What to do in Scandinavia during the summer?

You are probably not used to the never-sinking sun or chilling in the lakes at 2 am. But we are sure you’ll quickly get fond of it. The art of truly enjoying your free time, family, sun, short swim in the lakes and sandy beaches is honed by the Scandinavians during the summer months. Be aware that the Nordic summers are mild. 🙂

The summer in the Scandics offers a lot of culinary highlights. It is the beginning of the berry season. You can enjoy fresh locally sourced food prepared in a traditional way at the local restaurants or join the tradition of the summer food festivals.

You can hike the Faroe Islands! Summers are mild on these islands. The visitors come here to admire the dramatic landscapes and find complete peace. The Danes have coined “staycation”: a slow and quiet time on the coastline. The locals love to take it easy and hike on the sandy beach, swim, cycle or fly the kites – the summers spoil with pleasant weather here! The most popular resort in Sweden i.e. in Malmö boasts a sandy beach Ribban and is surrounded by the greenery. The city boasts an abundance of accommodation, restaurants, cafes, and shops, so be prepared to have a really nice weekend here. In summer, Copenhagen hosts numerous festivals, events, and entertainment. From music shows and theater performances to food festivals and the Color Run Race. Most of the events are totally free, so you can definitely give them a try! Summer is the best time to explore fjords on a cruise, in Norway.

Öland Roots is an annual reggae music festival in Öland, Sweden. It has been held since 2004 in June or July with about 2 000 visitors. It is a three-day festival. There are usually 30 different artists.

Scandinavian summer is special. From the end of May until August, darkness barely falls, and, high above the Arctic Circle, the sun never disappears. In this midnight sun period, thousands of islands, playgrounds and countryside are full of opportunities for spontaneous adventure and switch-off relaxation, that’s the essence of friluftsliv (open-air life). Midsummer is a joyous holiday that rivals Christmas in Scandinavian countries., it marks the beginning of the summer solstice, i.e. the longest day of the year. Midsummer Eve is always celebrated in the countryside, that’s the first rule of Midsummer. On the day before, everyone leaves town and everything closes. At Midsummer, many begin their five-week annual holidays.

Midsummer is an occasion of large gatherings many Swedes take advantage of. In many cases, whole families gather to celebrate this traditional high-point of the summer. Midsummer Eve is always a Friday between 19 and 25 June. People often begin the day by picking flowers and making wreaths to place on the maypole, which is a key component in the celebrations. The maypole is raised in an open spot and traditional ring-dances ensue, to the delight of the children and some of the adults. Teenagers tend to stay out of it and wait for the evening’s more riotous entertainment.

A typical Midsummer menu features different kinds of pickled herring, boiled new potatoes with fresh dill, soured cream and chives. This is often followed by a grilled dish of some kind, such as spare rib or salmon, and for dessert the first strawberries of summer, with cream. The traditional accompaniment is a cold beer and schnapps, preferably spiced. Every time the glasses are refilled, singing breaks out anew. Swedes like drinking songs, and the racier the better. After dinner, many people still want to go out dancing, just like in the old days. Preferably on an outdoor dance floor beside a lake as the evening mist settles and the sound of the orchestra echoes back from the rocky hills on the opposite shore.

Link: https://sweden.se/culture-traditions/midsummer/

Our health care workers who went to work in Scandinavia told us they were amazed by Scandinavian customs. So, we are sure you will also enjoy Midsummer and other activities. 🙂

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