Denmark
Copenhagen
A popular fixture on the city's cultural scene is the annual Copenhagen International Film Festival (CIFF) (175 Gothersgade; tel. 33-45-47-49; www.copenhagenfilmfestival.com). Running from September 20-30, 2007, the festival is made up exclusively of European films, and aims to celebrate the continent's cinema. Screenings are offered at theaters throughout Copenhagen, and tickets are available at 70DKK (US$11.70) each, 593DKK (US$99) for a festival pass, or 360DKK (US$60) for 6 tickets. Also on the cinema front is the Copenhagen Gay & Lesbian Film Festival (CGLFF) (175 Gothersgade; tel. 33-93-07-66; www.cglff.dk), which presents short films, features, and documentaries with homosexual themes. The festival attracts both gay and straight audience, and is being held October 19-28, 2007 in theaters in Copenhagen, Aarhus, and Mahmö.
During the spring and autumn, free Wednesday Concerts (tel. 33-55-74-12; www.onsdagskoncerter.dk) are held in locations across Copenhagen, including The Royal Veterinary and Agriculture University, The Theatre Museum, and in various churches. Students from the Royal Danish Academy of Music perform the mainly classical entertainment. The Wednesday evening concerts begin at 5pm and last around 45 minutes.
With the latest round of restaurant openings, Copenhagen's restaurant scene is heating up. For the latest in fine cuisine, Umami (59 Store Kongensgade; tel. 33-38-75-00; www.restaurant-umami.dk) serves a unique menu of Japanese food with a French twist. In the Vesterbro district, Copenhagen Food Consulting runs the upscale restaurant, Cofoco (7 Abel Cathrines Gade; tel. 33-31-70-55; www.cofoco.dk). Serving French/Danish cuisine in a modern and elegant setting, Cofoco offers savory three course meals for 225DKK (US$37.50). This is a trendy spot, so call ahead for reservations. Owned by the same company is Les Trois Cochons (10 Værnedamsvej; tel. 33-13-60-60; www.cofoco.dk), a French brasserie and bar. Its name, which in English translates to "The Three Pigs," is fitting, given that the brasserie is located in a former butcher shop. Meals here are reasonable, with a three course menu costing 225 DKK (US$37.50). Custom House (44 Havnegade; tel. 33-31-01-30; www.conran.com) is home to a trio of new haute cuisine restaurants. At Ebisu, a traditional yet diverse menu of Japanese food is served in an elegant setting. In the same location, Bacino serves genuine Italian cuisine for lunch and dinner. The Custom House also features a Bar & Grill where Danish/European cuisine is served in a more informal setting. The varied menu features such items as caviar and lobster. A fixed-price three course menu is offered at 325DKK (US$54.20).
On Copenhagen's after dark scene, the ultra hip and exclusive NASA (8F Gothersgade; tel. 40-40-75-52; www.nasa.dk) plays host nightly to the city's elite. You'll feel like you're partying in the future amid NASA's space age design. The interior is coolly decorated completely in white, even down to the white Japanese carp swimming in the aquarium, but getting into NASA is not an easy feat. Located in the former red light district of Istedgade, Boutique Lize (6 Enghave Plads; tel. 33-31-15-60) is a hotspot in the city's nightlife scene. Popular with Copenhagen's hipsters, the bar serves a variety of tasty cocktails to the beat of the punk and electronic music.
Aalborg
Built as an extension of the Aalborg Congress Center, the Quality Hotel Aalborg (12C Vesterbro; tel. 70-12-51-51; www.choicehotelseurope.com), offers comfortable rooms with ample amenities. The hotel is conveniently located within walking distance to the train station and is located near the town's center.
Bornholm
One of the largest medieval fortifications, Hammershus (tel. 56-95-95-68; www.bornholm.info) is in the process of being restored. Standing 74 meters above sea level, it is the highest point in Bornholm and offers a spectacular view of the ocean and neighboring Sweden. Believed to have been built in the twelfth century, Hammershus served as a fortress and occasionally as a prison. It fell into ruin, but a large amount of funds has been set aside to restore and maintain the tower.
