With a relatively small population of just over 10 million, most Swedes live in the south. As the capital, Stockholm is the cosmopolitan hub. With vibrant fashion, cultural, food and nightlife scenes, you’ll never be short of things to see and do. The city is actually spread across 14 islands, which makes it unique as far as capital cities go! And Stockholm’s edgy, hip vibe contrasts with the old-world charm of its deliciously beautiful medieval architecture. It’s a walking city, so whatever you do, pack a good pair of joggers - you’ll need them! And no surprise here - the islands are home to some year-round signature sightseeing.
Just across the water from Stockholm’s central business district, Södermalm has a reputation of being ‘the’ place to be. One of the highlights here is the spectacular 500-metre sightseeing walk along the Monteliusvägen cliffs. This is a must-do leisure adventure in Södermalm, and for fit and active visitors, can be teamed up with a climb to the Skinnarviksberget summit, which makes for a great continuation of the cliff walk. While it’s recommended to do these walks at dawn or dusk, if you do them in the middle of the day, you can walk a few blocks further to Tanatolunden (Tanto) Park in Hornstull and spend the afternoon playing mini golf or wandering through the gardens. This is an intriguing park with lots of places to explore, with neat gardens and little cottages spread throughout, and beaches that swarm with swimmers during the warm summer months. Another must-do walk is a stroll is Norr Mälarstrand on neighbouring Kungsholmen Island. A waterfront promenade leading to the City Hall, the walk looks across to Langholmen with views of the Monteliusvägen cliffs. There are also places to take a breather and enjoy fika - the national pastime of drinking coffee downed with the accompanying sweet of choice - kanelbulle (cinnamon roll).
On the edge of Stockholm’s commercial district, Gamla Stan Island is where you’ll find old-world charm in tightly clustered buildings that include royal palaces, art galleries and museums boasting both modern and medieval exhibitions worthy of more than a quick visit. For ABBA fans, a museum dedicated to Sweden’s most famous exports is on the Djurgarden, a beautiful island well-known for its spacious gardens. If you’re looking for a gift, there are options for guided tours of the city that will help make the most of the day trip to see the city’s most spectacular sites and quickly immerse your gift recipient in the local culture.
With 30,000 islands in the Stockholm archipelago, it’s possible to spread your wings and find other beauty spots such as Lovön, home to the magnificent Drottningholm Palace, the residential estate of the Swedish royals. For those more interested in military matters, on Vaxholm, the centuries-old fortress has been given over to an excellent museum that pays tribute to Swedish forces and their battles of the past to counter foreign insurgents. And sticking with the military history theme, Arholma Island also has the Batteri Arholma museum. Of course, there’s so much more to search out and discover from Stockholm, so give yourself plenty of time to scout the islands and find your own fabulous getaways. Gifting Owl has a very affordable 72-hour Platinum Pass for people on a whistle-stop stay of the city, combining hop-on-hop-off bus and boat tours and an hour-long cruise of the Stockholm's Archipelago and islands.
But the opportunities for island hopping don’t finish there. No visit to Sweden is complete without seeing the pigeon pair. Gothenburg is a major seaport and the country’s second largest city with an archipelago that some might say rivals that of Stockholm’s. While there is a hint of that friendly rivalry between the two, from a visitor’s point of view, they are both wonderful places to explore. Located on the west coast the Gothenburg Archipelago has fewer islands that are relatively large, more spread out and overall less densely populated. These quaint communities are split into northern and southern regions, and you can spend days discovering the hidden island treasures of both.
On the mainland, Gothenburg city streets are lined with canals that in some places zigzag and are fringed with green parklands. In fact, the city is leafy with magnificent parklands spread across the suburbs - perfect for picnics on a sunny day. But perhaps the most famous and fun of all the parks is Liseberg, Scandinavia's top attraction when it comes to thrill-a-minute theme park family entertainment. It’s worth noting that next door to the Lisberg Gardens you’ll find two attractions of a very different kind - the Museum of World Culture and the Universeum.
