15 Best Things to Do in Sweden

Sweden is part of Scandinavia and a famous Viking nation. The country has experienced a lot of battles for the Swedish crown but amidst the bloody past, it is now a place where people want to visit and have a once in a lifetime experience. Tourists are excited to see ancient Scandinavian castles and museums with Swedish heritage and culture. So to satisfy that need, here is a Sweden travel guide for those who are interested in visiting the country.

1. Vasa Museum – Stockholm

It has been practiced all over the world to make historic ships into museums. Well, the Vasa Museum is a floating ship museum and it is the top tourist attraction in Sweden. The ship is from the 17th century and it was preserved really well because for almost 350 years, it is still in great shape. It was established in 1990 and believed to have welcomed more or less 25 million people since it opened for public tours and visits.

2. Skansen – Stockholm

The Skansen is a zoo and an open museum in one. The museum was built through the initiative of Artur Hazelius, in 1891 and it was his passion to show how Swedish people lived before the industrial age. Artur was a teacher and scholar which explain why he was so drawn to establishing a monument like Skansen. Well, it is a good thing that Artur was persistent back then and went out of his way to accumulate funds for his museum. It is now one of the things to do in Sweden, to check out the place and learn from it, by residents and tourists alike.

3. Liseberg – Göteborg

Liseberg is an amusement park in Göteborg and it is the most visited park in Sweden. It is estimated that at least 3.1 million people enter the place annually. A total of 37 rides complete the attraction with 6 roller coasters and 2 water rides. It has a botanical garden called Lisebergs Lustgarten, a Main Stage or Stora Scenen for concerts, the Polka or Polketten which is a dance hall, a sports center called Lisebergshallen, and Liseberg Theater for shows and plays, among other attractions within.

4. ABBA: The Museum – Stockholm

The ABBA Museum is one of the most visited attractions in Sweden. ABBA is a group of singers, who sang world-wide hits like “Chiquitita”, “Fernando” and the very famous “Dancing Queen”. They were honored in Stockholm since the quartet is from Sweden. Although the name of the structure is ABBA: The Museum, it is not exactly that. It doesn’t display a collection of any kind, it is not for any type of research study and it is a paid exhibit. Still, people from all over the world flock to this tourist spot.

5. Drottningholm Palace

The Drottningholm Palace is one of the Royal palaces in Sweden. At times, members of the Royal family decide to stay in Drottningholm for a private getaway or for a social call. With that, they sleep at their Drottningholm home. If you are into castles and palaces, visiting Drottningholm is one of the things to do in Sweden.

It used to be a summer home for the Swedish monarchs back in the 18th century. The palace was constructed in the 16th century and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as well.

6. Volvo Museum – Göteborg

Even if you’re not a Volvo enthusiast, you will truly appreciate the Volvo Museum. Once you enter the gallery, you will see cars from different eras, revolutionary car improvements and ingenious car models – all from Volvo. They have the regular 4-wheel cars, big buses and trucks on display. You will also learn about the history of Volvo and how their cars were created.

There are some new things you can see in the museum like the Volvo XC90 replica which was made out of Lego pieces. It also has a gift shop here you can buy some memorabilia.

7. Turning Torso – Malmö

Have you ever seen a building that seems like it’s twisting from bottom to the top? Well, in Sweden there is what they call the Turning Torso and it’s exactly like that. The Turning Torso is 190 meters tall, 54 levels up with 147 apartment rooms. The whole building turns in a 90-degree angle.The building is considered a skyscraper and is the tallest building in the country. In 2005, the Turning Torso was awarded the Emporis Skyscraper Award and received a gold medal for exemplary aesthetic and functional design.

8. Stockholm Palace

The Stockholm Palace or the Royal Palace is the official residence of Sweden’s Royal family. The offices of the King, his family and the court are in the palace, as well. This is where the Royal King of Sweden performs his duties as state head.

They employ 200 people to work within the palace with various duties and responsibilities. One of the attractions in the palace is the Royal Guards and their changing ceremony. Other attractions are inside the palace. There are museums, royal gift shop, a library and a historical archive.