Norway
Oslo
Home of the Nobel Peace Prize, Oslo has opened the Nobel Peace Center (City Hall Square; tel. 48-30-10-00; www.nobelpeacecenter.org), which showcases Norway's role as one of the forerunners in the process of peace. In this former train station, originally built in 1872, the various Peace Prize Laureates are profiled, along with the father of the institution, Alfred Nobel.
In 2004, two of Edvard Munch's masterpieces, The Scream and Madonna, were stolen from the Munch Museum, Tøyengata 53 (tel. 23-49-35-00; www.munch.museum.no), in a daring, daylight heist. After an intensive search for the thieves, they were finally captured and the paintings were returned to the museum. Sadly, both works sustained some damage during their absence, and the museum is undergoing a painstaking process to determine how best to restore them. Currently, neither painting is on display, but the museum is hopeful that they will soon be able to be returned to their rightful positions.
One of Norway's largest hotel chains, Thon Hotels, has opened its first budget hotel, Thon Hotel Gardermoen (Balder Allè 22; tel. 64-00-45-00; www.thonhotels.com/gardermoen), located only five minutes from the Oslo Airport. This 260-room hotel offers guest a comfortable and modern experience, with cozy bedding and furniture with clean lines. .
Oro (Tordenskioldsgate 6a; tel. 23-01-02-40; www.ororestaurant.no) has renovated its tapas bar and replaced it with Smak av Oro (Taste at Oro), a bar and restaurant where smaller meals are served. The menu here does not offer meals, but instead presents 20 "taste experiences" from which diners can choose. After midnight, the atmosphere gets livelier, with music playing in the background.
Tromsø
In the winter, more than 600 killer whales, or orcas, migrate to the Lofoten Islands in search of herring in the Tysfjord. Norwegian Coastal Voyage's Killer Whale Safari (Lofoten Islands; tel. 800/323-7436; www.norwegiancoastalvoyage.us) offers seven-day safaris, with airfare included, which journey from Tromsø to Svolvaer, the capital of the Lofoten Islands. On board your ship, you'll be on the look out for orcas, and when on land, you'll stay in a rorbu, a traditional fishermen's dwelling built on stilts, but modified to include modern conveniences.
The Lofoten Islands
The 24 newly restored cabins at Reine Rorbuer (Reine Rorbuer AS, N-8390 Reine; tel. 76-09-22-22; www.reinerorbuer.no) combine the traditional appeal of a fishing village with modern conveniences, like internet connections and fully equipped kitchens. If you're not successful on your fishing expeditions, dine in one of the restaurants on premises, which serve Norwegian and international dishes from local ingredients of the land and sea. The environment here has much to offer, with stunning views of the Lofoten peaks and the Arctic Ocean, the Midnight Sun, and the Northern Lights.
Lillehammer Located 745 meters high, at the site of the 1994 Olympics downhill arena, Gudbrandsgard Hotel (tel. 61-28-48-00; www.gudbrandsgard.no) offers guests comfortable and contemporary accommodations. Traditional Norwegian style is the theme here, with the hotel's exterior of carved timber and tufted roofs and the cuisine based on local farm menus. Befitting a hotel that is built on a former Olympic site there are plenty of athletic activities to pursue here, from the 18-hole golf course to, of course, fantastic skiing.
