Saab and Volvo autos, ABBA, pickled herring, and the IKEA DIY megastore are just a few of Sweden’s many worldwide legacies. It is also well-known for its beautiful landscapes, quaint fishing villages, abundant reindeer, and year-round sunshine.
Top 10 Places to Visit in Sweden
Sweden is home to a wide variety of architectural styles, from primitive huts and colourful timber structures to stone fortresses and cathedrals and cutting-edge modern structures.
There is something for everyone in Sweden, from art institutions to scenic paths. Here’s a rundown of some of Sweden’s top attractions:
1. Kosterhavet National Park
There’s no denying that Sweden has a lot of coastline, but Kosterhavet National Park is the finest site to see marine line in safe conditions. The Norwegian-bordering Kosterhavet is the first marine national park in Sweden.
There are 6,000 different marine species in the park, including those that can’t be found anyplace else in Sweden. The coastlines and water around the Koster Islands are the park’s focal point. Snorkelers and divers go to Kosterhavet for the area’s coral reefs, but landlubbers will find enough to love in the form of picture-perfect fishing communities.
2. Marstrand
Marstrand is a town that has been around since 1200 and is famous for its sailing and its mediaeval stronghold. The Match Cup Sweden, a major sailing competition, is held every year on this island town in western Sweden.
Carlsten Fortress, a magnificent stone fortress built in the 17th century, stands guard over the city. Prepare to take lots of pictures of the elegant, pastel-colored old buildings that line the cobblestone lanes of Marstrand, which is a fantastic day excursion from Gothenburg. The Strandverket Art Museum, the rebuilt Pater Noster Lighthouse, and the beautiful nearby footpaths are all highlights.
3. Malmo
Malmo is a city with a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages and a landscape that is dotted with modern, contemporary buildings. Stortoget, Lilla Torg, and Gustav Adolfs Torg are the three main squares in the Old Town (Gamla Stoden) of Sweden’s third-largest city.
Malmohus Slott, a castle, is also located in Old Town. The Oresund Bridge connects this multicultural city of 150 different ethnic groups to Denmark. The Rotating Torso, Sweden’s most talked-about edifice, is a must-see “new” attraction that spirals more than 190 metres (600 feet) into the sky.
4. Ystad
Ystad, a seaside resort in southern Sweden, is a magnet for detectives and mystery readers. Henning Mankell’s famous Kurt Wallender mystery series takes place in and around Ystad.
Greyfriars Monastery, one of the best surviving mediaeval monasteries in Sweden, and the Church of the Virgin Mary, a massive mediaeval church, both stand out as remarkable examples of Gothic Hansa architecture and are featured prominently in his works.
You’ll see some lovely pastel-colored half-timbered houses as you stroll along the cobblestone streets. The lovely sandy beaches of the area are calling your name for a stroll. The megalithic monument of Ales Stenar may be seen to the east of Ystad; it is made up of 59 enormous rocks arranged to resemble a stone ship.
5. Stockholm Archipelago
If island hopping is your thing, then a trip across the Stockholm archipelago might be right up your alley. There are about 30,000 islands in the world; large outcroppings of rock in the ocean are also included.
Starting with a 10-minute boat journey from Stockholm, ferries reach important places throughout the archipelago. Starofortet and Vaxholm, the “capital” of the archipelago with its magnificent architecture and history of herring fishing, are both World War I fortresses worth visiting. Nacka has the nearest and most easily accessible spas to Stockholm by car.
6. Uppsala
Located 70 kilometres (44 miles) north of Stockholm, Uppsala has served as Sweden’s spiritual capital since the 12th century. In the days before Christianity, Uppsala was famous for its statues depicting Norse gods.
The Uppsala Cathedral is the largest church in Scandinavia and the official residence of the Archbishop of Sweden. Uppsala University is one of the oldest universities in Scandinavia, having been established in 1477.
The city’s mediaeval quarter can be found to the west of the Fyris River. The skyline is dominated by the church and Uppsala Castle. Uppsala was home to Carl Linnaeus, a famous botanist of the eighteenth century, so be sure to visit the botanical park near the castle.
7. Swedish Lapland
Swedish Lapland is the best spot in all of Sweden to go if you want to experience the great outdoors. Above the Arctic Circle, in the high latitudes where summer never ends. Canoeists, hikers, and nature watchers will enjoy Lapland.
The indigenous Sami people are tough and live in Swedish Lapland. Who make their homes in vast forests and icy wastelands.
Taking a road trip through the 359-kilometer-long (223-mile-long) Wilderness Way from the canoeing centre at Stromsund to the endpoint at Vilhelmina, a church town, via Fatmomakke, where you can view traditional wooden cottages, is a great way to get a feel for the area. Jokkmokk, the heart of Sami culture, is a great place to buy a reindeer hide during the winter.
8. Gothenburg
Gothenburg, on the western coast of Sweden, is a lush, verdant city with dozens of parks of varying sizes. Kungsparken, a park that encircles the canal that rings the city centre, was created in the 19th century, although many of the other parks in the city are even older. Visit Liseberg, the largest amusement park in all of Scandinavia, if thrill coasters are more your speed.
Gothenburg, the largest port city in Scandinavia, hosts the region’s largest film festival and many music events all year long. Hungry? Try a haga bulle, a massive cinnamon roll, in the charming neighbourhood of Haga.
9. Gotland
One may expect fishing to be the primary industry on the largest island in Sweden, which is surrounded on all sides by the Baltic Sea. Not so. Some of the most successful businesses are in the agricultural, touristic, and technological sectors.
The island is a favourite holiday spot for anyone looking to soak up some rays, as it receives more sunlight than any other part of Sweden throughout the year.
The island’s sole city, Visby, is a stunning example of a Hanseatic walled town with many of its original structures still standing. On top of having innumerable prehistoric sites, the island is also home to an estimated one hundred mediaeval churches.
10. Stockholm
Stockholm, the capital of Sweden and the largest city in Scandinavia, is a beautiful city spread out over 14 islands. The Nobel Prizes have been awarded in Stockholm, which was founded in the Middle Ages.
The Vasa Museum, which commemorates a Swedish vessel that perished on its maiden voyage in the 17th century, is the most frequently visited museum in all of Scandinavia. Free entrance to 15 museums makes sightseeing in Stockholm more affordable than in other Nordic capitals.
These museums include the Swedish History Museum, the Medieval Museum, the Royal Armoury, and Skokloster Castle. The City Hall, the Museum of Modern Art, and the Royal Palace are also must-sees.
Stockholm, Sweden’s largest and capital city, is often regarded as one of the most attractive in all of Scandinavia. The capital of Sweden is spread out among numerous islands and rocky islets, linked together by both attractive old bridges and modern causeways in the country’s southeastern region.
Stockholm is a popular tourist destination due to its abundance of green space, world-famous attractions, and eclectic mix of old and new buildings.
