Iceland Now Cheaper Than Ever!
Yes, the Euro is so expensive at the moment that many travelers opt to stay in their home country. But don't forget about that one place that is now cheaper than ever: Iceland with its beautiful capital Reykjavik. A couple of years back, travelers were able to get just around ISK 60 for 1 US Dollar - now they get around ISK 80, almost 50% more money. Different example: 1 British pound was equivalent to around 125 Icelandic Kroner last year. Now, you can get about 155 Icelandic Crowns!
Now that Iceland is cheaper than ever, skip the trip to the European continent and instead check out Iceland, the current travel secret for anyone wanting a cheaper trip!
Related Travel Tips: The 10 Best Budget Travel Tips - 10 Free Things in Scandinavia - Reykjavik's Best Budget Hotels
NEW: The Best Ideas for Free Things to Do!
Being quite an expensive travel destination, Scandinavia also has a few travel secrets. One of those is that you don't have to entirely rely on the best budget travel tips, but that each Scandinavian capital also offers visitors numerous free things to do. They've never been published as a list for travelers' convenience, unfortunately...except on About.com Scandinavia Travel:
7 Days in Denmark
So you have a week to spend in this beautiful country? It's not long, but it's doable to create a rich, interesting and enjoyable week in Denmark while seeing all the major sights. It's too bad not everyone can have several weeks of vacation each year!
Denmark offers a lot of things to do, so we've created this guide to show you what you could do with seven days in Denmark, starting and ending in Copenhagen. Read about the full 7-day itinerary here.
"Syttende Mai" in Norway
Norway celebrates country and constitution on May 17th, which is celebrated more or less in the way of a Norwegian Independence Day. In Norwegian, this day is called "Syttende Mai" (May 17th), or Grunnlovsdagen (Constitution Day).
Once again, you can look forward to colorful national costumes and cheerful parades along Norwegian city streets (especially in Norway's capital Oslo, as the patriotic inhabitants commemorate the independence of this Scandinavian country. See the picture for a couple getting ready to go to the Independence Day parades in their traditional bunads!
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ABBA Museum Opens After Years of Delays
After several years of delays and setbacks since 2009, the world's first ABBA museum is finally opening its doors. At the ABBA museum, there is entertainment and exhibitions focusing on the music, clothing and history of the popular Swedish group. Interactive entertainment includes a studio where you can create your own ABBA songs, and the unique experience of seeing ABBA live at Wembley Stadium.
Those Scandinavian Toilets...
You'll need to use a toilet sooner or later when you're abroad. But oftentimes, foreign toilets are different from the ones we're used to. Some countries' toilets are even downright scary (which brings up childhood memories from smelly squat toilets in France and Greece...I fear they'll stay with me forever.)
So what can you expect from toilets in Scandinavia? Let's find out about...
Toilets in Finland add an extra challenge. To fight vandalism, the Finnish Road Administration has implemented an interactive system along Highway 1 which requires restroom visitors to send the text message "Open" ("Auki" in Finnish) from their cell phone. This automatically unlocks the roadside toilet for your use. So, before you leave for Finland, best double-check with your carrier to make sure your phone will work there. You don't want to be caught with your pants down. Literally.
Going from Copenhagen to Bergen
Copenhagen and Bergen are separated by a distance of about 1,000 km (620 mi) which can be covered in several different ways by travelers. Each transportation option between Copenhagen and Bergen has its owns pros and cons. Let's find out which transportation option between these cities will suit you best ...read more
How to Save Money in...
It's nice to see the economy rebound a bit, but traveling to Scandinavia this year is still over budget for a lot of travelers. It really depends on which country you want to visit since each of them has its own ways to saving and avoiding unnecessary expenses. So today, we'll take a look at the best ways to save money in each northern European country:
A Secret Gem in the Baltic Sea
The Danish island of Bornholm is still somewhat of a travel secret among non-Scandinavians. It's a popular summer destination for Danes and Swedes, especially because of the long beaches, unique sights, and beautiful bicycle paths everywhere (just check the weather in Denmark before you go).
From Denmark (or southern Sweden), you can hop over to the island of Bornholm via ferry, or a 35-minute flight from Copenhagen. You don't need a car on Bornholm - buses, bicycles, and Danish taxis are everywhere. Learn more about this destination in the Bornholm Travel Guide.
Events in May
With summer temperatures approaching, Scandinavia is getting started on this season's outdoor events and activities. The month of May offers quite a bit and you can find in-depth information in the full-length article Scandinavia in May (May events, travel advice, packing tips, and more). Here is an excerpt of major outdoor events coming up in May:
- Early May: Copenhagen Architecture & Design Days
- Reykjavik Arts Festival in Iceland
- Mid May: Goteborg Half Marathon (Goteborgsvarvet), Sweden
- Mid May: Copenhagen Marathon
- Late May: Carnival in Aalborg, Denmark (the largest carnival in Northern Europe)