9. Visby City Wall

The Visby City Wall is a wall that firmly stands to this day and it used to defend Sweden from its attackers. Because of its historical significance back in the medieval times, UNESCO recognized it and included the structure in the World Heritage List. It now measures 3.44 kilometers – it used to be 3.6 kilometers during its establishment in the 13th century. It had 29 big and 22 small towers. Today, the 27 big towers still exist while only 9 of the small towers remain. If you are into fortresses, then, this is one of the things to do in Sweden – visit the Visby City Wall.

10. Uppsala Cathedral

Uppsala Domkyrka or Uppsala Cathedral used to be the tallest church in the country back in the 13th century. It was the place where royals of Sweden were crowned until 1719 and where the bishops of Sweden are being ordained up to the present time. The interior decoration of the cathedral used to be Neo-Gothic. But in the 1970’s, a massive reconstruction was done which revealed some of the most important art pieces from the medieval times. The art works were preserved and restored accordingly.

11. Kalmar Castle

The Kalmar Castle was built in the 12th century and at first, it wasn’t that grand a structure. But it has served a very important purpose for the people of Sweden back then. In 1397, the Kalmar Union was signed within the halls of this historical castle. The union was for Denmark, Sweden and Norway to join together as a sole monarch. Not long after that, Sweden rebelled against Denmark and the Kalmar Castle was made into a solid fortress by the leadership of Anna Eriksdotter, a lady of noble blood. Kalmar stood its ground and Sweden was successfully defended in 1520.

12. Archipelago of Gothenburg – Gothenburg and Öckerö

They refer to this archipelago as a “string of pearls”. The Archipelago of Gothenburg is a series of small islands is Sweden which is divided into two regions – the North and the South. The North part has at least 10 islands. The South part, on the other hand, has at least 6 islands including Vrångö, a fishing community and Styrsö, where the supermarket, café, hotels and local museums are located. The south region has no cars so you have to walk on foot or ride a bike if ever you decide to visit. Life here is smooth and slow which makes it the ultimate getaway destination.

13. Swedish History Museum – Stockholm

The Swedish History Museum functions as an archaeological and cultural museum. If you visit this historical place, you will see remnants from the Viking days, gold and silver treasures discovered within the country, an art collection from the Middle Ages and memoirs from the Battle of Gotland in 1361, one of the fiercest and most intense battles in Visby, Sweden.

It has been operating since 1866 and it has two main tasks. The first task is to safeguard the ancient relics coming from the royals of the country since the 1500’s. The second task is to impart information to the visitors of how Sweden was back then. Visiting this museum is one of things to do in Sweden if you want to know more about their history.

14. Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde – Stockholm

Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde means Prince Eugen’s Cape of Waldemar. This was once the home of Prince Eugen of Sweden and Norway, Duke of Närke. He was the fourth son of Prince Oscar, Duke of Östergötland and Sophia of Nassau, Queen Consort of Sweden and Norway.

The Prince used to rent a place near the property and he immediately loved the ambiance. After a few years, he bought it and raised Cape of Waldemar which was designed by architect Ferdinand Boberg. Prince Eugen loved the arts and he was a painter himself. No wonder he envisioned his mansion to be in the Art Noveau theme with some Gustavian details and now, it is a tourist attraction.

15. Gröna Lund – Stockholm

One of the things to do in Sweden is to visit Gröna Lund. It is a lake-side amusement park in Stockholm and it is the oldest amusement park in the country. The park has been operating since 1883 thru the initiative of James Schultheiss.

Today, it has about 30 fun rides. Some are heart-pumping and thrilling but there are kiddie rides too. All in all, they have seven roller coasters named Insane, Jetline, Twister, Vilda Musen, Nyckelpigan, Kvasten, and Tuff-Tuff Tåget. It is a concert venue too during the summer months and stars like Bob Marley and Jason Mraz have performed here.

15 TOP TOURIST ATTRACTIONS IN ROMANIA

Top Tourist Attractions In Romania

The country was once a home for royals until the communists banned them and threw them out. With that said, most of the tourist attractions in Romania are castles, churches and monasteries. But, that’s not all there is in Romania. A Romania travel guide like this article will help you understand the life and the ways of Transylvanian people. And no, they are not vampires – but, who knows? If you are brave enough, you can go back to the days of gothic structures, medieval arts and culture, and neo-classical designs.

