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City breaks in Northern Europe

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Cityscape of Bergen, Norway. Architecture Background

5 getaways from Scotland to Scandinavia

From Copenhagen to Longyearbyen, Nordic cities are alive with stories of adventure, woven from salt and wind. Discover the unique charm of 5 fascinating cities.

1. Copenhagen, a beautiful getaway set on the water’s edge

A gentle stroll along the canals of Copenhagen will charm you with its vista of colourful red, yellow and blue houses, their reflections dancing on the water. The cobbled streets exude the intoxicating aromas of cinnamon and freshly baked bread, while mulled wine perfumes the air with spices. A taste of hygge, the typical Danish art of living. Royal palaces add touches of rococo elegance to this urban fresco, Torvehallerne’s Christmas markets and market halls plunge you into a fairytale, while the Little Mermaid silently watches over the harbour.

The hygge, or the art of savouring the moment

Whether it’s the soft glow of a candle, the soothing crackle of an open fire or the comforting warmth of a throw, the hygge elevates everyday life by transforming every moment into a source of serenity. Very much a state of mind, it celebrates discreet pleasures and encourages us to reconnect with what is essential.

3 must-sees in Copenhagen:

1- Wander along the bustling quays of Nyhavn, lined with colourfully-fronted houses. Lanterns light up the evenings, while street musicians and the aromas of open-air cafés create a warm and inviting atmosphere.

2- For a different perspective of Copenhagen, take a river cruise along the city’s canals, past Indre By, the medieval heart, and charming Christianshavn, with its Dutch-inspired architecture. Admire the historic facades, elegant bridges and the iconic Church of Our Saviour, with its spiral bell tower.

3- Immerse yourself in the opulence of the Danish Renaissance at Rosenborg Castle. Inside, the sumptuous rooms, adorned with tapestries and period furniture, house jewels that have adorned the royal heads of Europe.

2. Bergen, the city of seven mountains

Where the fruits of Copenhagen are spread around, Bergen stands like an immovable sentinel on the peninsula of Bergenshalvøyen, set between its seven mountains and part of an archipelago on the Kattegat Strait. Take time to explore the craft workshops, galleries and shops set at the foot of the wooden houses on the quays of Bryggen, witnesses to the golden age of medieval trade.

3 must-see places in Bergen:

1- Wander the cobbled streets of Bryggen and the famous Hanseatic League wharf, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the Hanseatic Museum, housed in one of the city’s oldest buildings, take a deep dive into the world of the medieval merchants who shaped Bergen.

2- Explore KODE, a vast artistic complex that brings together four museums and three composers’ houses, dedicated to Edvard Grieg, Harald Sæverud and Ole Bull. Major works by Edvard Munch, such as Young Girl in a Red Hat and Winter Landscape, Nordic design treasures and remarkable music collections, are all on display.

3- Relive 18th-century Bergen at the Old Bergen Museum, an open-air museum that offers an intimate look at the everyday life of days gone by.

3. Glasgow, a city in the throes of reinvention

From the Gaelic “Glaschu” meaning the “green glen”, the city embodies the indomitable spirit of Scotland. Once an industrial bastion, the town is now proudly renewing itself thanks to an ambitious urban regeneration programme. The Clyde Docks area is an emblematic example of this, transformed into a modern and dynamic space. While the city is changing, it has managed to retain a typically British soul. Feel yourself lulled by Scottish melodies, with the echoes of fiddles in pubs, and the aromas of malt and hops mingling with the scents of haggis and tasty meat or vegetable pies.

3 Glasgow must-sees:

1- Explore the West End, a trendy district on the edge of the university campus. The lively cafés, eclectic boutiques and art galleries of the neighbourhood reflect the city’s creativity and dynamism.

2- Stroll among exotic plants housed under the glass roofs of the botanical garden. The Victorian greenhouses offer a peaceful green escape in the heart of Glasgow, along the banks of the Kelvin.

3- The Riverside Museum is a journey through time. You can wander through faithfully reconstructed cobbled streets lined with period shops and houses, and admire an impressive collection of old locomotives and trams.

4. Tromsø, gateway to the Arctic

Beyond the Arctic Circle, Tromsø is noted for being one of the most northerly cities on the planet, alongside Longyearbyen and Reykjavik. Under skies that are in perpetual metamorphosis, the midnight sun floods summer with eternal light, while winter drapes them in the mystical dances of the Northern Lights.

Every street reveals unprecedented panoramas of the fjord or the mountains, while the brightly coloured traditional houses contrast with the immaculate whiteness of the snow cover.

3 must-sees in Tromsø:

1- Take the cable car to the summit of Mont Storsteinen, where breathtaking panoramic views await.

2- Marvel at the modern architecture of the Arctic Cathedral. Its sleek lines rise towards the sky, while the bright stained-glass windows in shades of yellow, white and violet capture the northern light.

3- Glide gently along the calm waters of Norway’s coastline by kayak, surrounded by snow-capped mountains reflected in the sea, hoping to catch a glimpse of a blowing whale in the distance.

5. Longyearbyen, at the top of the world

Even further north, Longyearbyen stands on the edge of the inhabited world. Suspended between the icy peaks and the immensity of Spitsbergen, this former mining town with an end of the world feel is now a mecca for research into polar ecosystems, and has plenty to appeal to lovers of the Arctic. The pure, biting air carries the icy spray of the ocean, while the silence is broken only by the crunch of snow underfoot and the movement of the wind. Wandering reindeer and the occasional bear add to the sense of wild solitude.

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault

A short drive from Longyearbyen, The Svalbard Global Seed Vault, a plant vault buried under several metres of ice, preserves seeds from around the world.

3 must-sees in Longyearbyen:

1- Dive into the fascinating history of the archipelago at the Svalbard Museum. Explore the tales of daring explorers and discover the mysteries of the Arctic’s iconic flora and fauna.

2- Put on a helmet and headlamp for an immersive exploration of Coal Mine No. 3. Crawl at the height of the miners and feel the daily challenges of those who shaped the history of Longyearbyen.

3- Paddle a kayak through the heart of Isfjord among the icebergs for an unforgettable wilderness experience.