by Beautiful Bergen and beyond, Norway
Bergen is often referred to as “the city between seven mountains” – which embodies its blend of culture and nature. Lose yourself in its charming old town, fish markets, galleries and museums, then walk or take the funicular up Mount Fløyen for views and pine forest hikes. Bergen is a great base from which to make a day trip. Using direct buses/trains, you can go to Gudvangen to kayak across the fjord to your own secluded beach for a picnic lunch, or pop into Voss for water sports, walking and farm to fork food (Store Ringheim is my favorite. ).
Seb
Car-free relaxation on Utö, Sweden
Utö in the southwest of the Stockholm archipelago may be a “utöpia”. We packed a tent and went on a weekend adventure from Stockholm, taking the Line 21 bus and ferry. Life on the car-free island slows down and you find summer houses, wild strawberries, secluded beaches and swimming spots. We camped at a waterside site, with a view of the southern harbor and Mysingen, which has its own beach. The island’s bakery, Utö Bakgård, is a must-visit to try its cinnamon and cardamom buns.
Lizzie Bird
Dream break at Lake Vättern, Sweden
Hjo in Sweden is on the edge of Lake Vättern and provides the setting that holiday dreams are made of. You’d think you’d stepped back in time… if it weren’t for the outdoor heated pools, modern playgrounds and a few antique shops for those looking to find a treat. Licorice ice cream in a homemade waffle cone is a must at Gula Paviljongen, a great place to sit by the water and take it in.
Kirsty Johansson
Kayaking around Vaxholm, Sweden
We toured Norway, Denmark and Sweden over the last few summers, cycling and using public transport. We love the freedom it brings, and the opportunities it provides to explore cities and their outdoor pursuits. One of our favorites was traveling by commuter boat from Stockholm to the island of Vaxholm, which takes about an hour. There are beautiful shops, huge ice cream and picturesque cafes. We found a small jetty and a beach that was popular with swimmers and paddlers. On the day we visited, we had already reserved a kayak using Kayakomat, paying online and releasing the kayak and all the equipment needed using a pin code; it cost 398 Swedish krona (£30) for two hours in a two-seater kayak and was a great way to explore the island.
Rebecca
Related: My Swedish kayaking adventure: If Henry Moore had designed an archipelago, this would be it
To Scandinavian in Denmark
Ribe, one of Denmark’s oldest towns, has a Viking Center where you can get an authentic taste of family life more than 1,000 years ago. The town is also a great place to explore the marine wonders of the Wadden Sea national park and climb the nearby Marsk Tower to look out over the vast marshes. There is also a great campsite and restaurant near the tower.
Jacqui
Stay in the boat house, Norway
My partner and I stayed in a traditional houseboat (on Airbnb) in an area called Åsnes Finnskog in Norway, near the border with Sweden. We took a canoe out on Lake Vermundsjøen, cooked over an open fire, sunbathed on the big beach and swam to a nearby island – without encountering anyone over the two nights we stayed. It was a great experience.
Angelica
I found a perfect beach in Denmark
In the summer, I found that the sandy beaches of Denmark are peaceful and free of sunbeds and hotels blocking many of them. They are often protected by sand dunes, making them sheltered from the wind and perfect for swimming, sunbathing and picnicking with local rye bread, cheese and fresh herring. Hornbæk beach was my favorite of the many I tried last summer: it’s only 90 minutes by public transport from Copenhagen. A morning drink at the Albis cafe will set you up for the day. The Danes love their ice creams, and Iskagehuset, just behind the beach, has lovely flavors made with milk from local cows.
Steam
Tips from Guardian Travel readers
Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will appear online and may be printed. To enter the latest competition visit the readers’ tips homepage
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At one with nature hiking in northern Sweden
My friends thought I was crazy when I told them I was going to the Arctic Circle last summer instead of Ibiza, but my visit to Sarek national park in northern Sweden was brilliant. I joined a community of hikers and wild campers who were just wandering around, completely at one with each other and nature, happy to share tips, resources, food and life stories as we walked, and then lit campfires to keep warm in the long summer nights. In a landscape of mountains, forests and streams, there were reindeer, moose, wolverines and kind Sami people. Much better than getting burnt and drunk on a Spanish island.
Bill
Winning tip: Nature under midnight skies on the Åland Islands
The Swedish but Finnish Åland Islands, in the gulf between Turku and Stockholm, contain so much of the culture and beauty of Scandinavia. There is idyllic farmland, beautiful villages and banks of wild lupines in impressionistic colours. We cycled to Kastelholm Castle, a palace and prison, went birding on Lågskär island and visited the museum ship in Mariehamn harbour. Wonderful local cheeses washed down with cold-pressed fresh berry juice were a highlight, as were midsummer rituals such as the saunas. It was a wonderful moment watching swans roaming on a calm sea under midnight skies full of light.
Elizabeth
