Scandinavia – the top of Europe!

Visit this magnificent part of the world and enjoy a taste of Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark and Iceland - all in 10 days!

These spectacular Scandinavian countries have a great network of hostels, which offer a variety of activities and fun to be had by all. Read on to discover our suggested itinerary of what to do, where to go and where to stay to get the real hostel experience!

Finland
A country of a thousand lakes and known for its love of saunas, the home of ‘Father Christmas’ and world class design such as Itttala and Marimekko.

Start your trip in Finland’s capital, Helsinki, and stay at Eurohostel, located in a part of town called Katajanokka, which is close to the Market Square and in a neighborhood of Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) buildings. In Helsinki it’s easy to get around by foot or by tram so spend 2 days exploring the many architectural styles and experience the café society, which springs to life in the summer with people sitting and watching the world go by! As a seaside city, Helsinki stretches out to pretty islands where green spaces are never far away.

With 64 HI hostels in Finland there are plenty of places to stay for guests that want to spend more time discovering this country. From the striking architecture of the capital, Helsinki, to the fishing and sailing paradise of the Aland archipelago and the wilderness wonders of Lapland, there is a rich choice of culture and nature in Finland and you’ll find accommodation wherever you are.

Sweden 
Sweden offers a charming combination of beauty, fresh air, activities and lively towns.

From Helsinki, travel by plane or ferry 400km east to Stockholm, a city that can be simply described as beautiful. Stockholm is an international city with great shopping, high-quality restaurants, vibrant culture and a famous music scene. Not only is there plenty to discover, Stockholm offers a selection of uniquely different hostels to stay in! Try out the Jumbo hostel, a fully renovated Jumbo Jet airplane, located by the airport, or stay on a ship – af Chapman – located in the city centre. You can easily explore Stockholm by foot or take in a different view from a boat trip and look back at this beautiful city.

With almost 400 hostels, hotels, mountain stations and alpine huts you can stay with HI Sweden (STF) in big cities, deep in the forests in alpine wilderness and on the desolate islands in the archipelagoes.

Norway
Norway is famous for being the land of the Vikings and known for its magnificent fjords, midnight sun and the Northern lights.

From Stockholm, travel by car, train or plane to Oslo, the capital of Norway, which may not be big but it has it all! Stay at Oslo Hostel Haraldsheim and visit the famous Olympic ski-jump in Holmenkollen and the inspiring Vigeland sculpture park. Ski downhill and cross country in the winter and have lunch by the fjord in the summer. See real Viking ships, discover the famous Edvard Munch painting -‘The Scream’ - and don’t miss out on a visit to the new Opera house, which is built like an iceberg coming out of the Oslo fjord!

Our network of hostels in Norway is over 80 hostels - from North Cape and the Lofoten Islands to the different and beautiful southern parts of the country, Norway hostels are well located in some of the most enticing parts of the country.

Denmark
Denmark has Legoland, a great tourist attraction for all the family, and one of Europe’s most vibrant cities – Copenhagen.

From Oslo, you can go by bus, car, ferry or train to Copenhagen. Stay in Europe’s largest city hostel, Copenhagen City Hostel, and visit the famous Tivoli gardens and amusement park and the Royal Castle Amalienborg. Take in the sights on a canal boat, shop in Strøget and enjoy the famous Danish open-sandwich.

Being surrounded by the sea and consisting of big and small islands, Denmark has a beautiful landscape waiting to be explored. It is a small country, and very easy to travel in and around. Denmark has 95 hostels, and is famous for very good hospitality.

Iceland
Hike over glaciers, gaze at geysers, visit volcanoes, watch seal and puffin colonies on the coast and admire the Northern Lights and bright nights under the midnight sun - in Iceland you’ll encounter nature as you’ve never seen it before!

Take a plane from Copenhagen to your last stop in Reykjavik, Iceland. After landing, relax and unwind in the mineral rich water of the Blue Lagoon outdoor geothermal spa. Fully revitalized, travel to Reykjavík and enjoy a city of galleries and small designer shops. In the evening, you can go whale watching before enjoying the nightlife, which starts late and lasts until early morning!

In order to enjoy Iceland to the fullest, venture out of the capital city. Both Reykjavík Downtown Hostel and Reykjavík City Hostel have excellent travel desks, which can help book a range of excursions. We highly recommend a nature excursion with low-carbon activities such as snorkeling, rafting, caving or glacier walking.