1. Peleș Castle – Sinaia

There is nothing more beautiful than the Peleș Castle in all of Romania, maybe even the whole of Europe. It rests at the foot of the Bucegi Mountains and if you are out there admiring the view, you will be mesmerized. It looks like a painting from a far – something imagined and special. But it is real and it is open for tours if you want to witness its grand beauty from the inside.

It is a view like no other – a Renaissance masterpiece, as the experts in architecture call it. It is one of the most unforgettable tourist attractions in Romania.

2. Bran Castle – Bran

Thanks to Bram Stoker, the Irish novelist who created the eternal but fictional story of Count Dracula in Transylvania, the Bran Castle will always be full of mystery. But the truth is that the Bran Castle is the official residence of Romania’s royal family. It once became a temporary hospital, through the initiative of Princess Ileana, during the World War II. In 2005, the ownership of the castle was awarded to Dominic von Habsburg, son of Princess Ileana. Princess Ileana is the daughter of Queen Marie and King Ferdinand.

3. Corvin Castle – Hunedoara

The Ministry of Culture is responsible for maintaining one of the most significant castles in the history of Romania. The Corvin Castle or the Hunyadi Castle or Hunedoara Castle, as the Romanians call it, is among of the Seven Wonders in Romania it is one of the largest castles in Europe too.

The castle has 50 rooms designed in the medieval theme. It has a Knight’s hall, a drawbridge, a small sanctuary for prayers, and court yards. It was once a fortress in the 14th century which was later transformed into a beautiful royal palace.

4. Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum – Bucharest

This is the Village Museum being referred to above that is within the premises of Herăstrău Park. The Museum is not a traditional one. It is an open air museum which showcases 272 homes of peasant Romanians. As the name explicitly says – it is a village – wherein lives of farmers and how they go about their daily ways has been preserved.

The church of the Timişeni village is also in the Village Museum and so is the Dragomirești church. You can also stop by the inn inside the village called La Bariera. The valley of Maramureș can also be witnessed in the village.

 

5. Timișoara Orthodox Cathedral – Timișoara

The residents also call this place of worship as The Romanian Orthodox Metropolitan Cathedral. They believed that a miracle happened in the cathedral back in 1944. It was during World War II and the Germans bombed Romania wherein six missiles “fell” on the Cathedral. The five missiles didn’t go off. The sixth one exploded but didn’t damage the Cathedral that much. They said that it was divine intervention from God. This is the reason why the Timișoara Orthodox Cathedral is an important attraction in Romania.

6. Herăstrău Park – Bucharest

The Herăstrău Park is 1.1 sq. km. full of sights to see. You can enjoy the park and everything in it in one full day. Just explore the public zone because the natural zone is preserved.

It has the Dimitrie Gusti National Village Museum in Bucharest which will be discussed later on as it is one of the most important attractions in all of Romania. You will also find a hotel within the park, a sports center, a golf course in the Diplomatic club, an arena and a yacht club. There’s a yacht club because by the park is Lake Herăstrău, another one of the tourist attractions in Romania.

 

7. Stavropoleos Monastery – Bucharest

Biserica Stavropoleos or Stavropoleos Church is but a remnant of what it was back in the day – a monastery. There used to be an inn beside the church which was the money-making activity of the monastery. Natural calamities have destroyed the structure and the dome of the monastery. What was left is a portion of the church, some 18th century ecclesiastical relics and wall paintings.

The structure was restored to what it is today and has been the home of more than 8000 books about Theology and Byzantine arts and music.

 

8. Salina Turda – Turda

Salina Turda was a salt mine back in 17th century. According to Business Insider, it is one of the coolest underground places in the world. It was also picked as one of the 25 hidden gems around the world, as mentioned by Megan Willett of Business Insider, as well.

It is a theme park now and is located underground. People have to go down just to enjoy the place. It has a Ferris wheel, a bowling center, an auditorium and an underground lake where you can rent paddle boats and row.

 

9. Merry Cemetery – Săpânţa

This is a cemetery, yes, but not an ordinary one. On regular memorial parks, one can see tombstones with names and good things about the deceased are inscribed. But here in Merry Cemetery, it is not always good – they say the truth, though.

