FRAMING the deep azure waters of the Baltic Sea, Scandinavia and the Baltic states make up some of Northern Europe’s most unique regions. Each country is geographically diverse and culturally distinctive. Venture through beautiful Norway with its fjords and dramatic landscapes, or across the Arctic Circle while chasing the Aurora Borealis as it dances across the sky.

In the Swedish Lapland, visitors might mingle amongst reindeer and travel amidst sparkling lakes and snowy mountain ranges. But it is not just the backcountry that impresses; instead, Norway and Sweden are both home to dazzling cities—most notably, Oslo and Stockholm—that allow the modern sides of these ancient countries to shine. Travel that extends into Finland presents an even more comprehensive look at the wonders to be discovered in the Nordic countries.

The Baltic region is home to lesser-traveled countries, where the traditions of yesteryear still hold firm. Including Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, the Baltics are full of fascinating locales and beautiful cities. Take Latvia’s Riga, for example, with its Medieval Old Town and quaint wooden buildings. Estonia’s breathtaking coastal islands and perfectly preserved capital city, Tallinn, complete with cobbled streets and ancient architecture spanning the ages, offer yet another glimpse at the contrasts that made the Nordic-Baltic countries so incredible. With so many languages, cuisines, and traditions to discover, there is no shortage of wonders to unearth in Scandinavia and the Baltics.

Although Iceland isn’t technically in this geographical region, it was once part of the Kingdom of Denmark and holds a lot of cultural and geographical similarities, so we include it as part of the Scandinavian subset. Despite its name, however, only 11 percent of the island is covered in permanent glacial ice, and the the island itself is actually quite green, with its weather much more temperate than other arctic counterparts due to the Gulf Stream that brings mild Atlantic air to the southern and eastern coasts.