5 Reasons To Ski in Scandinavia

30 Jul 2023 Scandinavia is on the pulse as the epitome of cool, from hygge and IKEA to the Nordics (Finland, Norway, Denmark and Iceland) getting a 1-2-3-4 in the UN’s 2018 Happiness Index. If you’re still unsure of the recent hype, the team at Scandinavian Travel would like to share their top 5 reasons why they can’t get enough of skiing in the happiest places in the world.

It’s family and beginner friendly
There can be no doubt that Scandinavian ski resorts offer some of the best family ski destinations in Europe. With dedicated beginner areas in all resorts, and wide, rolling slopes perfect for practicing this really is a wonderful place to learn to ski. The ski schools are all fantastic, with passionate, multi-lingual instructors who are carefully picked to ensure they are great teachers as well as skiers. While skiing in Scandinavia you will find Varmstua or Warm-huts around the resorts, these cabins offer a place to eat your picnic and drink a hot chocolate, and come Easter they are popular BBQ spots with picnic benches outside to enjoy the sunshine in the 12-15 hours spring days.

Ski on beautiful, quiet ski slopes
Snow-draped trees line the edges of the slope, the sun glitters off the recently settled flakes as you glide down the freshly groomed slopes for your first run of the day. You have the run to yourself with loads of space to practice and enjoy your turns, and as you reach the bottom, you slide straight into the chairlift gates to head back to the top. That’s not some kind of dream or exclusive private resort, that’s just a regular Scandinavian ski resort where quiet slopes are the norm, meaning you have the maximum time to ski. In Scandinavia a ‘busy’ week may mean you wait a couple of minutes for a lift, but the views are so beautiful that sometimes it’s nice to pause and enjoy the scenery anyway.

Go skiing while enjoying other activities too
As well as being the home of skiing, Scandinavia is also a renowned destination for seeing the Northern Lights, and well-known as the home of Father Christmas. It means that a holiday in Scandinavia can be much more than just skiing, with chances for evening snowmobile rides, afternoons spent husky sledding, or braving a spot of ice-swimming. For young families and grandchildren there really is nothing more magical than a Christmas holiday to see Mr and Mrs Claus in their secret cottage in the forests of Lapland.

Discover cross-country skiing
Cross-country skiing is massively popular across Scandinavia and as a result many resorts have 100’s of kilometres of cross-country trails ready to explore. Lined with picnic spots and quaint cafes, cross-country skiing is a fabulous way to explore more of the beautiful rolling fells. In Scandinavia cross-country skiing isn’t just the reserve of the super fit either, it’s a pastime for the whole family to enjoy; from toddlers on specially designed sleds, to grandparents gliding along at their own relaxed pace. Equipment is available to hire in resort and friendly local instructors are more than keen to share their love of this beautiful sport.

A slice of luxury
They might be known for their understated chic, but Scandinavians know how to do luxurious indulgence just as well as modest elegance. There are numerous design hotels and boutique lodges throughout Scandinavia that offer the highest levels of service. From ski-in/ski-out design hotels in Sweden to ex-presidential log cabins in Finland there is something to suite all tastes. And speaking of tastes, Scandinavia is well-deserving of its renown for excellent food, with a passion for locally produced riches that taste all the sweeter for their careful sourcing and preparation by world-renowned chefs.

With so much variety available across Scandinavia’s ski resorts there really is somewhere to suit everyone. It is especially popular for skiers looking to escape the crowds elsewhere in Europe while still getting guaranteed snow and fabulous skiing conditions. But whether you’re a beginner, powder hound, corduroy king or spa regular, if you want tailor-made advice on where and when to travel, get in touch with Scandinavian Travel.