Things to do in Sweden
Things to do in Sweden Things to do in Sweden include exploring stunning winter landscapes, tasting delicious food and wandering through history
Read moreThe third largest country in the European Union, Sweden forms part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. With thousands of islands scattered along the Swedish coastline, beautiful frozen landscapes in the north and hiking trails, it is no wonder the locals love to live their lives in the outdoors.
With local aesthetics designed around form and function, the cities are as beautiful as the people; as are the accommodation options.
Top it off with fantastic Swedish food – often fresh from the surrounding sea – and you have a captivating country that will call you back again and again.
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During mid-August Sweden’s three largest cities hold their culture festivals – Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. The three culture festivals cater for all ages and feature music for differing tastes, as well as free entry to attractions that otherwise charge an entrance fee. There is also art, street theatre, poetry, late night films on outdoor screens, and delectable food. It is possible to combine all three cities and festivals in one trip, as they occur almost simultaneously.
This beautiful botanical garden is an oasis even on a rainy day. Home to over 20,000 species of flower (including 1,500 species of orchid), it features a lovely rock garden, a Japanese garden and the Easter Island Tree, which is now extinct in the wild. Guided tours are available in the summer months.
Stockholm’s open-air museum is a wonderful place to visit at any time or the year, but particularly at Christmas. The Christmas celebrations and decorations at Skansen last for the full month of December and the market is full of traditional treats, foods and handicrafts. It is a place to be enjoyed by people of all ages – children can learn traditional Swedish dances and games. The last weekend before Christmas is the Winter Solstice, when you can enjoy Sami dancing, music performances, a drink in the ice bar and a bite to eat from the charcoal grill.
Spend the night in a room made from ice and snow, and on a bed made cosy with thick reindeer fur. After this unique sleeping experience, be woken in the morning with a cup of warm lingonberry juice. From the hotel you can explore the local area, have a drink in the Absolut Ice Bar, or enjoy an á la carte meal in one of the restaurants.
Southern Sweden has long, picturesque coastlines and both Stockholm and Gothenburg have beautiful archipelagos waiting to be explored by boat and on foot. A variety of different boat trips can be taken from both cities to explore the small islands and islets. Take a trip to the islands of Gotland, famous for the medieval town of Visby; or Öland with its long white beaches – both of which are on the Unesco world heritage list.
Things to do in Sweden Things to do in Sweden include exploring stunning winter landscapes, tasting delicious food and wandering through history
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Find out more about what you can expect from travelling in Europe – from internal flights to accommodation standards and local transport.
Learn more about the airlines we use to fly to Europe, chosen for reliability and good service; as well as any available upgrade facilities.
Before travelling to Europe, please read more about the entry requirements for each country, as well as any general health advice.
Discover the temperatures and rainfall you can expect when visiting the main areas of Sweden, along with the best time to travel.
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