In a similar vein to Britain’s seaside resorts, generations of Swedes and their Nordic neighbours have been spending their summers in simple rural cottages as an escape from city life.
There are as many as 600,000 sommarstuga in Sweden alone, with popular areas including the Stockholm archipelago, Skåne, Öland and Gotland island, the west coast and Småland.
In Norway, summer houses are known as sommerhyttes while in Finland they are mummonmökki and in Denmark sommerhus. The theme is universal: days are spent enjoying the outdoors – lake or sea swimming, hiking, cycling, foraging – and long evenings are gathered around the barbecue.
While these cottages were traditionally very simple, they are becoming increasingly modern and luxurious. And although many are still owned by the families that built them, they are often available to rent as holiday lets.
As most schools across the Nordic region return in mid-August, the second half of the month and English/Welsh summer bank holiday represent the ideal time to embrace friluftsliv – essentially an appreciation of the outdoors and nature – like the locals.
There is greater availability across the region’s favourite coastal and forest holiday locations, restaurants are quiet and the sea and lakes remain warm but the climate is unlikely to be as searingly hot as parts of the Mediterranean can be.
Here are eight summer homes across the Nordics that are perfect for a late August escape in forests, lakelands, and coastal enclaves.
Traditional red cottage, Kalmar County, Sweden
Stay Nordic lists hundreds of cottages for rent across Sweden. This cosy, traditional summer house is in the middle of the picturesque Aboda Klint nature reserve in southern Sweden, whose rolling hills are scored with hiking trails. Lake Kleven, a serene wild swimming spot that also has a barbecue area, is around 20 minutes’ walk from the house.
For shops, restaurants and historical sites, Högsby, and the renowned glass factory Kosta Boda are an hour away. Astrid Lindgren’s World, a theme park in the Pippi Longstocking author’s home town of Vimmerby is a fun day out for younger children, or alternatively take a day trip to Kalmar for its well-preserved Renaissance castle and Medieval town centre. From Kalmar you can also take the bridge over to the Unesco-listed landscapes of Öland.
The house (SE05064) sleeps four and costs Skr3,123 (£230) for three nights from 23 August. staynordic.se
Elissian Rorbuer, Lofoten, Norway
Rorbuer are traditional fishermen’s cottages found across the Arctic Lofoten Islands in the far north of Norway. Eliassen Rorbuer is a collection of some of the oldest in the archipelago from which you can enjoy the midnight sun, spectacular Reinefjord and mountain backdrop.
While the rust-red cottages retain their character and history, they have been renovated and updated with modern kitchens, Wi-Fi and heating. Some are waterside, while others have town views.
Hamnøy bridge is a popular spot for photo opportunities of the landscape, while beyond, mountains such as Reinebringen and Ryten are draped with hiking trails. Guests can also join fishermen on their daily catch, or set out to explore the water by kayak.
One-bedroom cottages from Nkr8,135 (£595) for three nights from 23 August. rorbuer.no
Beachside Cottage, North Funen, Denmark
This family cottage is just steps away from Hasmark’s Blue Flag beach on the north coast of Funen, Denmark’s third-largest island. The location is perfect for swimming and sunbathing, or water sports such as windsurfing and kayaking.
The pitched-roof beach house is part of a beachfront terrace and comes with a small garden with a barbecue where you can soak up the sea views.
This area, surrounded by nature, is popular with families for its scenic walking and cycling trails, ideal for spotting local wildlife. The nearby town of Otterup has quaint boutiques and cafes, while Enebærodde – a short drive away – has a nature reserve with birdwatching opportunities.
Odense, around 30 minutes away, is home to the impressively refurbished Hans Christian Andersen House with its sprawling modern gardens, children’s house and underground museum.
Sleeps four. Three nights from £575 from 23 August. vrbo.com
Låda Eko Tiny House, Bohuslän, Sweden
Overlooking the strait of Skagerrak on the island of Orust in the Bohuslän archipelago off Sweden’s west coast, Lådfabriken was once a fish box factory. The slate-grey house is now a summer-house-style boutique B&B with just four rooms, with the standalone “Låda Eko Tiny House” in the garden among cherry, almond and walnut trees.
The modern summer house has a mezzanine bedroom with views of Skagerack and a living area with a soaring 5m tall ceiling. The west-facing windows are positioned to make the most of the sunset.
While it’s self-catering, guests can pre-order seasonal seafood dinners in the main B&B, which are eaten communally, from crayfish and fish soup to lobster dinners in autumn.
Activities can be active – kayaking, fishing and hiking – or more relaxing including cycling, boat rides and yoga. The cliff-hemmed beach is only 30m away, offering scenic views, sunset strolls and swimming.
Tiny House sleeps two adults from Skr4,000 (£300) for two nights from 25 August. ladfabriken.eu
Island cottage, Bogø, Denmark
On the tiny island of Bogø, just south of Zealand and Copenhagen, this bright and modern cottage offers a retreat for those seeking tranquillity, natural beauty and quality family time.
Relax in the cottage’s garden, or explore the island via coastal hikes, woodland walks and cycling.
There are also historic churches and museums showcasing Viking heritage nearby, or enjoy sweeping views of the island from the Dutch-style windmill.
Sleeps four, from £359 for three from 23 August. vrbo.com
Sea view house, Førde, Norway
This large, tucked away family home is a short drive south of Førde, in the Sogn og Fjordane region of waterfall-scored mountains and fjords popular with adventure-seekers, roughly halfway between Alesund and Bergen.
Inside the traditional black timber cottage are light pine-panelled rooms and warm, homely interiors. There’s also a garden and terrace with outdoor seating, and views of the fjord from the hillside perch.
The site is an ideal base for exploring Førde’s natural features, including fjords, mountains, glaciers, forests, and waterfalls. The open-air Sunnfjord Museum, a collection of traditional Sunnfjord dwellings and displays of everyday life and cultural heritage, is also nearby.
Sleeps four, from £643 for three nights from 23 August. booking.com
Lakefront log cabin, Rovaniemi, Finland
Lapland is not solely a winter destination. The summer midnight sun provides ample time to enjoy activities such as boat and canoe trips, swimming, horseback riding, hiking, fishing for rainbow trout or visiting reindeer farms.
This log cabin is around 30km north of Lapland’s capital Rovaniemi and makes for a supremely rustic experience. The property sits among bright green conifers and overlooks a gurgling river.
For exploring a little further afield, the nature trails of Pyhä-Luosto National Park are around a 40-minute drive away.
Sleeps six, from £481 for three nights from 23 August. vrbo.com
Beach villa, Hamburgsund, Sweden
This secluded spacious family villa on the west coast of Sweden, around 90 minutes north of Gothenburg, comes with its own jetty and private sandy beach.
Located on the promontory of Hamburgsund, the villa is surrounded by greenery and calm waters, with impressive sea views. The town is around 20 minutes’ walk north, or a five-minute drive and has a boating club where you can charter a boat to explore the archipelago, a small number of restaurants and bars, and a supermarket.
As well as enjoying the sandy beach on the doorstep, guests can fish from the jetty or relax in the garden. On the neighbouring island Hamburgö, Bovikens swimming area has sandy beach.
Sleeps six, from Skr9,534 (£710) for three nights from 23 August. staynordic.se