When to Go to Scandinavia
By Rick Steves
Summer is a great time to visit. Scandinavia bustles and glistens under the July and August sun; it's the height of the tourist season, when all the major sights are open and in full swing. In many places, things don't kick into gear until about June 20, when Scandinavian schools let out. You'll notice crowds in July and August, but up here "crowds" mean fun and action rather than congestion. At these northern latitudes, the days are long — in Oslo, on June 21 the sun comes up around 4:00 and sets around 23:00. It quiets down when the local kids go back to school, around August 20.
"Shoulder-season" travel — in May, early June, and September — lacks the vitality of summer but offers occasional good weather and minimal crowds. In Norway, the weather can remain pleasant from late May to mid-June and late August through mid-September, but — especially in fjord- and mountain-towns — quite a few sights, restaurants, and services close outside of the summer school break.
Winter is a bad time to explore Scandinavia unless winter sports are high on your agenda. Scandinavia's metabolism slows down like a hibernating bear's, and many sights and accommodations close or keep a limited schedule. The weather can be cold and dreary. Days are short, and nighttime will draw the shades on your sightseeing well before dinner. Christmastime activities (such as colorful markets and Copenhagen's festively decorated Tivoli Gardens) offer a brief interlude of warmth at this chilly time of year.