The five places to visit when you come to Sweden!

A few weeks ago I give you five reasons to visit Sweden. In this post I am going to tell you exactly where in Sweden you should visit!

Abisko

Swedish nature is in full force in Abisko, as you can see from this picture. I spent three days treking throughout Abisko on the Kungsleden (King’s path) last summer and loved the experience. If you want to see Sweden at its best, go to Abisko.

It was no easy feat getting there though. We spent 18 hours on a train and then five more by car with friends (although you can take a train straight to Abisko). Abisko is at the tippy top of Sweden, just on the boarder to Norway!

Stay tuned for a full post on Abisko soon!

Stockholm

Sweden’s capital city is probably the one you are most familiar with. Be ready for gorgeous architecture, tons of canals and islands, and many of museums. Stockholm is definitely the cultural center of Sweden (although Malmö takes the cake for diversity of nationalities) and there is plenty there to keep you entertained.

In the summer, visiting the archipelagos is a huge hit. With some 30,000 islands, there is plenty to see and do. Travel out and go on a hike, stay in a cabin, or just paddle around for a day.

While touristy, Gamla Stan (Old Town) is worth a visit. Some things are often iconic for a reason, right? And while you are in this part of town, try looking for some old bars. We grabbed at beer at a bar that was 400 years old — now that isn’t something we can get back home in the US!

Stay tuned for a full post on Stockholm soon!

Skåne

Skåne is the region I live in! Located in Southern Sweden, you can find many great cities here, including Malmö and Lund, but travel a little more south and you’ll find a surprising beach oasis.

Because Skåne comprises the tip of Sweden, you can find many beaches to visit, including my favorites Skanör and Falsterbo. Here you will be greeted with white sand beaches, turquoise clear water, and candy-colored beach huts (badhytter). Take a walk on the beach, try one of a few golf courses, or join a group out bird watching.

And, of course, the best things about being in Skåne is it’s access to Copenhagen. Just 20 minutes by train and you are in a different country!

Interested to learn more about Malmö or Lund within Skåne? See my posts here and here.

Gothenburg

Gothenburg, or Göteborg as it is called in Swedish, is such a fun city in Sweden. It is pretty hipster compared to other parts, with a great beer scene, tons of food carts, and live music. It is kind of the Portland, Oregon of Sweden, but way less weird. And having lived in Oregon for a few years, I really miss this scene.

Spend a long weekend here exploring the streets, having picnics in the parks, and soaking up the fun, young energy. And the botanical gardens are not to be missed!

Stay tuned for a full post on Göteborg soon!

Gotland

This viking city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is famous for its medieval city walls. The island of Gotland is about 100 km east of Sweden and the ferry ride will be 3.5 hours from Oskarshamn, Sweden.

We visited this island in July to celebrate my 29th birthday with my partner and some close friends. It was an amazing vacation, filled with great food, a relaxed atmosphere, and stunning ancient walls!

Stay tuned for a full post on Gotland and Visby after July! In the meantime, I can really recommend my friend Emily’s post from her trip last year.

Interested in having the island experience but think Gotland is too far? Try Öland instead! Off the coast of Kalmar, you pass by this smaller island on the ferry to Gotland. It is another great island city and home to the best kardemummabullar (cardamom buns) in Sweden! Read my full post on Öland here.

Thanks for joining me on this virtual tour of Sweden! I hope you will be able to visit some of these amazing Swedish cities in the future and be sure to subscribe to see full posts on each city!

• The colorful graphic directly above this is inspired by Gamla Stan (Old Town) in Stockholm!
• Ö means island in Swedish. So Öland, the island off the coast of Kalmar, literally means “island country”. Aptly named for an island, right?
• Three of these cities are the most populous in Sweden: 1) Stockholm, 2) Gothenburg, and 3) Malmö.

• The best time to visit Sweden is in the spring and summer, so from about May until August. Be warned that the weather can turn cold quickly here and that many places have seasonal hours, so be sure to call ahead!

• Southwest
• Stockholm Archipelago