what to do in Scandinavia

[octothorp]

My wife and I are going to be spending three weeks in Scandinavia in April, and I'd love some suggestions of things to do, especially relatively inexpensive suggestions. Gothenberg is going to be our arriving and starting point, but we'll likely spend some time Norway and Finland and Denmark as well.

[CMPunk]

Go check out Mikka's parents place

[Circa89]

When I was in Finland and Sweden we ate a lot of Reindeer meat and consumed many beers. Switch the Reindeer for Spolumbo's and it wasn't really all that different from Calgary.

One thing I tried to catch but never did was a Swedish hockey game.

I loved Scandanavia. Very European yet still modern.

[Nancy]

If I was researching, I'd probably start here, personally:

http://www.ricksteves.com/plan/desti.../scan_menu.htm

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by fotze

In Denmark try to find a family to experience some hygge.

I'm afraid to even google what that means.

[Nancy]

Originally Posted by GreenTeaFrapp

I'm afraid to even google what that means.

It's the numb feeling you get at the top of your head after consuming a few shots of Akvavit. The Danes will fool you by telling you that akvavit is schnaps. It is actually an industrial solvent related to Pine Sol.

[Delthefunky]

Hey I'd definetly either drive or boat the coast and just check out some of the old towns. I always loved the seaside communities.

[Bill Bumface]

I'm suddenly interested in this thread after reading that it looks like the Flames will be opening the season in Helsinki. I've been looking for an excuse to check out Scandinavia and this is perfect. How are the trains up there? As good as other parts of Europe?

[awildermode]

if you make it to Stockholm, check out the Vasa Museum. A ship that was sunk in maiden voyage that they "found" on the bottom on the waters of Stockholm. Totally worth it, you can easily spend 3-4 hours there.

http://www.vasamuseet.se/InEnglish/about.aspx

[Locke]

I hear the fishing is good.

And if you time it right, you might even be able to take in a Flames game.

[Phanuthier]

Denmark was easily my favourite, I could give some recommendations based on what you like to do. Copenhagen is (one of) my favourite cities in Europe, and I liked Denmark over Sweden. (Denmark over Stockholm, Stockholm was alright though.) Finland was alright, but nothing special there. Tallin (Estonia) was really unique and cool if you plan on hopping over the sea.

In particular, the island of Ærø has a small town, Ærøskøbing, like no other I've ever seen. Check it out.

In Copenhagen, some to check out:
- Christiania - hippie community.
- the area around City Hall (radhuspladesen, Hans Christian statue) is pretty cool
- Nyhavn, a little sailors quarter that is very popular
- Rosenburg Palace, their art is really different from the rest of Europe

For Stockholm, I thought the greatest part of Stockholm was taking a boat into Stockholm then actually being there itself. Lots of islands just dotted everywhere, with a deep enough canal for big ships to go through there. I liked walking around Stockholm (wasn't that impressed by the Vasa, actually).

Oslo had a pretty sweet little park of statues. The museums were less then thrilling IMO.

[Itse]

Estonia is not in Scandinavia (nor is Finland actually), but if you do end up in Tallinn, check out the restaurant Olde Hansa. It's a "medieval" restaurant, which actually makes an effort (unlike the hundred other medieval restaurants you can find around Europe). The food is really good and not terribly expensive (relatively speaking). It's in middle of the old town in a tower, quite easy to find, as the place is very well known. Don't expect to do much walking afterwards though, heavy stuff. (http://www.oldehansa.ee/, the prices are in Estonian crowns.)

As for Helsinki... Well I've lived here my whole life, so I have no idea what to tell you about it I can propably answer most questions you might have though, so feel free to PM me.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Nancy

It's the numb feeling you get at the top of your head after consuming a few shots of Akvavit. The Danes will fool you by telling you that akvavit is schnaps. It is actually an industrial solvent related to Pine Sol.

That stuff is awful. My best friend is of Danish heritage and his father makes us drink that crap every Christmas. I'm pretty sure it's actually just gasoline.

[icarus]

Goteborg - Check out some death metal
Oslo - Munch museum, and take a ferry over to the islands in the fjord, get one of those little disposable BBQs and picnic in a park
Stockholm - Walk around the harbour to Skeppsholmen, Nobel Prize museum
Copenhagen - party in Nyhavn

Hopefully the weather is nice because if it is the parks will be full of scantily clad sunbathers.

[mots]

-Talin (in Estonia) is a must. 4 hr slow ferry from Helsinki, or 1.5 hr fast boat. A day trip would be enough if you're short on Time

-Take a drive up north to see the Fjords

-Check out the ice hotel (if it hasnt melted by the time you get there

-go to a local sauna

[mykalberta]

Get jiggy with Scandanavien women - they are hot