Things not to Miss

written by Rough Guides Editors

updated 6/7/2019

#01 Dog sledding

Dog sledding is a magical way to see northern Sweden in winter.

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#01 Dog sledding
#02 River-rafting,
#03 Lund Domkyrkan
#04 Swimming in a lake
#05 Midnight sun
#06 Gotland Beaches
#07 Birka
#08 Smorgasboard
#09 Sámi culture, Lapland
#10 Gothenburg's Kontsmuseum
#11 Ice Hotel
#12 Gammelstad, Luleå
#13 Visby
#14 Gamla Stan, Stockholm
#15 Stockholm Archipelago
#16 Inlandsbanan
#17 Vasa Warship, Stockholm
#18 Crossing the Arctic Circle
#19 Herring
#20 Bohuslän Coast
#21 Kalmar Slott
#22 Jokkmokk winter market
#23 Europe's last wilderness
#24 Orsa Rovdjurspark
#25 A sauna and a splash

#02 River-rafting, Värmland

Build your own raft and glide down the graceful Klarälven River, taking in some of Sweden’s scenery.

© jstuij/Shutterstock

#03 Lund Domkyrkan

This twelfth-century cathedral is the finest Romanesque building in northern Europe.

© Tommy Alven/Shutterstock

#04 Swimming in a lake

Amongst Sweden’s 100,000 lakes, you’re bound to find one you can call your own.

Erkki Alvenmod/Shutterstock

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#05 Midnight sun

From late May to mid-July the sun never sets in northern Sweden.

© Pavel Shyshkouski/Shutterstock

#06 Gotland Beaches

Stretches of white sandy beaches and clear, warm waters are perfect places to relax and play in the summer sun.

© Pierre Jonsson/Shutterstock

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#07 Birka

Get to grips with Sweden’s stirring Viking past on this Stockholm island.

#08 Smorgasboard

Eat until you drop: the smorgasbord is a perfect way to sample Sweden’s excellent cuisine.

#09 Sámi culture, Lapland

Sights such as Jokkmokk market and Fatmomakke village in Lapland are monuments to the thriving culture of Sweden’s indigenous population.

#10 Gothenburg's Kontsmuseum

Poseidon stands guard outside Gothenburg’s art museum – home to some of Sweden’s finest paintings from the turn of the last century

© trabantos/Shutterstock

#11 Ice Hotel

One of the most unusual structures in Europe, the Icehotel is a masterpiece of snow and ice sculpture.

© kakoki/Shutterstock

#12 Gammelstad, Luleå

Proudly listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site, Gammelstad is Sweden’s largest church town.

© Dimitrios Karamitros/Shutterstock

#13 Visby

Explore the cobbled lanes and medieval church ruins of this Hanseatic walled city.

© Niar/Shutterstock

#14 Gamla Stan, Stockholm

Enjoy a fika (coffee and cake) in one of the open-air cafés in Stockholm’s atmospheric Old Town.

© Adisa/Shutterstock

#15 Stockholm Archipelago

No visit to Stockholm is complete without a trip to one of the 24,000 islands that make up the archipelago.

© Mikael Broms/Shutterstock

#16 Inlandsbanan

A trip on the Inlandsbanan through northern Sweden is one of Europe’s great train journeys.

Old rail bus © Kent Dahlberg/Shutterstock

#17 Vasa Warship, Stockholm

After lying in mud for centuries at the bottom of Stockholm harbour, the mighty Vasa has been restored to her former glory.

#18 Crossing the Arctic Circle

Don’t leave Sweden without crossing the magical Arctic Circle, 66° 33’ north.

© Natasa Kirin/Shutterstock

#19 Herring

The quintessential Swedish dish, best enjoyed with a cold beer or a shot of akvavit.

#20 Bohuslän Coast

Sweden’s most enchanting stretch of coastline with smooth rocky outcrops perfect for sunbathing.

#21 Kalmar Slott

Take a tour around one of Sweden’s finest castles, and marvel at its medieval magnificence.

#22 Jokkmokk winter market

The Jokkmokk winter market sells everything from bearskins to candlesticks.

#23 Europe's last wilderness

Explore the wild, rugged and remote far north on the Kungsleden hiking trail.

Kungsleden trail

#24 Orsa Rovdjurspark

Europe’s biggest bear park is the perfect place to see Sweden’s greatest predator in its natural habitat.

#25 A sauna and a splash

The perfect end to a long day, a Swedish sauna traditionally finishes with a roll in the snow or a plunge into cold water.

Travel advice for Sweden