Denmark & Finland

Sitting atop Europe, literally and figuratively, Denmark & Finland offer you an unsurpassed view of European history, sheer natural beauty and contemporary culture. Whether you’re meeting the Sami people of Lapland or drinking in the design cool of Copenhagen, a trip to this region is eye opening, soul changing and mind blowing, all at once!

Must Dos

Denmark
Ride the roller coasters at Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, the world’s oldest amusement park.
The kids will love you forever. Plan a trip to the original Legoland, near Copenhagen.
Indulge at meal time. Copenhagen has Michelin starred eateries by the dozen, including the legendary Noma.
Come face to face with Denmark’s proud Viking past at the Viking Ship Museum in Roskilde. It showcases ships, seafaring and boatbuilding in prehistoric and medieval times.
Try the Danish Smørrebrød (sandwich).
Tour the Carlsberg Brewery in Copenhagen.
Photograph the Little Mermaid, she is quintessentially Danish.
Take a canal tour in Copenhagen.
Feast your eyes on the Rococo palaces of Amalienborg, in the Danish capital.
Go to the top of Denmark and stay in and around Skagen to spot birds like Ducks, Gulls, Auks, and Guillemots on their migratory paths.
Finland
Charming Helsinki has its own signature vibe. Spend enough time to take in its world class art museums, restaurants and historic sites like the Uspenski Cathedral and the Helsinki Cathedral.
Attend a fashion brunch in Helsinki.
See the star of the capital – the former maritime fortress at Suomenlinna.
Keep silent at the Kamppi Chapel of Silence, Helsinki.
Say goodbye to plain old Karaoke and take the Karaoke taxi instead.
Go on a seal safari on Lake Saimaa, to see the world’s rarest seal – the Ringed Saimaa seal.
Try a reindeer safari in Lapland.
Photo hike in Kuhmo to snap pics of Bears, Wolves & Wolverines. • Enjoy the forested slopes of Koli.
Attend a uniquely Finnish festival like the Air Guitar festival or the Wife Carrying championship!
Drink the coffee. Finns are addicted to the brew.
Get social in a sauna. There are saunas everywhere; even boats tug their floating counterparts along.
Think out of the box. Finns celebrate Restaurant Day (anyone can set one up) and Failure Day!
Plan a trip to the World Heritage Town of Rauma, Finland, famous for lace and wooden architecture.
Don’t miss the northernmost medieval stone fortress Olavinlinna, Savonlinna, Finland, built in the 15th century.
Movie buffs, make a beeline for the world’s only Midnight Sun Film festival, held at Sodankylä, Lapland.
Figure out what a Moomin is. Or just take the kids to the Moomin Valley Art Museum in Tampere.

Meet the indigenous people of Lapland, who have mastered the art of surviving the Arctic. Inari is the heart of Finnish Sámi culture and home to, among other things, the Sámi parliament and the Siida Sami museum. Tour these but make sure to get out on a sled, pulled by Norwegian horses to visit the Pielpajärvi Wilderness Church (a historic church that served as the winter headquarters of the community). Visit a husky farm and be sure to snuggle around a fire listening to Sámi stories and myths.

Yes, it’s official. Santa is real and lives in Finland. Make the trip to Rovaniemi and not only do you get an appointment with Santa, you can feed his reindeer, ice skate and have a great day out at the amusement park. The Arctic Circle cuts the village, so go put that certificate in your stocking.

A self-governing hippie city would be on our list any day. This quirky “country” was taken over by squatters who immediately declared it a tax free zone. Today, it still retains its free spirited optimism and is home to quirky public art, cafes, warehouses and restaurants!

The sanctuary of Delphi was so stunning and so perfectly situated, it was considered the ‘navel’ of the world, the place where heaven and earth met! The Oracle only added to its weight in the history books. Delphi also hosted the Pythian games, the forerunner of the Olympics. The extensive ruins are situated on multiple terraces on Mount Parnassus and the Sacred Way leads up to the main sanctuary of Apollo. It is dotted with monuments like the treasury of the Athenians, the theatre, the Stadion and the temple of Athena.

The largest lake in Finland creates its own archipelago of 14,000 little islands. Navigate this watery labyrinth by kayak, boat or cycle. Cruises also take you to the best sights on this 400 km waterway. Summer activities including sailing on 100-year-old steamships, lounging on the lake’s many beaches and fishing.

As the Finns put it, these remarkably pure waters are at the ‘heart of Finnish identity’. Sailors, hikers, paddlers, nature lovers or the merely curious will find plenty to be enthralled about. Walk in the endless forests, pick mushrooms, try the Finnish sauna and find your own summer cabin. Or simply BYOB (bring your own boat) and make your way through the waters. If life on water thrills you, try the Squirrel route, the 57 km long canoeing route between Juva and Sulkava.

Meet the largest migratory dune in northern Europe. Moving east at the rate of 15 metres a year (that’s quite fast for a dune), this white sand menace eats up everything in its path. Hike up its slopes and you’ll be overawed by the sheer power of nature.

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