We all have it – our bucket list for extraordinary travel experiences which we simply need to experience at least once in our life. A great place to travel to if you want to fulfill some of these dreams is Scandinavia. Located in the North of Europe, Scandinavia holds some of the absolute treasures of travelling. From outstanding experiences to the most beautiful nature – Scandinavia really is a traveller´s dream. With the countries of Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland you have a great variety of places to visit and options where to start your journey. Here are the 10 bucket list experiences in Scandinavia you need to know about. And maybe you will even find some inspiration what to put on your list before leaving to the North.
See the Northern lights
Let´s start the list of the best bucket list experiences in Scandinavia with a phenomenon which is probably on everyone’s list: the Northern lights. The Northern lights is one of the biggest wonders to ever witness. Seeing the sky turn into blue, green and purple will leave you speechless. And there is no better place to tick that experience off your bucket list than Scandinavia. Norway as well as the Swedish and Finnish Lapland are the best destinations for the Northern lights.
The best chances are away from any city lights. You can book a guided tour or simply go out into the dark by yourself. The darker the area is, the better. And of course, the sky needs to be clear. There are special apps which give you a forecast for the aurora. They are quite helpful, therefore make sure to download one before your trip to Scandinavia.
If you get lucky and see the Northern lights, simply enjoy it. You cannot capture it on your phone the same way as you witness it. So take it all in and enjoy every second of this rare yet so fascinating moment.
Be aware though that there is never a guarantee that you will actually see them. You could spend two weeks above the Artic circle and not witness them or, on the other hand, just be there for a night and see them. But let´s focus on the positive side, fingers are crossed!
Experience the midnight sun
The complete opposite of the Northern lights is the midnight sun. During the summer nights, the sun never sets in the very North of Scandinavia. It is basically daylight all day long and you will not even experience a sunrise or a sunset. While on one hand, it is extremely fascinating, it can also be quite hard to handle. Your body finds it harder to sleep and find some rest and you will need to adapt to a complete new rhythm.
The best way to experience the midnight sun is to go for a hike at midnight. It is insane to experience day light at that time of the day. Or rather at that time of the night. The whole lightening of the midnight sun will leave you speechless.
Witness the extraordinary wildlife and see elks and reindeers
Scandinavia is home to a lot of wildlife. Some of the most famous animals to witness are elks and reindeers. And yes, this actually is a common experience in Scandinavia. Especially in Sweden you will for sure get to tick that off your bucket list. Seeing an elk in the wild requires a bit of luck, but reindeers are quite frequent.
Make sure to always respect the animals and do not disturb them.
Go on a husky tour
An absolute banger on the list of the best bucket list experiences in Scandinavia is a husky tour. During the winter months, this is a huge part of the local tourism in Lapland and it will not be a challenge to get that moment done for yourself. You can book the husky tours directly with your hotel or find local offers. They usually take about an hour and you will have time to play and pet the dogs afterwards.
If possible, book your husky tour during the sunrise or the sunset as this is the most beautiful time of the day to ride the sled. Sitting or standing in the sled and driving through the winter wonderland of Lapland – this really feels surreal but could be coming reality in Scandinavia. What are you waiting for?
Experience the Swedish midsummer
A special experience in Sweden is the popular midsummer. This might be the most important day of the whole year in the country. If you are lucky, you will be able to experience a typical Swedish midsummer experience – with all the white dresses, flowers in your hair and a lot of dancing. This is day filled with happiness and joy. For the Swedes, this also means quite a lot of drinking 🙂
The best way to get the experience is either to be friends with a Swedish family or to simply join a public celebration. Especially in smaller villages, they take place in the village center and you can dance and sing with the locals.
See a beach covered in snow
This might be an experience which is not yet on your bucketlist. But think about it: have you ever seen a beach covered in snow? Or in general, a beach and snow combined? For most travellers, these are two totally different moods – the tropical vibe of the beach on one hand and the winter vibe with the snow on the other. And it usually does not go together, at least in most areas of the world where you can find sand beaches. But in Scandinavia, this is reality during many months of the year.
Have a walk on the beach and see the beauty of the white snow and the blue water combined.
Enjoy the night sky
A beautiful night sky as a bucket list experience? Let me tell you that the night sky in Scandinavia really is outstanding and unique. Due to the low population of most areas in Scandinavia, you have little to no light pollution at all. The result? The stars shine even brighter. You´ll be surprised about the actual beauty of the sky in Scandinavia, so make sure to spend some nights outside and look at the stars.
Camp in the wild
Ready to spend some nights in the wild? Camping in Scandinavia is an absolute bucket list experience. Not only because you are allowed to basically camp anywhere, but as well because it offers so many beautiful places to discover. It is legally allowed to park your van or set up your tent anywhere in Scandinavia, as long as you do not disturb anyone or enter private land. This leaves you with an endlessly large choice of stunning places for the night. A road trip with a camper or a tent through Scandinavia? Put that on your bucket list for sure!
For camping, a great way to discover nice places to spend the night is the Camp4night App. Here you can find some inspiration where to park or even find camp sites with toilets, WiFi or showers.
Witness outstanding nature
A very general bucket list experience but too important not to mention: witness the outstanding nature of Scandinavia. And this really could not be any more different. From the mountain scenery in Norway to the idyllic country side of Sweden, the beaches of Denmark and the lakes in Finland – Scandinavia is full of nature´s beauty and the best destination for the outdoor lovers.
If you love to hike, spend time in nature and simply enjoy the earth, Scandinavia is just the right place for you. It could not be more diverse, and one thing is promised: wherever you go, you´ll be in love. Seriously.
Go on a snowmobile tour over frozen lakes
You see, many bucket list experiences in Scandinavia are during the winter months. After a husky tour and seeing the Northern lights, why not go on a snowmobile tour as well? This is sooo much fun and should definitely be on your list. Driving with over 100 km/h over the frozen lakes of Lapland really is a moment to remember. You can book a tour together with your friends and mostly, it is combined with a little lunch or dinner break. The best time to do the tours is at night. And if you´re lucky you will even see the Northern lights while driving. Especially as you´re driving through remote areas where it is very dark. And driving under the Northern lights… doesn’t this already give you goosebumps?
Living the dream in Scandinavia
To sum it up: Scandinavia really is a traveller´s paradise. You can tick off many bucket list experiences and even add moments you did not know you needed to have in your life. A trip to Scandinavia is full of adventures and it offers so many different opportunities. With 4 different countries to explore, you will always have a reason to come back.
Therefore, put that on your bucket list: a trip to Scandinavia. And make sure to see it all.
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