Best things to do in Sweden

The mere mention of Sweden conjures up resonant images: snow-capped peaks, reindeer wandering in deep green forests and the 24-hour daylight of the midnight sun. . But beyond the household names of ABBA, IKEA and Volvo, Sweden is relatively unknown. Our list of the best things to do in Sweden will help you get to know this stunning destination better.

The information in this article is inspired by The Rough Guide to Sweden, your essential guide for visiting Sweden.

1. Dog sledding

During the winter months, visitors can take part in guided tours of the snowy wilderness on a sled pulled by a team of Alaskan Huskies or other breeds of sled dogs. These tours can vary in length and difficulty, and some may include overnight stays in remote cabins or other forms of wilderness camping.

2. River-rafting in Värmland

Both Route 45 and the rail network lead here from Gothenburg. The city provides ready access to an extensive area of sweeping forests and fertile farmland, crossed by lazy rivers. These were once used to float timber into Vänern these are now an excellent way of seeing this most peaceful part of western Sweden.

3. Lund Domkyrkan

The obvious place to begin your exploration is the magnificent Domkyrkan, Lund’s crowning glory. One of the world’s finest masterpieces of Romanesque architecture, the cathedral is built of storm-cloud charcoal and white stone, giving it an imposing monochrome appearance.

Where to stay in Lund:

• Best for modern stays: The More Hotel Lund
• Best for location: Magles Smiley Inn

Find more accommodation options to stay in Lund

4. Go wild swimming

5. See the midnight sun

The further north you travel, the longer the period when the phenomenon is visible, and conversely the longer the polar winter. True midnight sun occurs when the entire sun is above the horizon at midnight.

6. Visit the lively Gotland Beaches

These claims are largely true. The island has a distinctly youthful feel, with young, mobile Stockholmers deserting the capital in summer for a boisterous time on its beaches.

Find accommodation options to stay at Gotland

7. Birka for Viking history

For over two centuries, Birka was the most important Viking trading centre in the northern countries, benefiting from its strategic location near the mouth of Lake Mälaren on the portage route to Russia and the Byzantine Empire.

Today, a visit here is not only an opportunity to get to grips with Sweden’s Viking heritage, thanks to the site’s excellent museum, but the boat trip to the island also gives you a chance to explore the tranquil waters of Lake Mälaren.

8. Eat a smörgåsbord

If you’re a traditionalist you should start with akvavit, drink beer throughout and finish with coffee. Coffee will be included in the price, but alcohol won’t. If you are interested in Swedish cuisine find more information in our guide to Swedish smorgasbord.

9. Visit Sámi, Swedish Lapland

A half-day-trip here includes dinner of reindeer cooked over an open fire, and the opportunity to learn a bit about the Sámi way of life. The Sámi will teach you about their religion, show the way to milk a reindeer and demonstrate the tricks of baking their traditional bread. Frozen reindeer meat is also available for purchase. You can stay overnight for an extra 410kr per person in a wooden kåta, sleeping on a reindeer skin.

Find accommodation options to stay in Swedish Lapland

10. Visit Gothenburg's many museums

• Gothenburg Museum of Art has a collection of over 17,000 works, including paintings, sculptures, and drawings by Swedish and international artists;
• Gothenburg Natural History Museum features exhibits on the natural history and geology of western Sweden and other parts of the world;
• Gothenburg Maritime Museum focuses on the city's maritime history, including shipbuilding and seafaring.

Discover Gothenburg from both land and water aboard an amphibious bus. See the city’s most known attractions while your guide tells you fascinating stories. Feel the thrill as the bus transforms into a boat and splashes into the water.

Where to stay in Gothenburg:

• Best for boutique stays: Hotel Riverton
• Best for historical atmosphere: Hotel Royal

Find more accommodation options to stay in Gothenburg

11. Spend the night in an Ice Hotel

Today, covering roughly 6000 square metres, Icehotel is constructed of thirty thousand tonnes of “snice”, as Icehotel calls it, a combination of snow and ice. From the entrance hall there’s usually one main walkway filled with ice sculptures, from which smaller corridors lead off to the bedrooms and suites that make up the bulk of the hotel. Though many visitors stay the night, the hotel is also open for day visits.

12. Vist UNESCO World Heritage Site, Gammelstad, Luleå

It comprises over four hundred timber cottages, which can only be occupied by people born in Gammelstad; even people from Luleå must marry a local to gain the right to live here.

13. See the medieval ruins of Visby

Strolling around the twisting streets and atmospheric walls is not something that palls quickly, but if you need a focus, aim for Norra Murgatan, above the cathedral, once one of Visby’s quietest areas. The end of the street nearest Norderport enjoys the best view of the walls and city rooftops.

Where to stay in Visby:

• Best for location: Visby Innerstad Lägenheter & Rum
• Best for stunning views: NOVI Resort

Find more accommodation options to stay in Visby

14. Gamla Stan, Stockholm — one of the best things to do in Sweden

The central spider’s web of streets – best approached over the bridges of Norrbron or Riksbron – is a sprawl of monumental buildings and high airy churches which form a protective girdle around the narrow lanes. Some of the impossibly slender alleys lead to steep steps ascending between battered walls, others are covered passageways linking leaning buildings.

