There are two types of people in this world: the people who hate winters and would rather spend their time on a tropical island and the people who love winters and feel at home bundled up in layers and taking to the slopes.

If you’re the kind of person who loves the snow, enjoys the cold, and can’t get enough of winter sports, you’ve probably had “visit Scandinavia in the winter” on your bucket list for a while. The question is, which of those Scandinavian countries should you visit? Are some better than others? Let’s talk about your options and which ones to prioritize.

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Option 1: Sweden

Sandwiched between Norway on the west and Finland on the east, Sweden is likely your first thought for visiting Scandinavia any time of year. In many ways, it’s a winter wonderland, sheltered from the worst of the weather coming in over the ocean but packed with stunning snow-covered landscapes, hushed forests, and vistas like something out of a dream.

Visiting Sweden in the winter generally comes down to two options. The first is to head north to the Swedish Lapland. These northerly reaches are more isolated from the rest of the world, and you won’t have the big cities and the amenities you might be used to. Instead, you get deep, dark skies, untouched wilderness, and iconic experiences like ice hotels and every kind of winter sport you can imagine. Ice skating on frozen lakes, skiing down the slopes, snowshoe hiking, and even just sitting by a bonfire and enjoying the heat and cold in equal measure are available somewhere in Lapland.

The other option is to stick to the southern reaches, where the winters are a little milder and where civilization is close at hand. If you set up your home base in Stockholm, you’ll be set for the trip of a lifetime. There’s a ton to see and do in the city, and winter event day trips to the surrounding environs are easy to arrange.

What can you do in Sweden in the winter?

• Check out the Northern Lights. While the aurora is wildly inconsistent and unpredictable, it’s a brilliant display when it happens, and we’re currently in the middle of a solar peak; the best time to go is now, and it will be on a long, slow decline until the low point in 2032-2033, and the next high in 2036.
• Go dog sledding. Taking a ride on a sled pulled by adorable, well-trained huskies is one of those iconic winter activities you can only experience in a few places around the world, and Sweden is one of them.
• Explore Sami culture. The Sami people are the indigenous natives of Lapland, and the city of Kiruna incorporates their culture in great detail. Learn about their history and experience some of their winter traditions in the far north.
• Visit ICEHOTEL. While there are many ice hotels, ICEHOTEL is the iconic installation in Sweden that draws thousands of people every year. It’s an incredible experience, and it’s rebuilt from scratch every year, so no two visits are ever the same.

Sweden is also one of the most family-friendly countries to visit in Europe, so bring everyone along for the trip!

Option 2: Norway

Norway is west and north of Sweden, and while a lot of the geography and climate is the same, there are a few very compelling reasons to visit Norway instead.

One of the most unique experiences you can have in Norway is a boat trip around and through the fjords. Norway’s unique and iconic coastline is an incredible experience, and even in winter, the oceanside coast can be calm, still, and bright during the hours of daylight you have. It’s cold, of course, and sometimes the weather isn’t right, but that’s going to be true any time of year.

If the coastal fjords aren’t your thing, there’s still plenty to see and do.

• Visit the iconic sights. There are a lot of Norwegian tourist attractions, like Pulpit Rock, that are packed during the summer but are nearly empty during the winter. You can’t always access all of them, but if the trip is available, it’s bound to be less crowded and less expensive if you can tolerate the cold.
• Hunt the northern lights. Just like Sweden, the northern reaches of Norway are excellent for viewing the aurora. You can even get further north in Norway than in Sweden, to further increase your chances.
• Enjoy winter sports. From cross-country skiing to snowmobiling to snowboarding, anything you can do out in the snow is available in Norway.
• Enjoy the holidays. Especially if you decide to spend a bunch of your time in Oslo, the annual Christmas and holiday festivals, light displays, and events are unlike anything anywhere else in the world. You’re sure to make lifelong memories of such a trip.

So, whether you’re looking for a coastal cruise, hoping to get out and enjoy the snowy weather, or just looking for the Lights, Norway is a great option to visit.

Option 3: Iceland

Iceland is one of our favorite Nordic destinations. It’s a little further from Europe, but closer to home here in America, and offers a lot of unique experiences you can’t get in the other Scandinavian countries.

In fact, we’ve written a lot about visiting Iceland in the past, so if you want to learn more, check out these posts!

• Which Months are Best and Worst to Visit Iceland?
• What are the Best Volcanoes to Visit in Iceland?
• How to Have the Best 24 Hours in Reykjavik
• Blue Lagoon vs Sky Lagoon: Which is Better?
• What are the Best Waterfalls to Visit in Iceland?