Sweden
Stockholm
In existence since 1874, the posh Grand Hotel (S. Blasiehomshamnen 8; tel. 08/679-35-00; www.grandhotel.se) has just completed a series of upgrades. Scandic Anglais (Humlegardsgatan 23; tel. 08/517-340-00; www.scandic-hotels.com/anglais) has reopened after nearly two years of refurbishment, bringing the hotel into the 21st century. Decorated in warm earth tones, rooms are cozy and contemporary, with wood laminate flooring throughout. Located in a converted house dating back to 1898 is the 78-room Hotel Hellsten (Luntmakargatan 68; tel. 08/661-86-00; www.hellsten.se), whose founders view the creation of a hotel as an art form. The rooms reflect this artistic spirit, with the decor varying from room to room -- Swedish antiques furnish some, others are accented with Asian design, and twelve rooms are equipped with porcelain stoves. The Acapulco Hotel (Bjurholmsplan 23; tel. 08/702-33-00; www.acapulco-hotell.se) in Södermalm is an apartment hotel that will make you feel right at home. This reasonably priced spot offers immaculate private entrance apartments that can accommodate up to five people.
The latest in Swedish restaurant group F12's ventures is Restaurang Kungsholmen (Norr Malarstrand, Kajplats 464; tel. 08/505-244-50; www.kungsholmen.com), a waterfront restaurant on the island of Kungsholmen. The restaurant and bar seats up to 200 guests in a dining room that also serves as a food court with seven different serving stations.
The retail clothing chain Weekday (Gotgatan 21; tel. 08/642-17-72; www.weekday.se) sells the hottest trends of Stockholm. The store carries its own brand of clothes, as well as many designer names. Weekday has expanded throughout Sweden, with stores in Gothenburg, Malmö, and Uppsala. C/O Stockholm (Götgatan 30; tel. 08/505-259-00; www.costockholm.se) carries a variety of international products, such as cosmetics, handbags, and other accessories from designers like Stella McCartney and Marc Jacobs.
Riche (Birger Jarlsgatan 4; tel. 08/545-035-60; www.riche.se) has been redesigned, turning this 1893 mansion into one of Stockholm's hottest spots. On Tuesday through Saturday evenings, Lila Barren, Riche's separate bar area, opens for business. DJs play cutting-edge music amid a scene decorated with frescoes and ever-changing art exhibitions.
The 18th Stockholm International Film Festival (Slupskjulsvägen 36; tel. 08/677-50-00; www.filmfestivalen.se) will be held from November 15 to 25, 2007. This celebration of cinema hosts 170 films from more than 40 countries. All films are uncensored and shown in their original language, with English subtitles. From November 9 to 11, 2007 the Stockholm Food & Beverage Show (Ã?lvsjö; tel. 08/749-41-45; www.detgodakoket.se) will showcase products and techniques related to cooking and the kitchen. On hand will be exhibitions on food, beverages, kitchen equipment and design, books and magazines related to the culinary arts, and, of course, plenty of free samples.
Stockholm holds many opportunities for gay and lesbian travelers. Since 1998, this gay-friendly city has hosted Stockholm Pride (tel. 08/33-59-55; www.stockholmpride.org), one of Stockholm's largest annual festivals and the largest Pride event in Scandinavia. Held every summer, the celebration spans the entire city, with shows staged at Pride Park and a host of events, such as seminars, workshops, and film exhibitions at Pride House, the cultural center of the festival. In 2008, Stockholm is scheduled to be host to Europride, a celebration of European and gay pride held in a different European city each year. For up to two weeks, events, such as rallies, club nights, concerts, and an AIDS vigil will be held in the host city. Europride usually culminates with a Mardi Gras-style parade on its final weekend.
Malmø
In early December, look for Shop Window Sunday (www.malmo.se), the weekend when the stores of Malmö reveal their dazzling holiday window displays. Serving as a kickoff for the holiday season, there are also Christmas events for kids at Malmöhus Castle, holiday concerts and markets, and on December 13, there are processions for St. Lucia Day. The festivities continue after Christmas with the outdoor Winterland celebration in Folkets amusement park.
Finland
Helsinki
Joining the Hilton company in summer 2007 is the conveniently located Hilton Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (tel. 09/732-222-11; www.hilton.com), which is connected directly to the airport terminal by a covered walkway. The 244-room hotel offers guests ample dining facilities, wi-fi access, and a large fitness center equipped with a sauna. The modern guest rooms are comfortably furnished, featuring luxury bathrooms and flat-panel TVs.
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