Welcome to Routes North
The independent travel guide covering the whole of Scandinavia (that’s Denmark, Norway and Sweden), plus Nordic destinations Finland, Iceland and Greenland. Start hereLatest posts
The 10 best national parks in Sweden
Home to towering mountains, huge lakes, dense forests, open grasslands, gushing rivers and thundering waterfalls – the national parks in…
Sauna etiquette in Sweden
Like fika, sweating away life’s problems in a baking-hot sauna is an essential part of the Swedish experience. And the…
12 of the best things to do in Norway’s Lofoten Islands
High up inside the Arctic Circle, this scenic Lofoten Islands along Norway’s north coast are incredibly picturesque. White sand beaches,…
Kungsleden: walking the King’s Trail in Sweden
Snowy mountain peaks, gushing rivers, tranquil forests, Arctic landscapes, wild moorland and herds of reindeer – just some of the…
The spectacular train ride from Bergen to Flåm
The scenic rail journey from Bergen to Flåm is one of the highlights of a visit to Norway – and a great way to get a taste of the fjords.
13 of the best things to do in Södermalm, Stockholm
With its trendy cafés, retro boutiques and arty atmosphere, Södermalm is the coolest district of Stockholm. Technically an island, Södermalm…
Where to see the midnight sun in Norway
Norway is one of the best places on Earth for viewing the midnight sun, and this guide will show you…
Stockholm Go City Pass: is it worth buying in 2025?
If you’re planning a trip to Stockholm, you might have already seen adverts for the Stockholm Pass – also known as…
Upcoming events
4 events found.
Jul 3
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Jul 5
Stavern Festival, Larvik
Once the weather gets (a bit) warmer and the nights a bit brighter, Norwegians flock to outdoor events, making the...
Sat, Jul
05
We who love the 90s
Retro music lovers can revel in the iconic sounds of the 90s and 00s, and celebrate with this exhilarating blast...
Jul 24
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Jul 26
The street food festival
Stockholm’s annual Street Food Festival started off in 2017 at the cosy Kungsträdgården, but has proved so popular that it’s...
Top picks
The spectacular train ride from Bergen to Flåm
byThe scenic rail journey from Bergen to Flåm is one of the highlights of a visit to Norway – and a great way to get a taste of the fjords.
Tours and tickets
5 of the best fjord cruises from Bergen
Set among majestic mountains and home to colourful wooden houses, Bergen is the gateway to Norway’s breathtaking fjords. The city…
10 wild northern lights tours in Tromsø, Norway
High up in the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is one of the world’s best places to watch the spectacular aurora borealis…
Bergen Shore Excursion (Bergen Walking Tour)
When your cruise ship docks in Bergen, make good use of your time on shore with a city walking tour. Includes medieval houses in the Bryggen area.
City Walking Tour in Bergen
With an informative and inspiring local guide, see important sights of Bergen – fortress Bergenhus, Hanseatic quarter (Bryggen), St.Mary’s Church.
8 of our favourite beer tours and pub crawls in Copenhagen
The Danes are partial to a good beer, and the laid-back capital Copenhagen is the perfect pace to up your…
Scandinavian rail passes: Interrail and Eurail explained
Heading to Scandinavia? We’ve got some good news for you: the railways are amazing! Less stressful and more environmentally friendly…
6 of the best food tours in Stockholm
Stockholm’s culinary prowess doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. And actually, Swedish cuisine is more interesting than many first…
5 of the best photography tours in Rovaniemi, Finland
Many trips to Finnish Lapland begin in Rovaniemi. It’s the ‘official’ home of Santa Claus and the starting point for…
Itineraries
Stockholm on a Budget: 110 Free and Cheap Things to Do
byThe Swedish capital is famously expensive. But we’ve still managed to create this epic guide showing 110 cheap and free things to…
The best day trips from Copenhagen: 2025 guide
byThere’s so much fun stuff to do within Copenhagen’s city limits but sometimes it’s nice to escape the central areas for a while…
16 fun, easy day trips from Stockholm
byThere are enough centrally located sights and activities in Stockholm to keep you occupied for a week or more. Sometimes,…
82 cheap and free things to do in Copenhagen (2024 update!)
byCopenhagen is one of those cities that will make your wallet sigh. Prices are high compared with most other European…
Day trips from Gothenburg
byGothenburg has enough fun activities to keep you busy for a week or more. Travel a few kilometres from the…
Trip report: a budget road trip through Scandinavia
byWith 10 days and a budget of less than £800 (around US $950), how much of Scandinavia is it really…
One day in Copenhagen: the ultimate guide
byIt’s not possible to see everything that Copenhagen has to offer in a single day. But if that’s all the…
Interrailing around Sweden
byForget bumpy bus rides and overpriced domestic flights: if you want to see Sweden comfortably, cheaply and with a can…
Free things to do in Lund
byConsidering its small size, Lund is bursting with things to see and do. And while most of the big museums…
Discount passes
Is the Gothenburg Pass worth buying?
The Gothenburg Pass is touted as one of the best ways for tourists to save cash when visiting Sweden’s second-biggest…
The Helsinki Card: is it worth buying?
Planning a trip to Finland’s capital city? Then you’ve probably heard about Helsinki’s very own discount pass – the Helsinki…
The Reykjavik City Card: is it worth buying?
Planning a trip to Reykjavik? Want to see all the sights for as little as possible? Well, you probably already…
The Oslo Pass: is it worth buying?
If you’ve been researching a trip to Oslo, you’ve probably seen something about the Oslo Pass, known locally as Oslopasset. The…
