Watch Scandinavia with Simon Reeve on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two from Sunday, 18 May.
In his new three-part series – Scandinavia with Simon Reeve – Simon journeys across a vast region of arctic tundra, endless forests and stunning fjords, through some of the most spectacular scenery on earth, while uncovering the surprising secrets of the happiest countries on the planet.
Featuring an entire smorgasbord of adventures, Simon’s journey takes him through the Scandi countries of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, as well as to the wider Nordic family of Finland and Iceland. He travels to the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, the frozen wilderness of Lapland, NATO’s longest border with Russia, the stunning fjords of Norway, and Iceland – the original land of ice and fire. Along the way, he tries to uncover the secrets of Scandinavia – what makes them so happy and successful, while never shying from the challenges and problems they face.
©BBC/The Garden/Jonathan Young
Q: Why Scandinavia?
It’s a part of the world many of us think we know – you know, happy people, stunning landscapes, maybe a slightly eye-watering price for a pint – but I’ve always found that the places we think we’re familiar with often hold the biggest surprises. And Scandinavia, or more broadly the Nordic region as we explore in the series, is absolutely packed with them. It’s a region of incredible contrasts. You’ve got these vast, icy wildernesses in the north, places like Svalbard, which feel like the very edge of the world, and then you’ve got these incredibly modern, sophisticated cities.
What really drew me in, though, beyond the epic scenery, was this reputation they have for being some of the happiest, most equal, and progressive societies on the planet. I wanted to get under the skin of that. Is it all it’s cracked up to be? What’s the secret sauce? And, perhaps more importantly in these rather turbulent times, are there lessons we can learn from them?
But it’s not all straightforward. There are challenges, tensions, and some genuinely surprising issues bubbling away. We’re talking about a region that’s right on the frontline with Russia, dealing with the impacts of climate change in a very real and immediate way, and grappling with some of the same social complexities we see elsewhere in the world, like immigration and its consequences. So, it was that mix, that blend of the idyllic and the intriguing, the light and the shade, that really pulled me in. It felt like a journey that would be both beautiful and thought-provoking, and hopefully, that’s what viewers will get from it too.
Q: What can viewers expect from the series?
Viewers can expect real journeys, in every sense! It’s not just about ticking off famous landmarks, though we certainly visit some breathtakingly beautiful places. This series is about diving deep into what makes Scandinavia tick. Expect to see the stunning, almost otherworldly landscapes – from the icy expanses of Svalbard and Lapland, where reindeer roam, to the dramatic fjords of Norway that just take your breath away, and the lush forests of Sweden.
But alongside that incredible beauty, viewers will also get a proper look at the realities of life in these countries. We don’t shy away from complex and surprising issues. For instance, we explore the geopolitical tensions, especially with Finland sharing such a long border with Russia – you’ll even see a nuclear bunker hidden beneath a Santa-themed shopping centre, which was quite an eye-opener!
We delve into how these nations are grappling with climate change, from melting glaciers in Iceland potentially unleashing volcanic fury, to pioneering green technologies like direct air capture. There’s a look at the indigenous Sami culture and the challenges they face as their traditional way of life meets modern development. And we also explore some of the social issues that might surprise people, like the rise in gang violence in Sweden, which is a stark contrast to its peaceful image, or Denmark’s controversial “Ghetto Law” aimed at managing immigration. So, it’s a real mix. You’ll meet some fantastic, engaging people along the way, from reindeer herders to military commanders, from those running the world’s biggest sovereign wealth fund to ordinary and inspiring folk just getting on with life. It’s that blend of adventure, stunning visuals, personal stories, and a willingness to tackle the big, sometimes uncomfortable, questions that I always aim for. Hopefully, it’ll be an eye-opening, thought-provoking, and ultimately, an enjoyable watch that shows Scandinavia in all its glorious, complex, and fascinating light.
©BBC/The Garden/Jonathan Young
Q: Were there any surprises along the way?
Jumping into a frozen lake at night with the Finnish army was a bit of a shock. But there were several other times when I was stunned by what I saw.
I found a robot dog a mile underground in a Swedish mine, a volcano with a caldera roughly the size of Paris, and a decision dice on a desk at the offices of the world’s largest wealth fund, with Buy, Sell, Hold and Panic on each face. I loved that.
Little Finland has an army five times the size of ours, the Danes are taking a very tough stance on immigration, and there’s a staggering level of gang bombings in Sweden. Lots of surprises there.
But I’d say their levels of trust were the real surprise. One time we arrived in a Norwegian town on a Sunday night, and I chanced upon a florist’s shop that had been left open as an ‘honesty shop’, with all the flowers and plants outside that people could choose and then go inside to pay via an app. No staff around at all. They had platters of chocolates and bottles of bubbly inside to buy, and even a wrapping station where people could wrap their presents. Imagine that! It’s just inconceivable that we could have a full shop like that in a town in the UK. The plants would get kicked and nicked. It was such a shock to me. They have such high levels of social trust. We had that, but I fear we’ve lost it for now.
