by Spending summer in a city sounds more like hell than vacation, pulverized by heat rays bouncing between metal skyscrapers and suffocated with a fug of polluted traffic fumes. But not all urban centers fit the industrialized, congested stereotype.
In the Baltic and Nordic regions, cities are surrounded by naturally beautiful lakes, fjords and forests. The temperatures are also cooler, but still warm enough to protect T-shirts, shorts or even two-pieces.
At higher latitudes, the days are also incredibly long, making it possible to experience more hours of sunshine than anywhere else as extended dusk segues into dawn. Conversely, summers are short – usually ending in early September – but residents make the most of every minute with festivals, concerts, outdoor food markets and water-based activities.
With many of these alternative cities located in archipelagos or easily inland, beach, desert and cultural break can be rolled into one – redefining the concept of urban escape. Set compasses north for our pick of the five best picks this summer.
Oslo
More trees than traffic, Norway’s healthy urban core combines the comforts of country living with the amenities a city has to offer. Find hives on rooftops and allotments next to neighboring dual carriageways in an ecological capital that aims to be net zero by 2030. Glorious green, 74 percent of the surface is covered in forests, climbing hills and islands dotting the Oslofjord.
Take a tram to the Ekebergparken sculpture park for the best panoramic views and a chance to see stone age rock carvings alongside modern works of art. Get an even better view of the skyline from a kayak, cruise boat, floating sauna – or by going in for a quick swim.
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Explore the archipelago on an island-hunting fjord cruise; The Oslo Pass allows unlimited travel. Swim from the west side of Hovedoya, the nearest island. In the city centre, Mad Goats runs kayak and river rafting trips from Mathallen to the Opera House. Head to the summit of Vettakollen mountain with When In Norway for a drone’s eye view of the capital and beyond.
A dose of culture
Nature is the central theme of Trembling Earth, an exhibition of works by Norway’s greatest master at the Munch Museum. Until the 25th of August.
The perfect picnic spot
A green belt of parkland hugs the Akerselva river in the central Vulcan area. Find gourmet items in the Mathallen Dining Hall.
Stay here
Soak up the sunset views from the rooftop restaurant and pool at the art deco hotel Sommerro.
Stockholm
Making the most of long, warm nights, Swedes sing, dance and party their way through the holiday season. A mosaic of central islands lights up with open-air festivals and markets and green spaces ablaze with wildflower displays.
A fresh sea breeze always flows from the Baltic Sea, where more than 30,000 islands make up the Stockholm archipelago, easily explored by ferry. Within less than an hour, it is possible to be completely immersed in nature, kayaking, swimming or hiking through sparkling forests with edible berries. Two weeks behind the mainland in terms of climate, summer stretches a little longer here.
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Cycle through parkland and the city’s highest concentration of museums and galleries on Djurgården, a summer getaway for royals. Pick up bikes from Rent-a-bike on Strandvägen. Peaceful swimming, beach hopping between islands in the city centre: Tantobadet in Södermalm is suitable for families, and Långholmen has cozy romantic coves.
A dose of culture
Hear fairy tales and classical sound science at the Baltic Sea Festival, from 23-31 August at the Berwaldhallen concert hall.
The perfect picnic spot
For elevated city views, a local favorite is Ivar Lo Park on Södermalm. Nearby Kaffebar, a favorite of author Stieg Larsson, sells takeaway coffees and pastries.
Stay here
Ellery Beach House on Lidingo a 20 minute drive from town is a riviera style resort for urban chic. Sit, party, dine and take a swim.
Copenhagen
Life is all over the water in this canal city, especially when the sun is shining. Areas along the municipal harbor are safe for swimming, paddleboarding and kayaking. Jump into cove baths and dedicated swimming zones, or head to the northern suburb of Bellevue for a sandy beach and the iconic modernist architecture of Arne Jacobsen.
Street trucks and food markets pop up all over the city, providing a low-cost, more affordable way to sample the New Nordic cuisine of the Danish capital. Find a good selection at the Tivoli Gardens amusement park, which revels in childhood nostalgia at this time of year.
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Become a truly responsible tourist on an aquatic cleanup paddle with GreenKayak, where free use of a boat is used in exchange for litter collection. Hard work will be rewarded with a swim in clean water; try La Banchina restaurant on Refshaleøen, which has a private swimming zone.
A dose of culture
Celebrate two decades of the New Nordic Food Festival at the Copenhagen Cooking gourmet festival. 16-25 August.
The perfect picnic spot
The Opera Park on the harbor front was opened last year, and has six gardens representing different regions of the world. Pick up street food from the New Nordic chefs at nearby Broen Gadekøkken.
Stay here
A newly opened rooftop bar makes NH Collection a great summer option. Find it in Christianshavn, near the coast.
Tallinn
A favorite of Russian tsars as a summer escape, Estonia’s capital has lost none of its grandeur. Elegant parks and promenades invite leisurely visits, and the Old Town’s mostly cobblestone streets have been converted into cars for walking. take lookout points along the walls to look down on centuries of history; The best views are at Kiek in de Kök and the Fat Margaret Tower. More stories from the past are told at open-air museums in Viimsi and Estonia. Ancient forests, rivers and hiking trails through 10,000-year-old bogs decorate the surrounding area, all of which make for an active day trip.
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Relax with a raspberry-prosecco sorbet at the La Muu Ice Cream Factory in Telliski and a tour through the many galleries and boutiques in this industrial zone as a creative hub. End the day with a daring climb to the roof of the TV Tower for a view of the land and sea.
A dose of culture
See opera, ballet and contemporary dance in the ruins of the 15th century Pirita Monastery at the Birgitta Festival. 7-11 August.
The perfect picnic spot
A 16th century cemetery, Kalamaja Park is now a scenic nature reserve. Along the way, pick up snacks from a selection of 300 traders at the Balti Jaam Market.
Stay here
Watch ships sail down from an urban waterfront cabin at Iglupark Igluhuts, with the option of renting a sauna.
Helsinki
The Finns are a notoriously introverted bunch, but as the temperature rises, so does their confidence. Making up for lost hours of daylight, everyone spends as much time as possible outdoors – in forests, lakes and by the sea. All these natural environments are located on the doorstep of Helsinki, a city surrounded by an archipelago of 300 islands.
In the summer months, ferries zip across the Gulf of Finland, carrying passengers to lippakioski – cafes and seasonal kiosks have flourished since the 1920s. Waterside public saunas also come with activity; try Allas Sea for organized pools, Loyly for cool architecture and Lonna for a trendy local hangout.
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From naturalistic beaches to architectural displays, there are plenty of options for swimming. Built in the 1940s for the Olympics and used as a herring store during World War II, the Eläintarha Swimming Stadium is a classic design. As a postcard backdrop, the reverse cabins deliver on the island of Pihlajasaari.
A dose of culture
Celebrating 20 years, Flow brings together music, art, food and debate at the biggest festival in the Nordics. August 9-11.
The perfect picnic spot
Stock up on deli items at the Old Market Hall and walk a few minutes to the dock for a ferry to the island fortress of Suomenlinna.
Stay here
Filled with fountains, the inner courtyard is the place for al-fresco dining at Helsinki’s first true five-star, Hotel Maria.
