2020-03-01_Wanderlust

40 wanderlust.co.ukMarch 2020

EXPLORE SCANDINAVIA

VERDICT:There’smuchtoadmireintheseNordiccapitalsandplentyofcaféstocollapse

inafterabusyday’ssightseeing.Stockholmmayhaveaslightlybroaderappealforthe

classiccitybreakfan,whilecontemporarydesigndevoteeswillbedelightedwithHelsinki.

BothofthesegreendestinationsappearinthetoptenlistoftheWorld

HappinessReport,soaScandinavianspringcitybreakoughttoput

asmileonyourface.But,shouldyouoptforStockholmorHelsinki?

Stockholmisawashwithmuseums,sohead

toDjurgårdenandstartexploring.There’s

theinteractiveABBAMuseum,imposing

VasaMuseum–preservingasunkenship

from 1628 – aswellastheNobelPrize

Museum(pictured).Forabreathof(real)

freshair,theold-schoolvillageinSkansen

MUSEUMSistheworld’soldestopen-airmuseum.

Stockholm’s 14 well-connectedislands

boastadiversearrayofoldandnew.

RiddarholmenandStadsholmenislets

combinetomakeupGamlaStan(pictured),

thecolourfulandwell-preservedoldtown.

ModernSödermalm,ontheotherhand,

hasavoguishphotographyexhibition,

trendyshopsandeventrendiereateries.

A15-minuteferryridefromHelsinki’s

MarketSquareistheUNESCO-listed

Suomenlinna,astar-shapedseafortress,

swarmedbynatureandspreadacrosssix

connectedislands.Createdinthe18th

centurywhenFinlandwasstillpartof

Sweden,itremainedamilitarybaseuntil

ISLANDS 1972.Itexiststodayasaculturaltreasure.

Shutterstock; AWL; Dreamstime

Around30%ofStockholmisgreen,soit’s

easytoŸindaparktoexplore.Forty

minutessouthofthecity,TyrestaNational

Park’sserenelakesandswathesoftall

pineforest–lookoutforroedeerand

mountainhareamongthetrees.Anhour

away,sectionsaroundLakeMälarenare

alsoidealforamblesorcycles.

Sipoonkorpiistheclosestnationalpark

toHelsinki.Underanhour’sdriveaway,

you’llŸindnumerousmarkednaturetrails

(rangingfromane£ortless1kmtoamore

tricky-terrain5km)–allthroughthepark’s

seeminglynever-endingspruceforest.

Nuuksio(pictured),alsowithineasyreach,

isamixofforestandmirror-esquelakes.

TRAILS

Head to Head

Stockholm VERSUS Helsinki

The Finnish capital’s o£ erings focus on

art and design. Kiasma is a contemporary

art lover’s playground, while Amos Rex

houses a collection of futuristic work.

The Designmuseo in Kaartinkaupunki is

the top ticket for devotees to the Finnish

aesthetic, with an exhibit featuring

furniture, clothing, prints and more.

The sprawling archipelago that makes up

Stockholm is punctuated by royal palaces,

13th century architecture and scattered with

Swedish history. In the present, it is one of

Europe’s premier museum destinations,

while its gardens and co£ eehouses are

perfect for ika (co£ ee, cake and a chat).

Despite serving as capital for 200 years,

Helsinki still has a coastal charm (pictured)

that lingers as you wander into the centre:

a mix of avenues, stylish stores and co£ ee

shops, as well as the spectacular cathedral.

The city feels well-organised, not surprising

CULTURE given the Finnish a¦ inity for clean design.

TOP TIP

With mild summers
and snow-soaked
winters, we’d say
autumn is an
underrated time to
visit both Helsinki
and Stockholm.
Expect bursts of red,

yellow and orange

brightening the

foliage, and chilly

(but not Arctic!)

temps of 6 -10°C.

AT A

GLANCE

Stockholm

Population

972,647

Total area

188 sq km

Famous for

Its island

structure,

orange-hued old

town and being

the birthplace of

Swedish pop

supergroup ABBA

Helsinki

Population

648,042

Total area

213 sq km

Famous for

World-class

design, bursts

of Art Deco

architecture and

the blindingly

white Helsinki

Cathedral

STOCKHOLM HELSINKI