Stan Ioan Pătraş is the artist responsible for this immortal attraction. He carved images of the deceased and painted it with bright colors. Underneath the painted image are inscriptions of how the dead person used to be. So for example, if the person was alcoholic and a womanizer, he would really put that on the memoir.

The cemetery has 600 wooden crosses, all in all.

10. Tampa Mountain – Brasov

The most famous tourist attraction in Brasov, Romania is the Tampa Mountain. When people talk about Brasov, the mountain is always its identifier. On the base of Tampa, this city stood and remained.

If you want to go up the mountain and see the aerial view of Brasov, you can ride a cable car which they call a Telecabina. If you are up for it, you can also walk the trail of the mountain and go up on foot. It would be best to explore Tampa when the snow season is over.

 

11. Pelișor Castle – Sinaia

The Castle was the residence of King Ferdinand, Queen Marie and their family in the early 1900’s. The Queen had an important role in designing the interior of this castle and she specifically wanted it to be in the Art Nouveau style. But something terrible happened in this royal home – Queen Marie was fatally injured inside her beloved castle when her two sons were fighting. It is rather sad to think about it but it is one of the tourist attractions in Romania despite its sad history.

So, after the communist reign, the castle was open for viewing. It was also called Pelisor Palace or Little Peles.

 

12. ASTRA National Museum Complex – Sibiu

Here is another open air museum located in Sibiu and its purpose is and quoted, “shelter for keeping the past”. It was inaugurated in 1897 and today, it features the civilization of Romania in four cultures. In the area you will also be able to visit the Museum of Traditional Folk Civilization, the Museum of Universal Ethnography, the Museum of Transylvanian Civilisation, and the Museum of Saxon Ethnography.

There are 4 more departments within the complex – a conservation facility, a film studio, a documentation center and a memorial cabinet of the Museum of Folk Technology’s founder – all of these represents the culture and history of Romania.

 

13. Biserica Neagră – Brasov

Biserica Neagră is a gothic-inspired building constructed in the 14th century. They also call it the Black Church or the Church of Saint Mary. It is the biggest church in the country and one of the most significant churches for the Lutheran worshippers. (The Lutheran people are the Evangelical Church of Augustan Confession in Romania.)

The entrance of the church is referred to as the Golden Gate. There is a Mary and Jesus sculpture outside the building. And anywhere you are in Brasov, when you look up, you will find a portion of the church – that’s how big it is.

 

14. Romanian Athenaeum – Bucharest

From afar, you will probably think that White House is in Romania. That’s because the face of the Romanian Athenaeum is quite similar with the White House. It is in the list of the Label of European Heritage sites.

Anyway, the neoclassical structure is in Bucharest which is the capital city of Romania. Today, they use the Romanian Athenaeum for concerts and musical live shows. To add to the artistic vibe of the place, the mini-park by the entrance has a monument of Mihai Eminescu, Romania’s celebrity poet.

 

15. Palace of Culture – Iasi

If you want to see 4 tourist sites in one visit, then, the place to go is the Palace of Culture. It is the residence of not one, not two, not three but four museums in Iasi – the Museum of History of Moldova, Ethnographic Museum of Moldova, Museum of Art and the Museum of Science and Technique.

It is called a palace because the structure was designed and built with the Palace of Justice in mind. Palace of Justice is in Paris, France.

 

15 Places to See in Switzerland

Switzerland is known for its Swiss Alps and ski resorts for the affluent and famous. But you don’t have to be a celebrity or a moneyed business tycoon just to enjoy the cities and towns of Switzerland. As long as you have a foolproof Switzerland travel guide and a list of things to do in Switzerland, your vacation will be sweet and well-planned. To give you an idea, here are 15 of the most visited places in the country.

1. Bern

The best places to see in Switzerland include the city of Bern. In fact, it is the most visited city in the country because it is the capital city. Being as such, it means Bern has more businesses and historical buildings within.

Here are the highlights of Bern – Federal Palace of Switzerland, The Cathedral of Bern, Zytglogge – Bern’s clock tower, Kindlifresserbrunnen – 16th century fountain with a monster eating children statue, Bärengraben or Bear Pit since brown bears live here, Zentrum Paul Klee – a museum by Paul Klee showcasing his paintings and drawings, and Einsteinhaus – where Albert Einstein used to live.

