Each country of Northern Europe has its capital on or near the sea. That makes them easy to place on a map: look along the coasts.
| Country | Capital |
|---|---|
| Iceland | Reykjavík |
| Norway | Oslo |
| Sweden | Stockholm |
| Finland | Helsinki |
| Denmark | Copenhagen |
| Estonia | Tallinn |
| Latvia | Riga |
| Lithuania | Vilnius |
| Ireland | Dublin |
| United Kingdom | London |
Key idea
The four Nordic capitals on the mainland: Oslo (Norway), Stockholm (Sweden), Helsinki (Finland) and Copenhagen (Denmark). Plus Reykjavík (Iceland), Dublin (Ireland), London (United Kingdom), and the Baltic capitals Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius.
Why it works
These capitals grew up as ports and trading towns. Oslo sits at the head of a long fjord, Stockholm on islands where a lake meets the Baltic, Helsinki on the Gulf of Finland, and Copenhagen on the narrow strait between Denmark and Sweden. Picturing the water around each one helps you keep them apart.
Worked example: Matching the Nordic capitals
Which Nordic capital is farthest east?
- Oslo is in southern Norway, the west.
- Stockholm is on Sweden's east coast.
- Helsinki is across the Baltic, in Finland, farther east still.
Answer: Helsinki.
Worked example: The Baltic capitals
Riga is the capital of which Baltic state?
- Tallinn is Estonia's capital, Riga is Latvia's, and Vilnius is Lithuania's.
Answer: Latvia.
Common mistake
People swap the Nordic capitals. Pair each with a first letter clue you make up, or with its sea: Oslo, Norway (a fjord on the west side); Stockholm, Sweden; Helsinki, Finland; Copenhagen, Denmark. Then check: Oslo and Stockholm are on the same peninsula; Helsinki is across the sea.