By Madigan Talmage-Bowers, TCS World Travel 

As in past years, Nordic and northern European countries have claimed the top spots on the list of “world’s happiest countries” in the 2023 World Happiness Report, an annual ranking that aims to quantify the aspirational concept of happiness around the globe based on six measures of life evaluation: GDP per capita, healthy life expectancy, generosity, social support, the freedom to make life choices, and the presence or absence of corruption. For travelers wanting to explore these happiness hotspots, here are ways to engage with local culture and natural attractions for a well-being boost.  

Finland (Happiness Rank: #1) 

Despite notoriously harsh winters, the reigning happiness champion draws visitors to its vast, pristine wilderness—about 75% of the country is forested—and distinct regional culture. In the south, the welcoming seaside capital of Helsinki offers cutting-edge Finnish architecture and design, with easy day trips to the charming artistic villages of Porvoo and Fiskars. Further north, the Sápmi area (also known as Lapland) brushes the Arctic Circle, offering extra hours to explore during summer’s “midnight sun.” In the winter, intrepid travelers willing to bundle up can experience ideal northern lights viewing opportunities and connection with the indigenous Sámi culture, known for the semi-nomadic practice of reindeer herding.  

Denmark (#2) 

Graceful Renaissance architecture paired with modern Danish design and a world-class culinary scene makes Denmark’s capital of Copenhagen one of the rising stars of European tourism. Gourmands are spoiled for choice among the city’s roster of Michelin-starred restaurants showcasing nouveau Nordic cuisine, while visitors interested in Danish arts and crafts can browse the showrooms of local designers, watch master glassblowers at work, or admire delicate porcelain creations at the Royal Copenhagen factory. Part of the Kingdom of Denmark (though about 700 miles offshore), the autonomous archipelago of the Faroe Islands offers untouched landscapes of wind-swept emerald heaths and stunning sea cliffs, alongside a distinct culture that includes a rich musical heritage and time-honored crafts such as Faroese wool knitting.  

Iceland (#3) 

Much more than an appealing stopover on transatlantic flights, Iceland is gaining traction as a destination in its own right, with easy connections from many European cities and a wealth of natural attractions. One of the continent’s smallest capitals, easy-going Reykjavik also ranks among the world’s most sustainable cities, thanks to an abundance of renewable geothermal energy and an ambitious goal to be carbon neutral by 2040. After a restorative soak and mud bath in the naturally heated Blue Lagoon, visitors often head to Southern Iceland’s popular Golden Circle touring route—showcasing otherworldly landscapes of waterfalls, bubbling geothermal fields, lava tubes, and glaciers that invite ice trekking or thrilling snowmobile tours.

Sweden (#6) 

Most visitors to Sweden start at the enchanting capital of Stockholm, where the ochre-hued townhomes and Royal Palace of the Gamla Stan (Old Town) preside over a lacy network of canals and bridges connecting medieval and modern Stockholm. A cruise through the Stockholm Archipelago offers easy access to a network of nearly 30,000 islands—some with remnants of quaint fishing villages, while others are uninhabited landscapes of woodland and rocky cliffs. Over on Sweden’s North Sea coast, the riverside city of Gothenburg has earned the title of the “world’s most sustainable city” every year since the ranking was debuted by the Global Destination Sustainability Movement in 2016. Here, nearly 90% of hotels are eco-certified and an excellent dining scene showcases sustainable, locally sourced seafood.  

Norway (#7) 

Boasting the second-longest coastline in the world (after Canada), Norway offers spectacular natural landscapes alongside contemporary Scandinavian culture. In the vibrant capital of Oslo, travelers can admire groundbreaking Norwegian architecture on a tour of the iceberg-inspired Oslo Opera House or discover Norway’s seafaring heritage at the Viking Ship Museum, featuring magnificent longboats from the ninth century. On the southwestern coast, the city of Bergen is known for both its cultural cache (it’s home to one of the world’s oldest symphony orchestras) and as the gateway to Norway’s famous fjords. Further north, the majestic, snow-capped Sunnmøre Alps tower over the UNESCO-listed Geirangerfjord and offer a year-round playground, with alpine hiking in summer and snowshoeing or ski touring during snow season.  