Experience early life in Stockholm on this exciting walking tour of the historic Old Town. Listen to colourful stories and legends as you pass historic landmarks and regal palaces. Choose a private tour to have your own guide and go at your own pace.

Where to stay in Stockholm:

• Best for island location: Hotel Skeppsholmen
• Best for unique experience: Mälardrottningen Yacht Hotel

Find more accommodation options to stay in Stockholm

15. See the beauty of the Stockholm Archipelago

In Swedish the word for archipelago is skärgård – literally “garden of skerries” and a pretty accurate description. The array of hundreds upon hundreds of pine-clad islands and islets is the only one of its kind in the world. Most of the little-known islands are flat and are wonderful places for walking or cycling (ferries to the islands accept bikes onboard).

Climb aboard a classic archipelago ship and sail on the waterways of Stockholm on a sightseeing cruise. Experience the untouched nature of the city's archipelago and hear about the sights from a guide.

16. Take a ride on the Inlandsbanan

Onboard guides provide commentaries and information about places along the route to ensure you get the most out of the journey.

If you're looking for an off-the-beaten-track experience in Sweden, check out our guide to the disused railway line in Sweden. It’s been a popular summer activity among Swedes for years, and now foreign visitors are catching on.

17. See the incredible Vasa Museum in Stockholm

A victim of engineering miscalculation, the Vasa’s hull was too narrow to withstand even the slightest swell which, when coupled with top-heavy rigging, made her a maritime disaster waiting to happen. She went down with all hands barely a few hundred metres from her moorings. Preserved in mud for over three hundred years, the ship was raised along and now forms the centrepiece of the museum.

18. Crossing the Arctic Circle - one of the most unforgettable things to do in Sweden

Crossing into the Arctic is occasion enough for a bout of whistle-blowing by the train, as it pulls up to allow everyone to take photos. However, the painted white rocks that curve away over the hilly ground here, a crude delineation of the Circle, are completely inaccurate. Due to the Earth’s uneven orbit, the line is creeping northwards at a rate of 14–15m every year; the real Arctic Circle is now around 1km further north than this line.

19. Try herring — one of the best things to do in Sweden

20. Try Sailing at the Bohuslän Coast

Sailing is also a popular pastime among the many Swedes who have summer cottages here, and all the way along the coast you’ll see yachts gliding through the water.

Find accommodation options to stay at Bohuslän Coast

21. Explore the history of Kalmar Slott

The fully furnished interior – reached by crossing an authentically reconstructed wooden drawbridge and going through a stone-arched tunnel beyond the grassy ramparts – is great fun for a wander.

22. The 400 year old Jokkmokk winter market

Today the market is held on the first Thursday to Sunday of each February when thirty thousand people force their way into town – ten times the normal population. Held on the frozen Talvatissjön lake the market’s reindeer races can be a real spectacle, as man and beast battle it out on a specially marked-out ice track.

23. Europe's last wilderness in Kungsleden

If you’re looking for splendid isolation, this isn’t the trail for you; it’s the busiest in the country, though it’s the section from Abisko to Kebnekaise that sees most hikers (one of the least busy sections is between Jäkkvik and Adolfström). Most people start the trail at Abisko, but it’s equally feasible to begin further south.

24. Orsa Rovdjurspark for bear encounters

The bears are fascinating to watch. They’re gentle and vegetarian for the most part (though occasionally they’re fed the odd dead reindeer or elk that’s been killed on the roads).

25. A sauna and a splash

Traditional wood-burning saunas are often found in the countryside and give off a wonderful smell. Public saunas are always single-sex and nude. You’ll often see signs forbidding the wearing of swimming costumes, as these would collect your sweat and allow it to soak into the wooden benches.

26. See the Northern Lights in person

Gällivare and Kiruna, both well inside the Arctic Circle, are arguably the best places in Sweden to catch a glimpse of the aurora. You'll want to catch them in the coldest winter months from December to February. Although displays can range from just a few minutes to several hours, the night sky must be clear of clouds to see the northern lights from Earth.

If experiencing the Northern Lights is on your bucket list, also read our guide to the best places to see the Northern Lights in Iceland.

This tailor-made tour to Finland, Norway and Sweden is perfect for people who want to explore the Arctic. Begin your journey from the southern part of Finland via Sweden up to the northern part of Norway. Most importantly, you will be hunting for the Northern Lights in the best locations!

27. Abisko National Park for mountain top views

Abisko is also famous for the Aurora Sky Station, an attraction located on the summit of Mount Nuolja, where visitors can take a chairlift up to the mountain top to enjoy the spectacular views of the surrounding area and the Northern lights if visible.

Explore Abisko National Park and see the northern lights on a photo tour. Spend an evening under the stars in Lapland and explore the wilderness on foot, in a van, or by sleigh.

Explore Sweden’s famous traditions with our guide to unforgettable midsummer celebrations in Sweden.

If you prefer to plan and book your trip to Sweden without any effort and hassle, use the expertise of our local travel experts to make sure your trip will be just like you dream it to be.

Ready for a trip to Sweden? Check out the The Rough Guide to Sweden. If you travel further in Sweden, read more about the best time to go and the best places to visit in Sweden. A bit more hands on, learn about getting there, getting around the country and where to stay once you are there.

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