Q: Scandinavia has some of the happiest countries on earth. What do you think is their secret?
It’s the million-krona question. What’s the secret to Scandinavian happiness? It’s not one single thing, but a cocktail of factors. A huge part of it, as we explore in the series, is trust. There’s this incredible level of trust in each other, their institutions, and even in their governments. You see it in everyday life, like in Denmark, where I saw parents happily leave their babies to sleep in prams in parks or outside cafes while they pop in for a coffee. That’s almost unthinkable in many other places, but it speaks volumes about the social cohesion and the feeling of safety and mutual respect.
Then there’s the strong social safety net. These countries have invested heavily in their people – universal healthcare, good education, generous parental leave, and support for those who fall on hard times. This doesn’t just make life easier; it reduces a lot of the day-to-day anxieties that can weigh people down elsewhere. It gives people a sense of security, a feeling that they’re not on their own if things go wrong. And of course, there’s the work-life balance. They seem to value their leisure time and connection with nature, which is often right on their doorstep and absolutely stunning. The ‘friluftsliv’ concept, the open-air living, is deeply ingrained. Getting out into the wilderness, whether it’s hiking, skiing, or just breathing in that crisp, clean air, is a Scandi pastime and a massive contributor to well-being.
But it’s not a utopia, and it’s important to remember that. They pay high taxes for those services, and there are pressures and complexities, as we uncover. However, that fundamental belief in equality, in looking after one another, and in the importance of community, combined with that deep appreciation for the natural world, seems to be a pretty powerful recipe for contentment. It’s less about chasing individual wealth at all costs and more about creating a society where everyone has a fair chance to thrive. It’s a fascinating model, and while it might not be perfectly replicable everywhere, there are definitely elements we could all learn from.
Q: Is everyone constantly happy?
It’s true that Scandinavians consistently top those global happiness polls, and there’s a general sense of contentment and well-being that’s palpable, but it’s not like everyone is walking around with a permanent grin plastered on their face, skipping and singing Abba tunes. What I found was a more nuanced picture. There’s a real appreciation for the quality of life they have. They value the security, the equality, the access to nature, and that strong sense of community. But they have their worries, their stresses, just like anyone else.
In the series, we meet people facing some pretty significant challenges. Sami reindeer herders in Sweden, whose ancient way of life is threatened by modern development and the push for green energy. They’re certainly not constantly beaming with joy about that. Or consider the Finns living right on the border with Russia – there’s an understandable anxiety there. In Sweden, we saw communities grappling with a shocking rise in gang violence, which is a world away from the serene image many of us have of the country. In Denmark, I met a Muslim taxi driver who was forced to move his family due to the “Ghetto Law,” which prompts real questions about integration, identity, and social engineering.
So, no, not constant, unadulterated happiness. What I think those happiness surveys reflect is a deeper, more fundamental satisfaction with the overall quality of life. It’s about having a strong foundation, knowing you’ll be looked after if you fall ill, that your kids will get a good education, that you can trust the people and institutions around you. That provides a bedrock of contentment, even when life throws its inevitable curveballs.
Q: Can you tell us about the people you met?
Well, the people are always the heart of any journey for me, and Scandinavia was no exception!
I met a brilliant young female volcanologist in Iceland who took me to see a super-volcano that, if it erupts, could cause a flood with more water than the outflow of the Amazon. I met the head of one of Sweden’s three bomb squads, who had been the head of Stockholm SWAT, but gave it up because there were fewer massive armed heists when the country went cashless.
And I think of the bearded Professor of Happiness, a world expert described as looking like a hipster Jesus, who has loads of tattoos, including one of ‘70’ indicating how much percentage effort all of us should apply to tasks. More than that, and we burn out. He has the number 8 tattooed on his arm, indicating how many seconds we should think about situations before reacting. He’s done the maths, he said! He told me that part of the Scandi miracle is that yes, lots is offered to people, but the state also expects and requires people to play their part as well. Something for all of us to remember.
I met young conscripts in the Jaeger Brigade in Finland, training for Arctic warfare. These are kids, really, learning to survive and fight in some of the harshest conditions imaginable, all because of the proximity of Russia, which they see as a very real threat. On a completely different note, I’m meeting someone like Inge Berg in Norway, the billionaire behind an enormous offshore fish farm the size of an aircraft carrier. Whether you agree with the scale of it or not, his drive and ambition were undeniable.
What always strikes me is people’s willingness to share their experiences, their hopes, and their fears. From the resilience of those in the far north to passionate debates in the cities, it’s human stories that bring a place to life and help you understand it beyond the headlines or the tourist brochures.
Q: You’ve travelled all over the world, but you said Norway has a solid claim to be the most beautiful country in the world. What did you love about the landscapes of Norway?
First and foremost, it’s the sheer, jaw-dropping drama of the landscape. Those fjords! They’re like something out of a fantasy epic – colossal cliffs plunging into deep, dark waters, with waterfalls cascading down from impossible heights. Then you’ve got the mountains, the glaciers, the pristine forests, and incredibly picturesque islands like the Lofoten Islands, which we visited. It’s a country that just constantly takes your breath away with its raw, untamed beauty.
