These countries all share a cultural heritage which goes back centuries and have enjoyed political cooperation which started at the end of World War II with the introduction of a common market and freedom of movement across borders for its citizens. As a result, travelling between the mainland countries and cities is remarkably easy and public transport is well integrated.

The Oresund Bridge, which opened in 2000 and connects Copenhagen in Denmark to Malmo in southern Sweden, takes just 35 minutes to cross and is symbolic of the close cooperation of the Nordic countries.

The legal rights for gay men and women in this region are also some of the most progressive in the world, making it an ideal destination for gay tourists and, although gay marriage is not recognised, civil partnerships are legal in all of the countries and same sex adoption is legal in all but Finland. Plus, the level of acceptance is generally excellent.

The countries of Scandinavia also offer a huge variety of attractions and destinations from smart cultural cities, vast open spaces, skiing and outdoor activities galore and, of course, the iconic Scandi design which is evident in everything from the architecture and art to fashion and food!

Denmark

The smallest and southern-most Scandinavian country is Denmark, which lies on the Jutland peninsula and the 400 surrounding islands.


Copenhagen
The capital city, Copenhagen, has long been a magnate for gay men from all over Northern Europe thanks to the openness and tolerance of this, the most liberal of all the Scandinavian countries.

Most visitors to the country will undoubtedly head for the delightful and beautiful capital with its world famous Little Mermaid in the harbour. The city has much more to see though than just this statue, iconic as it is, and the world famous Tivoli Gardens in the town centre, the Carlsberg Brewery and the Amalienborg Palace, which is home to the royal family, are also must sees.

The best way to get around and see the city is by bike, as most residents here use them regularly and the city is well equipped for cyclists. A harbour tour by boat is also an essential for any visiting tourist.

The gay scene for such a small city is surprisingly diverse and offers an assortment of friendly and popular venues which are all within walking distance of each other. Head for the area between the Tivoli Gardens and Orsteds Park along Vester Voldgade and the adjoining streets where the vast majority of the nightlife can be found.

Copenhagen Pride takes place annually in mid August, the perfect time to enjoy the long sunny days in the city. Far from being just a celebration of gay and lesbian culture the whole city participates with a week long of events and festivities throughout the city.

Read our guide to Copenhagen and find out more.

Norway

Also called ‘The Land of Vikings’ and the ‘Midnight Sun’, Norway is the northernmost country in Europe and has the most northerly, easterly and westerly points in mainland Scandinavia! The countries jagged coastline extends from the capital, Oslo, in the south and wraps around the entire peninsula in a dramatic and spectacular series of islands and majestic fjords.

Although this country has a similar area to the UK the population is only 4.5 million as much of the land here is rugged and inaccessible. Norwegians are rightly proud of the natural beauty of their country and much of the countryside is designated as national park and is almost completely unspoilt.


Oslo
Oslo is located at the south east end of the country. While it is one of the largest capitals in the world by area, most of this is forest giving this city of only half a million inhabitants a strong connection with its natural surroundings - in which other capital city would you find the odd moose strolling down the street?!

The city is easily navigated by the comprehensive public transport system of buses, trams, trains, metro (T-bane) and boats. Don’t miss the Henrik Ibsen Museum, The Munch Museum and The Nobel Peace Centre as well as the Royal Palace and Oslo Cathedral.

Gay life here is small with just a handful of bars, cafes and clubs but gay life has become so well integrated that mixed venues are becoming the norm.

Oslo Pride, or Skeive Dager Oslo, is held each year in late June and includes a film festival, free concerts, workshops, theatre, sporting events and of course parties. Most of the events that take place over the week are free and the city’s inhabitants need no excuse to come and join the party whether they are gay or straight.

Bergen
Norway’s second largest city is Bergen, which is located on the extreme west coast and was the country’s administrative capital until 1299 and the largest city in Norway until the 1930s. The city was an important Hanseatic trading centre and is characterised by its wooden buildings, magnificent mountain backdrop and as the gateway to Norway’s most famous attractions, the fjords.

Two of the most famous fjords can be visited by day trip from the city, the Hardangerfjord to the south and the Sognefjord to the north. The surrounding county of Hordaland, in which Bergen is situated, is home to some of Norway’s most iconic landscapes.

Bergen Pride boasts an event which is almost as large as that in Oslo and takes place in May each year. Once again all of the inhabitants take part in the celebration of queer culture and this beautiful city hosts a variety of events which involves the whole city in the annual party.

Trondheim
Travel even further up the dramatic west coast of Norway and into the Arctic Circle and you’ll find the graceful city of Trondheim nestling on the edge of a fjord. The city is accessible by plane from other major Norwegian cities but probably the most dramatic way to reach the city is by taking the coastal steamer along the spectacular coastline from Bergen.

Whilst this is not the most northerly city in the country, that honour goes to Tromsø, it is undoubtedly more sophisticated and is also far enough north to remain eerily light during the summer months when you’re also in with a good chance of seeing the astonishing Northern Lights.

Read our guide to Trondheim and find out more.

Sweden

Sweden is the largest in both area and population of all of the Scandinavian countries and is home to the iconic brands of Saab, Volvo, Ikea and ABBA!. Sweden borders Norway to the west, Finland to the east and is also connect by road and rail with Denmark via the Oresund Bridge.

