Like moths to a flame, Britons tend to head south in summer, rather than north. The reasons are obvious. If a suntan is your priority, why would you choose a holiday destination even further from the Equator than Britain? Alternatives to the Med also tend to be costlier, while their cuisine can lack the same mass appeal of, say, Spain and Italy (do you fancy soused herring or patatas bravas?)

Nevertheless, as Europe unpicks itself from its Covid bubble, the Nordic nations have a certain appeal. Not only have they been far less restrictive during the pandemic, with Covid passports and masks – both adopted with zeal in the likes of France and Italy – relatively uncommon, but what rules they do have are being jettisoned fast. 

Last week Norway ditched testing for vaccinated arrivals and reopened its border to unjabbed travellers who take a test. As of tomorrow, Denmark will also make things easier for foreign arrivals – while scrapping all mask-wearing requirements too. 

Expect the trend to continue. When I asked a clutch of experts for their predictions last week, they unanimously agreed that Scandinavian countries would be the first to follow Britain to the sunlit uplands of the “old normal”.

For families with unvaccinated teenagers (and data shows that only 12 percent of Britons aged 12-15 have received two doses), a Nordic holiday is a far simpler proposition to our old favourites in the Med. Unjabbed teens cannot visit Spain at all, even with a negative test or proof of recovery, while Italy’s Covid passport scheme means they cannot enter restaurants or other indoor venues. But Sweden, for example, exempts under-18s from any restrictions, so long as they are travelling with vaccinated parents. Its neighbours have similarly welcoming policies when it comes to children. 

As for the lack of warmth, you might be surprised. A few years ago I spent a week in summer exploring Norway’s Lofoten Islands. They sit inside the Arctic Circle, on the same latitude as the Canadian territory of Nunavut, a land occupied by little except ice, Inuits and polar bears, and the Russian city of Murmansk, where temperatures routinely plunge below –30C. The Gulf Stream, however, makes the climate relatively mild, sometimes reaching 20C in summer. I even enjoyed a spot of sunbathing and a (very quick) dip in the sea. Needless to say things are milder still further south, occasionally topping 30C on the beaches of southern Sweden and Denmark. 

So, for anyone tempted to reconfigure their compass this summer, we’ve outlined the current rules in the five major Nordic nations alongside holiday suggestions from Telegraph Travel’s 1,000 Dream Trips.

Sweden

If you are fully vaccinated, you can enter Sweden for any reason without the need to test or self-isolate. If you are not vaccinated, you may only enter Sweden under a limited number of circumstances, and with evidence of a negative test. For example, you may enter if you are unvaccinated but have proof of recovery and are travelling from another EU/EEA country, such as Ireland. A full list of exemptions can be found here. 

Children (under 18 years) accompanying fully-vaccinated adults are exempt from all travel restrictions, including testing.

Masks are not mandatory in any setting, but recommended on public transport during busy times. While people may be asked to show proof of vaccination at larger venues and events, Covid passports are not widely used. 

Where to go

Sweden’s beautiful south: Skåne and Malmö

Skåne has it all: wild sandy beaches that rival Cornwall’s; tiny, pretty harbour towns; endless rolling countryside; and a serious food scene with artisan producers and innovative chefs at its core. The most obvious place to begin a trip is the capital of the region, Malmö. The Old Town’s design district is great for homeware shops and galleries; the neighbourhood of St Knut is full of coffee shops; and the Malmö Saluhall food hall buzzes with locals. Head north to hike in the Kullaberg Nature Reserve and kayak around the peninsula, where you might spot sea seals and porpoises. The Sofiero Palace, famous for its astonishing display of dahlias and rhododendrons, is a must for garden fans. And don’t miss the gorgeously green island of Ven, a 30-minute ferry ride from Landskrona where you can hire a bicycle and spend the day exploring lanes lined with quaint cottages and cheery sunflowers.

Find out more about this Dream Trip.