This magical place is tucked in off of one of the cities busiest shopping streets. Walking under the old wrought iron sign, and through the winter-worn garden, I almost felt as if I was someplace I wasn’t supposed to be. But after poking my head inside the large art nouveau building, I could smell the waters and warm cedar of the saunas. I knew I was in the right spot!

Table Of Contents

1. About Centralbadet 
2. About Nordic Saunas 
3. Price and Inclusions
4. Spa Treatments
5. What to bring?
6. Etiquette & Advice
7. The Experience
8. Dressing Room
9. Roman bath
10. Thermal bath
11. Hydrotherapy Pools
12. Cold Pool
13. Saunas 
14. Steam Bath
15. Roof terrace
16. The Eco-bar

About Centralbadet 

Centralbadet was opened in 1904. It was designed by architect Wilhelm Klemming who wanted to create a calming, natural retreat from the city. A window into nature. The sprawling interior covers 3,500 square meters, which is all quite the surprise considering the rather tiny entrance. Every corner of the spa features beautiful art nouveau designs and feels like you’re stepping back in time.

About Nordic Saunas 

It is very Swedish to go to the sauna. The Nordic tradition of sauna dates back more than 1,000 years. Bathing in these peaceful waters and sitting in the hot sauna helps strengthen your body and soul. Saunas were early day pharmacies as even the ancient Romans used them as cure-alls. They are thought to lower cholesterol, build up the immune system, help you sleep better at night, reduce stress, clear up the skin, and more!

Price and Inclusions

The basic entrance price to Centralbadet includes access to their art nouveau swimming pool, the relaxing Roman bath and sauna area with hydrotherapy pool, thermal spa, Kneipp bath, cold pool, steam bath, and a;; the various saunas. During the summertime, you will also have access to the outdoor gym on the rooftop terrace. There is also an indoor gym for use throughout the year. If you want to save a lot of money, you can purchase just the basic entry package, which simply includes access into the baths and saunas.

The basic entry fee is:

Monday – Thursday: SEK 300 ($35 USD)
Friday – Sunday (and holidays): SEK 400 ($46 USD)

Relax Package

The ‘relax package’ gets you entry to everything above but also includes: a bathrobe, towels, slippers and a swim cap. This costs:
Monday – Thursday: SEK 410 ($47 USD)
Friday – Sunday and holidays: SEK 510 ($58 USD)

Note: Due to COVID, currently, you must make reservations even just for the waters. So be sure to book before you arrive as they are not accepting any walk-ins.

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Spa Treatments

If you are interested in having a spa treatment, there are a myriad to choose from. Everything from classic Swedish (very appropriate) to hot stone, Thai and crystal healing. Each of these costs around 800 SEK ($92 USD) plus your entrance fee. Remember to book any of these treatments in advance to secure your spot with the massage therapist.

What to bring?

You’ll need a swimsuit for sure, and if you’re only buying the basic package, you’ll need to bring a towel and slipper with you as well. If you want to bring a swimming cap, you can, but as long as your hair is up, you don’t require one. I ended up buying the ‘relax package‘ during my visit since I didn’t want to lug around my wet towel at the end of the day. Also, those large comfy robes were totally worth it to lounge around in.

If you arrive in Stockholm and don’t have any of these items, almost everything is available for rent or purchase at Centralbadet upon check-in. When I came, I thought I had packed my bathing suit, but stupidly found that I had forgotten back of it back at the hotel! Luckily, I managed to rent on from the front desk for only $7 USD and was relieved not to have to run out in the cold again when I was all ready to relax!

The warm environment inside the spa is the perfect place for doing hair wraps and faces masks. The spa is totally cool with you bringing your own home, so don’t forget to grab one before you come. They also offer plenty for sale at the reception desk if you’d prefer to buy one there.

