Scandinavia has stolen my heart!!
Mon 03 October 2011
, Nicole Bader, Charming Travel Choices
Scandinavië has somehow never been really appealing to me as a holiday destination or citybreak. The first time I visited the cities of the north was when travelling to Copenhagen and Stockholm for Charming Travel Choices. And both cities have totally blown me away with their sheer beauty of nature, the lifestyle, urban trends, charming hotels, great food, fashion and design, international renowned clubs and rich cultural heritage!!
Copenhagen, Denmark
Copenhagen is a comfortable sized city, which means you can easily discover the city by foot. In Copenhagen, modern Danish design and a relaxed contemporary lifestyle mix with historic and fairytale castles and one of the oldest monarchies in the world. The most famous and popular attraction in Copenhagen is the bronze statue of the Little Mermaid. She sits still on her rock since 1913 in the Long Line Harbour, the home of mermaids. I was surprised by the size of the statute. She’s very elegant but so small. Other attractions worth visiting are the Amalienborg Palace, the impressive Gefion Fountain, the Round Tower which offers a fantastic view over the city, the Rosenborg Castle with its amazing gardens, the Church of our Saviour with a golden staircase and spire and the charming Thorvaldsen Museum.
But there is more. Stroll along the docks of the picturesque harbors of Nyhavn, Gammelstand and Christianshavn with their colorful old merchant houses and beautiful wooden ships. These are great spots to enjoy the famous Danish open sandwiches called smørrebrød and a nice cocktail. Copenhagen is Scandinavia’s culinary capital with 11 Michelin-starred restaurants of which restaurant Noma is declared the number one restaurant in the world. But Copenhagen is also the city of fashion and a true magnet for shoppers. The city boasts an astonishing number of local and world-acclaimed fashion designers and many of them have set up boutiques in the main shopping street Strøget. And to finish it off, try to book tickets for an amazing night out at the Royal Theater or the ultra modern new Opera House on the waterfront.
Stockholm, Sweden
Many people associate Stockholm with Abba, Ikea and H & M. But did you know that Stockholm is also known as the "Venice of the North’? The city is built on fourteen islands connected by bridges and numerous islets, called the Stockholm Archipelago.
In winter the days are short and the nights long. In the summer it's reversed and it hardly gets dark at night. That’s when people go out visiting terraces, beach bars, parks, squares and boulevards, enjoy dinners and drinks at the waterfront or take boat trips through the archipelago.
Sweden’s amazing history, rising as a great power in 17th century Europe, is celebrated in brilliant museums and monumental palaces and building in Stockholm like the Royal Palace, the National and Nordisk Museum, the Vasa Museum with the remainders of the warship capsized off its coast, open air museum Skansen and the amazing City Hall at the waterfront. Wander through the beautiful medieval Old Town of Stockholm with its narrow streets, cozy squares and colorful houses. Enjoy a dinner in one of the many great gourmet restaurants, take a shopping spree in Ostermalms fashion district with wonderful shops from world-class Swedish designers who will smarten up you’re image in a snap. And last but not least visit Stockholms amazing club scene with fantastic interiors, delicious cocktails, well-dressed people and great dance music.
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