2. Zurich

The city is known as the banking and finance capital of the world. But for adventurous travelers, Zurich is a city blessed with historical buildings. You have to visit the Zürich Opera House for they showcase the best recitals and opera shows in the world. To feed your artsy side, the Kunsthaus is home to art works from the 15th up to the 21st century. Grossmünster, a twin-structured cathedral from the 1500’s, and Fraumünster Church, famous for its stained glass work created by Marc Chagall, are places of worship that must be visited. Lastly, the Uetliberg Aussichtsturm – one of Zurich’s towers – is perfect for picture taking.

 

3. Geneva

One of the places to see in Switzerland is Geneva. It is a very famous city to tourists because of the lake, the Alps, Red Cross Europe Main Office and the United Nations Europe HQ. Other than that, the city is home to charming structures. The Monument Brunswick is a mausoleum of Charles II, Duke of Brunswick. They also have a flower clock named L’horloge fleurie and speaking of which, it is located in the Anglais Garden. The Garden has a fountain which was established in 1862.

One of the most famous attractions in Geneva is The Geneva Water Fountain or the Jet d’Eau. Waters comes out of the fountain and blows up as high as 140 meters. Place du Bourg-de-Four Square is the city center with a mix of ancient monuments and modern shops. Reformation Wall is a park by the Protestant Reformation and Parc des Bastions by the city square – must see attractions in Geneva, too.

 

4. Lucerne

Lucerne is not that big but the structures here are as old as the middle ages. These are the most visited attractions in Lucerne: Gletschergarten Museum, Lion Monument, Bourbaki Panorama Museum, St. Leodegar Church, Museggmauer City Walls and Towers, Chapel Bridge, Sammlung Rosengart (art gallery featuring Picasso) and Historisches Museum (interactive museum).

Kids would love to check this place out the Swiss Museum of Transport, as reported by frequent travelers to Lucerne who bring their children with them. For more art museums in Lucerne, you have to see Hans Erni Museum and Kunstmuseum Luzern. O.T. Raum für aktuelle Kunst is also a favorite tourist spot.

5. Interlaken

One of the most visited mountain resorts in Switzerland is Interlaken. The day tour offers in this resort are the perfect ways to spend your vacation in the town. If you have your kids with you on holiday, you have to take this day trip – Ballenberg, Swiss Open-Air Museum, Jungfraupark Interlaken, Kinderparadies Mysty Land and St. Beatus Caves. This whole tour will take about 5-6 hours of your time.

For adults, it would be best to take this tour – Harder Kulm (mountain), Schlosskirche Interlaken (church), Touristik-Museum der Jungfrau-Region (museum), and Oberhofen Castle (historic castle).

 

6. Zermatt

Zermatt is another ski resort in Switzerland near Mt. Matterhorn. Like any ski resort, it has all the necessary amenities from lodging to restaurants and winter sports centers. But tourists also visit the natural attractions in Zermatt. The most visited spot near Zermatt is the peak of Mt. Matterhorn. The summit looks like a pyramid and from afar, it looks breathtaking. If you don’t want to climb up a high peak, then, you can try the Klein Matterhorn – use the cable cars. Don’t forget to drop by the Matterhorn Museum – Zermatlantis and Gornergrat Bahn, a rail center.

7. Lausanne

The city of Lausanne is one of the oldest cities in Switzerland. With that being said, it has a lot of historical attractions that people want to see and experience altogether.

Lake Geneva, a crescent-like shaped lake, is touching Lausanne and it is one of the most beautiful places to see in Switzerland. Other magnificent attractions to visit include The Olympic Museum, Musée de l’Elysée, Lausanne Cathedral, Palais de Rumine, Sauvabelin Tower and Museum of Contemporary Design and Applied Arts.

8. Basel

Basel is lying on the border of Switzerland, France and Germany. It is one of the most populated cities in the country and it has villages located in the lands of Germany and France.

The main attraction in Basel is a 14th century structure called Basel Minster. It is made of red sandstone and the roof is composed of colored tiles. Another tourist spot is the Beyeler Foundation – a museum featuring the art collection of Hildy and Ernst Beyeler. Prediger Kirche is one of the oldest churches in Basel and a landmark too.

