3 Scandinavian City Breaks To Plan Now
STORIES/UNSPLASH
STOCKHOLM
Sweden
Flight Time From London: 2 hours 30 minutes
Sleep
For a relatively small city (population 1.6m), Stockholm has an impressive range of accommodation options for every budget. Blique by Nobis is a contemporary hotel set in a former 1930s warehouse in Hagastaden, a fashionable art district with plenty of neighbourhood restaurants and cafés. In typical Scandi style, rooms are simple but chic, with comfy beds, clever storage space and Byredo toiletries in ensuite bathrooms. Hotel Frantz is another affordable option, between Stockholm’s old town and the district of Södermalm. Occupying a historic building dating back to the mid-17th century, it’s a family owned boutique hotel with 48 rooms varying in size from Våra Rums (small but perfect for a weekend) to suites and family spaces. For something a little more upmarket, Miss Clara is in the middle of the city, two minutes’ walk from the famous Drottninggatan shopping street and a short distance from Stockholm Central Station. Guests can stay in typically chic bedrooms (superior rooms overlook the beautiful Sveavägen gardens) and dine at the excellent restaurant and bar which serves Italian food with a Swedish twist. A short walk away, Berns Hotel next to Nybrokajen Harbour is a top choice if you want to stay more centrally. The boutique hotel oozes style, with some grand interiors.
Eat & Drink
Stockholm is a smorgasbord for fine and casual dining, with a buzzing bar scene. Plus, the city was chosen as the European Capital of Gastronomy in 2023. Because it’s relatively small, you don’t need to book a table at the more casual spots – or queue outside – unlike in other European cities. For fine dining, book a table at Gastrologik on Artillerigatan, which serves contemporary Swedish dishes in a minimalist dining room, or visit Michelin-starred Ekstedt on Humlegårdsgatan for wood-fired meat, fish and veg made with seasonal ingredients. Romantic evenings are best spent at Etoile where you can enjoy contemporary dishes inspired by Africa and Asia, while Operakällaren inside the historic Opera House is one of the city’s best spots for French dishes with a Nordic twist.
For traditional Swedish food, make a beeline for Södermalm’s Meatballs for the People, a neighbourhood restaurant which specialises in typical Swedish cuisine. Diners can order every type of meatball (pork, beef, chicken, reindeer or veg, to name a few), served with mash, gravy and lingonberries. Symbiosis serves modern European dishes in its stylish dining room, while Bar Agrikultur further down the street celebrates the best of Swedish produce – locals head to the bar for wine and small sharing plates in the early evening. Newcomers that have opened this year include Forma, which fuses French and Asian flavours; Italian bistro Olli; Freya, where diners can try classic Swedish dishes at its cool rooftop dining room; Hasslesons, a buzzy fast-food seafood joint (think crab burger with fries); and Solen by Michelin-starred duo Adam Dahlberg and Albin Wessman.
Visit
Stockholm has one of the best cultural scenes of any city in the world, with over 60 museums and galleries to visit. If you’re strapped for time, don’t miss the National Museum, the Royal Palace or Fotografiska (the world's largest contemporary photography gallery). Your trip should also include long riverside walks: Stockholm spans a total of 14 islands connected by 57 bridges, one of the prettiest being on Strandvägen Boulevard. Be sure to get a feel for Stockholm’s traditional architecture, which is full of art deco and Nordic influences.
Take a ferry to Djurgården, a beautiful island surrounded by water. The main ferry takes about ten minutes, but you can also walk across the connecting bridge or hop on a local bus. You could easily spend a whole day at Djurgården, visiting the Rosendal Palace, Abba Museum and the amusement park – which is ideal if you’re travelling with kids. Walk around the Royal National City Park, which looks particularly beautiful in autumn, then catch a bus to Gamla Stan, the city’s old town. Here, you’ll find pretty orange, red and brown buildings as well as some key landmarks like the Nobel Prize Museum, the aforementioned Royal Palace and Storkyrkan, a historic pink church.
COPENHAGEN
Denmark
Flight Time From London: 1 hours 50 minutes
Sleep
There’s no shortage of stylish hotels in Denmark’s capital. One of our top choices is Villa Copenhagen in the city’s former main post office. The building itself has been carefully restored with modern Scandi interiors across its 390 rooms and suites. There’s also a restaurant, bar, gym and cool rooftop with a heated pool. Just a short walk away is 71 Nyhavn, set on Copenhagen’s iconic waterfront. Spread across two former warehouses, 130 rooms are decked out with nautical touches, like pinewood beams, cabin staircases and shutter windows. Breakfast is a hearty affair with a continental buffet, and hot and cold options served in the atmospheric warehouse cellar, while dinner can be enjoyed at the hotel’s Italian restaurant, Il Rosmarino. Another smart option is Hotel Danmark which offers great value for money – rooms start from just £60pn. Ideal for a weekend, rooms are compact, with everything you need for a comfortable stay – order a fitness kit to your room, indulge in a glass or two during ‘wine hour’, and kick back with room service. There’s also a rooftop bar where you can mingle with other guests, and a slick indoor ‘vineyard’ for late-night drinks.
