I’m starting to plan for the long-term with the idea to move out of the US, eventually. Having watched a lot of urbanist content, I get the impression that Amsterdam is the ideal city. However, I think other European cities get overshadowed. Specifically, Scandinavian/Nordic cities. How do Oslo, Copenhagen, Stockholm and Helsinki compare to Amsterdam and other Dutch cities? Can I get around with just walking and cycling? What’s the public transit infrastructure in those cities like?
Additionally, I’m of Cuban descent, so will I face any racial discrimination? I’m pretty sure that Scandinavia as a whole isn’t racist, but I don’t doubt that I will have isolated encounters.
Can only speak about copenhagen, but depending on your job and budget for an apartment, you can get by exclusively with a bike and the bus.
Doubt you’ll feel much discrimination in Copenhagen, but it is a very different social culture. Don’t confuse people who don’t want to talk with you as them hating you. We’re just not as social with strangers as a lot of other countries.