10 Best Places to Visit in Sweeden
While Sweden is famous for giving us IKEA and Volvo automobiles, it's also a visitor's paradise. Sweden has become a top tourist destination in northern Europe with its stunning, varied landscapes, rich heritage, and friendly inhabitants. This Scandinavian country is especially great for outdoor lovers with its clear waters and air, acres of untouched forests, picturesque lakes, and many archipelagos along its coasts.
10. Kosterhavet National Park
Starting off our list is Kosterhavet National Park, Sweden's first national marine park. This National Park is part of the Skagerrak Sea and constitutes the shores and sea around the Koster Islands, near the Norway border. Kosterhavet National Park is one of the best places to observe thousands of protected marine life species, many of which you can't find anywhere else in Sweden.
The cold-water coral reefs provide a home to plenty of swarming underwater fauna. You can also observe rare seabirds like the skuas, Arctic terns, and harbor seals. Kosterhavet National Park is a valuable recreational resource and one of Sweden's most popular tourist destinations. Visitors frequent the park all year round to engage in fun activities such as fishing, swimming, biking, snorkeling, diving, and kayaking.
9. Lovon Island
Lovon is a relatively small island on Lake Malaren. Despite its size, it has a vibrant history, having been inhabited since the Stone Age. Today, the island is a major tourist destination, particularly during summer.
So, what drives visitors to this tiny Lake Island? That would be the fairy-tale Drottningholm Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the residence of the Swedish Royal Family. The 17th-century Drottningholm Palace features a superb terraced garden with bronze sculptures from Denmark and Bohemia.
It also has an 18th-century Palace Theatre that still hosts performances during summer. Guided tours of the grand palace will also take you through the Chinese Pavilion and the Theatre Museum. Another highlight of Lovon Island is the 12th-century Lovo Church which features a sanctuary and rune stones.
8. Marstrand
Marstrand is a city on the Swedish west coast. The seaside town is most famous for its glitzy ambiance, where film stars, royalty, and other celebrities have historically visited for vacations. Marstrand is also a popular sailing destination. If you want to explore the Baltic waters, then this is the place.
One of the major attractions in Marstrand is the 17th-century Carlsten Fortress. You can climb to the top of this majestic stone structure for amazing views of the waters, taking in Marstrand's natural wonders. The city's picturesque cobblestone streets are lined with historic ornate pastel-colored buildings.
Marstrand has something for nature lovers, too, with scenic hiking trails. Other attractions that make a great day trip include Stranverket Art Museum, the Pater Noster Lighthouse, and the city's legendary opulent spas.
7. Swedish Lapland
If unforgettable wilderness adventures are your cup of tea, Swedish Lapland is the best place to check out in Sweden. The wildlands are situated far north above the Arctic Circle. Summer shines all year in Swedish Lapland, which the hardy, indigenous Sami inhabit.
Adventure lovers flock to Swedish Lapland for hiking, canoeing, and wildlife viewing. One of the best ways to experience the best Swedish Lapland is via a drive along Wilderness Way from Stromsund canoeing center to the church town of Vilhelmina, where you can witness the traditional Swedish lifestyle.
You can also visit Kiruna, which is Sweden's northernmost town. You can view the midnight sun and the Northern Lights from mid-May to mid-July. Tourists also visit the unique Ice Hotel at Jukkasjarvi to enjoy fishing, canoeing, river rafting, and paddleboarding.
6. Gotland
Gotland is the largest island in Sweden. This archipelago has been gaining international popularity due to its sunny climate, calm shorelines, and the island's main town of Visby. Visby, also known as "the pearl of the Baltic," is a medieval town and a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Visby is full of Medieval history and is renowned for its 94 Medieval churches, most of which are still in use. The churches bear Gothic and Romanesque architectural styles. Quaint cobblestone streets meander about the old town, and you can lose your sense of the modern world while here.
You can also check out preserved medieval trading houses and 17th-century timber buildings. Visby also hosts Medieval during summer, which boosts visitor numbers. Direct flights and ferry links to Gotland are available from Stockholm and other cities.
