Things not to Miss

#01 Dog sledding

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

@ Shutterstock

#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

#07 Birka

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Related Rough Guides travel guides

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

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#08 Smorgasboard

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

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#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.

A pair of traditional reindeer skin boots at Sami Market. Jokkmokk, Sweden @ Kuznetsova Julia/Shutterstock

#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.

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#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.

People in front of model of Vasa, viking ship @ Martpod/Shutterstock

#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.

Pickled herring with new potatoes, chives, red onion and sourcream on a porcelain plate @ JAri J/Shutterstock

#20 Bohuslän Coast

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

© Wilmurhtina/Shutterstock

#21 Kalmar Slott

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

© Steve Allen/Shutterstock

#22 Jokkmokk winter market

The Jokkmokk winter market sells everything from bearskins to candlesticks.

© Kuznetsova Julia/Shutterstock

#23 Europe's last wilderness

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

Kungsleden trail © Jens Ottoson/Shutterstock

#24 Orsa Rovdjurspark

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

© Alexandr Junek Imaging/Shutterstock

#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.

© Piotr Wawrzyniuk/Shutterstock

Travel advice for Sweden

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