Switzerland (#8) 

Switzerland packs a wealth of inviting destinations into its relatively small size. In the shadow of the towering Swiss Alps, mountain-chic resort towns like Zermatt, St. Moritz, and Gstaad boast some of Europe’s best ski terrain with world-class amenities to match. In French-speaking Lausanne, the Olympic Museum traces the history of the games through sculptural interpretations of the Olympic spirit along with a robust collection of sporting memorabilia. Nearby, the fertile Lavaux Valley is lined with UNESCO-listed vineyard terraces that have been producing wine for nearly a millennium. At one of many hillside wineries, oenophiles can savor a glass of wine paired with Swiss fondue and spectacular views over Lake Geneva.  

About TCS World Travel 

TCS World Travel has been dedicated to enriching lives through travel since its founding in 1991. As a pioneer in the private jet expeditions industry, TCS has developed and operated nearly 300 luxury jet tours to more than 200 destinations. To commemorate its legacy of travel, the company recently launched a brand-new expedition across Scandinavia and northern Europe aboard a customized A321 private jet. Travelers will be joined by TCS President Shelley Cline on the inaugural itinerary, departing in July 2024. 

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By Mila Kickert, Product Manager Northern/Central Europe, Avanti Destinations

Nature is practically the national religion of Finland. 

If you don’t know this sparsely populated, little-touristed Nordic country that sits between Sweden and Russia, you owe it to yourself to get familiar with it, especially if you love nature.  There is no other place like it. 

No matter what the season, Finland gives you plenty of opportunities for outdoor activities: hiking, trekking, biking, cross country skiing, ice skating, whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, Husky and reindeer sledding, snowshoeing, fishing, bear-watching, and picking wild mushrooms and berries while strolling through its nearly 50 million acres of forests. Since we’re talking numbers – there are more than 180,000 lakes in Finland. “Land of 1,000 Lakes” is an understatement. 

You’ll be happy to know that most Finns speak excellent English – because who in the world is going to learn to speak Finnish? It’s a complex language completely unrelated to any other, except Estonian and Hungarian. With so many Finns speaking English – and eager to practice – it’s easy for Americans to get around.  Finland also has an excellent road system if you want to rent a car, as well as a great public transportation system and good air connections between destinations. Keep in mind that if you rent a car, gas is quite expensive compared to the US –  like most other countries. 

Because of its extreme northern latitude, you can also experience two natural phenomena in Finland. Between October and March, when the days are short and the nights are long, you can see the Northern Lights or aurora borealis, that spectacular kinetic light show dancing in the night sky. In the late spring through the summer, you have the wonderful long days of the Midnight Sun, when the darkest it gets in the middle of the night is like twilight. For two months in the far north, enjoy “White Nights” when the sun does not set at all. 

The only thing as sacred to Finns as being active outdoors is relaxing from all that exertion in a real Finnish sauna – which usually involves several dips in rivers, lakes or the sea in water that can be quite – shall we say, invigorating? In the winter, Finns cut holes in the ice to take a quick swim after a sauna. I personally am sold on saunas, and saunayoga – the best way to relax after hiking, skiing or kayaking or whatever you want to put your body through. 

For those seeking some adventure, one of my favorite places is Lapland – specifically Ruka and Kuusamo, near Oulanka National Park. When I visited in February we “hunted” for the Northern Lights by snowshoe one evening, by a sled pulled by huskies the next.  During the day, we went cross country skiing, and successfully tried ice fishing.  On a subsequent trip during June, there were so many things to do: we canoed, went whitewater rafting, rode fat-tire bikes on forest trails, fished for brown trout in a nearby river, patiently watched for bears, and picked wild berries – blueberries, lingonberries and 

Ah – heaven. No wonder Finland has been named the happiest country in the world for the past four years! 

Since 1981, Avanti Destinations has been selling independent travel products and custom-crafted vacations in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Central and South America. The Portland, Oregon-based wholesale tour operator offers a wide range of FIT components to travel agents only, including air, rail, rental cars, hotels, sightseeing/attractions, transfers, and hard-to-find experiential travel options.  Avanti specializes in hand-picked, locally-owned hotels in both large and small cities and in connecting all the pieces of complex, multi-destination itineraries. The company also creates complete packages for custom groups of 15-100 passengers.  

For more information: https://book.avantidestinations.com  

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