Etiquette & Advice

• Before going into the saunas or pools, always shower before entering. This cleanses your body from any sweat or dirt and prevents contaminating the pools. You must make sure to do this not just once, but anytime you move from the pools into the saunas and steam rooms. And vice versa.
• Here at Centralbadet, the spas are mixed genders, so men and women can both use almost all the facilities together. Bathing suits are required in the pool areas. But you cannot wear a bathing suit in the sauna and steam rooms. You are although required to wear a towel for modesty.
• The spa has one women’s only sauna, where women are allowed to remove their towel to relax in the nude. You have the option of keeping your towel on but don’t be shocked if you see most women there bearing all. There is something so freeing about doing this, and if you’re brave enough I would highly recommend it. No one will judge you, it is considered the norm here. But remember to ONLY do it in the women’s only sauna!
• Try to keep any talking to a low volume when in any of the pools. In the steam and sauna room, they aim for almost total peace and quiet. If it’s just you and friend alone in there, you can quietly talk for sure. But, if anyone else enters, it’s polite to keep silent as many people use these hot rooms for meditation.
• Drink lots of water! It’s essential when using the hot steam and sauna rooms to keep hydrated. Sometime you might feel a bit dizzy, so don’t hesitate to leave and cool down. Centralbadet also has these super neat cooling stations, which blow cold air directly at your body. Stand in front of one, and you’ll immediately cool down your body temperature.
• Never push yourself! If you feel hot, take a break. Head back to the pools and cool down. Everyone can handle the heat for different periods of time. Don’t feel like you need to keep up with the Swedes who can stay inside these sweltering rooms for ages. They are made of different stuff!

The Experience

Dressing Room

After you pay for your entry into the spa and are provided with any towels or robes (if you purchased that package), you’ll head next into the male and female changing rooms. The dressing rooms are stunning, and one of my favourite places in the spa visually. It was a treat to change and dress at the end of the session in this beautiful environment. One of my favourite things were tiny shell-shaped sinks with water lilies painted on to the porcelain. Almost all of the decor and furnishings are originals from the 1900s, and each item felt so precious and unique.

After showering and changing into your bathing suit, you head out of the dressing rooms into the buttercream painted hallways which lead you throughout the complex of pools and saunas. It really does feel like a maze, with narrow hallways leading up and downstairs to get to your destination.

Roman bath

The first thing we did upon entering was to seek out the famous Art Nouveau swimming pool. Walking into the room, I was overwhelmed by the beauty of this space. The ceiling’s bowed roofline framed with stage lights and the walls were illuminated in pale yellow, pinks and rose. On the left side of the room, towering palm trees and green plants gently swayed. 

This room is truly the piece-de-resistance of the spa. I took a seat on one of the cedar lounge chairs and took it all in for a few moments. The pool was the PERFECT temperature to swim in. Not too hot but not too cold so you could slip right in. If I lived in Stockholm, I’m sure I would be here everyday! There were a few shower stalls on the back wall, which were adorned in the most elaborate undersea designs. Coral reefs burst with colour, and painted ceramic fishes swim joyously around them.

There is a small upper balcony area above which wraps around the pool. In one of the corners, hidden up there, is a large hammock, and if you’re lucky enough to find it empty, be sure to jump right in!

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Thermal bath

After swimming around the refreshing waters of the main pool, we headed into the thermal bath area. Thermal bathing has been around since Roman times. A thermal bath is a hot or tepid bath used to treat both chronic and acute diseases and provides relaxation and stress relief. It improves circulation, which helps deliver nutrients and remove toxins from various parts of the body. Entering this part of the spa, you find this giant marble statue greeting you upon entry. While this is a replica, the original icon which it is based on, ‘Winged Victory of Samothrace,’ is on display at the Louvre. She was a relic of the 2nd century BC and was thought to once belong on a Roman ship’s prow. Her connection to the water is why perhaps she feels very appropriate situated here.

Hydrotherapy Pools

There were two warm pools in this room. One was a Hydrotherapy pool that used jacuzzi jets. Inside were these long underwater lounge chairs that you lay on while the warm waters whipped around below. The hydrotherapy water supports your weight, which helps relieve pain and relax your muscles.

The water was much warmer in the pool nearby, but there were no jets, so you could simply sink right in and indulge in the almost steaming waters. I love a warm bath, so this perhaps was my favourite of the heated pools.

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Cold Pool

Right beside the warm waters are two narrow pools with a set of stairs that descend into them. Be warned, this water is COLD! And I mean almost freezing. A cold pool dip is another traditional Nordic treatment. Historically, Scandinavians would sit in hot saunas, dug out of the earth, and then jump into the frozen lakes’ cold waters. This hot-cold-circuit is now something you’ll see in almost every modern-day spa. To complete a traditional circuit, you bath in hot water and then take a cold plunge. This is then followed up with stepping into a steam bath or sauna to bring the body back to its natural state. Then repeat.

How to Use A Cool Water Pool

The cold water pool here is pretty easy to use. Instead of dunking yourself in cold water, which is pretty intimidating, you simply walk down the stairs, which naturally dips your body in and out of the cold water. It still requires a bit of bravery but trust me, it really does make you feel amazing, and you’ll be proud you tried it!

