s about a four-kilometer trek and I promise it’s worth it when you get to the beach you’re going to be amazed by the landscape. It has mountains that reminded me of Switzerland, the Ocean that looks like the Caribbean and it’s as green as a tropical island. I just can’t believe places like this exist, especially in the arctic circle. When we were there, we wanted to get a good vantage point for the sunset. So we hiked up to this vantage point, and I just got one of my all-time favorite shots. I mean I just couldn’t believe those colors from the orange mountain to the green slope to the crystal blue sea. I mean it was just amazing.
2. The Faroe Islands
After the Lofoten Island, we’re going to head over to the Faroe Islands located right between Norway and Iceland in the North Atlantic Ocean, the archipelago is made up of 18 volcanic islands. Now I have to say that the Faroes are home to some of the world’s most dramatic landscapes from sheer sea cliffs, to waterfalls straight into the Ocean. I mean the Faroe’s just have so much to offer. While the islands are part of the kingdom of Denmark, they are a self-governing archipelago.
3. Mulafossur Waterfall
One of the most scenic places in the Faroe Islands is the Mulafossur Waterfall. Now it’s located on Faroe island and the waterfall descends about 100 feet into the Ocean. Below I mean the backdrop of the village with a massive green mountain behind makes for one of the most scenic places on earth. One of my favorite places in the Faroe Islands is the sea stacks of Dragoneer. I mean the name itself. Just sounds freaking epic. It’s this slanted sea rock with a perfect arch right above the cold Atlantic Ocean. This place looks like a scene out of the game of thrones. I felt like a dragon was going to fly through that arch. Now, while I haven’t been to the Faroes, it’s one of the first places I’m going to travel to once it opens up. I just can’t believe how beautiful the Faroe islands are.
4. Helsinki
So after we’re going heading to Finland now for the past three years, Finland has been ranked the happiest country in the world thanks to its wonderful healthcare, education, and its beautiful scenery. On the same note, the capital of Finland, Helsinki has been ranked the happiest and most livable city in the world. Now Helsinki is one of the northernmost metropolitan areas. The whole city just has a great vibe to it I mean I would love to spend Christmas there. Now, if you want to venture out of Helsinki, you can take a ferry across the Baltic sea to visit talon Estonia, or you can even head over to St Petersburg Russia.
5. Lapland
If you want to see some of Finland’s nature, you can head up north to visit Lapland. Now Lapland is Finland’s northernmost region and borders, Russia, Sweden, and Norway. In the winter months, Lapland becomes a frozen wonderland. That looks like something straight out of a Disney movie. Now, if you can handle the cold Lapland may be one of the best places in the world to see the northern lights. The northern lights are abundant throughout the cold winter months it can get up to negative 50 degrees Celsius in the winters. So make sure you bundle up. One thing I love about Lapland is the snow-covered trees. They look like something out of a Dr. Seuss book. It’s believed that Santa Claus originated in Finland and with all the reindeer and pine trees. I understand why, in the summertime, Lapland becomes a peaceful area with wildlife and endless nature. I just want to spend some time in Finland relaxing in a sauna and seeing for myself why Finland is the happiest country in the world alright.
6. Stockholm
So after Finland, we’re going to head over to the neighboring Sweden to visit Stockholm, Stockholm is Sweden’s capital. It’s made up of 14 islands and 50 bridges. I was able to visit Stockholm this summer and I was just pleasantly surprised compared to other Nordic countries such as Norway and Iceland, I felt like Sweden was much more affordable. I had a good time just walking around the city and using their public transportation I swear. I wrote about the world’s biggest escalator the buildings and the architecture. There are so unique. I mean just such a wonderful city. I think everyone should visit when I was in Stockholm. I road-tripped five hours to this little town called Vindeln in the middle of Sweden. I had to go film an interview out there anyways I just had a great time driving. I was just amazed by the endless pine trees that seemed to go on forever and ever it was such a beautiful, yet strange place all right.
