Sweden (all of Scandinavia in fact) is a great place for winter activities. There are plenty of ski resorts located throughout, and renting of snow mobiles, and dog sledding, are activities that are available most places.
Visit Northern Sweden or Lapland and meet the Sami people who still live here, and explore their rich culture that traces all the way back to the Ice Age.
Travel to the capital city of Stockholm, which offers many cultural options, such as museums, palaces and historical buildings worth visiting.
Places worth visiting:
Stockholm
A beautiful city set on 14 islands, Stockholm has a lot going for it as Sweden’s capital and the largest city in all of Scandinavia. Visit its many culturally rich attractions, such as the Swedish History, Medieval Museum, Royal Armoury and Skokloster Castle, and the Vasa Museum – dedicated to a 17th century warship that sank on its maiden voyage – which is Scandinavia’s most visited museum. You also do not want to miss the Royal Palace, Modern Art Museum, and City Hall.
Gotland
This is Sweden’s largest island, surrounded by the Baltic Sea. This is one of Sweden’s most popular tourist destinations as it has more sunlight during the year than any other place in Sweden. Visby is the only city on the island, and it is a beautiful town, which has preserved most of its townscape and historic buildings throughout the years. There are about a hundred medieval churches and countless prehistoric sites on the island.
Gothenburg
Located on Sweden’s west coast, Gothenburg is a big city known for containing numerous green parks of all sizes. Many of the parks date back to the 19th century. If you are more interested in amusement parks, head to Liseberg, which has more rides than any other amusement park in Scandinavia. Gothenburg also hosts the region’s largest film festival as well as several different music festivals.
Swedish Lapland
If there is adventure you are seeking, there is no better place to visit in Sweden than Swedish Lapland. Located in the far north above the Arctic Circle, this is a great location for outdoor activities all year around. Summer is a particularly popular time for canoers, hikers, and viewers of wildlife. During the winter, participate in activities such as skiing, snowboarding and dog sledding. Swedish Lapland is inhabited by the indigenous Sami people - who live in massive forests and barren tundra. Travel along the Wilderness Way from the canoeing centre at Strömsund to the terminus at Vilhelmina, a church town, via Fatmomakke, where you will see traditional wooden huts.
Uppsala
Located 70 km. north of Stockholm, Uppsala is the religious centre of Sweden, and has been since the 12th century. Prior to Christianity, this town was known for idols of Norse gods. Visit the Uppsala Cathedral, seat of the archbishop of Sweden, is the largest cathedral in Scandinavia. The Fyris River runs through the city, with the medieval section located west of the river. Both the Uppsala Cathedral and Uppsala Castle are located here, and the famous 18th century botanist Carl Linnaeys lived here, so make sure to check out the beautiful botanical garden next to the castle.
Stockholm archipelago
If you are into island hopping, then touring the Stockholm archipelago is highly recommended. There are more than 30.000 islands here – if you take the big rocks jutting up from the sea into consideration. Visit Starofortet - a World War I fortress, or Vaxholm – the “capital” of the archipelago with its authentic buildings and fishing history.
Ystad
A coastal town in southern Sweden. Visit notable buildings, such as Greyfriars Abbey, one of Sweden’s best-preserved medieval monasteries, and the Church of the Virgin Mary, a large medieval church; both being outstanding examples of Gothic Hansa architecture. Walk through the cobblestone-covered streets and check out the pastel-coloured half-timbered buildings. Also, take a walk along the town’s sandy beaches and take in the crisp and clean breezes blowing ashore. East of Ystad is the megalithic monument of Ales Stenar, consisting of 59 large boulders forming a stone ship.
Malmö
Sweden’s third largest city; a medieval historic city with a landscape that also consists of modern, contemporary buildings. Visit the Old Town (Gamla Staden) and its three main squares – Stortorget, Lilla Torg, and Gustav Adolfs Torg. The Old Town is where you will find the famous castle Malmohus Slott. This multicultural city is linked to Denmark via Oresund Bridge. A must-see “attraction” is the Turning Torso, an architectural masterpiece that twists more than 190 m. into the sky, making it Sweden’s most talked about building.
Marstrand
This seaside community, located on an island in western Sweden, is known for its annual hosting of Match Cup Sweden – an important sailing competition. It also is home to the 17th century Carlsten Fortress – a majestic stone structure that overlooks the city. Other attractions include the Strandverket Art Museum, Pater Noster Lighthouse and the various scenic hiking trails.
Kosterhavet National Park
Sweden has lots of coastline, but the best place to observe marine life under protected circumstances is Kosterhavet National Park. Kosterhavet, which borders Norway, is the country’s first marine national park, and homes around 6000 different species of marine life – many of which cannot be found anywhere else in Sweden. The park is centred around the shores and sea of the Koster Islands. Kosterhavet’s coral reefs make it a popular place among snorkelers and divers.
