Nordic Beaches // The Viking Coast

• Haväng // Sweden

  

  Havang beach is situated on the east coast of Skåne, and is part of what is a seemingly endless stretch of fine golden sand to the north of the town of Kivik. Widely regarded as the best beach in Österlen this is a beautiful and wild spot.

  Beyond the beach is a wonderful rural landscape of meadows and woodlands beyond which rise low hills. This rolling countryside is popular walking country and encompasses the Backaleden and Österlenleden trails.

  Overlooking the beach at Haväng as a very impressive Stone Age burial site -… read more »

• Djúpalónssandur Beach // Iceland

  

  Sitting on the tip of the wonderous Snæfellsnes Peninsula is the black pebble beach of Djúpalónssandur. Being Iceland you will not be disappointed by the other-worldly volcanic rock forms including one with a hole in the middle as you approach the beach. There is also a small lagoon set among the pebbles towards the back of the beach.

  Djúpalónssandur has a history of settlement stretching back over a thousand years. For much of this time it was home to a fishing station, although these days it is uninhabited. One of… read more »

• Tulliniemi // Finland

  

  Feeling far from the beaten path, Tulliniemi Beach is all about Finland's wild untamed natural beauty. The shore here is rockier and filled with larger pebbles than most other beaches. The Tulliniemi Nature Path takes you through north past rounded cliffs, beautiful forested areas, a nature preserve, and bird sanctuary before sloping back down to the beach itself.

  The sand paired with the meadows here have a unique texture, and the whole area has an atmosphere all its own. It's a fantastic place to sit, soak up the sun, watch the… read more »

• Mølen // Norway

  

  Mølen beach in Southern Norway is a fascinating place both naturally and historically. For starters it is Norway's largest pebble beach consisting of rounded rocks varying in colour and size. In fact there are over 100 different types of rock here, mainly deposited during the last ice age 10,000 years ago. Such is the geological importance of the site, Mølen was the first UNESCO Geopark Area in the Nordic region.
  

  The name Mølen comes from the Old Norse word "mol" which means a man made mound of stones. There are 230… read more »

• Bystranda // Norway

  

  This man-made sandy beach is situated in the city of Kristiansand, close to the southern tip of Norway. Its location has been well-selected with a marina next door and nearby parkland. It is also easily reached from the city center with plenty of parking and nearby leisure facilities.

  The Kristiansand City beach has fine, near-white sand - of course it isn't natural, but it is what you would choose if you wanted to make a nice beach. To compliment this there are even a few palm trees to complete the tropical… read more »

• Rørvik // Norway

  

  Tucked away on the southern coast of the Lofoten Islands, not far from the main E10 road is Rorvik beach. Despite being so close to the road this little beach is often overlooked as it isn't one of the better known Lofoten beaches.

  Whilst the surrounding scenery isn't quite as immediate as the towering mountains on some of the archipelago's other beaches it is still beautiful. The backdrop is tree covered slopes with a sprinkling of wildflowers, but beyond that the land rises up into the familiar rugged peaks.

  The beach itself… read more »

• Rauðisandur beach // Iceland

  

  Rauðisandur or Red Sand beach is a huge expanse of sand in the remote Westfjords region of Iceland. Unlike many of this volcanic island's beaches Rauðisandur has what we might consider normal coloured sand - most beaches here have black sand. This is probably where the name comes from as the sand does have a reddish hue to it in certain lights. However, it is also possible it is a historical reference to one of the area's early settlers, Ármóður the Red.

  Anyway, back to the beach. Whilst not… read more »

• Sjøsanden Beach // Norway

  

  Lying on the very southern tip of Norway is the coastal town of Mandal. By Norwegian standards the climate here is fairly mild and in summer the weather is definitely warm enough to enjoy the town's best known asset - Sjøsanden beach, an 800m (half mile) long stretch of lovely, near white sand.

  Regularly cited as Norway's best beach it is difficult to argue with this. Located in the Furulunden nature park, Sjøsanden is backed by thick forest with its many walking trails. From these you can reach Mandal's other… read more »

• Grotta Beach // Iceland

  

  Grotta is located on the Seltjarnarnes peninsula and is probably best known as the site of Reykjavik's lighthouse which has stood here for the last hundred years. Set on a little island connected to the mainland by a narrow spit of black sand, Grotta is only around 10 minutes from downtown Iceland but a world apart.

  The beach and island are something of a bird watcher's paradise. During the early summer months the beach is off limits as it is a breeding site for species such as Arctic terns and… read more »

• Nauthólsvík Beach // Iceland

  

  Nauthólsvík is Reykjavik's go to beach. A far cry from the wild expansive landscapes of the other beaches on this list Nauthólsvík is in fact a man-made beach. This goes some way to explaining the unusually (for Iceland) golden sand and surprisingly warm water.

  Opened in 2001 Nauthólsvík is a geothermally heated beach constructed within the confines of protective breakwaters. This means both safe and warm(er) bathing for the beachgoers of Reykjavik. The actual water temperature on the beach itself ranges from -2°C to 19°C, which although not quite tropical… read more »

• Albuen Strand // Denmark

  

  For a classic southern Danish seaside escape with beautiful camping grounds right near the beach, look no further than Albuen Strand. Situated in the southwestern coast of Lolland, it is home to one of the island's best beaches. Stretching for 7 km Albuen Strand is a sandy spit of land backed by a large lagoon. It is Blue Flag certified, boasts a rich history and natural landscape; you could say it has something for everyone.

  For fans of Medieval history, the Albuen area was a major marketplace during the Middle Ages.… read more »

• Palmestranden // Denmark

  

  As a rule we tend to associate palm trees with tropical locations such as California or the Caribbean. Even so, Palmestranden in Denmark does a great job of bringing a touch of that tropical feel to Northern Europe with 100 palm trees lining the soft white sands. These palm trees flourish from May to September, the rest of the year they live in a greenhouse.

  Palmestranden is a very family-friendly beach and the Blue Flag status reflects this. You can enjoy beach sports, picnics, and all manner of family-friendly activities here,… read more »

• Degersand // Finland

  

  One of the most popular vacation destinations in the Åland Islands, Degersand Beach offers a wide range of different activities against the backdrop of splendid views of the Gulf of Bothnia. This cluster of islands is a unique multicultural area in Northern Europe, sitting between Finland and Sweden, and it is the only area of Finland to have a majority Swedish-speaking population.

  That unique blend of cultures is on display in Degersand Beach, with great cuisine from both nations to be had at one of the local restaurants and café. Of… read more »

• Kansanpuisto // Finland

  

  The tiny beach of Kansanpuisto offers a great view of nearby Hirvensalo Island, which is reachable via the Pukinsalmi channel, through which ships travel to the Port of Turku. All of this makes this little park and beach area quite busy, with bathers, swimmers, and beach sports enthusiasts of all kinds frequenting the area. There is a playground for children, a volleyball court, nearby restaurants, and a villa.

  Kansanpuisto Beach is known throughout Finland as the home of the Ruisrock music festival.

  The area is also filled with many native bird species,… read more »

• Matarinpuiston // Finland

  

  Situated in the Vantaa area, in the south of Finland, Matarinpuiston Beach offers scenic views of the crisp clear blue water of this slow-moving section of river. The sand is fringed with an abundance of greenery, including plenty of grassland and towering pine trees. 

  Despite being some distance from the sea Matarinpuiston Beach offers plenty of swimming and sunbathing opportunities, all in a peaceful family-friendly atmosphere.

  All of this makes the Matarinpuiston Beach a wonderfully calm and restful place to soak up the sun in the Vantaa area.

  read more »

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