In Iceland, you can do pretty much all of the same things you would do in one of the more mainland Scandinavian countries. Your snowmobiling, your winter sports, your northern lights; it’s all available.

Beyond that, though, there are a bunch of unique opportunities and experiences in Iceland that you can’t get anywhere else.

By far, the biggest is visiting the volcanoes. In Iceland, you have both active and long-dormant volcanoes available to visit. The active ones generally only let you visit in a helicopter or small plane tour, but those are unforgettable in their own way. The dormant volcanoes are just mountains with cool peaks, and you can view those at any time.

Iceland’s Christmas celebrations are some of the most unique in the world, and the light displays are virtually unmatched.

Iceland’s hot springs – like the Blue and Sky Lagoons mentioned in the post linked above – are an incredible experience in winter. Nothing beats going from the frigid air to a hot bath in a natural environment, and the therapeutic benefits of hot springs water should not be underestimated.

We love the waterfall tours as well, and there are dozens of them to see, even in winter. Beyond that, there are also stunning ice caves and natural formations you can explore around the island if you’re up for a little adventure.

Fun fact: you can even go whale watching in Iceland in the winter. It’s one of the best times to take a boat and see the humpbacks, sperm whales, and orcas.

Option 4: Finland

Rounding out the Big Three of the Scandinavian countries, Finland might feel like it plays second fiddle to Sweden and Norway, but there are many good reasons to visit it instead. Or, more specifically, good reasons to visit all three. After all, you’re not actually constrained by the borders in Europe; taking a road trip through all three of these adjacent countries is an excellent experience.

Finland is also one of the best places to visit an igloo hotel. There are a bunch of different wintertime resorts in the far north of Finland, offering stays in a range of different igloo-style cabins and hotels. There are ice hotels as well if you didn’t get the chance to stay at one in one of the other countries mentioned or just wanted to save it for your Finland experience.

Finland’s epicenter of Helsinki is an awesome destination in the winter as well. It’s similar in some ways to places like Oslo and Stockholm, but it’s unique enough to have its own vibe and culture. There’s a ton to do around the city, and just like the other big cities in Scandinavia, you can always take day trips out for more remote excursions and winter events.

Another unique place to visit is a village on the outskirts of Rovaniemi known as Santa Claus Village. It’s very much a tourist attraction, as you might expect, but wandering the streets makes you feel truly like you’re at the North Pole.

Option 5: Denmark

Denmark is further south than the other Scandinavian countries, and as such, it doesn’t have quite the same feeling. It is, however, a great compromise.

Denmark won’t get you the same brilliant, endless expanses of untouched snow and pristine wilderness that the further north Scandinavian countries offer. It’s a lot smaller, more urbanized, and more temperate than those further north regions. In fact, it’s a perfect place to visit if you want to take advantage of the slower tourism and lower costs of winter without having to worry about being snowed in, snowed out, or fighting frostbite in the far north.

You’re still able to take part in many of the same winter experiences in Denmark, of course. There’s plenty of ice skating, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, and other winter fun. But there are some incredible and unique options in Denmark that you can’t find anywhere else.

One of the biggest attractions in Denmark is the castles. Denmark’s castles are incredible as it is, but when they’re touched by snow and surrounded by pristine white? It’s like something out of a fantasy.

You can also visit Tivoli Gardens, one of the most popular attractions in Copenhagen and one of the oldest amusement parks in the world. It’s full of fun and games, and they always put on winter events and holiday shows that are unlike anything else in the world.

Copenhagen is also home to an incredible Christmas market. From the culture to the architecture to the events, there’s enough to do just in the city that you might not even make it outside of the borders.

Other Scandinavian Options

Truth be told, there’s no wrong country to visit in Scandinavia in the winter if your goal is a winter wonderland and cold-weather events. You can also visit places like the Faroe Islands or Aaland or somewhere as far afield as Greenland. They aren’t as popular or as accessible, but they’re viable options to spend a few days on your travels.

The real pro tip, though, is to just visit most of them in one huge trip. It’s easy and fun to get from place to place, especially if you choose to ride a train or take a car to see the sights along the way. There are also plenty of smaller cities you can visit and explore, from Bergen to Turku to Oulu to somewhere like Hammerfest – yes, it’s real – in the far north.

Whatever you choose, just make sure to remember that your daylight hours are going to be somewhat limited by the winter tilt of the planet. Don’t try to cram too many things into any one day. Make time to relax and enjoy your surroundings, and you’re sure to have a great time.

When all is said and done, we have a mission for you: come back and tell us all about your trip! We love hearing about the adventures our followers get up to, and Scandinavia is a region we’re always looking for a reason to revisit.