Scandinavia is a dream destination for many cyclists. With its picturesque landscapes, well-maintained roads, trails, and great camping spots, it’s no wonder why! We took a different approach in our list of favourite finds during the journey through Scandinavia. Instead, we prefer to share some reflective thoughts on some lows and a few surprises along the way. Here’s a rundown of our trip's highs, lows, and surprises.

 High points

Roaming laws + Denmark Camping

 Along our journey, we’ve found several gorgeous campsites due to the freedom of roaming laws in Europe. For example, Norway and Sweden allow you to take your dog on trails which is an amazing privilege! Camping is a right all over Norway and Sweden, provided the landowner's property and home are respected. Wildberry foraging falls under this privilege of camping too!

 Pedestrians and cyclists are treated with respect

 Highway driving in Scandinavia is an art. As we cycled, we encountered cars stopped at nearly every single crosswalk. Drivers paid attention to pedestrians and cyclists alike, and we never had a problem when forgetting to dismount from our bikes.

 Cinnamon rolls on the go

 The EU thinks that consuming large quantities of cinnamon may damage your liver. Luckily, the Scandinavians also care little for my favourite spice and provide ample amounts in their countries. So as to fuel our journey throughout this quest, we found huge rolls with enough filling.

Availability of Wi-Fi

 In addition to leaving our rigs outside McDonald’s and accessing the Internet at Stat Oil gas stations, Kiwi grocery stores, or libraries (accessed only inside), we could also use free Wi-Fi throughout Scandinavia. It was easy enough that even with all these options available, there wasn't much trouble finding one place where it would be perfect for what I needed!

 Low points

Weather conditions

 You’ve probably heard the Scandinavians talking about their weather in early spring, but if you want to experience something truly unique, head straight for this region during July and August. Though we wanted to see Scandinavia, if given a chance again at this time of year with visa restrictions like the last trip, the Netherlands would likely have been the first stop.

 Oslo beer is expensive

 We expected beer and food to cost more in Oslo, but we didn't expect it to cost as much outside of the city. It turns out there are a lot more choices when you're not surrounded by topped-off menus!

 We were excited to test the theory that beer is really expensive in Oslo. We went straight out into town on a mission, right to the grocery store, crawling through shelves until finally finding expensive beers priced at just USD 13 per six pack. We thought there must have been some mistake with what the site said. However, we soon found out that it was the cost per beer, and it was cheap.

 Surprises on the way

Learning about the Systembolaget

 It was surprising to find that the beer in Sweden only contains 3.5% alcohol despite Sweden not being a conservative country. After trying unsuccessfully to find a nearby liquor store with higher than 3.5% alcohol, our search led us to Systembolaget aka Sweden's government-run beer store, stocked with various types of beers with more than 3.5% alcohol.

 The absence of bike signs

 We had a great time on our tour, but it wasn't easy at times. The slow speeds we were traveling in part due to the weather, our fitness level, and the lack of signs that would have helped us navigate cities more quickly with GPS alone. But thankfully, there are maps available for free at each tourist office that can help you avoid these issues!

 If you've ever dreamt of exploring Scandinavia, then I've got the thing for your next adventure. This list is based on my personal experience and some research into what others think - so please share yours!