Things To Know Before You Go
Our trip through Scandinavia covers three key countries, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland, which are on an easy route to trace in a linear drive and which feature abundant design and architectural features. We traveled in winter, which has the advantage of having few tourists and discounted prices at hotels and attractions but also has the disadvantage of bleak weather and short days. The Gulf Stream warms Denmark, making Copenhagen winters similar to those in London. Away from the protection of the Gulf Stream, however, Sweden and Finland, on the Baltic Sea, experience cold, crisp, but clear weather.
Getting there: Copenhagen is the least expensive Scandinavian capital to fly into from the United States, and it is where we started our journey. We then drove to Stockholm (about eight hours), and finally took the overnight ferry to Helsinki. From there it is an easy flight on SAS back to Copenhagen, connecting to the United States or other international destinations. We used SAS as our carrier, but several major American airlines also offer service, including American and Delta, and they can be found and booked on Expedia.
Borders: Traveling throughout the region requires only a passport—no shots—and Europeans and U.S. and Canadian citizens can cross borders without visas. As for driving, an American driver's license is accepted.
Where to stay: There are great hotels for every budget throughout the region. A good site for a full selection of accommodations is Scandinavia-Online-Travel.com.
Books: The three leading guidebooks for Scandinavia are Fodor's, Rick Steves', and The Rough Guide. The Complete Guide to Architecture in Stockholm is the most comprehensive city guide on the subject, but Architecture in the Scandinavian Countries, by Marian C. Donnelly, offers a good overview.
On the design side, Scandinavian Modern Furnishing, 1930-1970: Designed for Life, by Michael Ellison and Leslie A. Pina is an excellent summary of the defining period. Another well-regarded sourcebook is Scandinavian Design, by Charlotte Fiell and Peter Fiell. If you want to be quite specific try Danish Chairs, by Noritsugu Oda. Finland Living Design, by Elizabeth Gaynor, is the definitive tome on Finnish design.
General information: For free brochures about Scandinavia, call the Scandinavian Tourist Boards at (212) 885 9700, or e-mail .
Denmark:
The official Web site of the Danish Tourist Board
General information on "Wonderful Copenhagen"
Danish Design Center
The National Bank of Denmark, designed by Arne Jacobsen
Ny Carlsberg Glyptoteket
The Black Diamond Cultural Center in Copenhagen
Louisiana Museum of Modern Art on the North Zealand coast.
Sweden: The official website of the Swedish Travel and Tourism Council
The official Stockholm Visitors Board site
Svenskt Tenn is the quintessential Swedish design company and store founded in 1924 by Estrid Ericson and designer Josef Frank.
Finland:
The Finnish Tourist Board's official Web site
From the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, facts on Finland
General information on Helsinki
A weekly and daily guide to events and sites in Helsinki
The Finnish Association of Architects
The Museum of Finnish Architecture
Finlandia Hall, designed by Alvar Aalto
Museum of Contemporary Art: Kiasma
Information on the Design Forum and original Finnish design
Promotional considerations: The team traversed the snowy roads of Scandinavia in February, driving from Copenhagen to Helsinki behind the wheel of a Volvo XC90, the Motor Trend Sport Utility of 2003. The vehicle was provided by the good folks at Volvo.
SAS provided roundtrip air travel for our team.
The Danish Tourist Board assisted us in all details of planning and logistics, especially Lillian Hess, its director of public relations. In Copenhagen, we stayed as guests of the Arne Jacobsen-designed Radisson SAS Royal and dined at the rooftop Restaurant Alberto K.
The Swedish Travel & Tourism Council, and its director of public relations Annika Benjes, gave us great assistance in planning the tour through Sweden.
In Vaxjo, near the Glass District, the team stayed at the Hotel Teaterparken.
In Stockholm, the team stayed as guests at the elegant Berns Hotel. The Grand Hotel, where Nobel laureates stay, hosted the scout for this expedition.
The BirgerJarl Hotel hosted the roundtable lunch with Swedish designers.
The Finnish Tourist Board and its able managers Maria Conte and Ritva Muller helped us design the arrangements in Helsinki.
We received a discount on our overnight cruise across the Baltic from Stockholm to Helsinki on the Silja Line.
The team stayed, with a discount, at the very elegant Hotel Kamp in Helsinki.
The Scandic Hotel Continental Helsinki hosted the expedition scout.
Eagle Creek supplied travel bags and accessories for the team.
Travel clothing provided by Ex Officio.
