May 31 – Jun 4 all-day
Bargain-hunting at Oslo’s markets
Bargain hunting in one of Europe’s most expensive cities might seem like an impossibility, but Oslo can be surprisingly budget-friendly…
Oslo for book lovers
Unless you’re a big fan of Nordic crime fiction, Oslo is probably not the first city that springs to mind…
Copenhagen’s independent cinemas
No matter how wide your smart TV is, it can be fun to get out of the cave now and then…
40 free things to do in Oslo
One of the world’s most expensive cities, Oslo is well known for the slimming effect it can have on tourists’ wallets….
Win a Fjällräven backpack worth €200
Travelling around Scandinavia and want to get off the beaten track? You’re going to need a comfy backpack that has plenty of…
Exploring the Oslofjord in Norway
Norway is famous for its fjords, the most beautiful of which are hundreds of miles from the capital. But you…
Upcoming events
Popular posts
Stockholm Pass: is it worth buying?
If you’re planning a trip to Stockholm, you might have already seen adverts for the Stockholm Pass. It’s an all-in-one…
Getting from Copenhagen to Malmö
Until a couple of decades ago, crossing the water between Copenhagen and Malmö always involved a flight or ferry ride….
Copenhagen on a budget
Think ‘budget travel’ and Copenhagen is probably not the first place that springs to mind. After all, the Danish capital’s…
The best hostels in Stockholm
There’s no getting around it: Stockholm is an expensive city. But there are plenty of cheap-ish places to stay. Book…
Where to stay in Stockholm
Stockholm has a whole bunch of fun things to see and do. But with so many islands and neighbourhoods to choose…
100 cheap and free things to do in Stockholm
The Swedish capital is famously expensive but we’ve still managed to create this epic guide showing 100 cheap and free things to…
Tours & tickets
From $180
Myths and legends of Oslo (private tour)
Hear stories from the Norwegian capital’s bloody history (and visit a fortress!) on this private, two-hour tour.
From 220 SEK
Two-hour walking tour in Oslo
This two-hour walking tour through central Oslo takes you to all of the best bits – it’s perfect for families with kids!
From 350 SEK
Three-hour bike tour of Stockholm
See Stockholm on two wheels! This three-hour guided cycling tour lets you bike through some of Stockholm’s most beautiful and historic districts.
From 2,750 SEK
Wolf howling with a night in a tent, Sweden
Hear wolves howl on this wildlife-focused tour, which includes a night under canvas in the Swedish forests just two hours from Stockholm.
$400
Private half-day tour of Stockholm
This private, half-day tour of Stockholm gives you an overview of the city’s layout, along with all the information you need to find your way around the central areas.
From $127
Viking history tour from Stockholm (half day)
See Viking history up close during this 5-hour history tour from Stockholm, guided by a knowledgable historian.
Inspiration
Swedish islands to see before you die
There’s a lot more to Sweden than the mainland. When you include all of the little rocky outcrops and sandy…
Where to see cherry blossoms in Sweden
After months of cold weather and gloomy skies, spring is the magical time of year when Sweden bursts into life,…
The best places to visit in Sweden
Sweden isn’t just some tiny nation in the northern reaches of Europe. Geographically speaking, it’s huge: the distance between Sweden’s southern tip…
Swedish castles you can sleep in
We love a good-value hotel here at Routes North, but sometimes even cheapskates like us want to be treated like…
Finding Astrid Lindgren in Sweden
Astrid Lindgren is Sweden’s best-loved children’s author, and is as much a part of the Swedish consciousness as fika, salt…
All you need to know about cycling in Sweden
Getting around on two wheels isn’t just for Stockholm’s beardy hipsters. Sweden is a real cyclists’ paradise, and pedalling from…
City by city
Copenhagen
Cool as a cucumber
Stockholm
Europe’s prettiest capital
Gothenburg
Sweden’s second city
Kiruna
Heaven for aurora spotters
Malmö
The beautiful south
Lapland and the North
Sweden’s wildest landscapes
Where to stay
The best hostels in Aarhus
With a combination of cosy cafés and bars, international-class museums and colourful cultural events, plus a forest around almost every…
The best hostels in Copenhagen
Some people try to see Copenhagen in a day, squeezing in as many canals, cafés and Carlsbergs as possible. But…
The best hostels in Swedish Lapland
Setting out to explore Swedish Lapland’s vast landscape of forests, lakes and rivers can be a daunting prospect – especially…
Swedish castles you can sleep in
We love a good-value hotel here at Routes North, but sometimes even cheapskates like us want to be treated like…
Amazing places to stay in Sweden
Sweden might be small but it’s home to some of the world’s most amazing places to stay. Travel around the…
A sneak peek at Stockholm’s first capsule hotel
For a small country in northern Europe, Sweden has some pretty unusual places to stay. There’s the Icehotel, of course,…
Planning your trip
Midsummer in Sweden: 2017 guide
Dancing, feasting, drinking and a seemingly endless supply of sunlight: there’s a lot to like about Midsummer in Sweden. With…
An introduction to Swedish candy
When you think of Swedes and their eating habits you probably think ‘healthy.’ All they eat is crispbread, pickled herring…
10 useful apps for a trip to Sweden
Few countries are as smartphone-friendly as Sweden. Free wifi is available almost everywhere, and even in areas with…
Wild adventures in the Glaskogen Nature Reserve
There aren’t many places left in Europe where you can wander through primeval forest for hours at a time without…
Surviving Sweden’s alcohol monopoly
Smartly dressed staff, the gentle clinking of glass bottles… and the strange feeling that you’re doing something naughty: welcome to…
Sweden on a budget
When you arrive in Scandinavia, you’ll notice that seemingly small purchases add up quickly, putting a strain on your wallet….
A new kind of travel guide to Scandinavia
Routes North was started to help people discover all of the amazing stuff that Scandinavia has to offer, regardless of their budget. The site covers the whole region, from cool cities like Stockholm, Oslo, Gothenburg and Copenhagen, all the way north to the frozen reaches of Swedish Lapland.
Our destination guides are all researched on the ground by writers who know the area inside-out and speak the local lingo. Apart from money-saving tips and advice on planning a trip, you’ll find independent accommodation reviews, detailed guides to museums and other attractions, plus tips on where to eat and drink. Our travel forum is the place to get your travel questions answered.
Routes North is the only Scandinavian travel guide that pays its own way. We don’t take freebies or discounts, so you can always trust what you read on the site.