Scandinavia: Denmark & Sweden
Copenhagen, Denmark
We kicked off our Scandinavian adventure in Copenhagen, a place I’ve always been curious about visiting. It did not disappoint! I couldn’t believe how charming, quaint, and clean it was - not to mention very safe. We arrived at 7am in a complete downpour. We got soaking wet lugging our bags to our hotel from the train station, but it’s all part of the adventure. Luckily the rest of the trip was rain-free, but definitely chilly! Some of my favorite moments: spotting a ton of locals laying out on the docks tanning in 60 degree weather. Seeing a 7 yr old girl and her little sister (around 3 yrs old) walking alone to the bakery with a list of things to buy, and then walking back home together by themselves. Witnessing the mass of bicyclists, from 3 yr olds to 80 yr olds, riding their bikes each dat. Walking along the Nyhavn canal with the beautiful rainbow houses. Climbing to the top of the famous church and being slightly petrified of falling over the jenky railing. Riding the swings at Tivoli Gardens and being completely terrified. Drinking delicious juices from Joe and Juice every single day of the trip, sometimes multiple times! Stumbling upon the cutest bakeries with the most delicious vegan soups. I loved seeing some of the huge castles and just walking around the city, exploring all the shops and streets.
I left a piece of my heart in Copenhagen, and would not be sad if someone told me tomorrow that I have to live there for the rest of my life :)
Malmö, Sweden
One of the highlights was taking the train to Malmö, a small coastal town in Sweden. It was the perfect destination for a day trip from Copenhagen. It had lots of cute restaurants and shopping! Our legs and feet were so sore that day because we had walked 12+ miles the day before, so it was nice to just take it easy and just walk around the little area called Sodergatan.
Stockholm, Sweden
The next stop on our Nordic adventure was beautiful Stockholm, which was a short 1 hr flight to the north east (ish) of Copenhagen. Stockholm was so much more city-like, with a large central shopping area, a great metro system, and just a lot bigger in terms of size. I loved all of the canals, and although it was chilly, it was absolutely stunning. The architecture of the cathedrals and churches with the tall pointy towers was even more beautiful in person. We explored all areas by foot every day, which was the best way to see the city. I had some of the best soup and chocolate in Stockholm, especially in Gamla Stan (Old Town) which was one of my favorite areas. We also loved the Vasa museum and riding up the side of the Globen to see the views of the city. I was impressed by how laid back and polite everyone was too. This trip definitely fueled my love for northern Europe, and I want to go to Norway and Finland to really round it out. Both Copenhagen and Stockholm now hold a special place in my heart, and although I’m physically home now…. my mind is still in Scandinavia :) I feel very grateful to have been able to experience such a beautiful part of this world with my best friend, favorite travel buddy, and love of my life. Xoxo