9. Lugano

The city of Lugano is enveloped by the great Lugano Lake in Ticino, Switzerland. It is a border city which separates Switzerland from Italy. They call the city “Monte Carlo of Switzerland” because during summer, it is a famous vacation place for celebrities.

Lugano has seventeen attractions which are in the Swiss Heritage Site of National Significance list. The heritage sites included libraries called Biblioteca Cantonale and the Biblioteca Salita dei Frati. There were churches in the list as well and those were the Cathedral of San Lorenzo, Church of Santa Maria degli Angioli and the Church of San Rocco. Most of the people in Lugano speak fluent Italian.

10. Canton of Valais

There are 26 cantons in Switzerland and Valais is one of them. The Canton of Valais was once a natural attraction until hoteliers decided to fill the area with their lavish accommodations. Since then, Canton of Valais has become a tourist spot. In fact, it has at least 120 destinations including those within close proximity to the area.

The Goms District is one of the top places to see in Switzerland, specifically in Valais. The Great Aletsch Glacier is the largest glacier in the Bernese and Swiss Alps. It is partly located in Valais and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Brig-Glis is a small town in Valais which was recognized as Alpine Town of the Year in 2008.

11. Grindelwald

There are at least three mountains within the boundary of Grindelwald and these three are Mt. Eiger, Mt. Mönch and Schwarzhorn. The summits are all part of the Bernese Alps. Grindelwald shares these mountains with other municipalities in Switzerland. Tourists visit these mountains all year long.

The summit “First” is in Schwarzhorn and is famous for its hiking trail. Bachalpsee Lake is near First and a famous image in Gmail’s mountain background. You also have to see the Lower Grindelwald Glacier.

 

12. Lauterbrunnen

Lauterbrunnen is one of the places to see in Switzerland that climbers and trekkers love to visit. It is situated in the Lauterbrunnen Valley and it has a lot of peaks and summits for your winter adventure. Kleine Scheidegg in Lauterbrunnen is host to an annual event called Jungfrau Marathon every September. The mountain pass is also a great hiking spot during the summer time. Stabbauch Falls is a famous sight in Lauterbrunnen. The village has restaurants and hotels if you feel the need to stay there for more than a day.

 

13. St. Moritz

For a luxurious holiday, St. Moritz Village is the place to be. Two winter Olympics were hosted there; which means that it has the Cresta Run and an open air Olympic-sized ice rink. The top three boutique hotels to stay at in St. Moritz are the Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, Hotel Suvretta House and Kulm Hotel.

Where will you go when in St. Moritz? Lake St. Moritz is a tourist destination. St. Moritz Olympic Ice Rink is also frequented by visitors. The Leaning Tower, Chesa Futura and Kirche San Karl are great attractions as well.

 

14. Montreux

Montreux is by Lake Geneva and visitors from around the world always stay there for the attractions and the activities. Rochers de Naye and Dent de Jaman are the two summits in Montreux. You can mountain climb, follow the trail, drive up to the last vehicle road before reaching the top. Rochers de Naye is in the Swiss Alps. You can ski there or find a winter sport to do.

Now, the municipality has Chillon Castle – it is by the lake and with underground rooms. GoldenPass Line is the transportation facility used by tourists to reach Lucerne from Montreux.

15. Davos

Davos is a municipality in the Swiss Alps and one of the places to see in Switzerland. For one, it has Parsenn, the most popular ski area in Davos. There is also a natural lake which you can visit called Lake Davos. They use it as a hydropower reservoir and during winter time, the lake is pure ice.

If you are into hiking and mountain trekking, the perfect place to go is Weissfluhjoch, a mountain shared by Davos with Graubünden. Another mountain to overcome in Davos is Pischahorn. Do you want an elevated lake location? Go to Schwarzsee. These attractions are tourist flocked most of the time.

15 Places to Visit in Norway

Winter is coming…

If you are a fan of HBO’s Game of Thrones, then, you might have heard the Northerners say these words with conviction. As for those who are not familiar with it, it only means one thing – winter is coming and it’s HOLIDAY IN NORWAY, ALL THE WAY! (That rhymed!)

The best time to go to Norway is during the winter season when the snow is at its whitest and from a far, it looks like squishy cotton. The ambiance alone is magical and the exquisite natural phenomena that can be experienced only in Norway are beyond words.

