Debbie Valentine takes a trip around some of Scandinavia’s capitals, visiting Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki.
Scandinavia summons up different images for different people. Saunas, pickled fish, flat-pack furniture – whatever it summons up in your mind, each of the capitals make a great place to visit for a short break and have lots to do and see (including saunas and pickled fish, but maybe you can leave the furniture until you get back).
Copenhagen
The capital of Denmark is a compact city, easy to get around and with a thriving cultural life. Whilst lots of tourists flock to have their picture taken with the Little Mermaid statue, out near the harbour, bypass those crowds and get stuck into the history of the city. The Rundetaarn – Roundtower – built in 1642 is a great place to see the city. A spiral ramp takes you to the top of the tower – up which, legend has it, Peter the Great ascended on horseback – where you get a great panorama of the city.
Copenhagen is home to seven castles and palaces. Of these, the most popular with visitors are the Amalienborg Palace, home to the Danish royal family, the Christiansborg Palace, home to the government and the Rosenborg Castle which is home to the Royal Collections and the Crown Jewels.
Copenhagen is a very green city, with a policy that all citizens must be able to reach a green space by foot within less than 15 minutes. The King’s Garden is home to the Botanical Gardens and serves as a sculpture garden. The famous Tivoli Gardens is a pleasure garden and amusement park, home to rollercoasters and shows.
A trip to Denmark wouldn’t be complete without sampling a Danish pastry (called Viennese pastries locally). Food-lovers won’t be disappointed with the offerings in Copenhagen.
Stockholm
Stockholm is a thriving capital city, one of the busiest cultural capitals in the world and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.
In the city make a stop at the Royal Palace, where you can visit the palace, chapel and see the crown jewels. The Palace is located near Gamla Stan, the old town which still features its medieval layout and brightly painted buildings. Take the chance to stop at the Opera House where the Nobel Prizes are awarded each year.
One of the most popular tourist sites in Stockholm is the Vasa Museum, where the ship Vasa has been conserved after being pulled up from the Stockholm harbour where it sank before even leaving the city. There is an extensive display about the ship, and even a project that has reconstructed the faces of some of the crew, so you can get up close and personal with the sailors.
Next door to the Vasa is the Nordic Museum, where you can learn about life in Sweden from the native people up to the modern day. Flat-pack furniture even gets a look in here in a display about life at home. The National museum is home to Sweden’s largest collection of art, with over 16,000 paintings and 30,000 objects.
If you want to explore out of the city, a trip through the Stockholm archipelago must be one of the best boat journeys in the world. On a summer’s evening, with the sun dipping over the islands (some of which are only big enough for one beach hut) it’s easy to see why the locals abandon the capital in July and August and head out here – it’s stunning.
Helsinki
Helsinki is the most individual of the Scandinavian capitals. Whilst Stockholm and Copenhagen have a lot of similarities, Helsinki was very influenced by Soviet Russia. It is still easy to see the influence in some of the architecture (Helsinki occasionally stood in for Soviet Russia in western films) but the city today is a compact, friendly place with lots to see.
The National Museum of Finland is a great stop, covering Finnish history from prehistory up until the present day. There are some great displays and archaeological finds about life hundreds of years ago, and here you can learn more about the country’s chequered history, and the great influence Russia has had.
Helsinki was home to Finland’s (probably) most famous son, composer Jean Sibelius, and you can see his memorial and the concert hall named after his famous ‘Finlandia’ symphony, a striking modern building.
If the weather is nice, take a trip down the Esplanandin Puisto gardens into the harbour, where you can pick up a boat trip to take you out into the small islands dotted around the harbour. Visit Suomenlinna Maritime Fortress and Helsinki Zoo, both accessible by boat.
Whichever capital you visit, or of you want to see all of them, you’re bound to have an enjoyable city. Scandinavia is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and with friendly residents, great food and fascinating history and culture, there’s something for everyone.