Why do Scandinavian flags look the way they do?
Can you tell a Norwegian ensign from a Finnish flag? And have you ever wondered why all Nordic flags have…
Language and culture
Norse names and their meanings: the best Norse names
Do you want your newborn to be in touch with his or her inner Viking? Well, why not choose a…
Cool maps of Scandinavia
You don’t have to be a geography geek or a keen cartographer to enjoy a good map. There are some…
All you need to know about Swedish Fish (the fruity kind)
Swedish cuisine is full of fish – preferably freshly caught. However, this post is not about crayfish and pickled herring,…
16 ways to embrace hygge in Denmark
The word hygge is distinctively Danish, yet it has gained popularity beyond Denmark’s borders in the past decade. It means…
Great reads: the best books set in Scandinavia
We’ve all been doing lots of reading and armchair travelling this summer, and some of our favourite books here at…
Pea soup and pancakes – Sweden’s Thursday favourite
Did you know that pea soup and pancakes are culinary compatriots in Sweden? Well, as strange as it sounds, they…
Swedish for tourists
As we’ve written on Routes North before, Swedish isn’t the most useful language to learn. But foreign tourists who make…
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…
Gnomes and trolls: inside John Bauer’s world
When you look at a piece of John Bauer’s art, you fall into his mythical world of deep northern forests….