Here are 15 of the Best Places to Visit when you’re in Norway:

1. The Northern Lights: Aurora Borealis – Northern Norway

In all of Norway, Aurora can be basked and enjoyed but there are specific places where this natural phenomenon of green, purple and violet lights cascading on the sky is best seen.

The North Cape is one of the best places to view the Northern Lights. Narvik is one of those destinations in Norway which has a lighthouse that can serve as a waiting place for the Aurora to emerge. Vesteralen in Lofoten is another scenic location to go to when planning to marvel the sky when the Northern Lights are out.

This is a list of the 15 best places to visit when in Norway. Plan your holiday well and hope you enjoy these scenic spots and things to do up north.

 

2. The North Cape – Nordkapp, Finnmark County

Arctic Ocean meets Atlantic Ocean; this is what you will see on top of the cape, the northernmost of Norway. It is a very steep cliff with a visitor center on the plateau. Various services are offered in the center like coffee shop, restaurant, and gift shop, among others. The plateau is a great viewing place for the Midnight Sun – if visiting during the summer months. (Again, this is a natural phenomenon wherein the sun can be miraculously seen at midnight.)

 

3. Svalbard Islands – In Between North Pole and Norway

You can tell your friends that North Pole can be visited and the Arctic Ocean can be stepped on because it is indeed possible. If you visit Svalbard Islands, you can do all that. You want to see polar bears? This is your chance. The community near Svalbard is called Longyearbyen and it has top-rate bars and accommodations, in case you’re wondering.

What are the things you can do there other than walking in North Pole and Arctic Ocean? Snow mobile tour is a great way to explore the snow wilderness of Svalbard. It even has the Sustainable Destination certification because the areas is being preserved and protected while tourism is flowing in.

4. Lofotr Viking Museum – Bord, Nordland County

You’ll hear stories about Valhalla, Loki, Thor and Odin because Lofotr Viking Museum is all about the Viking world. It used to be a Chieftain house back in 500 AD as believed by archeologists and it is the biggest Viking structure ever discovered in Norway.

A visit to the museum features a re-enactment of how the Vikings lived during the Nordic days. They are very great engineers of boats – replicas are found in the museum and their blacksmith’s are most skilled in creating weapons. The original blacksmith hearth is inside the building, as well.

 

5. The Telemarks Gallery & Lysbuen Industrial Museum

This is an industrial and art museum, art gallery, coffee and museum shop rolled into one. It is also part of UNESCO’s World Heritage List as of 2015 because of its industrial history. It produced the mineral fertilizer which changed the course of the world in 1905 when there was a crisis in food at the time.

Now, it is being preserved and can be enjoyed by spectators. The history the industrial site is inside the museum with an art gallery to supplement the stories.

 

6. Reindeer Sledding in Karasjok – Finnmark County

There is more of the Sami culture than art and architecture. One of their practicies is reindeer sledding and you can fully experience it Karasjok, even if you are not a Sami descendant. It is one of the oldest modes of transportation used by the Northern people and it is definitely a Sami tradition to ride a reindeer. In modern days, when you hear reindeers, it’s Rudolph and Santa Claus. So, think about that when you are in Norway, reindeer-sledding.

(Sami tour guides can assist you in this activity.)

7. Sami Culture in Karasjok – Finnmark County

Want to know more about the indigents of Norway, Sweden and Finland? Well, there are two ways to understand all about the culture and the Sami people and that is by visiting Sami Parliament Building and Sami Centre for Contemporary Art. Both of these landmarks can be found in Karasjok and it is open for public viewing.

The Sami Parliament Building is the epitome of Sami architecture. Be sure to go inside the Sami Library – the hanging bulbs are just splendid and unusual, at the same time.

The Sami Centre for Contemporary Art features modern artists who exhibit Sami art interpretations of today.

 

8. Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel – Alta, Finnmark County

Yes, Norway is a snowy fairy tale and the real sense of the words: Winter Wonderland. So, how about visiting an Igloo-type hotel? Igloo is made of ice and Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel in Alta, Norway is all ice from front desk lobby to their beds. Guests are to sleep in ice-sculpted bed. There is an ice hotel in Norway!