The Circuit

Many people say you should complete the circuit of hot-cold-hot three times during your visit to get all the benefits of the Nordic waters. There is something almost meditative about focusing on this cycle. It requires you to step away from daily life’s stress and do nothing but relax and focus on your body. There are several lounge chairs to relax on here but if you wish to move on, step through the doors in this room towards the sauna area.

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Saunas 

As you head into the spa’s Sauna area, men and women are sent through a separate set of doors where they must take off their bathing suits and cleanse in the shower. You leave your bathing suits in the change room and enter the sauna area with only your robe or towel.

Nordic Sauna

Centralbadet features over seven different saunas to relax inside. Each one is a little bit different, and I’d advise trying them all. Even if you think you don’t like saunas very much, you might find one that is more to your liking and a bit cooler than others you might have experienced before. The Nordic sauna is the most traditional, the mixture of dry, hot air helps sweat out all those toxins. They recommend you sit inside anywhere from 5 to 15-minutes, depending on how much you like the heat! But remember, never push yourself!

Singing Dunes

The Singing Dunes sauna features a low-pitched song that plays throughout the room. Sitting inside you’ll feel a gentle dessert breeze sweep across your body. In the centre of the room is a massive piece of salt, lit from below, which creates the most mesmerizing glowing effect. The ionized salt therapy it provides is thought to help with anxiety and insomnia. They recommend humming along to the song and meditating inward to help find inner peace and increase relaxation.

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Aromatherapy

My favourite was the herbal and aromatherapy sauna, called the Kristall sauna. When you walk inside, the first thing you see is this huge piece of amethyst, and I mean HUGE. It was almost as big as I was! Here, you’ll find scents of fresh thyme, rosemary, mint and orange peel fill your nostrils. These herbs have been placed into the air via the steam inside the room. The smell was intoxicating, and I loved just sitting here and clearing my sinuses. 

When sitting in the saunas, I would recommend you just close your eyes and listen to the sounds in the room, the soothing music which lulls your mind away from stress.

Infrared Sauna 

The most comfortable sauna is sure the infrared as its the lowest temperature, almost just room temperature. There are lounge chairs inside this rather small room where you can sit and chat, as this room has a more casual atmosphere. Some people say they can experience positive effects in just 10-minutes from infrared light. Still, others sit here for almost an hour to bask in the relaxing energy waves. Infrared saunas are thought to help with collagen stimulation, skin brightness, and improved heart and vessel condition. So why not?!

Steam Bath

The steam bath is one of the most unique rooms. I’ve done steam rooms before, but never one this steamy! You can barely make out the white tiled floors for the thick steam all around you. The temperature is only about 45 degrees, but with 100% humidity, it can feel a lot warmer. Sitting down inside, it almost feels like it’s raining, the most gently drizzle, a genuinely ethereal experience. I usually can only stand a few minutes in the steam room but here with the lower temperature, I found myself meditating here for much longer.

Roof terrace

After completing a few rounds of the circuit, I wandered around the complex a bit more. This place is so vast, and when walking around certain areas, you felt like you might be going somewhere, you weren’t meant to be. Throughout my explorations, I discovered the barbershop, gym and even an artist’s residence office! But I was trying to locate the Roof Terrace! I finally made my way to the spiralling staircase, which led to the roof. Despite it being the dead of winter, the door to the outside was open, and I could peek my head out there. It was freezing, but the view was incredible! This place would be amazing to sit out on during the spring and summertime, and even in the freezing cold, I still soaked in the view. Then I immediately ran off back downstairs to jump back in the warm pool!

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The Eco-bar

The eco-bar located inside the spa is like dining inside a rainforest. The indoor restaurant features lush greenery and light therapy illuminations above you. These bright therapy lights are meant to aid with depression some people feel during the darker winter months. Otherwise known as ‘SAD’ or seasonal affective disorder. You can hop from the waters into the restaurant without taking off your robe and dine in pure comfort. There are different locations where you can eat throughout the spa, some which offer only cafe like drinks and snack and other areas which serve up entire meals.

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Food & Drink

The food is all organic and rich with nutrients, perfect for that revitalizing experience. You can also have wine, champagne or smaple some of their non-alcoholic beers. But for me, it’s always a cup of coffee and a dessert which calls my name! While the meals aren’t super cheap, they aren’t going to break the bank either, and honestly, I say go for it as eating here really adds to the entire experience.

