Spring has truly arrived now, and with the Nordics now in full bloom you can enjoy the likes of hiking with warmer temperatures as well as bear watching. This is a great time to travel by rail, ferries and of course self-drives. Be prepared for weather to be mixed, with glorious sunny days and cold rainy ones equally as likely.
Blooming lupine flowers, Stokksnes, Iceland
We recommend this time of year as ideal for exploring the modern cities of Scandinavia, with their shops, restaurants and parks now thriving – particularly in the south – as well as early season in Norway's fjords. With lower travel prices than in the summer, you can take advantage of cheaper rail and local ferries along with smaller crowds in the most popular sights. In Sweden, it's time to start exploring the forests and go in search of some of the country's most spectacular wildlife who are now out and about foraging for food.
Eurasian elk in the forests of northern Sweden
Self-drives are popular in the south too, with driving conditions now perfect for exploration and patches of warm spring sunshine. In a few locations around the Nordics, particularly towards the latter part of the month, it is also possible to experience bear watching – think Kuusamo in central eastern Finland. For those still looking for snow, head to Svalbard, where the last of the snow ensures dog sledding and other snowy pursuits are still possible.