But it’s more than just the scenery. There’s a certain spirit to Norway that I find really appealing. They were once really quite poor, a land of hardy farmers and fishermen. Then they struck oil, suddenly becoming one of the world’s wealthiest nations. But what’s remarkable is how they’ve managed that wealth. They didn’t just squander it; they created an enormous sovereign wealth fund – the ‘piggy bank’ as it’s sometimes called – which is now worth a staggering amount. It’s a testament to their foresight and commitment to the long-term well-being of their society. There’s a pragmatism and a sense of responsibility there that’s really admirable.
Q: Do you have any connection to Scandinavia yourself?
My wife is half Danish, so I’ve got a bit of a personal connection, particularly to Denmark. But would I actually pack my bags and move there? No way, I’m a proud Brit, and as much as I love to travel and explore, I feel a real pull to home.
But if I were forced to choose a place to live outside the UK, somewhere in Scandinavia would definitely be high on the list. I think what I’d embrace most is that ‘friluftsliv’ culture, that real commitment to spending time outdoors, whatever the weather. I love the idea of stepping out of your door and being in stunning wilderness within minutes.
But of course, there are challenges too. The winters can be long and dark, especially the further north you go. And, let’s be honest, it’s not the cheapest part of the world!
©BBC/The Garden/Jonathan Young
Q: Many would say Scandinavia is often overlooked or even ignored in the UK. Why do you think that is?
It’s a good question, and it’s something I’ve pondered myself. Why is Scandinavia, and the broader Nordic region, not somewhere we’re more aware of? I think there are a few reasons. Firstly, they’re not countries that shout loudly on the global stage. They’re generally quite modest, reserved even. They’re not constantly in the headlines for dramatic political upheavals or massive global crises in the way some other regions are, though, as we saw with the Ukraine situation and its impact on Finland and Norway, that can change very quickly. They just quietly get on with being incredibly well-run, prosperous, and, well, happy societies, and perhaps that doesn’t always make for the most sensational news.
Secondly, I think the media in the UK can be overly obsessed with what’s happening in the US. I find it surprising that we can sometimes have domestic US news leading the news in the UK. We seem to be constantly looking across the pond. And maybe we should focus more on what’s happening closer to home in places like Scandinavia.
Q: You say that trust in institutions, governments and each other is central to the success of modern Scandinavia. What can other countries learn from this?
Absolutely, trust is a massive one. Some experts think trust is incredibly valuable, and that it’s worth a quarter of the value of a Scandi economy.
It really struck me as a cornerstone of what makes Scandinavian societies work so well. It isn’t just a vague, fuzzy feeling; it’s a tangible asset that underpins so much of their success, from their economic stability to their social cohesion and even their high levels of happiness. How can other countries develop trust? Well, it’s not something you can just flick a switch and create overnight, as trust is earned and built over generations. But I think some fundamental principles are universally applicable.
You need to have low corruption. And that people feel their leaders are generally honest, and that institutions are there to serve the public good rather than vested interests. In Scandinavia, there’s a strong sense that politicians and public servants are, by and large, working for the benefit of everyone.
Secondly, investing in people is key. When a state provides good quality education, healthcare, and social security for all its citizens, it sends a powerful message that everyone is valued. If people also play their part, working and paying taxes, that can create a virtuous circle.
Several Scandis told me that a commitment to equality and fairness is another vital element. While no society is perfectly equal, the Scandinavian countries have reduced many of the glaring disparities in wealth and opportunity you see elsewhere. Academics in Scandinavia will say that when people feel they have a fair chance in life, regardless of their background, it reduces social friction and builds solidarity. And then there’s the importance of a free and independent media that can hold power to account and foster informed public debate.
Finally, I think it’s clear that many Scandi governments really listen to their people, even on difficult subjects like immigration, which many people in Scandinavia are concerned about. They have coalitions that mean all opinions are included. So people don’t feel they or their views are being left out.
Q: Hot or cold, which climate do you prefer when you’re on your travels?
That’s tough. There’s a real, raw, elemental beauty to cold climates. When you’re in the Arctic, surrounded by ice and snow, there’s a silence and stillness that’s unlike anything else on Earth. It feels incredibly pure, and the landscapes are just breathtakingly dramatic. There’s a challenge to it – you have to be properly prepared, and it tests your resilience. But there’s also a real sense of achievement in being out there, experiencing something so far removed from everyday life.
But of course, hot climates have their own allure, with vibrancy, colours, more smells – the heat often means a full-on sensory assault, in the best possible way. I’m thinking of bustling markets in the tropics or the incredible biodiversity of a rainforest. There’s an energy to hot countries that can be incredibly infectious.
If I had to choose, I might lean ever so slightly towards the cold, simply because it often takes you to more remote, less-trodden parts of the world. There’s a sense of real adventure in bundling up and heading out into the frozen wilderness.
Watch Scandinavia with Simon Reeve on BBC iPlayer and BBC Two from Sunday, 18 May.
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