There are other museums too. You can get a great view of the cultural centre of town from Skansen Kronan AB. The Museum of Natural History and Smålandsstugan are closeby in Slottssklogen Park, and there are those that pay tribute to Gothenburg’s industries. It’s the home of car manufacturing giant Volvo - there’s a museum dedicated to the Volvo story, as well as a maritime museum that pays homage to the city’s centuries-old stronghold on that industry.
However, the Gothenburg is also a learning centre and university city, so far from being all about the history there are heaps of outdoor adventures to be had by day and at night the city rocks. Being a maritime city, you’ll fall in love with the seafood. Plucked fresh from the waters of the North Sea, bars and restaurants specialise in seafood - always a great starter before hitting the nightclubs.
If you’re into water sports of all sorts and coastal pursuits, at the very top of the west coast you’ll find Kosterhavet National Park. This is a top spot for snorkelling, fishing, kayaking, hiking, foraging, birdwatching and any other number of activities and adventures. Each season has something to offer and it’s definitely a place for those who love to be immersed in nature at its best.
Further south is the cultural hotspot of Malmö. Boarded by a canal, Gamla Staden is Malmö’s city centre. Profoundly pretty with cobbled streets and quaint historic buildings, the old part of Malmö harks back through the centuries. With the university just across the canal, Gamla Staden is a hub for the young with busy bars and restaurants, market stalls and nightlife. The third largest of Sweden’s cities and in the country’s lowlands, this is also a perfect place for walking or cycling. there are great sights to see along the way. In fact, we have some terrific gift ideas for those intending to visit Malmö - a private cycling tour will take your gift recipient to Turning Torso, Kings Park, the Möllan area, Malmö Castle and more.
Not far inland from Malmö is the compact city of Lund. Well known for its deep history, medieval buildings, museums and modern art galleries, the cobblestone streets in the old part of Lund make for a fascinating visit. Lund was established 1000 years ago and is among the oldest of Sweden’s cities. In contrast, the city is also a major centre for technology research and development.
Speaking of oldest places, from Stockholm it’s an easy distance to Sigtuna, Sweden’s oldest town and the wow factor packed into the old part of town is worthy postcard material. You feel like you’re standing in the pages of a storybook. The buildings, shops, cafes and restaurants are beautifully preserved and there are relics, runic stones and ruins a-plenty that will keep any visitor entertained for hours.
But you can’t talk about Sweden and not mention its snowfields. After all, that’s what it’s most famous for - right? Lapland in the country’s north is where the winter action begins. The mountain ranges that divide Sweden and Norway are world renowned for their slopes and are suitable for novice skiers through to the hardcore fanatics. Åre is the mecca for a winter weekend and holiday fun and a great place to view colourful north light skies. If you’re visiting in the summer, Kungsleden is one of the most famous long-distance hiking trails, covering more than 400 kilometres. Crossing four national parks, this is a hiker’s idea of heaven where nature abounds, and beauty is everywhere. Like most of Sweden, blessed with beautiful lakes and waterways, Lapland also offers great fishing and kayaking adventures. From Abisko, you can do a dogsled tour of the national park that showcases the winter wonderment of this most extraordinary region.
While winter is all about the northern slopes, summer fun for lots of Swedes means taking to the ever-popular shores of Gotland. A large island off Stockholm, Gotland is the centrepiece of the Baltic Sea. With kilometres of sandy beaches and green spaces, it’s the perfect place to relax and soak up the sun on long summer days. Visby is the island’s hip hub with restaurants and nightlife to keep holidaymakers happily ensconced in their piece of paradise. As a charming island retreat, with narrow streets and buildings that ooze with local history, Visby is a walled town that dates back to the late 800s.
As for the people, wherever you travel, you’ll find the Swedes a humorous lot - they love a good joke and even laugh at the silly ones too. They are deeply egalitarian and proud of their country, though not boastfully so. It’s a pleasure to be in their company and if you get the chance to have chat with a local over a plate of traditional meatballs and mash, it will be a treat you’re sure to remember.
