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Traveling to The Nordics

  • Writer: Danielle Dybiec
    Danielle Dybiec
  • Oct 16
  • 3 min read
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"Make sure you know someone somewhere, who knows someone somewhere. Somehow, you will need someone to get somewhere." ― Geoffrey Ocaya

 

I was so happy to reunite with Finnish travel colleagues at last week's return of the annual Nordics roadshow of hoteliers, tour operators, airlines, ferry and cruise lines, and tourism boards in town to share their updates. The photo above is the Finnish contingent who came to town, and I also had fun and informative meetings with suppliers from Greenland, Iceland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and the Faroe Islands. But it's no secret I'm mostly obsessed with Finland at the moment. It was just one month ago I was traveling around Finland and participating in the Arctic Europe tourism conference, and it was really nice to see familiar faces and welcome them to my city this time.

 

I have a whole roster of trusted travel partners throughout the Nordics, and we're ready to customize an inspiring trip to any of these countries - designed entirely for your interests and travel style.

 

At the show, I especially loved hearing more about Finland's Lake Saimaa region. It's the largest lake area in Finland (which is saying a lot since Finland is filled with lakes) and Europe's fourth largest lake; it's got over 9,000 miles of shoreline with its 15,000 islands! The surroundings are beautiful backdrops to 50,000 lakeside cottages and saunas plus 129 manor houses; some open to visitors. You might even spot the Saimaa ringed seal; it's one of only two freshwater seal species in the world and has lived in Lake Saimaa since the ice age. In the summer, you can enjoy the Mikkeli Music Festival and Savonlina Opera Festival (held in a medieval castle) along with water activities like kayaking or sightseeing at ancient rock paintings or the world's biggest wooden church. Lake Saimaa is about 2.5 hours from Helsinki, so it's very easy to combine a city experience with picturesque, pristine Lake Saimaa.

 

Now I've got two Nordic destinations in mind for 2026. Last summer in Arctic Norway, I befriended a lovely Norwegian woman from Visit Alta and just received an invitation to visit. Alta is a 3.5-hour drive from North Cape, Norway - the northernmost point of Europe (about 1,300 miles from the North Pole). Arctic Europe landscapes are wildly spectacular, and Alta is a great example of the diversity with its mountains and fjords. Alta has a dry climate and is renowned for seeing the Northern Lights. The first observatory for the Northern Lights was built there in 1899. You can experience the magic of its Polar Night from November 26 to January 17, but it's not pitch-black; you'll still see twilight, along with a deep blue sky. If you prefer more Vitamin D, you can enjoy the Midnight Sun from May 17 to July 27.

 

My other new Nordic plans for 2026 include making it to Nuuk, the capital of Greenland, for the Vestnorden tourism conference that focuses on Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands. United Airlines now has nonstop flights between Newark and Nuuk, a place that fascinates me for its remote, majestic fjords and seas of floating icebergs as well as the cultural history of the hardy, native Greenlanders. Two more international airports are being built around Greenland to open in 2026, making it easier to experience this unique land without having to take a longer cruise.

 

Not feeling the fjords? Delta will start flying nonstop from JFK to Malta in June 2026. It's the only nonstop service between the U.S. and Malta, so let's keep the Mediterranean in mind for you too!

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Nine Muses Travel designs journeys to inspire artists, arts lovers and the culturally curious.

Danielle Dybiec

Founder & President





 

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