With its rich history and varied landscapes, Sweden is a traveler’s paradise and a photographer’s dream. If you love outdoor attractions, it’s certainly hard to beat. The air and water are crystal clean, and there are thousands of acres of unspoiled forests and majestic lakes to explore, not to mention vast archipelagos along its coasts.
The roads and public transport are excellent; the citizens are invariably friendly and helpful; and in recent years, Swedish cuisine has undergone what can only be described as a revolution. Throw in a mind-boggling history, from notorious Viking invaders to royal dynasties and imperial intrigue, and one thing is certain: you’ll never be bored.
Sweden’s tourist attractions range from opulent palaces and ancient towns to vast Arctic landscapes and the famed Ice Hotel. There are so many things to do that you’ll want to allow plenty of time to enjoy all its outdoor adventures and historic treasures.
To help you pinpoint the best places to visit in this much-loved Scandinavian country, we’ve pulled together our list of the top attractions in Sweden.
1. Gamla Stan, Stockholm
Stockholm’s Old Town, known as Gamla Stan, is a small concentrated area where the city began in the middle of the 13th century.
Much of the medieval enclave remains, although in typical Scandinavian style, it is freshly brushed and painted regularly. Its charm is in the architecture along its narrow stone-paved lanes and cobbled streets around its squares, especially the main one, Stortorget, surrounded by old merchants’ houses.
In this neighborhood, along with plenty of shops, restaurants, and cafés, you’ll find the Nobel Museum, the Post Museum, the Royal Coin Cabinet, and several churches. It’s also a good area to stay if you can find suitable accommodations, with options including luxury boutique hotels, guesthouses, and even affordable inns and hostels.
2. Vasa Museum, Stockholm
The Vasa Museum (Vasamuseet) in Stockholm is Sweden’s most popular museum, attracting around a million visitors annually. The museum caters to tourists of all nationalities, and English-language guided tours and audio guides are available.
A visit to the Vasa, which houses 10 separate exhibitions and a further four museum ships, is a day out in itself. In 1628, the pride of the Swedish Imperial fleet, the 64-gun warship Vasa, sank on its maiden voyage. The ship lay below the icy waters for more than three centuries until, in 1961, an incredibly ambitious salvage operation took place. Now, visitors from across the world come to see this fascinating time capsule.
A shop and a restaurant are located on-site for those wanting to make a full day of it.
Another Stockholm museum worth visiting is Fotografiska, an innovative gallery of changing exhibits celebrating the art of photography. It is also known for its entertainment venue and restaurant, which features sustainably grown organic produce. The museum has been so successful that there is also a newer branch of this museum in New York City.
3. Drottningholm Palace, Lovö
Fairy-tale Drottningholm Palace (Drottningholms slott), on the island of Lovö, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It lies about 11 kilometers west of Stockholm city center (45 minutes by ferry), making this an excellent day trip from Stockholm. Dating from the 17th century, the palace is now the official residence of the Swedish Royal Family.
In the picturesque terraced park are bronze sculptures from Bohemia and Denmark, brought back as trophies of war. Be sure to take in the Chinese Pavilion, which dates from the late 1700s. The 18th-century Palace Theatre (Drottningholms Slottsteater) is still used for performances during the summer months. In the Theatre Museum, you can see period stage costumes and stage scenery.
Guided tours are available (in English), and a variety of fun programs and workshops are available for kids and adults alike.
4. The Göta Canal, Gothenburg to Stockholm
Often described as Sweden’s greatest feat of engineering, the Göta Canal (Göta kanal) dates from the early 19th century and is 190 kilometers in length. It’s now one of the country’s premier tourist attractions and offers a unique perspective on Sweden’s heartland.
In addition, by connecting with lakes Vänern and Vättern and the Trollhätte Canal, it forms part of a water link all the way from Stockholm, in the northeast, to Gothenburg, in the southwest.
Featuring 47 bridges and 58 locks the canal stretches from Sjötorp at Lake Vänern to Söderköping on the Baltic Sea. There’s a choice of passenger cruise vessels or you can hire a boat and experience the canal in your own way.
5. Kiruna and the Ice Hotel, Lapland
Sharing the same latitude as central Greenland, Kiruna in Lapland is Sweden’s northernmost town. It’s also the chief town of the largest commune in the country, which borders both Norway and Finland. The midnight sun is visible here from mid-May to mid-July.
Originally a Lapp settlement, the town began to develop when the mining of iron ore started around 1900. Incredibly, due to subsidence caused by mining, the entire city is being slowly moved northwest to the foot of the Luossavaara Mountain.
The world’s first-ever Ice Hotel at Jukkasjärvi is about 17 kilometers outside the city. The ICEHOTEL, with its stunning rooms and furnishings, is re-created each year in a new design, built from ice in the river Torne.
In the summer, this is a center for river rafting, stand up paddleboarding, fishing, and canoeing. Sweden’s highest mountain, Kebnekaise, is 90 kilometers west of Kiruna. Abisko National Park is located 95 kilometers northwest, where the Lapland Railroad runs west to Narvik on the Norwegian coast.
6. Abisko
A place where the wonders of nature are a fascinating sight to capture. Just at the north of the Arctic circle, this small village in Sweden is a home to see the spectacular Aurora Borealis and the Midnight sun. People from different places head to take a glimpse of the green and blue night sky in the winters while in the summers, the midnight sun is the main attraction of this secluded region.
7. Are
Are is a mountain village which never sleeps and gives a metropolitan vibe with its wide array of things. Experience skiing and roam in the streets lined with shops, restaurants and bars along with the fascinating view of the mountains. This place is a great escape for the people who are looking out to calm down their adrenaline rush and spend a vacation away from the city.
8. Halmstad
Boasting its timber-framed architecture, ports and universities, this south-west Swedish city reflects the parts of the Danish culture of the 17th century along with the vibe of the metropolitan city. The summer city of Sweden, this destination is a paradise for the travelers who want an escape to the sandy beaches while enjoying a mild climate.
9. Jokkmokk
Being the meeting ground in the Swedish Lapland, this place holds an annual market since 400-years which brings the Sami Clan together. Reflecting the Sami culture at its best, this town gives a great experience to the travelers with their old traditions and delicious culinary
10. Kebnekaise
If you are an adventurer and absolutely live for conquering mountains and high peaks. If you love the concept of hiking or trekking, Kebnekaise is the perfect place for you. It is the highest mountain peak (2114m) in Sweden and one of the most popular tourist spots here. You can reach Kebnekaise through any of the several trails around the region. Generally, visitors take a drive from Kiruna to Nikkaluokta and hike (19Km) to Kebnekaise fjällstation. Though the trekking risk level is low, it is suggested to visit Kebnekaise when it is on the season.
