The misty fjords, ancient forests, and ice-capped mountains of the Nordic countries have inspired centuries of folklore. Tales of trolls, elves, and gods emerged from these landscapes, weaving mythology into the very soil and stone of Scandinavia. What makes these stories particularly fascinating is that many took root in actual, visitable places.
Here is a list of 20 real-life locations featured in Nordic folklore that you can add to your travel itinerary, each with its supernatural tale to tell.
Trolltunga, Norway
This dramatic rock formation, whose name translates to ‘Troll’s Tongue,’ juts out horizontally from a mountain about 2,300 feet above Lake Ringedalsvatnet. Local legends claim it formed when a brazen troll ignored warnings about morning sunlight and turned to stone while sticking his tongue out at the rising sun.
The hike to reach this natural wonder takes about 10-12 hours round trip but rewards visitors with one of Norway’s most spectacular views.
Jotunheimen National Park, Norway
Known as ‘The Home of Giants’ in Norse mythology, this mountain range houses over 250 peaks above 6,000 feet. Ancient Norse people believed frost giants (jötnar) dwelled in these mountains, constantly threatening the gods in Asgard.
Today, hikers can traverse the same paths where these mythical battles supposedly took place, with Galdhøpiggen, Norway’s highest mountain, serving as a dramatic backdrop.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Lysefjord, Norway
The stunning Lysefjord is home to Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock), a flat mountain plateau with a 1,980-foot drop. In folklore, this area was created when Kjerag, a troll, was fighting with another troll and split the mountain with his axe.
When dawn approached, the trolls turned to stone, creating the dramatic cliff formations visitors marvel at today. The fjord’s milky-light water (which gave it the name ‘light fjord’) was said to be caused by troll magic.
Bornholm, Denmark
This Danish island in the Baltic Sea features numerous folk tales about the mysterious underground people known as ‘underjordiske.’ The island’s distinctive round churches were supposedly built to prevent corners where these hidden folk could hide.
The ancient forest Almindingen contains ‘Ringborgen,’ a Viking-era fortress rumored to be a gateway to the underworld guarded by the underjordiske.
Þingvellir National Park, Iceland
This UNESCO World Heritage site was home to the world’s first parliament and sits directly on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where two continental plates meet. In folklore, this dramatic rift valley was where humans could communicate with elves and hidden people.
The park features Nikulásargjá Gorge, better known as ‘Peningagjá’ or ‘Money Gorge,’ where visitors toss coins for good luck, a tradition dating back to ancient offerings to nature spirits.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Dimmuborgir, Iceland
These eerily shaped lava formations, whose name means ‘Dark Castles,’ are said to be trolls who were caught in daylight while attending a feast and turned to stone. Some tales identify it as the place where Lucifer landed when cast from heaven, creating a connection to hell.
The twisted volcanic rock formations create a labyrinth-like landscape that feels supernatural even to the most skeptical visitor.
Snæfellsjökull, Iceland
This glacier-capped volcano was immortalized in Jules Verne’s ‘Journey to the Center of the Earth’ as an entrance to the planet’s interior. Long before Verne’s novel, local folklore identified it as a gathering place for witches and elves.
The glacier is said to radiate mystical energy, and some believe it’s an extraterrestrial landing site. On clear days, the volcano is visible from Reykjavík, approximately 80 miles away.
Lake Saimaa, Finland
Finland’s largest lake is home to the critically endangered Saimaa ringed seal and numerous folk tales about water spirits. The ‘näkki,’ a shapeshifting water creature, was said to lure people into the depths.
Parents used these tales to keep children from wandering too close to the water’s edge. The lake’s 14,000 islands and islets create a maze-like landscape perfect for spotting mythical creatures in the mist.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Aavasaksa Hill, Finland
One of Finland’s oldest tourist destinations, this hill has been attracting visitors since the 18th century to witness the midnight sun. In Finnish mythology, the hill was considered a meeting place between the world of humans and spirits during the summer solstice.
Local folklore claims that magical herbs growing only during midsummer night can grant wishes if collected properly on the slopes of Aavasaksa.
Uppsala Gamla (Old Uppsala), Sweden
This ancient religious center contains massive burial mounds from the 5th and 6th centuries believed to hold the remains of early Swedish kings. According to the Prose Edda, Uppsala was founded by the god Odin himself.
The site housed a legendary temple covered in gold where sacrifices were made to Thor, Odin, and Freyr. Today, visitors can walk among these burial mounds and imagine the ancient ceremonies once performed there.
Ales Stenar, Sweden
This megalithic monument, which consists of 59 boulders arranged in the shape of a ship, overlooks the Baltic Sea. While archaeologists date it to around 600 CE, local folklore attributes its creation to a legendary king named King Ale, who was buried with his ship turned to stone.