Each year, the hotel has a different theme and everything inside the hotel is sculpted by artists. It does have a schedule on when it will be open for accommodation because eventually, it will melt!

Note: Guests are required to wear Woolen type of under garments especially at night.

 

9. Saltstraumen Tidal Currents during Arctic Winter

The thrill-seeker in you might jump in the Saltstraumen adventure where you can literally feel the tide smashing while you watch from a safe distance. To give you an idea of how strong the tide is in Saltstraumen, if you were on a boat, you will be moving the strait in more or less 20 knots or 20-25 miles per hour. This is without motor assistance!

But the view of this natural phenomenon is one of a kind. It is a jaw-dropping moment just to witness the formation of one of the most powerful whirlpools in the whole world and you can find it in Bodo, Norway.

 

10. Rjukan Admini Hotel – Rjukan, Telemark County

This was the place where the highly-received TV mini-series “THE HEAVY WATER WAR” in Norway was filmed. This was the home of Sam Eyde back in 1908. He is the founder of Hydro. Today, it is open for public use and receives guests all around the world.

Only a select was allowed to grace the halls of Rjukan Admini until recently. The building itself is a tourist attraction because it is made of wood in the Art Nouveau style which can only be found in Norway.

 

11. Krossobanen Cable Car – Rjukan, Telemark County

Since the Frozen Waterfalls are in Rjukan, then, there is another must-try activity in the area that will surely make your trip worthwhile. You can be airlifted and try out Northern Europe’s first cable car called Krossobanen Cable Car. It is still functioning until now and has been servicing tourists and locals alike for the last 88 years.

It was a very thoughtful gift from Norsk Hydro to the people of Rjukan so that they can watch the sun as they go up. The mountains of Rjukan shielded the sun rays from reaching the town during winter months. Anyway, after 4 to 5 minutes on the lift, there is a restaurant on top overlooking Rjukan and Gaustatoppen.

 

12. Frozen Waterfalls – Rjukan, Telemark County

You read that right, FROZEN WATERFALLS. Iced waterfalls are normal and common in Norway. In Rjukan alone, there are more than 150 waterfalls that becomes ice during winter. Imagine a body of water cascading down in ice? That would be so amazing to witness.

And did you know that you can climb these iced wonders too? Anyway, if you just want a photo op or to see and touch Waterfalls of Ice, then, Rjukan is the place to be. (It is a small town in Tinn Municipality.) Rjukan Falls is their most famous scenic spot.

 

13. Dog Sledding in Tromsø, Tromsø County

This is perhaps one of the activities that you must never ever forget to do when you are in Norway – dog sledding. Hire a driver to control the blue-eyed dogs for you while you enjoy the scenic view of Tromso, a city-slash-municipality in Troms County, Northern Norway.

You can ride during the day or at night, if you prefer. It will be a drive featuring iced lakes, snow-capped green forests and grandiose peaks pulled by fluffy Alaskan huskies. This is the best way for you to enjoy the Arctic Circle and its untouched wilderness like no other.

(You can book this activity with a travel and tours agency preferably between November to March.)

 

14. Rock Art of Alta – Alta, Finnmark County

The municipality of Alta is home to the famous UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites called ROCK CARVINGS or the ROCK ART of ALTA. The carvings are from the prehistoric era (dated around 4200 to 500 B.C.) and it is the only prehistoric World Heritage Site in Norway.

Some of the images discovered were drawings of bear worshipping as part of Shamanistic rituals and there were also interpretations of hunters with their deer and gatherers of food, among others.

It would be a whole different experience when these drawings are personally viewed, right?

 

15. Knut Hamsun Centre – Hamaroy, Nordland County

If you want to explore your artistic side, then, the Knut Hamsun Centre in Hamaroy in Northern Norway will surely pique your creative juices. It features the life and works of Nobel Prize in Literature winner, Norwegian contemporary novelist Knut Hamsun who wrote the best-sellers “Growth of the Soil” and “Hunger”.

The museum was opened for public viewing in June 2010 and was recognized and given several architectural awards both local and foreign. It was initially painted by Architect Steven Holl in 1994, who based his design of the museum on a mixture of Hamaroy landscape, culture and tradition with Hamsun’s elaborate literary pieces.

This would be an interesting visit, don’t you think?