The north of the country is the most sparsely populated and contains the vast forests, lakes and mountains for which the country is well known. Further south you’ll find the main cities of Stockholm on the south west coast, Malmo in the south and Gothenburg on the south east of the country.

Stockholm
Built on an archipelago of 14 islands, Sweden’s capital can quite rightly claim to be one of the most beautiful and most scenic cities in the world. The buildings of the Old Town date mainly from the 18th and 19th centuries and are dominated by the King’s Castle and a more picture postcard Scandinavian city you won’t find.

This is also one of the greenest and cleanest cities in the world with plentiful parks, gardens, open spaces and countless waterways which are clean enough to swim in in the summer and all add to the charms and beauty of the city.

Stockholm is not a city that dwells in the past. Since its inclusion in 1994 into the European Union, the whole country has gone through an economic boom which has seen it become a centre of technology and innovation. This growth is evident everywhere in the new bridges and architecture which blend perfectly and do not detract from the charm of this city.

Most of the attractions can be found in the inner city which is located on the three most central islands. In the north of the inner city you’ll find the main commercial and shopping district around the T-Centralen metro hub. The south of the central district on the island of Gamla Stan is where the Old Town is located with the royal palace, the Swedish parliament and is the most picturesque and charming part of the city complete with cobbled streets, amiable squares and grand town houses.

Södermalm (or just söder) is the part of Stockholm that comes closest to a gay neighbourhood, especially around Mariatorget, and the commuter railroad station Stockholms Sodra.

In 2008 Stockholm Pride hosts the annual EuroPride celebrations which are talking place from the 25 July-3 August. As the largest gay and lesbian event in Scandinavia, this year’s planned proceedings are going to the bigger and better than any before with a huge festival arena, gay events and the huge parade all taking place on the central Sondermalm island in the centre of the city.

Read our guide to Stockholm and find out more.


Gothenburg
The City of Gothenburg was founded in 1621 by King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden. It is situated at the mouth of Göta Älv river, which crosses the city, and is the largest sea port oin Sweden as well as of the Nordic countries. 

Culture is what Gothenburg does best. The holy trio of the art museum, the concert hall and the city's theatre all sit behind the famous Poseidon fountain at one end of Kungsportsavenyan, the city's main thoroughfare. This long road, flanked by parks, cafes and restaurants, is the place to be on a Friday or Saturday night when the atmosphere is electric. 

Read our guide to Gothenburg and find out more.

Malmo
Sweden’s third largest municipality is the southernmost city in what is now Sweden but belonged to Denmark until 1658. The residents here still have much in common with their Danish neighbours and a strong affinity to the country which was strengthened by the opening of the Oresund Bridge connecting Malmo with Copenhagen. This new link also bought with it a boost to the city which is also enjoying something of a Renaissance in technology and architecture.

Easily accessible from Copenhagen, Malmo makes an interesting day trip from the Danish capital. Of particular interest is Malmöhus Castle, once the home of the kings of Denmark and now a history museum, art museum, aquarium and terrarium.

Malmo Rainbow Festival (Regnbågsfestivalen) takes place each year in September with thousands of GLBT visitors and Swedish locals joining in the celebrations. This annual pride event includes the Malmo Pride Parade, 10 days of exhibitions, performances and dance nights, as well as non-stop drag shows!

Iceland

Known as the country of fire and ice, thanks to its northerly latitude, glaciers and volcanic activity, Iceland is one of the most fascinating countries in Europe. Lying on the mid Atlantic ridge, the island is located in one of the most geologically active areas of the world which it has harnessed for geothermal power, which supplies many of the inhabitants with plentiful heat and hot water.

Iceland also has a strong economy, low unemployment and low inflation and its per capita income is among the highest in the world.


Reykjavik
For those looking for a different kind of destination and just 2.5 hours from the UK, the capital Reykjavik makes for a very interesting and unique place to visit. One of the most highly modernised capital cities in Europe, this is also one of the most developed countries in the world and tourism is becoming one of the main industries to this unique location.

The Blue Lagoon a huge natural mineral pool with reputed therapeutic and healing properties has become a major draw for the city. Located on the outskirts of Reykjavik this is the countries number one tourist attraction,

Reykjavik Gay Pride is one of the fastest growing Pride events in the world and now welcomes over 50,000 visitors annually. This annual event always takes place in the second week of August in and around the Icelandic capital and is without doubt the highlight of the year for the LGBT community on the island.

Read our guide to Reykjavik and find out more.

Finland

Helsinki
A cool city in every sense of the word, Helsinki,  is fast becoming one of Europe's hottest holiday destinations. The capital of Finland is a cosmopolitan city with a small town atmosphere. Many travel to Helsinki on city breaks to enjoy the outdoor cafes and festive events of the light, bright summer months and the cosy evenings of the sparkling snowy winters.

Until now Finland’s homo credentials have been limited to the highly provocative and somewhat kinky drawings of the country’s most famous gay export, Tom of Finland. Helsinki Pride takes place every year in late June and is Finland's largest pride event attracting thousands of GLBT visitors arriving for the exhibitions, workshops and parties which take place during the event.

Read our guide to Helsinki and find out more.


Find out all the latest gay travel information by ordering the brand new 2008 Spartacus International Gay Guide. Get it online and save some money to put towards the other Bruno Gmunder guides - Hotel and Restaurant Guide and Sauna Guide.