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Featuring guest writer Rebecca from Hiking Mastery
Sweden is an amazing country, with terrific landscapes and amazing cities. You can literally go anywhere around this country and you’ll find something to inspire and amaze you. Still, logistically speaking, it’s pretty difficult to do that. And since time is of the essence, here are our top 10 most beautiful places to visit in Sweden.
Lapland
The Swedish part of Lapland is our number one choice, and we recommend this because it’s a real, undisrupted wilderness.
You can admire the enchanting Northern Lights or Aurora Borealis here, named after the Greek goddess of love, Aurora. These are the most active from September to April.
You can also admire the Midnight Sun in the winter. The day is so short here, that the sun sets immediately after it rises, creating an awesome effect. Or you can hike, go on a moose safari, ski or ice climb.
Stockholm Archipelago
This Archipelago is an enchanting area that gathers together more than 30,000 islands and islets. The vast majority of those aren’t inhabited, so you can navigate through another true wilderness.
The landscape here is amazing, no matter the season you plan your visit. You can even choose to travel by a century-old boat, so you can really get the feel of it. You can just take a tour of this archipelago, or you can spend the night, in which case a solo tent would be great.
There are plenty of activities to do here too, ranging from bike riding, hiking and walking on the beach. The remnants of a warship that’s four centuries old, the numerous forts, museums and the Royal Palaces are great sightseeing activities.
Kosterhavet
The Koster Islands offer another breathtaking view. Plus, you won’t find any cars roaming around its streets. The National Marine Park is incredibly beautiful, but you can engage in more adventurous activities like kayaking or diving.
Walking on the virgin beaches is another treat, and a seal or lobster safari is a great distraction. You can explore the nature by bike riding or by going on a boat tour. You’ll see blue waters, stony cliffs, and mountain goats, but the Koster Light is a true inspiration.
Gothenburg
This city is definitely on our list because it has a beautiful architecture, with many wonderful parks and gardens. The best thing about it is that you can stroll around at your leisure, taking long walks through the Botanical Gardens or enjoying the opulent art galleries.
The museums and grand homes are top sights in this inexpensive, unpretentious, yet marvelous city. Plus the coast setup is amazing. You’ll fill yourself with a lot of energy, you’ll admire the sea and eat great food as well.
Malmo
This city is great for people who want to learn more about the history of Sweden. It’s a beautiful, multi-cultural establishment, that has a vibrating energy to it. Even if at first it was included in Denmark, it’s a Swedish gem nowadays.
The Moderna Museet Malmö is a museum of modern and contemporary art, with masterpieces you can’t forget. But the whole city vibrates with fashion and good taste, and you can do a lot of shopping here.
The restaurants are green and organic, and they offer delicious food, so you can enjoy a refreshing meal after a day’s worth of exploring. And when you’re ready to get back on the horse, we recommend visiting the Western Harbor, that has an impressive architecture.
Lulea
This technological and cultural hub is a must-see for people who enjoy a buzzing night life and who take pleasure in the modern day world. You can visit museums, art galleries with great exhibitions, and design shops.
There are also countless Arctic activities you can do if you’re staying in this city. You can explore the wild areas, go kayaking or sailing. The frozen sea looks magnificent, and kite surfing will bring a huge smile on your lips too.
Osterlen
This region offers picture-perfect vistas, thanks to its location on the Baltic coast. The sandy beaches and clear waters will invite you to a swim, while the summer’s sun will surely have you basking for hours at a time.
And when you’re done with that, the evenings may find you roaming its picturesque streets, visiting the many local art galleries. Afterward, you can enjoy a delicious dinner at a quaint restaurant or eaterie.
The Icehotel
You can’t miss the Icehotel in Sweden, it’s like stepping into the Snow Queen’s world. This hotel is completely built from ice and snow each year, hence the name. And you can go here every year, each time it will be different.
The bar and church are made from ice, and each room is unique. You can sleep in a frozen room, but you also have the option of choosing a normal room. Plus, you can admire the Aurora Borealis, or go on a dog sled safari.
Kalmar
The most awe-inspiring thing you’ll see here is the idyllic Kalmar Castle with its monumental Cathedral. This is a place of spirituality and richness, taking you back 800 years into the past.
But you can stay anchored in the present, go bike riding, sun bathing, swimming or visit museums and galleries. There are countless cafes where you can enjoy a quick snack before starting your exploration anew.
Gammelstad
This UNESCO Heritage Site has a wonderful location on the Baltic coast. Its rich historical past reflects right into the present because it’s been preserved entirely just like Český Krumlov in the Czech Republic.
So you get the chance to understand how our medieval ancestors lived, in a town that’s stayed exactly the same since the 15th century. The stone church and the hundreds of wooden church cottages will definitely impress you, seeing how spiritual the medieval Svenskar people were.
Where will you go?
With so many places to choose from, we’re curious about what your destination will be. What impressed you the most? What have you visited already? The comments are right below!
Rebecca lives in USA, but loves hiking all over the world. Her favourite is Everest Base Camp Trek in Nepal. It usually takes 16 days, but she likes to slow down, enjoy mountains, company of other adventurers and take more pictures, so it took her 28 days last time. Another of her passion is the ocean, so all short and long hikes along the ocean shore bring a lot of joy. She also writes for HikingMastery.com.
Visited in summer and were surprised we could still visit the ice gallery and bar, which was very impressive. We also had a lunch buffet at the restaurant which was well worth it.
That sounds amazing!
Sweden is simply breathtaking. I would love to visit all of these places, especially Gothenburg! When’s the best time of the year to go there?