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My experience at Centralbadet was unmatched! It was one of the best spa experiences I’ve ever had, and I wished I had been able to stay longer. I’ve read mixed reviews about this place and was interested in seeing it for myself. While it might not be the cheapest spa or sauna, it is also one of the largest and offers more options and amenities than any other.

Most people seem to complain about the price, so I hope this post really helps you understand all the different things you can do inside, which comes with entry. I didn’t have time for a massage or spa treatment, and I still was there for hours and hours. I went out of there feeling beyond relaxed, and as a traveller, you can get really run down exploring a new city. And this was precisely what I needed to recharge and relax! I would recommend it to everyone visiting Stockholm for the first, second or really anytime!

Let me know if you’ve experienced a Nordic spa before and what your favourite part was!

Happy Travels, Adventurers!

The post Everything You Need to Know Before Visiting Centralbadet Stockholm first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

As someone who hates the cold, I was worried the chilly weather would keep me from seeing everything. But what surprised me most was that with proper preparations, I actually enjoyed it. The look of the icy water, snow-topped hillsides and twinkling Christmas lights against the midnight blue sky. I found my time there in the winter, more enjoyable than in the summer! Maybe just because it was so different. There are a myriad of reasons to travel during the wintertime to these snowy destinations. Hopefully, this list inspires you to get out and enjoy the world, north of the equator in the winter months.

Table Of Contents

1. #1 Embrace "hygge"
2. #2 Deals on Airfare!
3. #3 Try out the Slopes
4. #4 Christmas Markets!
5. #5 Winter Comfort Food
6. #6 Coffee Culture
7. #7 Museums are the Perfect Escape from the Cold
8. #8 See the Northern Lights
9. #9 Staying inside an Ice Hotel
10. #10 Warm up in a Sauna
11. Here are some TIPS to ensure you have the most fantastic winter vacation!

#1 Embrace “hygge”

Hygge (pronounced “hoo-ga”) is a Danish and Norwegian word for a mood of coziness. It conveys the feeling of wellness and contentment. Hygge is so crucial to the people of Scandinavia that it is considered “a defining feature of our cultural identity,” according to Meik Wiking, the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute. These countries who practice hygge means that everywhere you go; you’ll find burning candles, cozy fireplaces, delicious hot coffee or chocolate and rich homemade sweets. Hygge makes every interior you find one of the most welcoming and warm places in the world!

But hygge is not just about hybernating. It is also about enjoying long walks outside. Despite the cold weather, you’ll find parks decked out in decorations, beautiful skating rinks and a feeling of a country that embraces the winter. Welcome the spirit of hygge into your heart during this season, and you’re bound to have a wonderful time.

#2 Deals on Airfare!

Winter is by far the cheapest season for travel in Europe. From early December to about mid-March, you’ll find flights around Europe super inexpensive. This time of year people are usually looking to escape to warm-weather destinations. Keep in mind you should always be booking these trips three months in advance as that is when the flight prices are usually the cheapest, outside of any last-minute sales. Travel during the week of Christmas is at its peak since families commute home during this time, so avoid going around those days if possible. If you’re worried about not being able to see Christmas Markets because the Christmas week is expensive to travel, fear not! Christmas Market opens as early as the last week of November.

#3 Try out the Slopes

If you’re someone who loves to hit the slopes, winter isn’t a downer but instead your favourite season! Just a short train ride into the countryside you’ll find ski resorts like Hemsedal, Riksgransen, Are Duved, Ruka, Vemdalen and Lillehammer. They are easily accessible from any major city in Scandinavia. If you don’t want to stay at the resort, the towns around these ski hills are full of alternative options for every budget. Also, if skiing isn’t your bag, many of these resorts also have toboggan or snow tubing hills. This allows you to enjoy the scenery and mountain top hot chocolates without needing an ounce of skill!

#4 Christmas Markets!

There is just something about a European Christmas market that gives me all those warm and fuzzy feelings. The twinkle lights on the trees, the smell of mulled wine floating through the air and freshly baked breads ready to warm your hands. If you’re a couple, there is something truly romantic about an evening stroll under the lights of the market. Most of the big cities have multiple Christmas Markets you can visit while you’re there. These places are not only beautiful but also great spots where you can find traditional handicrafts. You can also sample some of their famous Christmas foods.

If you’re looking for something outside the big cities, visit the Christmas Market in Lapland, which is the home of Santa Claus! As such, this town goes all out at Christmas time. Tivoli Park in Copenhagen is transformed during the holiday season into a real-life fairytale book. They even perform the traditional Christmas ballet The Nutcracker on stage inside the park, which makes for the ideal Christmas evening.

