Sweden Travel

Located in northern Europe, Sweden is the largest Scandinavian country. Travel here for sunny beaches, the Arctic’s rough country and the distinctive characteristics and attractions of its major cities.

The country’s capital is Stockholm, a city spread across 14 islands. Spend a few hours in medieval Gamla Stan, the Old Town. Wander through its narrow streets, lined with ancient buildings, shops and cafés, until you reach the Royal Palace. Watch the daily Changing of the Guard ceremony and explore some of the magnificent building’s rooms, including several museums. 

Stroll around Skansen, an open-air museum where you can see 150 historic structures from across the country. One of the city's most intriguing historic sights is the well-preserved 17th-century Vasa warship at the Vasa Museum. 

Visit Gothenburg, Sweden’s second-largest city. Learn about its past as a major shipbuilding site at the Maritime Museum that also houses an aquarium. Other popular museums include the Museum of World Culture and the Gothenburg Art Museum. Spend several hours shopping in Nordstan, one of Scandinavia’s largest shopping malls. Take a cruise or dine along the city’s picturesque canals.

In Malmö, explore the 14th-century Malmöhus Castle and stroll near the canals. Enjoy nude saunas, sunbathing and ocean swims at Varberg’s Kallbadhuset, a popular spot for more than a century.

During the winter, appreciate snow, ice and darkness in Lapland, deep inside the Arctic Circle. Go winter walking, cross-country ski or tour the area by snowmobile. Drive a team of huskies across the Arctic wilderness and try ice-karting on frozen lakes. See the northern lights and sleep in rooms made of ice and snow at the ICEHOTEL in Jukkasjärvi.

In the summer, take advantage of the country's hundreds of miles of beaches, particularly on the western coast. Thousands of lakes offer swimming and watersports.

Before you leave Sweden, embark on an island-hopping adventure. Explore some of the more than 30,000 islands of the Stockholm archipelago. On Gotland, visit the Lummelunda Cave and observe sea stacks. See evidence of prehistoric human settlements on Öland.