Northern Lights and Nordic Hygge: 8 Great Introductions to Winter in Scandinavia

From Nordic skies splashed with the northern lights to warmly lit lanes, carousels, and floating saunas, Scandinavia is a real-life fantasyland — especially in winter. The northern European subregion — home to the cityscapes and nature escapes of Denmark, Sweden, and Norway — is a place of otherworldly history and heritage, where glacier-carved fjords meet Viking lore and walkable streets weave by museums, opera houses, and time-honored restaurants.

Each Scandinavian city offers its own special kind of winter magic, and Lufthansa takes you there, with easy access from the US to vibrant capitals like Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Oslo — plus all their nearby wonders, including quiet corners of the Arctic where shimmering ribbons of green and violet dance overhead during the aurora borealis, one of Earth’s most unforgettable shows. Here’s a taste of what awaits when you touch down in Scandinavia.

Fly to Copenhagen…

…and enter a world of fairytale magic.

One of Copenhagen’s defining attractions is a theme park — one of the world’s oldest, founded in 1843 — so fantastical that it inspired the likes of Hans Christian Andersen. Located in the heart of the city next to Copenhagen Central Station, Tivoli Gardens is a place that transcends the concept of a theme park, where rides share space with pastoral gardens, roving peacocks, musical performances, seasonal celebrations, and Nordic cuisine. The park is full of rides, spanning from the childlike wonder of the Classic Carousel to the adrenaline-pumping thrills of The Demon rollercoaster.

Tivoli also has live music daily, colorful lights at night, and themed decor and events for holidays. To see it at its glowiest, come in winter when the park becomes a veritable wonderland with activities like ice skating and holiday-themed displays. Warm up with mulled wine and traditional Danish treats from festive market stalls as you wander the grounds. If you’re there all day, tuck into one of the park’s many restaurants, like Figaro seafood bistro and Tivoli Food Hall, situated in a building designed by the same architects behind the Louvre in Paris.

Later, see how Copenhagen’s love of the holiday season unfolds outside the park gates, with seasonal markets in nearby Nyhavn and City Hall Square continuing the cheer.

Fly to Stockholm…

…and get lost in Old Town…

Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town, dates back to the 13th century. Today, it’s among the most popular destinations in Scandinavia, marked by winding cobblestone streets, islets, bustling meeting squares, and townhouses as colorful as an artist’s palette — many built in the 16th and 17th centuries. Originally Stockholm’s city center, Gamla Stan now teems with charming cafes, galleries, restaurants, and educational attractions like the Nobel Prize Museum. This is also where the changing of the guards takes place daily outside of the Royal Palace.

For a bit of edible history while you’re there, sample smoked goose pâté and Swedish veal tartare at Den Gyldene Freden, the city’s oldest restaurant, opened in 1722. And for a warming taste of winter, look to cozy cafes in the surrounding streets pouring steaming cups of hot chocolate, or try to track down julmust, a Swedish soft drink that’s mostly enjoyed around the holidays for an authentic taste of the holiday season.

…before traveling back in time.

Located on an island to the east of Gamla Stan is Skansen, the oldest open-air museum in the world. Founded in 1891, it’s a collection of historical buildings designed to transport travelers to bygone times. Swedish living history is on full display as people clad in traditional garb depict folk culture and traditional crafts, like blacksmithing and weaving, in equally traditional buildings. The complex also contains the Baltic Sea Science Center, spaces for music and dance performances, and a zoo filled with animals like moose, seals, and bears.

Come winter, Skansen turns into a scene from a Swedish holiday card, complete with a historic market, carols, activities like candle-making, and stalls selling handicrafts and homemade sweets. Be sure to partake in the Swedish tradition of fika, a social coffee break that’s meant to provide a moment of pause and reflection, at one of Skansen’s cafes. It’s the perfect way to recharge before continuing your exploration — especially with snow crunching underfoot and candles flickering in the windows of the old wooden houses.

Fly to Oslo…

…and set sail with a floating sauna…

Saunas, with all their warmth and wellness, are a core part of hygge, a Danish and Norwegian concept that embodies the feelings of coziness and contentment. And in Oslo, spa-seekers can find rejuvenation in the middle of a fjord. Floating saunas — operated year-round by KOK but particularly memorable in winter when the fjord is fringed with ice — take guests out into the Oslo Fjord, where they can jump into the cold, pristine water and then warm up in the hot sauna. Lined with windows, the wooden structures provide front-row views of the skyline, while a crackling woodstove makes you feel like you’re cozied up in a forest cottage.

There are room-temp changing rooms aboard, offering a reprieve from the hot sauna and cold ocean waters. Each floating sauna can accommodate 10 guests, and they’re bookable for single tickets (or a buyout) for two hours.

…then go chase the northern lights.

Oslo isn’t just Norway’s capital. It’s also a gateway to the Arctic Circle, where the northern lights are known to dance across the winter sky. From here, travelers can carry on to destinations like Tromsø, Alta, or the Lofoten Islands — all prime viewing spots for the aurora borealis between September and March.

Once there, you can chase the lights by snowmobile, dogsled, or from the warmth of a glass-roofed cabin. Many guided tours depart in the evening, tracking weather patterns to find the clearest skies, often rewarding travelers with streaks of green and violet rippling over snow-covered landscapes. Beyond the aurora, winter activities like reindeer sleigh rides, Sami cultural experiences, and Arctic fjord cruises make the journey north unforgettable.

Fly to Gothenburg…

…and eat your way through “fish church.”

Fresh fish and seafood are foundational facets of the Scandinavian diet, and in Sweden’s second-largest city of Gothenburg, one hallowed fish market reigns supreme. Feskekörka, which translates to “fish church,” has been a cultural cornerstone since 1874. Folks flock from near and far to get their fill of fish and shellfish — everything from haddock and herring to oysters and prawns — plumbed from local waters.

During winter, the scent of grilled fish mingles with sea air and the glow of candles from nearby restaurants, where locals warm up with seafood chowders. The market recently reopened in 2024 after a four-year closure for renovations. It also includes restaurants, bars, and live music on an outdoor stage — all perfect settings for locals and travelers to mingle, share tables piled with seafood, and serve as living proof that food here is as much about community as it is cuisine.

Fly to Bergen…

…and enter the “heart of the fjords.”

Norway’s second-largest city is known as the “heart of the fjords,” a bucolic coastal community flanked by homes that ascend the adjacent Mount Fløyen. You can make your own journey up the slope via the Fløibanen funicular. History is well-preserved here — to access it, spend some time at Bryggen, a UNESCO World Heritage-recognized wharf encompassing more than 60 wooden buildings as colorful as a box of crayons. This is also a launching point for day trips to nearby scenic landmarks like Sognefjord and Hardangerfjord, where winter brings a calm beauty — still waters reflect snowy peaks and frozen waterfalls, all of which is accessible via seasonal cruises and scenic train rides.

For some 1,000 years, people sailed to Bryggen to trade goods like dried cod, tallow, and furs. Today, the community is rich in art, textiles, pottery, and ceramics, found in galleries, boutiques, and cafes aplenty. For a meal to remember, eat at Bryggeloftet & Stuene, the oldest restaurant in town, and enjoy seasonal Nordic delicacies like steamed halibut, grilled reindeer filet, and pavlova with cloudberries.

From twinkling city streets to the silent glow of the northern lights, Scandinavia is waiting this winter. Fly with Lufthansa and make every moment part of the journey.