Ribe was founded sometime during the eighth century, making it over 1,200 years old. It is believed to be Scandinavia's first town, founded even before the Viking era, although the Vikings left their mark on the village. Today, Ribe is one of the top destinations for Viking history enthusiasts, and it offers multiple museums with settlement ruins and artifacts.

Scandivania has played host to the Olympics on several occasions. Sweden has hosted once when Stockholm held the Summer Olympics in 1912. Norway has hosted the Winter Olympics twice, the first time in 1952 in Oslo and the second in 1994 in Lillehammer, a resort town north of Oslo. Denmark has never hosted the Olympic Games, but like their Scandinavian neighbors, the Danish regularly participate.

One of Northern Europe’s oldest port cities, Bryggen is a photogenic harbor that was once part of the Hanseatic League, a medieval trading empire. Colorful wooden buildings line its waterways, home to restaurants, shops, seafood markets, cafes, and other businesses. The centuries-old area is now a protected UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This snowy town in Northern Sweden welcomed the world’s first ice hotel in 1989. Made with ice harvested from the nearby Torne River, the “Icehotel” is rebuilt every winter and melts every spring. From floor to ceiling, everything in the guest rooms is sculpted out of ice, including the beds and decor — except for the bedding, of course.

Pulpit Rock (Preikestolen) is located above Lysefjorden in southwest Norway. The five-mile trek to its lookout — which soars nearly 2,000 feet above the fjord below — has become one of the country’s most famous hikes. This unique geological overlook provides ample space for many hikers at once to take in the spectacular view of the fjord below.

Shakespeare published “Hamlet, The Tragedy of Denmark,” in 1603, using Kronborg as the setting for the castle Elsinore. Kronborg was traditionally a site of strategic importance, located on a sound that forms the water border between Denmark and Sweden. A castle has been located on this site since 1420, although the original structure burned down and was rebuilt in the Renaissance style.

The Lofoten islands are located in northern Norway. In fact, the entire 110-mile archipelago is located within the Arctic Circle, making it a top destination to see the northern lights. The islands jut into the Norwegian Sea and are dotted with colorful fishing villages. Fishing was traditionally the predominant industry here, until tourism began to rise in the late 19th century.

Writer Hans Christian Andersen’s influence can be seen all around his native Denmark, where he spent most of his life. In Copenhagen, the most recognizable tribute to his work is the 1913 Little Mermaid statue that sits on the shore at Langelinie Pier. Andersen’s story of a mermaid who leaves the sea to live on land with a prince inspired numerous films, ballets, and plays.

No trip to Stockholm is complete without a visit to Drottningholm, Sweden’s best-preserved historic castle and the permanent residence of the royal family. Queen Hedvig Eleonora commissioned the building of the castle in the late 17th century, and its architecture borrows style from several European styles, from its French Baroque gardens to its Italian Classical elements.

Operating for nearly 200 years, Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen is one of the world’s oldest amusement parks. Fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen was known to stroll the grounds of the park, and Walt Disney even gained inspiration from its attractions. In addition to rides, the Tivoli offers theater performances, concerts, and the Tivoli Ballet Theatre.

Svalbard (which fittingly means “Cold Coast” in Old Norse) is archipelago consisting of nine main islands located north of Norway in the Arctic Sea. As one of the northernmost tourist destinations in the world, Svalbard offers unique experiences, from hiking under the summertime “midnight sun” to viewing the northern lights in winter.

One of the most recognizable areas of Denmark’s capital is Nyhavn (meaning “New Harbor”), a waterfront entertainment district. The neighborhood’s brightly colored townhouses date back to the 17th and 18th centuries and once served as pubs and alehouses for sailors. Today, there are shops, museums, and restaurants lining the canal where historic wooden ships are docked, making for a picturesque Scandinavian scene.

Fjords are found in only a few places around the world, and the fjords of Norway are among the most famous in the world. These picturesque inlets were carved out by glaciers, resulting in steep cliff sides and towering waterfalls. Living up to its nickname, Sognefjord is the longest and deepest in all of Norway, stretching 128 miles inland at its longest branch. The fjord is located near Bergen, one of Norway’s biggest coastal cities.

The Danish, Norwegian, and Swedish languages come from Old Norse, which was the common language of the Germanic people who lived in Scandinavia during the time of the Vikings. The language was spoken there from around 1150 to 1350. Icelanders also used the language, especially in literature. Remnants of the Vikings and their impact can be seen in much more than language around the region, from preserved ships to villages and museums.

Though Finland isn’t traditionally considered to be part of Scandinavia, geographically speaking, its northern tip is located within the peninsula. Finland shares a border with Sweden to the west and Russia to the east. Economically, politically, and culturally, Finland is more like its neighbors to the west, which is why it sometimes gets grouped with the Scandinavian countries.

Sweden and Norway (along with neighboring Finland) are often ranked among the best places in the world to catch a glimpse of the famous northern lights. Because these countries are located so far north — all three reach the Arctic Circle — winters are very dark, with only a few hours of sunlight each day. Thanks to the region's remoteness and lack of light pollution, it is an optimal place to view this natural phenomenon.

The longest combined rail and road bridge in Europe, the Øresund Bridge connects the Danish capital of Copenhagen with Malmö, a major city in Sweden to the southeast. The 10-mile-long bridge is named for the Øresund, a narrow strait that runs between the two countries. Vehicle traffic runs on the upper level of the cable-stayed bridge, while trains travel across the lower level.

Swedish chemist and inventor Alred Nobel established the Nobel Prize to honor outstanding work in five categories: physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and peace. It is unclear why Nobel chose the Norwegian parliament to present the Nobel Peace Prize (he was Swedish), but since 1901 it has been awarded annually in Oslo. All other categories are awarded in Stockholm.

One of the biggest-selling musical groups of all time, ABBA formed in the capital of Sweden in 1972 with band members Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid Lyngstad. Today, an interactive museum pays homage to the pop group, allowing guests to view some of the band’s prized memorabilia and take part in virtual reality exhibits. Connected to the museum is the Pop House, an ABBA-themed hotel.

Aside from sharing geographical borders, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark have been connected culturally and politically for centuries. From 1397 to 1523, they were joined under a single monarch, called the Kalmar Union. Today, the loose definition of Scandinavia sometimes includes Finland, Iceland, and Greenland, but these countries are usually considered part of the broader Nordic region (which includes Scandinavia).