Welcome to Routes North
An independent travel guide to Scandinavia — Denmark, Norway and Sweden — plus Nordic destinations including Finland, Iceland and Greenland. Start here
Latest posts
Norway’s scenic routes
Norway’s scenic routes (Nasjonale turistveger) are designed to showcase some of the country’s most spectacular landscapes. These 18 officially designated…
31 uniquely Swedish words that don’t work in English
Välkommen to the wonderful world of Swedish words! Some words are easy to translate into English. Others… not so much….
Cross-country skiing in Norway: the ultimate guide
Cross-country skiing is one of the most iconic winter activities in Norway. Unlike downhill skiing, it doesn’t require ski lifts…
Cool ice bars in Scandinavia
Drinking in a bar made entirely of ice might sound like a gimmick, but in Scandinavia it’s become a surprisingly…
Danish girl names: the best female names from Denmark
Looking for a Danish name for your baby girl? Danish girl names are often short, melodic and rooted in centuries…
Why is Greenland called Greenland?
Greenland is one of the least green places on earth, with around 80 percent of its surface covered by permanent…
How to Travel the Nordics on a Budget in 2026
Let’s be real: Scandinavia has a reputation for being the place where travel budgets go to die. Between the legendary…
Copenhagen Airport Layover: What to Do at Kastrup (CPH)
A layover at Copenhagen Airport doesn’t have to mean hours of staring at departure boards. Thanks to its efficient layout…
Top picks
Do People Live in Greenland? Population, Towns and Daily Life
byYou may think of Greenland as a vast, empty island covered in ice and snow, carved by dramatic fjords and…
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 – and…
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 northern lights…
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
The Best Day trips from Gothenburg
byGothenburg is perfectly placed for easy escapes — from quiet fishing villages and wild islands to cosy towns and forest-filled…
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…
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…
