Debunking 7 Myths About Scandinavia for a Hassle-Free Trip to Your Dream Destination

Text & Photos / Xiao Ruo

To fulfill a dream shared by my mom and myself, we chose to travel to Scandinavia—an aspiration many people share. The five Nordic countries include:Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland, along with their respective overseas autonomous territories such as the Faroe Islands. Xiao Ruo has been passionate about traveling since childhood. By the age of 18, she had explored every corner of Taiwan, and after turning 18, she visited over 20 cities abroad. Initially, she documented her travels, life, and food experiences in writing, but later grew to love recording the beauty of her journeys.

Before traveling to Scandinavia, Xiao Ruo had always been fascinated by this distant region, wondering when she’d finally make the trip. She had concerns—Was it expensive? Was the climate unbearably cold? Did it seem too far to fly there? But after going, she realized many of these myths were simply not true, and now she wants to share her insights with others who dream of visiting Scandinavia.

1. Is Flying to Scandinavia Really That Far?
I flew to Scandinavia with Thai Airways, taking a connecting flight via Bangkok—from Taipei to Bangkok to Oslo. The plane departed around 8 PM and arrived in Oslo at around 7:30 AM local time. I used to think Scandinavia was really far away, but flying to several of its capitals isn’t actually much farther than flying to Rome or Madrid. In fact, the ticket prices were even slightly cheaper than the Rome flight I took back in 2011.

2. Is Scandinavia Really That Cold?
When I went in September, the temperature was around 10–18°C. Scandinavia isn’t freezing all year round. In summer, the capital cities—Oslo in Norway, Stockholm in Sweden, Copenhagen in Denmark—can sometimes see temperatures over 20°C. Even with larger day-night temperature differences, visiting during the peak travel season from May to September is generally comfortable and mild. Plus, the long daylight hours mean you can still enjoy breathtaking scenery as late as 8 or 9 PM. The extended daylight also allows more time for outdoor activities like hiking, boating, or cycling compared to winter.

3. Is Scandinavia Really That Expensive?
We often hear that Scandinavians enjoy a high standard of living, with income levels, taxes, and prices several times higher than in Taiwan. But when I got there, things weren’t as shockingly expensive as expected. Of course, with price differences of three to five times, some items were still too pricey for me to buy, and I didn’t even feel inclined to browse. Among the three Scandinavian capitals I visited, Oslo was the most expensive, while Stockholm and Copenhagen were relatively more affordable—I bought quite a few small items in those two cities.

4. Do You Have to Walk a Lot in Scandinavia?
Scandinavia has quite well-developed transportation infrastructure. Most of our travels relied on trains, buses, boats, and short flights. The attractions we planned to visit didn’t require long walks either. Moreover, the stunning natural scenery made even the journey enjoyable—the breathtaking views outside the window felt like something out of a fairy tale, making the travel time fly by and easing any fatigue.

5. Is Scandinavia Suitable for Independent Travel?
In recent years, Scandinavia has become a popular destination, and many travel agencies offer group tours there. However, many people may still find the region distant or unfamiliar. Even before my trip, just doing the research made me realize how advanced the area is. Once there, I was impressed by the well-developed tourism facilities, friendly locals (most speak English), and overall safety. For instance, Norway’s famous “Norway in a Nutshell” tour, as well as Sweden’s train services and other transportation options, were all very reassuring. Whenever I had trouble finding my way, someone would always step in to help. So, the key to independent travel in Scandinavia is good preparation. While information may be somewhat limited, in terms of sightseeing and accommodation, it’s actually quite suitable for DIY trips.

6. Will Language Be a Barrier in Scandinavia?
Before going, I couldn’t imagine that English would be so widely spoken in Scandinavia. In other European countries, communicating in English could be a challenge, but during my trip, most people I met could communicate with me in clear, understandable English. Compared to other parts of Europe, communication in Scandinavia was much easier than I expected, which made independent travel much more convenient and stress-free.

7. Is Food Accessible in Scandinavia?
I knew in advance that dining out in Scandinavia could be quite expensive. So for this trip, I arranged accommodations with kitchen facilities and shopped at nearby supermarkets for fresh (and sometimes ready-to-eat) ingredients to cook in the apartment. I also visited chain fast-food outlets and budget restaurants, which were generally convenient. Most of my accommodations included breakfast, and I found Scandinavian-style breakfasts both delicious and uniquely local. Many hotels even offered buffet breakfasts that were richer and tastier than what I’d experienced in other European countries. Booking a place with a good Scandinavian breakfast buffet turned out to be a convenient and enjoyable choice.

Although it’s been over two years since my trip to Scandinavia, I still remember how discovering that these myths weren’t true motivated me to go. I hope sharing these insights helps fellow travelers realize their dream of visiting Scandinavia sooner—because it’s truly worth it. To this day, I still fondly reminisce about the trip.

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Xiao Ruo has loved traveling since childhood,
and had explored all over Taiwan before turning 18.
After turning 18, she traveled to more than 20 cities abroad.
Originally, she just used words to record her travels, life, and food,
but gradually fell in love with expressing the beauty of travel through writing,
faithfully documenting it on her blog “Listening to My Own Travels.”
Welcome to Xiao Ruo’s travel space—come explore journeys and discover beautiful inspirations together.