Scandinavia comes to life in the summer, when the residents of Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Iceland and Finland make the most of the long days and short nights. The summer months from June to August are the best time to visit the Scandinavian countries, although they are also the most popular; if you want to avoid crowds, try heading there in May or early June, or from late August to mid-September.
See the Midnight Sun in Lapland
The Midnight Sun brings 24-hour daylight to the northernmost parts of Scandinavia. In Lapland, the sun does not set at all for weeks during June and July. Even in the southern parts of Sweden, Norway and Finland, the nights are very short and it never really gets dark. Iceland enjoys Midnight Sun, too, and this is a special time to tour the island.
Rock Festivals in Scandinavia
The Roskilde Festival in Denmark (30 June to 3 July 2011) is one of the largest and most popular rock festivals in Europe, and the 2011 line-up includes around 170 bands and artists. Finland has so many rock festivals that there is something going on every weekend in the summer, but some of the biggest include Ruisrock in Turku (8 to 10 July 2011) and Provinssirock in Seinäjoki (17 to 19 June 2011). Sweden’s biggest rock events include the Sweden Rock Festival in Sölvesborg (8 to 11 June 2011) and the Hultsfred Festival (14 to 16 July 2011).
Check Out Finland’s Weird Festivals
Finland’s festival summer also includes some of the weirdest festivals in the world, from mobile-phone throwing competitions to wife-carrying contests. The annual World Sauna Championship has been discontinued after one of the finalists died in the 2010 competition.
Take a Boat Trip to the Swedish Archipelago
Sweden’s Stockholm Archipelago consists of 24 000 islands and islets, and scheduled boats travel to many of the islands from Stockholm. You can visit some of the islands on a daytrip or book a longer break in a rental cottage or a cosy bed-and-breakfast. If you have more time, visit Gotland off the East Coast of Sweden and explore the medieval town of Visby (a Unesco World Heritage Site), or rent a cycle and tour the island.
Visit the Åland Islands
The Åland archipelago, between Finland and Sweden, is one of Scandinavia’s best secrets. This idyllic archipelago (that belongs to Finland but is mainly Swedish-speaking) is made of around 6500 islands, but only 65 are inhabited. Expect rugged coastline, quiet beaches, small villages and picturesque countryside. Ferries to Mariehamn (Maarianhamina), the archipelago’s only town, leave from Turku and Helsinki in Finland and from Stockholm in Sweden.
Join Traditional Midsummer Celebrations
Midsummer falls on the weekend between the 19 and 26 of June and is celebrated in all Scandinavian countries, although celebrations are especially lively and traditional in Finland and Sweden. In Sweden, the Maypole is a key part of the celebrations. In Finland, as in many other Scandinavian countries, bonfires are lit on Midsummer Eve. Finns escape to their summer cottages for Midsummer, but there are also countless festivals and events around Scandinavia on the Midsummer weekend, the weekend closest to the summer solstice and a time of 24-hour daylight.
