‘Kayak across the fjord to your own secluded beach’: readers’ favourite summer trips to Scandinavia

19.04.2024 - 12:55 / theguardian.com

Bergen is often referred to as “the city between seven mountains” – which encapsulates its blend of culture and nature. Lose yourself in its charming old town, fish markets, galleries and museums, then hike or take a funicular up Mount Fløyen for views and pine forest trekking. Bergen is a great base from which to day trip. Using direct buses/trains, you can go to Gudvangen to kayak across the fjord to your own secluded beach for a picnic lunch, or pop to Voss for its water sports, hiking and farm-to-fork food (Store Ringheim is my top pick).
Seb

Utö in the south-western part of the Stockholm archipelago might just be “utöpia”. We packed a tent and went for a weekend adventure from Stockholm, taking the bus and the Line 21 ferry. Life slows on the car-free island and you discover summer houses, wild strawberries, secluded beaches and swimming spots. We camped at a waterside site, with a view of the south harbour and Mysingen, which has its own beach. An absolute must is a visit to the island’s bakery, Utö Bakgård, to try its cinnamon and cardamom buns.
Lizzie Bird

Hjo in Sweden is on the edge of Lake Vättern and provides the setting holiday dreams are made of. You’d feel as if you’d stepped back in time … if it weren’t for the heated outdoor pools, modern play parks and a few antique shops for those looking to uncover a gem. Liquorice ice-cream in a homemade waffle cone is a must at Gula Paviljongen, a wonderful place to sit by the water and take it all in.
Kirsty Johansson

We’ve toured Norway, Denmark and Sweden over the last few summers, cycling and using public transport. We love the freedom it brings, and the opportunities it provides to explore cities and their outdoor pursuits. One of our favourites was travelling by commuter boat from Stockholm to the island of Vaxholm, which takes about an hour. It has lovely shops, huge ice-creams and picturesque cafes. We found a small jetty and beach that was popular with swimmers and kayakers. On the day we visited we’d already booked a kayak using Kayakomat, paying online and releasing the kayak and all the equipment needed using a pin code; it cost 398 Swedish krona (£30) for two hours in a two-seater kayak and was a great way to explore the island.
Rebecca

Ribe, one of Denmark’s oldest towns, has a Viking Centre where you can get an authentic feel of the life of families from more than 1,000 years ago. The town is also a great place for exploring the marine wonders of the Wadden Sea national park and climbing the nearby Marsk Tower to look over the expansive marshes. There’s a campsite and great restaurant by the tower, too.
Jacqui

My partner and I stayed in a traditional boat house (on Airbnb) in an area called Åsnes Finnskog in Norway, near the border with