Europe
Elegant cities, thousands of islands, folk traditions and the northern lights.
Photo: Julian Herzog (Website) · CC BY 4.0
Sweden is a long country in northern Europe, from the Baltic coast and the southern plains to the Arctic mountains of Lapland. It is known for design, clean cities, strong social values and a deep connection to nature, shaped by the right of public access that lets everyone walk, swim and camp in the countryside.
The capital, Stockholm, is spread across islands and has a medieval old town, great museums and an archipelago on its doorstep. Gothenburg and Malmo offer seafood, parks and a relaxed southern atmosphere, while historic towns like Uppsala, Visby and Kalmar show the country's medieval and Viking past.
Further north, Dalarna is the heart of Swedish folk culture, Are is the leading ski resort, and Lapland offers the northern lights, the Midnight Sun and Sami culture. Trains are comfortable and punctual, and English is widely spoken, so Sweden is an easy country to visit.
Where to go
Ordered roughly by how strongly we would recommend them for a first visit.
Stockholm County, east coast
Sweden's elegant island capital: Gamla Stan, the Royal Palace, the Vasa Museum, Skansen, City Hall, design shops and an archipelago on its doorstep.
Don't miss Wandering the cobbled lanes of Gamla Stan, then a waterside fika in the sun.
Explore Destination — StockholmVastra Gotaland County, west coast
Sweden's second city: Haga, Feskekorka fish market, Slottsskogen, Liseberg, the southern archipelago and some of the best seafood in the country.
Don't miss Eating fresh shrimp by the harbour, then a ferry to a car-free island.
Explore Destination — GothenburgSkane County, southern Sweden
Sweden's third city: Turning Torso, Lilla Torg, the medieval Malmohus castle, Ribersborg beach, Western Harbour and an easy hop to Copenhagen.
Don't miss Taking a cold plunge at Ribersborg then a falafel in Mollevangen.
Explore Destination — MalmoUppsala County, east-central Sweden
A historic cathedral and university city 40 minutes from Stockholm, with the Royal Mounds of Gamla Uppsala, botanical gardens and a lively river.
Don't miss Looking up at the towers of Scandinavia's largest cathedral.
Explore Destination — UppsalaGotland County, Baltic Sea
A UNESCO-listed Hanseatic town with a 3.4 km medieval wall, church ruins, and an island of raukar sea stacks, sandy beaches and medieval churches.
Don't miss Walking the ring wall at sunset, with ruined churches glowing in the light.
Explore Destination — Visby and GotlandNorrbotten County, Swedish Lapland
Swedish Lapland's star attractions: Abisko National Park and its aurora sky, the Kungsleden trail, Kiruna, Icehotel at Jukkasjarvi, reindeer and Sami heritage.
Don't miss Watching green curtains of aurora ripple over a frozen lake.
Explore Destination — Abisko and KirunaJamtland County, central Sweden
A year-round mountain playground: skiing at Are, Aresjutan, Storsjon lake, Tannforsen waterfall and hikes through the Jamtland mountains.
Don't miss Skiing under the lights with Lake Storsjon below, then a hot sauna.
Explore Destination — Are and JamtlandDalarna County, central Sweden
A region of lakes and forests with folk traditions, the Dala horse, Falun copper mine, Mora and Vasaloppet ski race, and Leksand midsummer festival.
Don't miss Dancing around a maypole at midsummer beside Lake Siljan.
Explore Destination — DalarnaKalmar County, south-east coast
A historic castle town linked by a long bridge to Oland, with the Southern Oland UNESCO landscape, windmills, beaches and sunny summers.
Don't miss Cycling past windmills on the limestone plain of Stora Alvaret.
Explore Destination — Kalmar and OlandStockholm County, Baltic Sea
A vast archipelago of around 30,000 islands with Vaxholm, Sandhamn, Grinda and Fjaderholmarna, perfect for sailing, kayaking and island hopping.
Don't miss Jumping off a warm granite rock into the Baltic, then fika on the pier.
Explore Destination — Stockholm ArchipelagoExperiences
The experiences that recur across the country and are worth planning around.
A coffee break with a cinnamon bun.
Tip Do it daily.
Swim from granite rocks in the archipelago.
Tip Visit in summer.
In Abisko and Lapland.
Tip Go from September to March.
Maypoles, flowers and dancing.
Tip Book in Dalarna early.
At Visby.
Tip Go at sunset.
Sweden's largest resort.
Tip Book lessons early.
A Nordic ritual.
Tip Many hotels have saunas.
Food and drink
Swedish food is simple, seasonal and built on fish, potatoes, berries and baking, with a growing New Nordic scene.
Small meatballs with gravy, lingonberries and potatoes.
Where to try it Traditional restaurants.
A soft cinnamon bun, the heart of fika.
Where to try it Cafes and bakeries.
Salmon cured with dill and sugar.
Where to try it Restaurants.
Fermented Baltic herring, famously pungent.
Where to try it Eaten in late summer.
A green marzipan cake with cream.
Where to try it Bakeries.
Tart orange berries from the north.
Where to try it Desserts and jam.
Before you go
The essentials, current for 2026. Sweden is safe and straightforward, but check official sources before travelling.
Excludes international flights. Figures are typical rather than absolute — cities and peak season run higher.
When to go
Summer is warm, with long days, midsummer and the archipelago at its best.
Long days and warm weather.
Snow, skiing and northern lights.
Quieter and mild.
Dark, wet and cold.
Worth planning around: November, when it is dark and grey.
Trip length
Sweden is long, so choose a region or two.
Getting around
Trains are the best way to travel between cities. Flights suit the north and Gotland, and ferries serve the islands.
Sample route
Capital, coast, islands and Lapland.
Culture
Swedes are polite, reserved and egalitarian, with a love of fairness, punctuality and quiet. The concept of lagom, meaning just enough, shapes life.
Punctuality matters.
Take a ticket.
At homes.
Public spaces are calm.
Not too chatty.
Respect nature.
Travel tips
The things that most often catch visitors out in Sweden.
FAQ
Yes, very safe.
Ten to fourteen days.
Many nationalities do not for 90 days.
June to August or December to March for the north.
Yes.
Rarely.
The full travel guide covers routes, budgets, regional differences and how to string these ten destinations into a trip that actually works.
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