Others claim the stones mark a gateway between worlds, explaining the strange electromagnetic phenomena some visitors report experiencing at the site.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Tanum Rock Carvings, Sweden
This UNESCO World Heritage site features over 3,000 rock carvings dating back to the Bronze Age. Local folklore suggests these images were created by ancient shamans to document their journeys to the spirit world.
The carvings depict boats, humans, animals, and mysterious symbols that have puzzled researchers for generations. Some scenes appear to illustrate Norse myths that wouldn’t be written down until thousands of years later.
Trollhättan, Sweden
True to its name (‘Troll’s Hood’ or ‘Troll Mountain’), this city sits alongside dramatic waterfalls and locks once believed to be the work of trolls. Local legends claim the falls were created when trolls became angry at farmers trying to navigate the river.
The thundering sound of the falls was said to be trolls arguing. Today, visitors can witness the impressive spectacle when the dam opens, releasing water at full force several times each summer.
Svartedalen Nature Reserve, Sweden
This ‘Black Valley’ contains dark, primeval forests that inspired countless tales of supernatural encounters. The dense woodland was believed to harbor trolls, forest spirits, and the fearsome ‘skogsrå’ – a beautiful woman with a hollow back who lured hunters to their doom.
The reserve’s many lakes were said to be bottomless, containing underwater kingdoms ruled by the ‘näcken,’ a malevolent water spirit who played enchanting violin music.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Lofoten Islands, Norway
These dramatic islands rise sharply from the sea, creating a landscape that seems almost otherworldly. In Norwegian folklore, the mountains of Lofoten were trolls who were caught by the midnight sun while fishing and turned to stone.
The famous Moskstraumen maelstrom nearby inspired tales of enormous whirlpools capable of swallowing ships whole. The Vikings believed these waters contained Jörmungandr, the world serpent circling the earth.
Færøerne (Faroe Islands), Denmark
These isolated islands halfway between Norway and Iceland feature prominently in tales of ‘huldufólk’ (hidden people) and selkies (seal people). The foggy landscape, with its sudden cliffs and mysterious rock formations, was said to thin the veil between worlds.
The island of Kalsoy houses the legend of the Selkie woman of Mikladalur, commemorated by a bronze statue of a seal woman casting aside her skin to become human.
Treriksröset (Three-Country Cairn)
The point where Finland, Norway, and Sweden meet is marked by a yellow, dome-shaped monument surrounded by water. In folklore, such boundary places were considered magical liminal spaces where supernatural beings could cross between worlds.
Local tales speak of strange lights and unexplained phenomena around the cairn, especially during the winter darkness and summer midnight sun.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
The Blue Lagoon, Iceland
While now famous as a geothermal spa, this milky-blue water set against black lava fields has long featured in Icelandic folklore. The otherworldly appearance of the mineral-rich water led to tales of elves and hidden people using it for healing rituals.
Some legends claim that if you swim in the lagoon during a full moon, you might glimpse these supernatural beings bathing alongside you.
Nidaros Cathedral, Trondheim, Norway
Built over the burial site of King Olav Haraldsson (later St. Olav), this medieval cathedral incorporates numerous pagan symbols alongside Christian imagery. According to folklore, the cathedral was constructed with the help of a troll who was tricked into assisting.
The building contains mysterious carved faces and symbols whose meanings have been lost to time, fueling tales of hidden messages and supernatural protection.
Trollkirka (Troll Church), Norway
This natural marble cave system consists of three caverns connected by underground passages, with a river running through and a waterfall within. Folk tales claim trolls used the largest chamber as a church or gathering place, hiding their treasures in the deepest recesses.
The acoustics inside naturally amplify sounds, giving rise to stories about troll choirs whose singing could occasionally be heard from the mountains.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Where Myth Meets Reality
These Nordic locations demonstrate how landscape shapes imagination, creating stories that persist for centuries. The barren mountaintops, misty fjords, and ancient forests provided the perfect backdrop for tales of supernatural beings.
By visiting these sites today, travelers can experience the same awe that inspired our ancestors to populate these dramatic landscapes with gods, trolls, and elves, connecting us to a time when the boundary between the natural and supernatural worlds seemed much thinner.
More from Travel Pug
- 20 Towns Built for One Purpose That Were Later Abandoned
- 15 Hidden Spots in Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Most Visitors Miss
- 20 Once-Popular Beach Towns That Are Now Ghostly Empty
- 15 Canyons in the U.S. That Are Just as Stunning as the Grand Canyon
- 10 Under-the-Radar Mountain Towns That Are Both Affordable and Beautiful
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.