Eat & Drink
Copenhagen has a world-class dining scene, and many travellers visit the city just to dine at one of the world’s best restaurants, Noma. This two-Michelin starred restaurant is set to close next year, so you’re approaching your last chance to book an unforgettable experience. September to December showcases Copenhagen’s game and forest season – expect the likes of preserved greens, foraged mushrooms and berries, and lean meat served with rich wine sauces. Another Michelin-starred restaurant is Selma, which serves traditional Danish food made using quality produce from around the country. Head to its dimly lit dining room for dishes like blackcurrant, herring and sour cream sandwiches; beef tartare with sea lettuce and oysters; scallops with green peas and avocado; and grilled celeriac with buttermilk and truffle. Then there’s Alchemist which specialises in immersive fine dining, with experiences lasting four to six hours. Food is created to ‘awaken the senses’, but the menu is kept strictly under wraps, so you’ll be surprised on the night.
For something more casual, Barr along Copenhagen’s waterfront serves classic dishes of northern Europe like salted waffles, schnitzel and Danish meatballs alongside a selection of traditional beers and wine. The restaurant looks particularly beautiful at night. In terms of new openings, check out Villette 1 which has a relaxed vibe with farm-to-table dining. Guests can enjoy its hearty dishes outdoors in the courtyard or inside the rustic restaurant. Goldfinch 2 is another newcomer this year, serving small Chinese plates as well as inventive cocktails.
71 NYHAVN/ FREYA MCOMISH
Visit
Start your trip with a visit to the famous Nyhavn Canal, with its colourful array of 17th-century waterfront homes. There are countless things to do here, whether you want to stop for food at a café or restaurant, visit a jazz bar, or see a show at the Royal Danish Playhouse. You should also visit the Botanical Garden which covers ten hectares of land in the city centre. Walk through the 27 greenhouses, which date back to 1874, stopping for refreshment at the café – or at the nearby Torvehallerne marketplace. Then there’s the scenic Kastrup Sea Bath. An architectural gem, it’s a great spot for wild swimming year-round. Meanwhile, culture buffs have plenty of museums and galleries to visit, including the Museum of Copenhagen, Kunsthal Charlottenborg – one of the largest exhibition spaces for contemporary art in Europe – plus SMK, the National Gallery of Denmark.
OSLO
Norway
Flight Time From London: 2 hours 10 minutes
Sleep
Oslo has a few smart boutique hotels to know. Our first choice would be Amerikalinjen, set in a building that was once the headquarters of a Norwegian cruise ship company. Guests can now stay in one of 122 modern rooms and suites, most of which have original features like deep-ledged art-deco windows. Standard rooms are small but cosy for a weekend trip, while Deluxe rooms have spacious living areas filled with an eclectic mix of modern and vintage furniture. Amerikalinjen has six restaurants and bars to choose from – Haven is a great place for evening drinks while restaurant Gustav is inspired by New York's jazz scene and hosts regular music nights. For Scandi minimalism, book a room at The Thief in Tjuvholmen. Designed by Nordic architects, the decor is moody and atmospheric, with Damien Hirst pieces scattered across the floors. Guests can relax in the spa and use the hotel pool in between sightseeing. Meanwhile, LGs should make a beeline for affordable hotel Citybox, with its colourful décor, and light and bright rooms. Most of the city’s big landmarks are within walking distance, and there are plenty of communal spaces for meeting like-minded travellers.
PHIL AICKEN/UNSPLASH
Eat & Drink
Oslo is an expensive city with some top restaurants that can give you a feel for its exciting culinary scene which attracts chefs from around the world. There are 11 Michelin-starred restaurants all in, including Maaemo, with three stars plus a Green one for its commitment to low-waste cooking. The menu showcases the best Norwegian produce with unexpected ingredients. At the other end of the scale, there are plenty of relaxed neighbourhood spots worth visiting, including Kafeteria August which serves small plates with cocktails and wine; Dapper Bistro (and sister venue Bistro) where diners can order coffee and pastries in the day, and veg-centric dishes in the evening; and Skall Matbar, a small restaurant offering up delicious seafood dishes.
Visit
If you’re staying for a weekend, start at the harbour promenade for ultra-modern architecture, then visit the city’s sculpture parks – Viegeland Parka and Ekeberparken – for cool street art. Autumn is still a good time to make the most of the city’s beautiful scenery: you can swim along Oslo Fjord, kayak in forest lakes, or go island hopping to discover beaches in Langøyene and Lindøya. Back in the city, spend an afternoon learning about the Vikings at Vikingskipshuset, home to several historic ships, and Akershus Festning, a beautiful medieval castle near the harbour.
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