Hidden Gems for Northern Lights and Trendy Hotels—Why You Should Travel to Scandinavia Now

Scandinavia is experiencing a surge in popularity. With notable appearances in hit TV shows like The Bear, Apple TV’s Omnivore, and the final season of Vikings: Valhalla, coupled with a growing love for the coolcation, Northern Europe has climbed to the top of many U.S. travelers' bucket lists.

As summer transitions into fall, there are numerous reasons to continue your visits. There’s a renewed emphasis on cultural experiences, and with the arrival of darker nights, the spectacular northern lights are set to dazzle like never before.

Arrive in the vibrant city of Copenhagen, which has recently introduced new direct flights from Philadelphia and Atlanta, and use it as your base to explore the area. Alternatively, embark on a scenic ferry ride within this captivating part of Europe. As summer gives way to early autumn, this is the prime time to travel—here’s what to expect this season.

Copenhagen Highlights Its Cultural Scene

Wandering through the cobbled streets lined with vibrant houses and historic canals in search of stunning interior design and delicious pastries is always a joy. Copenhagen is a hub of culture and design, proudly showcasing its creativity. At the end of August, literary greats like Lauren Groff will take the stage at the Louisiana Literature festival, held an hour from the city at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art. This fall, Noma will host a new event called Heartland at Noma, featuring intimate performances and readings from talents like Rupi Kaur, Jeremy Strong, and Lily Collins.

Lily Collins also recently inaugurated the new Danish Modern exhibit at the DesignMuseum Danmark, a fresh permanent display celebrating the iconic narrative of Danish design. Visitors can expect to see exquisitely crafted chairs, artichoke-inspired lamps, and an array of avant-garde pop designs. Meanwhile, fashion takes center stage at Nobis Hotel, one of the city’s most charming luxury accommodations, which once served as a music college, where the clothing brand Ganni has introduced an in-room styling service.

The city’s new Opera Park opened this year, providing a beautiful space to explore, filled with late-season wildflowers.

Accommodations

This year's standout option is the 25 Hours Paper Island, which opened its doors at the end of July. Boasting an exceptional location in a former paper mill district near the historic Nyhavn harbor, the trendy Refshaleøen, and classic Christianshavn, this hotel was designed as a quintessential Scandinavian island retreat by renowned Swedish designers Stylt. The largest rooms, aptly named “gigantic,” offer a cozy summerhouse vibe. Common areas include a rooftop bar with an East London pub atmosphere and stunning views of the royal palace, along with a quirky foyer filled with fishing rods, sleek German bicycles, and vintage nature books.

Another new addition is the Hotel Bella Grande, a chic four-star boutique hotel situated near the Town Hall Square in the heart of the city. With its sophisticated and historic Italianate architecture, it serves as the sister hotel to the award-winning Coco Hotel and is managed by Cofoco, a Danish hospitality group celebrated for its top-notch restaurants.

Other recent hotel openings in Scandinavia

Norway

The sustainability-focused German hospitality group Lindenberg is set to unveil a unique hotel on Lindøy Island later this year. With stunning sea views, this luxurious retreat in Vestland will offer a blend of opulence and privacy. Also new to Arctic Norway this year, just in time to celebrate Bodø’s designation as a European Capital of Culture, Wood Hotel Bodø features island views from its rooftop wellness area.

Sweden

Autumn may be the ideal time to explore Sweden’s premier nature hotel, Eriksberg Hotel & Nature Reserve, located in Blekinge, southern Sweden, where a stylish new wing debuted this year. With exceptional dining options, guests can spend their days observing wild boar, moose, and deer in Europe’s largest game reserve.

Two additional hotels are set to open in Stockholm this year: Launching in the fall, Villa Dahlia promises a delightful boutique experience in a 1960s Italian townhouse featuring a cocktail bar, spa, gym, and boules court. In winter, Stockholm Stadshotell will debut, reimagining a historic 1870s building in Södermalm, offering 32 rooms, two restaurants, and rich cultural and historical significance.

Hidden gems for observing the northern lights

Following a spectacular display last winter, this year promises even more breathtaking northern lights experiences. Watching the northern lights in Scandinavia is irresistibly captivating, especially as you bundle up in fleeces, trekking through the snow while guides share the region’s myths and legends tied to the aurora borealis (with tales of warriors on a journey to Valhalla, among others). Iceland features several unique remote locations, including Highland Base, accessible via an exhilarating jeep ride through snow-blanketed landscapes, and Deplar Farm in northern Iceland, which offers astro tours by snowshoe.

Don’t overlook Swedish Lapland, which provides some of the most unique aurora experiences available. At the Arctic Bath in Haralds, luxury and nature merge, offering the opportunity to try ice bathing beneath a pitch-black sky. Additionally, the iconic Icehotel, rebuilt every year, is situated in prime northern lights territory. Here, you can witness light displays as early as August—typically, they’re visible from November to April. However, this far north, as long as the night is dark and clear, sightings can occur even on late summer nights.