Have you ever visited Scandinavian countries? Or are you thinking about planning a trip to Scandinavian countries? Well, in any case, you need to know the best visiting country of Scandinavia for a worthy trip. This article will help you to find the best country to visit out of all the Scandinavian countries.
Geographically, there are 3 Scandinavian countries which are Denmark, Sweden, and Norway. But culturally, there are 6 Scandinavian countries which are Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, and the Faroe Island. Here the question arises that what are Nordic countries then? There is often a misconception between the Scandinavian and Nordic countries. Let’s discuss it!
Scandinavian and Nordic Countries
Nordic countries include the islands of the northern part of Europe including the surrounding regions. Nordics generally consist of Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Faroe Island, Iceland, and Greenland. So, overall, there are many islands and many worth-visiting places in Scandinavia and the Nordics. Honestly speaking, all of these regions are beautiful places to explore.
They have a good quality of life and are doing well in health, safety, public services, and social security, etc. Overall, these countries serve a decent ex-pat experience. In 2018, all Nordic countries were on the list of the top 10 happiest countries in the World. Let’s take a look at every country’s good point and let’s find the best Scandinavian country to visit.
Sweden
Sweden is famous for a lot of things. For many years it has ranked as one of the top countries of the world according to economic activity and welfare. It is located on the Scandinavian Peninsula. Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and is an enchanting city to visit.
It looks like a lovely old town with a collection of interesting museums. Kalmar is also a small and beautiful city in Sweden. There is a caste called Kalmar castle which is a must to visit if you are in Sweden.
Moreover, Gothenburg is another city of Sweden that lies in the most western portion of the country. There is also a fancy Ice hotel in Sweden, which is again an interesting place to visit. But Sweden also has one drawback that is the huge amount of sales taxes which may affect your tour. According to OECD, Sweden charges a high rate of taxes including payroll taxes.
Norway
Norway is the neighboring country of Sweden and is quite similar to Sweden. Oslo is the capital city of Norway and the second largest city of Norway is Bergen. It is a great place to experience its rich culture and historical attractions. Therefore, people know this city as the most photogenic place in the world.
Tromso is famous for its northern lights. This country encompasses enchanting glaciers, mountains, and deep coastal fjords. Norway is also famous for fishing, hiking, and skiing. Lofoten islands of Norway are a famous spot for Norwegians which is famous for its beautiful sceneries, northern lights, and mountains.
Finland
In 2018 and 2019, Finland has declared the happiest country in the world. It is a perfect place to experience winters, snow, and deer of course. A city in Finland named Rovaniemi is a good spot for experiencing the northern lights.
Tampere is a perfect city to visit for the little cultural life and natural beauty. Finland is a great place to enjoy big life consisting of many lakes. It has a bunch of amazing towns and villages. Medieval city Turku is the oldest city in Finland. Finland is best for saunas and wild swimming.
Denmark
In 2012, 2013, and 2016 Denmark was declared the happiest country in the world. It is situated below the rest of Scandinavia. Denmark is a beautiful country and home to royal palaces and colorful Nyhavn harbor. Copenhagen is the capital of Denmark and is one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the world.
It is famous for its Tivoli, palaces, and the statue of the little mermaid. Denmark is a most beautiful city with enchanting canals, remarkable museums, and galleries. It’s a surprise for most of the people that Denmark also has beautiful beaches.
Iceland
Iceland lies in the middle of the Atlantic. It offers a great quality of life with a pleasant climate. The capital city of Iceland is Reykjavik. This city serves authentic Icelandic cuisine and a lot of fun places to visit with friends.
Also, the Blue Lagoon in Iceland is a perfect place for hot and calming pools for people in the chilling winter or warm evenings of summer. Silica hotel is also worth attention here. If you want to enjoy the sunsets, volcanic beaches, and gorgeous rocky mounts, Vik and Dyrholaey is truly a perfect place.
Faroe Island
Torshavn is the capital of Faroe Island. It is the oldest historic capital and is a great place to wander in along with its tasty cuisine. In Faroe Island, Vagar Island is arguably the most breathtaking island. This incredible island offers a great view of nature. The village Gasadalur of Vagar Island has a beautiful waterfall known as Mulafossur waterfall.
Another island in Faroe Island is eye-capturing which is Eysturoy to experience the charm of island life. Saksun is also a wonderful landscape in Faroe Island with its mesmerizing greenery. It is located approximately a 1-hour drive from Torshavn. It is the quiet and calmest place.
What is the best Scandinavian country to live in and to visit?
After analyzing all of these countries, Finland is the best Scandinavian country to live in and worth visiting in all terms. Well, it is a good bet because it was marked as the happiest country also in 2019. Thus, there is no secret sauce specific to Nordic countries’ happiness that is unavailable to others. The life expectancy is also rising to a large extent in this country.
In terms of traveling to Finland, one of the major benefits is that it gives you the cheapest budget. Business taxes are also less reliable sources of revenue there. About 100 years ago, the country did not have to come across individual income taxes.
In the twentieth century, the farmers had significant political power even within the Nordic parliaments. And in the 19th century, mass education was the means of building stronger states. Hence, keeping the business environment and living conditions, Finland fulfills the criteria pretty well.
What is Finland famous for?
Well, Finland is famous for having the world’s best educational system and the cleanest air. It is known for its saunas, reindeers, Nokia, and the Santa Claus village. Finland is a Scandinavian as well as a Nordic country. It is sometimes also called the Country of a Thousand Lakes because it has about 187,888 lakes. The native of Finland gets the biggest distribution of happiness from them.
Moreover, it is also famous for its spectacular view of the Northern lights. Although, you can see them in other countries the Aurora Borealis favors Finland in that you get an exceptional amount of privacy while you do it. Moreover, Lapland is my favorite spot, and the best latitude for seeing them is the Kilpisjärvi region.
Finland is also known for its quirky sports but the most catching among all is ice hockey. Many countries indeed have rivalries with their neighbors, but nothing gets Finns and Swedes riled up like an ice hockey match, especially against each other. Finland is also famous for pioneering technological advancement.
For many of us, our first cell phones were made by Finland’s master company, Nokia. If you are living in Finland, you will know the importance of social benefits and healthy life expectancy. Hope this article is helpful for you! If you have any queries, contact the US.