5. Sundsvall
Sundsvall in Vasternorrland County is best known for its peculiar history with fires that got it the nickname Stenstaden or the stone city". The city has burned down and been rebuilt four times. After the last fire in the late 1800s, a decision was made to reconstruct Sundsvall using stone instead of stone.
For this reason, the buildings in Sundsvall make for unusual sites especially compared to the traditional Swedish ones found on the coast. The city center, or Storgatan, is a famous main street in the city's heart.
Many tourists come to Sundsvall for the history and to witness the architecture of the mighty stone houses firsthand. Sundsvall also boasts a famed museum celebrating local artists featuring sculptures, paintings, and art exhibits.
4. Malmo
Malmo is the largest city in the county of Skane and is linked to Denmark via the Oresund Bridge. This historic city offers a unique blend of old and new. You can marvel at the Old Town, which features three main squares, and the castle Malmohus Slott.
The city landscape is also studded with modern contemporary buildings. The Turning Torso is a new 190-meter architectural masterpiece and Sweden's most talked about structure.
As an influential art and cultural hub in Sweden, Malmo has been making waves. The city boasts numerous up-and-coming and eclectic art galleries. The city is also committed to environmental causes and fair-trade business, being the first Fair-trade City in Sweden.
Tourists also flock to Malmo for a unique dining experience. Many restaurants in the city serve farm-to-table dishes made from local ingredients and fresh organic produce. Tourists and locals also enjoy an emerging nightlife scene.
3. Uppsala
The picturesque medieval city of Uppsala was home to old Swedish kings. You may easily forget you are in Sweden's 4th largest city if you stroll down the winding Old Town streets. This University City has a laid-back ambiance, with parks and waterways adding to the tranquility.
Here you can find plenty of restaurants, cafes, shops and the city's main attractions. Uppsala's distinctive landmark is the magnificent 13th-century Uppsala cathedral. The cathedral has been renovated many times, and notable figures like King Gustavus and Carl Linnaeus are buried within.
Another popular attraction is the 15th-century Gustavinum. The Museum contains Nordic and Egyptian antiquities. Tourists also visit Uppsala to check out Uppsala Castle, Gamla Uppsala Viking burial mounds, the Linnaeus Museum, the medieval Holy Trinity Church, and the lake town of Sigtuna.
2. Gothenburg
Gothenburg is Sweden's second city, but it's very different from its brother city, Stockholm. The city has become a top tourist destination, especially for food lovers. Award-winning world-class restaurants draw in tourists globally.
Besides fine food, Gothenburg has plenty to offer; you wouldn't know where to start. You can enjoy an exhilarating ride at Liseberg Amusement Park, the largest of its kind in Scandinavia. Roller coasters, thrilling rides, all-year concerts, and markets make Liseberg a popular attraction.
You can also stroll and view wildlife in the leafy Slottsskogen Park and Zoo. Do you love adventure? Scenic outdoors, charming villages, and pristine beaches await you in Gothenburg's southern archipelago, which you can reach from the Saltholmen ferry port. Other notable attractions in Gothenburg include the Gothenburg Botanical Garden, the Gothenburg Museum of Art, the Historic Haga District, The Garden Society, and The Fish Market.
1. Stockholm
We have come to the end of our Sweden tour, and topping off our list is, you guessed it, the capital Stockholm. Visitors love the capital for its world-class museums, art galleries, theatres, beautiful parklands, and more. The first stop for many tourists is Old Town Stockholm, with its authentic restaurants, cafes, and boutique shops.
You can also visit the Vasa Museum and relive Sweden's seafaring days, check out the world's oldest open-air museum and hop aboard a Stockholm boat tour. The offerings at Djurgarden Island Park are a major draw, with several museums, cafes, and hotels. A tour of the 18th-century Royal Palace, the official residence of the King of Sweden, is a must.
Other popular must-visit destinations include Stockholm's Photography Museum, SkyView, the largest spherical building in the world, The National Museum of Fine Arts, Moderna Museet, Stockholm Medieval Museum, and Ostermalam District. You can travel almost anywhere via the underground railway system and an excellent bus network.