Summer in Denmark and Sweden gets going in a big way the third weekend in June when both countries mark Midsummer, one of the best-loved traditional celebrations in the Scandinavian calendar. This holiday ranks alongside Christmas in the popularity stakes.
Visitors can experience the festivities in the Oresund Region by flying to Copenhagen for Denmark’s version, ‘Sankt Hans Day’ on the 23 June and crossing the spectacular Oresund Bridge during the day (half an hour by train) to Malmo and join in the Swedish, ‘Midsommar‘ celebrations.
In Denmark Sankt Hans has been celebrated since Viking days. Everyone heads to the beaches or lakes in the evening to light bonfires, have a picnic and sings traditional songs. Wherever you are in Denmark, the sea is only one hour away and north of Copenhagen lie the unspoilt beaches of North Zealand.
In Sweden, Midsummer is celebrated in a different way. Events during the Friday include dancing around a huge maypole to traditional music and locals wearing folk costumes. Flowers and foliage are gathered and used to cover the entire pole before it is raised. The year's first potatoes, pickled herring, sour cream, and possibly the first strawberries of the season are on the menu, plus plenty of schnapps.
Summer days in Scandinavia are longer, but if a holiday in June is out, there are plenty of other things going on in the Oresund region – in July and August. One way to explore the area is with the Around the Sound two-day train ticket, priced from about £14/20 Euros, giving discounts to the region’s main sites, attractions and hotels. Get on and off the train as often as you like. Children aged 6 to 16 are half price.
Summer in Malmo
Malmo Festival - 18 to 25 August 2006 - few festivals are as popular and well attended as the Malmo Festival. Attracting some 1.5 million visitors over eight days, it kicks off with the lively crayfish party at Stortorget. Bring your own crayfish – you can buy them at any food shop – and join the fun. The city also stages over 250 free live music performances and concerts.
Folkets Park, Malmo, open April to September – this is Malmo’s version of Tivoli with family attractions, a large playground, children’s theatre, a terrarium, miniature farm with pony rides and a colourful flea market.
City buzz or beach life? In Malmo you can have both . The sandy beach of Ribersborg is within walking distance of the city centre. The water stays shallow a long way from the shore and expansive grassy areas are ideal for games and sport. Swim and sunbathe in summer and dive in from the jetties.
Parks and more parks – Malmo is renowned for its beautiful parks . Take a stroll, a picnic or boat ride through the best known ones: Pildammsparken – the biggest park in Malmo with an open-air theatre offering free concerts in July and August; Kungsparken, Malmo’s oldest public park, designed in the style of an English arboretum or Slottsparken with its open lawns for picnics and games.
In the evenings head for Lilla Torg – Malmo’s charming historic square becomes a bustling meeting place. Lilla Torg is renowned for its many outdoor restaurants and cafes,
Summer in Copenhagen
Copencabana, June to August - the Danes go all out to create an artificial beach in the city centre’s harbour area. "Copencabana” is the capital’s hottest spot for a swim with two outdoor pools, lido, diving boards, volleyball courts and life-guards.
Copenhagen Jazz Festival, 7 to 14 July - the city’s annual jazz festival features a wealth of new and established international and Danish bands and musicians. The festival takes place indoors and outdoors with various parks, squares and even tour boats transformed into stages
Rosenborg Castle 400th anniversary exhibitions – April to August – not only was Christian IV one of the most colourful and popular kings in Danish history, he was also an active builder. The Borsen, the Round Tower and Rosenborg Castle were some of the many significant building projects during his reign. Rosenborg was built originally as a summer residence in 1606. The 400th anniversary exhibitions will focus on this King and his special connection to Rosenborg, where he died in 1648.
The Cultural Harbour, 3 - 6 August , has become a yearly recurrent harbour festival offering four days of dance, music, theatre, artistry and a variety of sports events in the harbour as well as on the quay – none of the events need tickets and are free.
Tivoli Gardens – 12 April to 24 September - new this summer will be Star Flyer, the tallest swing merry-go-round in the world, bringing the total number of attractions at Tivoli to twenty five. The fairytale gardens also host rock concerts every Friday on the open air stage and classical music, ballet and international performances at the Tivoli Concert Hall.
Borrow a bike – Copenhagen has invested in providing 1,300 free bikes for visitors and locals. Find one of the 125 City Bike Parking locations, deposit a DKK 20 coin and ride off.
On the water – summer is the time to take a tour on Copenhagen’s old canals and harbour by boat sightseeing tour, by hopping on and off the water bus or why not try your skills at kayaking.
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