With the Med reaching routinely reaching scorching temperatures each summer, lots of us are rurning our attention to more northern European destinations for our summer holidays. But the Nordics are also home to some top-tier city breaks, so we’ve rounded up all the top cities in the region to head on your holiday – no matter the time of year.
So, where was it that topped our brand-new list? Well, it was none other than Oslo! The Norwegian capital beat out Copenhagen, Reykjavik and Helsinki to claim the first spot, and all those brilliant cities followed closely behind.
Recommended: The best ‘coolcations’ in Europe for 2025.
‘Oslo has really come into its own as a city with bags to offer long weekenders,’ writes Laura Hall, Time Out’s local expert in Scandinavia, ‘From its rejuvenated waterfront, where people jump off sauna boats and sunbathe on the roof of the Opera House, to the secret beaches of its archipelago, reachable by electricity-powered commuter ferry, it embraces the water in all things.’
But Nordic cool is also embodied in the city’s food and nightlife culture. Excellent wine bars and spots for charcuterie are aplenty, and you’ll also stumble across vinyl nights and pizza parties. You’ll likely find plenty of these in neighbourhoods like Grünerløkka.
Where to stay in Oslo
The city has plenty of brilliant hotels (we’ve rounded up some of our favourites here) but Laura’s top pick is Oslo Guldsmeden Hotel.
It’s in an outstanding location – just a 10-minute walk from the waterfront and National Museum – and the place boasts tasteful, warm Scandinavian style. Plus, it brags a Green Globe Certification, so you can rest well at night knowing you’ve made a sustainable choice.
Here’s our brand-new roundup of the best Nordic city breaks for 2025.
Did you see that you could soon get rewarded for visiting these European cities?
Plus: The Dutch bookstore named the world’s most beautiful – here’s the full list.
Stay in the loop: sign up to our free Time Out Travel newsletter for all the latest travel news and best stuff happening across the world.