Aarhus is the 2nd largest city in Denmark whose origins date back to the 8th century. This city is full of history, green spaces, cafes, museums, and all around good vibes. I visited here in May and saw such cool places like the Aarhus Art Museum (ARos), Aarhus Cathedral, Our Lady Church, Aarhus Customs House, Marselisborg Beach and Castle, The Infinite Bridge, Mejlborg, and Mølleparken.

The countries of Scandinavia include Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Despite being geographical neighbors, there is a long history among these countries. They are truly unique places in comparison to other countries of the world and are very much worth seeing. Use this guide for not just seeing their capitals (Stockholm, Oslo, Copenhagen), but also their cities as well.

The Nordics include Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Iceland, and the Faroe Islands. This part of Europe contains such awesome metropolitan capitals like Stockholm, Reykjavik, and Tórshavn (among others). Along with such iconic cities in these Northern European countries, you will also find gorgeous fjords, waterfalls, snow topped mountains, massive castle, and cool cathedrals. I have outlined all Nordic cities (including capitals), as well as the natural attractions in this part of the world and consolidated them into this ultimate guide!

This guide to Norway breaks down several cities and natural areas within the country that are worth visiting. This includes the capital city of Oslo and the 2nd most populous city of Bergen, the most populated Norwegian city in the Arctic Circle at Tromsø, and the smaller city to Stavanger. If it is nature you seek, I also talk about places like Trolltunga, Preikestolen, and the Lofoten Islands.

The Island of Gotland is owned by Sweden and is situated in the Baltic Sea. It is a popular destination for Swedes, especially in the summer. Such popular spots like Fårö, Visby, and Hemse are not to be missed. You can easily fly into Visby or take a ferry from the Swedish mainland at Nynäshamn. Seeing the island by bike or by car is highly recommended to explore its wonderful beaches and cliffs.

The town of Visby is the best preserved medieval city in all of Scandinavia, most exemplified by its still-standing city walls and defensive towers. The town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and features many churches (Visby Cathedral, St. Mary's Cathedral, St. Nicolai Ruin). Also, Stora Torget features many nice shops and restaurants. No visit to Gotland is complete without seeing Visby!

You can easily reach the island of Fårö by taking a ferry from Nynäshamn to Gotland, then taking a Fårö via the northeast of Gotland. This island, along with Visby, is a popular place to explore in the summertime for Swedes and tourists alike. The island features numerous beaches and lighthouses, along with its famous natural limestone rock formations, or rauks, at Langhammar.

The Lofoten Islands are located in Nordland County in Norway. They are composed of the islands Gimsøy, Austvågøy, Vestvågøya, Flakstadøya, Mostenesøya, and Værøy. These islands are some of the most beautiful in the world and a summertime road trip to Lofoten is a huge bucket list item. My favorite spots were Henningsvær, Reine, Ryten, Nusfjord, Vikten, Offersøykammen, and Eggum, to name a few!

The island of Værøy is a part of the Lofoten archipelago in Nordland County, Norway. It is home to roughly 728 people and accessible only by ferry from Mostenes or Bødo. The viewpoint after hiking to Håen is one of the best in all of Lofoten. You can also hike at Nordlandsnuppen, Plantefeltet, and Værøyhornet. A day trip here is all you need to see the southern tip of the Lofoten Islands.

The island of Moskenesøya is a part of the Lofoten archipelago in Nordland County, Norway. There are a plethora of hikes to undertake on the island: Reine, Ryten, Røren, Andstabben, and Munken. Some great beaches to check out are also at Kvalvika, Horseid, and Bunes. Lastly, the fishing villages of Hamnøy and Sakrisøy are incredibly picturesque and worth stopping for.

The island of Flakstadøya is a part of the Lofoten archipelago in Nordland County, Norway. There are many hikes to undertake on the island: Hustinden, Volandstind, Moltind, and Nubben. There are a number of beaches too at Skagsanden, Rambergstranda, and Flakstad. The town of Vikten is a MUST visit to see the glass blowing at Glashytta Kafé. Lastly, Nusfjord is a charming fishing village you can't miss.

The island of Vestvågøya is a part of the Lofoten archipelago in Nordland County, Norway. There are a plethora of hikes to undertake on the island: Mannen, Offersoykammen, Nonstind, Veggen, and Kleivheia. There are a number of beaches too at Uttakleiv, Unstad, and Haukland. Lastly, a kayaking during the midnight sun in Eggum in a must do when here in the summer.

The island of Austvågøya is a part of the Lofoten archipelago in Nordland County, Norway. There are a plethora of hikes to undertake on the island: Fløya, Festvågtind, Matmora, and Djevelporten. Also including the towns of Slovaer and Henningsvaer, the latter is probably one of the best to explore in warmer weather. It is known for its football stadium, built into one of the outer islands of town.

Take a trip to the Tromsø, the largest city in Norway in the Arctic Circle. You can experience the Midnight sun or Polar night here depending on the season! Tromsø is situated across the two islands of Tromsøya and Kvaløya and has plenty of sights to see like Fjellheisen, the Tromsø and Arctic Cathedrals, the Tromsø Gallery of Contemporary Art, among other things! Come see the Northern Lights too!

Sweden has countless castles (or 'slott' in Swedish) from its storied history. Seeing all of them would take ages. I have compiled a list of some of my favorite castles from across Sweden including Uppsala Castle, Kalmar Castle, Kärnan, Borgholms Castle, Gripsholm Castle, Vaxholm Fortress, Örebro Castle, Skokloster Castle, and Carlstens Fästning.

Suomenlinna, situated off the coast of Helsinki, translates to 'Castle of Finland'. Originally built by the Swedes, it has been occupied by the Russians, before being handed over to Finland. Take some time here to explore the Suomenlinna and Military Museums, Cafe Silo, Cafe Vanille, Adlerfelt, the King's Gate and Artillery Battery, Sveaborgs badstrand, and the Jetty Barracks Gallery!

So many things come to mind when you think of Sweden: ABBA, Skiing, IKEA, Volvo, High Taxes, Vikings, the Swedish Chef, etc. Sweden is also more than just its capital of Stockholm. If you have the time, be sure to check out other Swedish cities like Gothenburg (the 2nd largest), Malmö (the 3rd largest), Uppsala and Lund (both university towns), Helsingborg in the South of Sweden, Kalmar in Småland County, and the islands of Öland and Marstrand off the Swedish coast.

The Nordic region of Europe consists of some of the world's happiest countries. The term Nordic is often mixed with Scandinavia though the two represent certain parts of Northern Europe. Each capital is quite different and has much to offer. This guide breaks down the Nordic capital cities of Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki, Reykjavik, Torshavn, and Mariehamn.