T RAVEL WEEKLY checks out the best reasons and times of the year for visiting the cities and regions of Sweden, Iceland, Norway, Denmark and Finland. We also highlight the transportation options, which operators feature the destinations, and the typical cost of food, drink and accommodation. Also highlighted is the type of client best suited for each country, the main attractions and sample tour packages. Either car hire or public transport is recommended for getting around.
Sweden
Main attractions: Stockholm; Gothenburg; Gota Canal; Dalarna; the Ice Hotel at Jukkasjarvi; Malmo, which will be connected by bridge to Copenhagen from July 1; cross-country and downhill skiing.
Best time to go: winter for skiing and snow-based activities. Rest of the year for all other holidays.
Getting there: SAS to Stockholm and Gothenburg from Heathrow and to Stockholm from Stansted and Manchester; Ryanair from Stansted to Skavsta (for Stockholm) and Kristienstad (for Malmo); Braathens Sweden flies Stansted-Malmo. DFDS operates a ferry service from Newcastle to Gothenburg.
Getting around: a good train service operates between the main cities. Car rental is available at the main cities and airports.
Cost of living: three-course meal without drink, £26; 33cl beer, £3; three-star hotel room from £36 a night.
Client profile: appeals mainly to older clients; Stockholm has a younger image. Cottage holidays are popular with the family market in summer.
Tour operators: Scandinavian Travel Service; DFDS Seaways; Scantours; Norvista; Bridge Travel Service; Cresta; Crystal; and Travelscene.
Sample package: Bridge Travel Service offers five nights self-catering at Tanumstrand Holiday Village at £256 per person including DFDS Seaways crossings between Newcastle and Gothenburg with car and cabin.
Iceland
Main attractions: Reykjavik; the new Blue Lagoon; Gullfoss waterfall; Strokkur geyser; Thingvellir National Park; Akureyri; and Lake Myvatn.
Best time to go: Reykjavik city breaks are year round.
Getting there: Icelandair flies 10 times a week from Heathrow to Keflavik. There is also a daily service from Glasgow.
Getting around: tour buses operate regular itineraries.
Cost of living: three-course meal, £25-£30 excluding drink; 500cl beer, £4.50; three-star hotel from £70.
Client profile: Reykjavik’s nightlife attracts the young and its sights and touring, the older tourists.
Tour operators: Icelandair Holidays; Regent Holidays; Scandinavian Travel Service; Scantours; Bridge Travel Service; Travelscene, Taber Holidays; Cresta; and Crystal.
Sample package: Icelandair Holidays offers 10-day self-drive Iceland Circle tours from £1,062 per person bed and breakfast, in hotels or guesthouses, based on two sharing a group B car including return flights.
Denmark
Main attractions: Copenhagen, including Tivoli Gardens and Nyhavn; Legoland; Givskud Lion Park; Aarhus; beaches and cycling in southeast Jutland.
Best time to go: all year round for Copenhagen; otherwise spring to autumn.
Getting there: SAS to Copenhagen from Heathrow, Stansted and Manchester; Maersk to Copenhagen and Billund from Gatwick; Ryanair flies Stansted-Aarhus; and Go operates Stansted-Copenhagen. DFDS ferry between Harwich-Esjberg.
Getting around: a car is the best way to get around Denmark.
Cost of living: three-course meal is about £20 excluding drink; 33cl beer £2.50; three-star hotel room, £69 a night.
Client profile: Copenhagen attracts many 40-60-year-olds while Legoland and holiday centres/cottages appeal to families.
Tour operators: Scandinavian Travel Service; DFDS Seaways; Specialised Tours; Scantours; Bridge Travel Service; Cresta; Crystal; Travelscene; and Magic Travel Group.
Sample package: seven-night Inns and Castles touring holiday costs from £270 bed and breakfast including return Harwich-Esjberg ferry crossing with cabin with DFDS Seaways.
Norway
Main attractions: Bergen; the fjords – especially Geirangerfjord, Sognefjord and Hardangerfjord; Norwegian Coastal Voyage; Oslo; North Cape; Trondheim; Tromso.
Best time to go: late spring to late autumn. Midnight sun can be seen from late May to the end of July.
Getting there: SAS to Oslo from Heathrow, Stansted and Manchester; Ryanair from Stansted to Oslo’s Torp Airport; Braathens from Stansted and Newcastle to Oslo and Bergen. Fjord Line sails from Newcastle to Stavanger and Bergen.
Getting around: good train service between the major cities in Norway but driving offers flexibility.
Cost of living: three-course meal excluding drink, £20; 33cl beer, £3; three-star hotel room from £40 per night.
Client profile: Norway attracts older clients, aged 50-plus. Tour operators: Fjord Line, Norway Only, Scandinavian Travel Service, Scantours, Specialised Tours, Bridge Travel Service, DFDS Seaways, Cresta, Travelscene.
Sample package: 12-night Panoramic Tour of the western fjords costs from £806half-board with NorwayOnly including return ferry crossing.
Finland
Main attractions: Helsinki; Finnish Lapland, including Father Christmas, Santa Park underground theme park and arctic activities; lakeland area; Savonlinna opera.
Best time to go: charters and day trips operate to Finnish Lapland in winter to see Father Christmas; late spring, summer for the lakeland and opera (annual festival in July).
Getting there: Finnair from Heathrow, Gatwick andManchester to Helsinki; low-cost airline Buzz starts Stansted-Helsinki service on March 27. Viking Line and Silja Line ferries operate from Stockholm to Turku and Helsinki.
Getting around: Finnair operates an extensive network of domestic flights. Car rental is available at all main cities and towns.
Cost of living: three-course meal, £13; 33cl beer, £1.60; bottle of wine, £13.
Client profile: families in winter, to see Father Christmas; older
couples/families in summer.
Tour operators: Norvista, Scandinavian Travel Service, Bridge Travel Service, Cresta, Crystal, Travelscene.
Sample package: Scandinavian Travel Service has eight days at Haikko Manor and Spa Hotel, Porvoo, on the Baltic Sea, from £720 half-board including return flights and use of Yorokobi Japanese-style pool area with hot and cold water tub and sauna. Beauty treatment and massages are extra.