#5 Winter Comfort Food

Scandinavian foods are meant to be enjoyed in the winter. This is a country that knows how to make a warm and cozy meal. Almost all of their food is comfort food. Smørrebrød, rye bread, meatballs, stewed reindeer, pancakes and waffles are all the best things to enjoy in the winter. The portions are huge, as are the flavours. After you’re finished eating you’ll be ready to take on a long walk in the winter cold, without feeling a thing as you’ll be warmed from the inside out!

#6 Coffee Culture

Did you know that Scandinavia is at the top of the list of the most coffee-consuming countries? There is a good reason for this aside from just that their coffee is delicious. Coffee in Scandinavia is more than just a to-go cup you grab alone on your way to work. Having coffee is a chance to get away from the daily grind and catch up with friends. In Sweden, they call this Fika. Fika in Swedish means “to have a cup of coffee and a snack with a friend.” It’s absolutely built into the fabric of their daily life. They embrace the idea of bettering relationships while enjoying something scrumptious.

While other Scandinavian countries don’t have that words, the concept still remains. The prevalence of this coffee culture means there is an abundance of fantastic coffee shops to stop into on your trip to warm up while you enjoy the city. Take this time to step back for a minute, stop rushing around, enjoy the moment and reflect on your adventures.

#7 Museums are the Perfect Escape from the Cold

If you’re feeling particularly chilly, museums and art galleries are the best places to pop into to escape the cold. And what’s more, in Scandinavia, most state-run museums are free of charge to enter. Unfortunately, in countries like Denmark, recent government cuts have changed these policies. However, many of those museums are still open on certain days of the week for free. In Sweden, there are over 15 different museums and galleries which you can still enter free of charge everyday of the week! They make the perfect place to hide away from the cold without worrying too much about your budget.

I went to a myriad of different museums, some of which I didn’t even know anything about before I went. Still, since they were free, I didn’t have anything to lose. I could wander around and look at what interested me and simply head out once I finished. There was no pressure to make a whole day out of it since I didn’t pay a huge admission fee, which would have made me feel more inclined to “make it worth it.” It was the ideal place to get warm and see something exciting and new while I was at it.

#8 See the Northern Lights

Scandinavia is by far the best place to see the Aurora Borealis. The high latitude in Finland, Sweden and Norway makes these countries the best place for spotting those iconic green and blue waves in the sky. And winter (September to March) is the only time you can reliably spot them! Alta in Norway is probably the most famous city to travel to see them but other popular destinations are Abisko National Park and Porjus in Sweden, Senja in Norway and many cities in Finnish Lapland. Just remember you need to go far north for this, don’t think your visit to Oslo will allow you to see the lights!

#9 Staying inside an Ice Hotel

Ice hotels are one of the trendiest new things to come out of winters in Scandinavia! These luxury creations are somewhat of a novelty but combine cozy, fireplace lit interiors with icy architecture. The Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi Sweden was the first hotel in the world to be built out of ice. Every springtime, the ice melts, and come the next winter, a new design is created to form a brand new looking hotel. So every year, there is something unique to experience. Despite being at least -10°, you’ll be nice and cozy with the special thermal PJs, and cold weather insulated sleeping bag you’re given. These will keep you snug all night long while enjoying the once-in-a-lifetime views.

There are plenty of other Ice hotels around Scandinavia from The Lapland Hotel’s Snow Village in Finland to The Sorrisniva Igloo Hotel in Alta Norway. All of these locations also have on-site activities like dog-sledding, an ice bar or ice church and even snow sculptures to see in ice galleries. It’s truly something you just can’t experience anywhere, or anytime other than in the winter in Scandinavia!

#10 Warm up in a Sauna

All over Scandinavia, you’ll find strangers getting together, in a small, hot spaces to indulge in sauna . Saunas originated in Finland, and the word “sauna” comes from the Finnish word for bathhouse. Pits dug into the ground were the first saunas. Stones were added atop a burning fire to fit the pit. Water was then thrown on top of the rocks to produce steam. There have been sauna pits discovered as far back as 4000 B.C.E in Finland. It is a commonly shared belief in the Nordic countries that saunas relax muscles, soothe pain, releases endorphins, increases blood circulation, flush toxins, relieve stress, help fight illness, cleanse the skin, burn calories and also provides a social space to enjoy with friends. It’s basically thought to be a cure-all for everything.

