What could be better for happiness than traveling? Travel with sustainability in mind.
This year’s World Happiness Report has been released and, perhaps not surprisingly, Finland has topped the list of happiest countries for the seventh year in a row.
In fact, Nordic countries make up the majority of the top 10, with Denmark, Iceland and Sweden in second, third and fourth place respectively, and Norway in seventh place.
The report was compiled by Gallup World Polling in collaboration with the Center for Wellbeing Research at the University of Oxford and the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network.
The team behind it uses data from over 140 countries for its annual findings. While those questioned evaluate their lives in a subjective way, experts in psychology, economics, and sociology understand the entire process by basing their evaluations on six key variables. It’s more scientific.
These are income (GDP per capita), healthy life expectancy, social support, freedom of choice in life, generosity, and freedom from corruption.
Travel is known to increase happiness, especially in an increasingly unstable world. Air travel is also notorious for being one of the most stressful ways to travel. Considering all this, we recommend you to visit the top 4. happiest country – Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Sweden – No flights. Here’s how:
Reduce your carbon footprint by traveling by train, boat and road
A quick warning: This trip will take significantly longer than traveling the same route by plane, but it provides travelers with an authentic experience and opens the door to slower, more sustainable travel.
Depart from Iceland for the longest leg of your journey.
Throughout the year, M/S Norrhona sails weekly from Iceland to Denmark via the Faroe Islands. From June to August, the ferry journey time is 2 days, but if the weather worsens it becomes just over 3 days.
You’ll spend the entire day at sea, with a 6-hour anchorage in Tórshavn. faroe islandswhich means you can visit unexplored destinations.
Luggage restrictions do not apply as passengers can bring their own vehicles on the boat.
With 366 cabins on board and seating for a total of 1,482 passengers, you can also treat this trip as a cruise ship experience.
From simple couchette rooms to luxurious suites with ocean views, there are a variety of accommodations to suit every budget.
However, the cheapest cabin isn’t particularly cheap. Currently, the minimum price for one adult is 565 euros, which includes a basic cabin and a parking space for his 1 car.
Arrive at Hirtshals, a port at the top of the Jutland peninsula in northern Denmark. With fascinating scenery and an impressive lighthouse, it’s worth spending some time, but you’ll probably want to travel to Denmark’s capital, Copenhagen.
Explore the impressive Danish countryside by train: from northern Denmark to Sweden
Hirtshals is 375 kilometers north of Copenhagen, but the journey doesn’t have to be unpleasant.
You can travel by car or taxi if you’re feeling up to it, but taking the train is the easiest and most sustainable option.
You will need to take two trains that run several times a day.The first from Hirtshals aalborg The journey takes just over 1 hour and 1 second from Aalborg to Copenhagen. The journey takes just under five hours, and along the way you’ll see some of Denmark’s beautiful countryside that you can’t see from a plane window.
advertisementThere are also three train options that stop at Jöring before Aalborg. The journey time will be slightly shorter, but it’s up to you to decide whether the additional transfer effort is worth it. Tickets for both variants are affordable at 72 euros one way.
Crossing the iconic bridge by train: from Denmark to Sweden
After taking in some of Copenhagen’s most impressive sights, including the Little Mermaid, Tivoli Gardens, and the Nyhavn district, get ready for the simplest part of your tour through the happiest country.
There is no shortage of trains from the Danish capital’s central station that cross the border into Sweden.
In fact, trains to the Swedish city of Malmö are becoming increasingly popular. copenhagentravel time is only 35 minutes.
Although it doesn’t attract as many tourists as the capital Stockholm, it is full of history and attractions.
advertisementAmong them are Lilla Torg, a cobbled square lined with cafes, half-timbered houses, and shops selling local handicrafts, Malmö Castle, a 16th-century fortress built by King Christian III of Denmark, and all of Sweden. Includes the best gourmet food.
If you’re interested in infrastructure, the trip from Copenhagen to Malmö is worth a trip.
The cable-stayed railway and highway Øresund Bridge crosses the Øresund Strait between Denmark and Sweden and is the second longest bridge in Europe at approximately 8 kilometers in length. It’s also a cultural icon, giving its name to The Bridge, a Scandinavian noir television series set in the surrounding area.
Tickets start from 18 euros one way.
Catch a train and then a boat to Finland and enjoy the Swedish countryside.
Once you’ve eaten your fill, Malmö’s It’s a quaint townscape and a long journey. But don’t despair, as the train journey from Malmö to Sweden’s capital Stockholm covers almost the entire southern part of the country.
advertisementOne-way tickets from Malmö Central Station to Stockholm start from €40. The journey, which runs hourly, takes him just under four and a half hours and takes in the Swedish landscape. Best viewed up close.
arrival stockholm, you can also immerse yourself in Swedish culture. At least he recommends visiting the ABBA museum. – Or continue your journey east to Finland.
Frequent travelers say there are two ways to travel across the northern Baltic Sea, and it takes an average of 16 hours.
While most people prefer relatively luxurious cabins for overnight trips, others prefer to take full advantage of the ship’s quirky amenities. In order not to spend extra money on a bed, you can take advantage of a variety of evening entertainment on board.
They range from live music, bars and themed parties to all-night dance clubs that are perfect for even the fittest.
advertisementIf dancing isn’t your thing, but you still want to make the most of your trip, the ferry makes a short stop in the autonomous region of Finland. land.
It’s not particularly busy, so you can spend a few minutes or even days exploring it. You can also extend your stay to visit nearby Turku, on Finland’s southwest coast, or Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, which is easily accessible by boat. .
No matter what kind of ferry experience resonates with you, it won’t break the bank or damage the planet.
Tickets start from 96 euros one way, and you’ll end up in delightful Helsinki. The city has something to offer year-round, from world-class galleries to iconic saunas, or the refreshing experience of jumping into the cool Baltic Sea. . If that doesn’t make you happy, I don’t know what will.
