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Located in Scandinavia, Northern Europe, Sweden is one of the most popular destinations to travel to, for its advanced quality of life, it's beautiful scenery, it's art and music history amongst the highlights. It is the land of the ancient Vikings and the birthplace of Nordic crime fiction.
In the summer, idyllic weather allows tourists and locals alike to enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, swimming and other sports late into the evening, as the Midnight Sun shines until nearly 11pm.
However, a winter holiday in Sweden is full of other kinds of activities, like dog sledding, ice fishing, skiing, and snowshoeing, as the cold weather brings icy wind, deep snow, and long dark nights.
Sweden's obsession with the outdoors is only one aspect if the country's personality. Millions of visitors enjoy the sophisticated cultural delights of the cities, especially in the capital of Stockholm. With a proud history going back several millennia, the many museums and royal buildings around the city are fascinating to visit. Stockholm's modern attractions are just as engaging, with a lively nightlife, and a plethora of excellent restaurants and shops.
But Stockholm isn't the only city in Sweden worth visiting. Smaller towns like Gothenburg, Malmö, Uppsala, and the northern Kiruna all offer unique attractions for tourists in Sweden, ranging from amusement parks to historical churches and boat tours of the archipelagos in the Baltic Sea.
Sweden is one of the most advanced countries in Europe, both in society, laws and way of life. But it's also a very culturally interesting country to visit with breathtaking scenery! Getting to Sweden is very easy from Europe and neighbouring countries, which connect via ferry, plane, bus or train. The main city, Stockholm, is well connected by air to other countries in America and Asia, making it a good destination to travel direct. The national airline is Scandinavian Airlines which has a hub in Stockholm Arlanda airport. From there it's easy to reach key destinations in America and Asia. Naturally all major cities in Europe offer direct links to Stockholm.
If you are travelling within Europe then it's also worth checking with low cost airlines such as Ryanair, Easyjet or Norwegian for better fares, and connect other cities to the Swedish capital. As an alternative, it's not necessarily to fly if you coming from Estonia, Norway or Finland, as you can easily get ferries or busses which connect the northern capitals.
Within the country it's quite common to travel by air, specially to other regions in Sweden if you don't have much time to explore. Scandinavian Airlines offers the best times and connections. It's also possible to travel within Sweden by bus and train. Fares can still seem expensive, but that's because of the high value of the country's currency. Try to book in advance for better fares and promotions.
The main advantage of travelling by ground is the views and the beautiful scenery which can be seen as you leave the urban cities and go up north exploring the forests, mountains and lakes. Services are very punctual, so always make sure to be at stops at least 30 min before your bus or train leaves.
Big cities are well connected with public transportation, both underground and overground. However smaller towns and isolated communities have very limited transport links, specially in the winter, where travelling by plane is sometimes the only way of reaching these communities.
Sweden has an interesting mixture of temperatures, it can be pleasantly warm in the summer but extremely cold in the Winter. However it can be a paradise in winter also due to the snow blanket which decorates every corner of the country. Also many visitors come in Winter to enjoy sport activities. Winter's are naturally cold, with temperatures going below -15 °C at times in January and February. The further north you go it will be also colder and darker.
In contrast the Summer's in Sweden are very pleasant with warm climates in the south with an average temperature of 20 °C, but it can get hotter easily. There is plenty of sunshine during the Summer and from June to August is the high season, so it's good to take that into consideration when you travel as it will be more expensive. Spring and Autumn are good seasons to travel, however it often rains a lot in Sweden so it's possible not to see the sun in many days or weeks during this time.
The best time to travel would be from late March to late October. (Unless for snow and Winter activities better go in January and February).
❗Attention: Take into consideration that during the Winter you can see as little as 6 hours of sunshine per day, but about 18 hours in the Summer!
Extra Information, The Northern Lights: They appear around the beginning of September (Kiruna) to the end of March all over the Swedish Lapland. So if you are visiting for winter activities such as skiing, dog sledding, snowmobile tours etc there’s a fair chance you will see them. But for the very best chance of seeing the Northern Lights you should make the trip to the Aurora Sky Station in Abisko National Park. It is not guaranteed that you will see them, but being surrounded by mountains, Abisko is known for its clear skies, so there’s a good chance.
A chairlift takes you up to the observation tower, as well as the station’s Northern Lights exhibition, café and souvenir shop. Do dress warmly for your visit!
While Swedish food isn’t known for its sophistication, it does have a simple, wholesome charm all of its own. Locally produced and organic ingredients take pride of place in the kitchen and wild food such as mushrooms, blueberries and elderberries crop up seasonally. A long coastline and numerous freshwater lakes mean fish is a staple part of the diet along with meat and root vegetables.From every day Swedish cuisine, or husmanskost, ärtsoppape (pea soup) is a staple and a heart-warming choice on cold winter days, particularly when followed by pancakes doused in Swedish punch – a very sweet (and very strong) local liqueur. Waiter service is common although there are many self-service snack bars.
Specialities include: Smörgåsbord, the classic Scandinavian cold table includes a starter of pickled herring with boiled potatoes followed by smoked salmon or anchovies, cold meats, pâté, sliced beef, stuffed veal or smoked reindeer. Jansson’s temptation, sliced herring, potatoes and onions baked in cream. Köttbullar, small meatballs. Rotmos med flask, pork with potatoes and rutabaga, a root vegetable like turnip. Pyttipanna, a bubble and squeak-style blend of fried diced meat with potatoes and onion, usually served with a fried egg and sliced pickled beetroot. Gravlax, salmon that has been specially prepared and marinated. Ostkaka, Swedish cheesecake.
As for drinks you can find: Akvavit: A Scandinavian spirit traditionally drunk chilled with smörgåsbord. Flavours vary from practically tasteless to sweetly spiced.
Sweden is generally safe, but there has been a steady rise in petty crimes around tourist hot spots, especially in summer. Petty crimes such as pickpocketing, bag snatching, and robbery are typical in crowded places like public transportation facilities, restaurants, hotel lobbies, cafes, and tourist attractions.
Criminals operate singly or in groups. One member robs you while another distracts you. It’s essential to be careful and vigilant in public and crowded places. Keep all important personal belongings away from sight to avoid attracting petty thieves. Also, be wary of persons offering unsolicited advice.
Organized crime and gang operations are mainly in large cities like Stockholm, Malmo, and Gothenburg. Although they can get violent, they rarely occur in tourist areas; it's primarily gangs fighting gangs. Avoid late-night movements, steer clear of poorly lit areas, and you’ll be safe.
From a tour around other European capitals, I had the opportunity to visit Sweden and it's capital, Stockholm. It was a good visit to admire the city's history, enchanting old town and scenery. The city has come a long way since it's medieval roots, and now Stockholm is a truly multicultural mixed society, with many social benefits and a high quality of life which is reflected in the wealth of the country with many businesses established in the capital and a good economic growth system. The style in which the people dress, the category of the restaurant's, the general cleanliness of the city are just some of the things which stand out in this modern society, where there is ample freedom of expression.
But at the same time there is reservation amongst the people, respect and things are always done quietly and patiently.
Away from the city life, Sweden is a beautiful country which has so much to offer. Definitely a trip to the countryside is next on the list when coming to Sweden!
(visited once)
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