While there are some small differences between sauna culture in the different Scandinavian countries, overall, the experience is the same. While some same-sex saunas are clothing optional, in most big cities, you can find tourist-friendly options where bathing suits are worn. This is great if you feel like you might be uncomfortable being naked around strangers. But once you take the plunge, the feeling of freedom is pretty unparalleled.

Cold Dips

Speaking of taking the plunge, some saunas also offers a dip into cold, almost freezing water. This could be just a cold bath or some spots located near bodies of water offer access right into the frozen sea. The dramatic plunge into cold water from the hot sauna is thought to increase the blood flow in the body and help increase all those other benefits we spoke of before. While some might be scared to try it, I vote to give it a go. It sure might feel unpleasant at first, but man does it wake your body up in a way that is indescribable and entirely worth it!

Here are some TIPS to ensure you have the most fantastic winter vacation!

Dress for Success

Making sure you bring the right clothing is key to ensuring you are in the right mood throughout the day. There is nothing worse than being freezing cold to ruin a perfectly lovely experience. I was terrified of this exact scenario when I was planning for my trip, so I made sure to buy warm thermals to wear to help keep that heat in. In addition to this, I bought a few 100% wool sweaters, which were perfect for keeping the heat in without overheating and making me sweat. Wool sweaters can be purchased brand new online, but also you can find them at your local thrift shop for a 10th of the price of a new one! I found some with the most amazing designs, so don’t be afraid to go digging as you might find something amazing!

Hours are odd

Although I disagree with Rick Steves about not visiting Scandinavia during the Winter, I love this quote from him, “Scandinavia’s metabolism slows down like a hibernating bear’s, and many sights and accommodations are open on a limited schedule (especially in remote fjord towns).” This is something to be aware of. Outside of the official government holidays around Christmas, I never found anything to be altogether closed. But various attractions did run on shorter winter hours. Definitely nothing to cancel your trip over just something to be aware of and plan around.

Christmas Holidays

If you’re planning on staying over the Christmas Holidays, December 24th and 25th specifically, you will want to check to see what’s open on those particular days. While I heard EVERYTHING would be closed in Sweden on Christmas day, I actually found a few museums which were still open and holding special events. I also managed to find some once a year community events to take part in while I was there that made me feel like celebrating with a huge group of new friends. So many people might tell you there will be nothing to do, but trust me, I found a bunch of things to do, you just need to dig a little bit. If you know a particular museum will be open on those government holidays, make note of that and save that activity for those days when lots of other things might be closed.

Christmas Day

I also found that attending a church service on Christmas Day was a great experience. There were plenty of services which were non-denominational if you want to enjoy the spirit of the holiday but might not identify with a particular denomination. While there are some restaurants still open on these days, I did find that the majority were closed so you might want to hit up a grocery store on the 23rd to grab some easy to make meals. If you don’t have a kitchen, you can always buy cheese and meats, which you can make into an in-hotel-room charcuterie dinner. A lot of fast food restaurants remain open on those holidays as well so that’s always a last-ditch option.

Daylight is Precious

In Scandinavia, there are only a few hours of “daylight” in the winter, and depending on how far north you’re going, this could be as short as 4 hours of light with 20 hours of darkness. While the locals might find this darkness exhausting, I actually found the long hours of darkness exciting since it wasn’t something we experience in North America. But if you’re planning on taking any photos which require the light, such as any wide cityscape shots, just be sure to plan your schedule accordingly. I always headed out early in the day to take my pictures of the city and then scheduled my indoor activities, which didn’t require sunlight, for the afternoon into the early evening.

Be Cautious with Winter Air Travel

I had a near-disastrous flight to Sweden this winter. Luckily for me, everything worked out by some Christmas miracle, but I’m sure I’m not always going to be that lucky. Flying during the winter means weather might impact you more than other times of the year. To avoid as much stress as possible, be sure to book a direct flight if at all possible. This means should your outbound flight be delayed, you won’t need to worry about missing a connection. If you can’t book direct, ensure the layover between your two flights isn’t too tight. I BARELY made my connecting flight and felt so silly, not ensuring I had more time to account for bad weather. Yes, this might mean not getting to your destination as fast as possible, but trust me, it is worth it for the peace of mind. 

Let me know if you’ve ever travelled to somewhere cold in the winter and how you enjoyed your experience. Or comment to let me know what’s holding you back from a snowy adventure in the north!

Happy Travels Adventurers!

The post 10 Reasons Why You Need to Take a Winter Vacation to Scandinavia first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.