If you’re planning a romp around Europe, perhaps make Sweden your next stop. This beautiful Scandinavian country is famous for amazing pop music from famous Swedish acts like ABBA and Robyn, its coffee culture and breathtaking extensive forests, lakes and sea coastline. Here’re our top picks for any traveller to check out in Sweden.
Image credit: Stockholm underground metro station T-Centralen
Image credit: Image courtesy of The Plant Facebook
Image credit: Gothenburg
Image credit: Courtesy of ICEHOTEL Facebook
Image credit: Lapland Northern Lights
Image credit: Dog sledding
Stockholm
The capital of Sweden has so much to offer and if you love art of all forms, taking public transport is also another way to appreciate art. Walk into any metro station in Stockholm and you’ll be entering the ‘world’s longest underground art exhibition’ because 90 out of the 100 stations have been decked out by over 150 artists. These artworks range from mosaics to paintings, installations, sculptures and more!
Södermalm is a part of Stockholm where all the hipsters come out to play. Come out of Skanstull tube station and you’ll arrive in Ringen where you can shop until you drop at the numerous fashion stores, toy stores, and grocery stores! Additionally, for our vegetarian and vegan friends, or ones who have numerous allergies, check out The Plant who serve organic and vegan food.
Gothenburg
If you’re a hardcore foodie and love nature, you have to go to Gothenburg, on the west coast of Sweden. Go on a day trip island hopping across the Gothenburg archipelago and for avid hikers, the southern archipelago is completely car-free which makes it great for walking and biking trips. The whole archipelago is famous for its culinary scene with seafood at its core.
Not far from Gothenburg University is Haga. It’s an idyllic area of Gothenburg with traditional wood buildings, cobbled streets and home to a 17th century fortress! Check out their candle lit pubs and cafes around Järntorget square.
ICEHOTEL
Why not stay in an art exhibition made of ice and snow? Head up to Sweden’s Arctic Lapland region, in the village of Jukkasjärvi and check-in at the ICEHOTEL. The hotel is kept at -4°C to preserve the hand sculpted artworks and furnishings. Although day trips and tours are available, stay overnight and keep cosy with thermal sleeping bags with reindeer skin bed linens while sipping on hot lingonberry juice!
Swedish Lapland
If the Northern Lights is part of your bucket list, Lapland is where you need to go. October to March is aurora spotting season because of the long nights during winter. The many hours of darkness ensure that you’ll be able to view the glowing northern lights clearly.
Since you’re in the area where there are more sled dogs than inhabitants, dog sledding needs to be on your list of fun activities to try. In addition to it being a fun activity, it is often the only way of transportation across frozen lakes and roadless territory. This is the best time to strap
a GoPro to yourself and record your journey through snow-covered forests and mountains!
Did you know?
In Sweden, coffee is an important part of their culture so much so that they have a special Swedish word for it.
Fika (Fee-kah) is a concept where you make time for friends and colleagues to share a cup of coffee (or tea) with something small to eat like a baked good.
References: Culture Trip; Visit Sweden.
