Hygge seems to be the word of the year, and frankly, we're on board. The Danish idea of appreciating simple comforts is right in line with how we think about travel – living in the moment, spending time with people you love, and of course, relaxing somewhere cosy and friendly at the end of the day.
So here are some of our favourite holidays for experiencing that satisfying, comfy feeling of hygge, in some of our top destinations.
Copenhagen's Christmas Markets
Of course, we had to start the list with something Danish – and adorable Copenhagen, with its independent cafes, walkable city streets and understatedly stylish hotels is the undisputed home of hygge. Visit at Christmas to see the city lit up with atmospheric fairy lights twinkling in the deep dark of a Scandinavian winter, and spend a few hours browsing the local handicrafts on display in any of the city's markets – Tivoli Gardens, Freetown Christiania or Nyhavn harbour.
Under the Midnight Sun
Hygge isn't just for the winter – nor does it even have to be restricted to Denmark (okay, unless you're a purist) – Swedes have their own version of hygge, called lagom, and while it translate more as 'moderation', you can think of it as another way to appreciate what's around you.
In this case, that will be a lot of sunshine, as this holiday takes you high into Swedish Lapland during the summertime, when the sun never fully sets below the horizon. Staying at the truly cosy Brandon Lodge, which features a number of private scenic cabins in the Lulea Archipelago, and the Treehotel, where you will stay in an eco-friendly room hidden up amongst the forest greenery near the small village of Harads, there will be plenty of simple pleases to be found on this unforgettable journey.
Winter Adventure at Sacacomie Lodge
This Canadian holiday centres around the fantastic Hotel Sacacomie, set in a forest on the borders of the Mastigouche Wildlife Reserve. As a lakeside lodge, the Sacacomie takes cosiness very seriously, because after a day of tobogganing, dogsledding, snowshoeing or otherwise enjoying the outdoors, you can return here for a relaxing spa treatment, a chat in front of the fireplace, and a hearty meal of French dishes (this is Francophone Canada, after all) featuring local game, fish and produce.