7. Lysibotn
So after Sweden, we’re going to head over to Lysibotn to drive down Norway’s craziest road now Lysibotn is a small village. That’s about a six-hour drive from Oslo and what I think is so scenic. Lysibotn is the road that leads down to it. It consists of 27 hairpin turns that descend the fjord to the village below when you’re at the bottom you’re going to be amazed by the surrounding walls of the fjord. If you’re down for a hike, you can trek 12 kilometers to Gerhabilton, which is famous for its rock wedge between two cliff walls, looks a little sketch to me, but hey I’d, send it
8. Pulpik Rock
After Lysibotn we’re going to head over to the nearby Pulpik Rock located in the same fjord as Lysibotn built-in Pulpik Rock, is a famous flat top cliff, with a straight drop of over 600 meters to get there, you can park on the base camp and make the six-kilometer hike the rock can be super packed. So if you want to avoid the crowds you can wake up super early and get to pulpit rock to enjoy the sunrise, I mean I can’t think of a better place to watch the sunrise. I just can’t believe how big the cliff walls are. I mean it just goes straight down to the fjord below it’s just such a stunning place all right, so another hike to do in Norway is the trek to Trolltunga.
Now, Trolltunga is possibly the most iconic rock formation in Norway, as it shoots out over 2000 feet from the lake below Trolltunga is the hardest hike of the three it’s a 28-kilometer round-trip track that takes anywhere from eight to twelve hours. To do so make sure you give yourself plenty of time. You can start the hike at the main, trailhead and hike 14 kilometers in to reach the famous Trolltunga rock. If you go between June 1st and September 30th, you don’t need a tour guide, but if you go in the winter months you need one because this is a little sketch. What is a strenuous hike? It offers some of the best views in Norway, alright.
9. Reynisfjara Beach
So after the fjords of Norway were going to head over to Iceland to experience the land of fire and ice, I have to say that Iceland is home to some of the world’s most unique landscapes from volcanic craters to a blue lagoon. The country just has so much to offer. I went to Iceland a few years ago and I was just blown away by the country. One of my favorite places was Reynisfjara beach. It is a black sand beach. That’s about a two-hour drive from Reykjavik. What I loved about the beach is the basalt sea stacks in the Ocean. It makes you wonder how the Vikings must have felt when they washed up on the Icelandic shores after the rainiest fire. You can check out Skogafoss waterfall, it’s one of the most impressive waterfalls in Iceland with a drop of over 60 meters. You can also drive an hour east on the ring road and visit one of the most scenic canyons in Iceland.
I'm not even going to try to pronounce it, but it looks like something straight out of a fantasy movie. Don't be surprised if you see a troll walking around there if you drive another three hours down the ring road you’ll reach Skogafoss, it’s such a dramatic view with the black sand and the mountain. In the background on the other side of Iceland, you can visit Kirkjufellsfoss. This uniquely shaped mountain looks like Gandalf's hat, there’s a waterfall nearby, and makes for an incredible shot. If you go in the wintertime, you might just get lucky and see the aurora borealis, there’s just so much to see in Iceland, and I hope everyone can see it at least once in their life.
10. Senja
So for our final location, we’re going to head back to northern Norway to visit Senja now senior Norway’s second-largest island to get there, I flew into Tromso and rented a car, and made the three-hour drive. The reason I wanted to go to Senja was that I wanted to hike to Segla anyways. I drove to this town called fjord and I got to the base of the hike. It was a surprisingly difficult hike, but eventually, I made it to the top, and I was just baffled by the view. The rock formation rose hundreds of meters out of the Ocean. It was just like nothing I’d ever seen before now.
I was just having an amazing time and I decided I wanted to spend the night on top of the mountain, so I could see the northern lights. All I had was a blanket and I used my camera bag as a pillar. So I found this little mossy cliff ledge and I set up camp there and waited for the northern lights to show up around 11 pm. I woke up to the aurora borealis above my head. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. They moved surprisingly fast, like snakes in the arctic sky, and seeing those lights made me feel like a kid again, and it will forever be one of the most special nights of my life. Some nights, you don’t need to fall asleep to start dreaming all right. Well, that is it for my Scandinavian top 10.