Plan a trip to Sweden

In the west-north it borders with Norway, Finland is to the east, and it is separated from Denmark in the southwest by the 118 km Øresund Strait (the Sound). There is a tunnel-bridge which was built to connect the two countries and is open to vehicles and rail.  Unforgettable landscapes are what makes Sweden unique and a popular tourist destination. Green forests and wildlife like migrating wild reindeer, parks, rivers and blue lakes, glaciers and mountains, thousands of sea islands and long stretches of beaches along the Baltic and North Seas combined with sports, recreation and relaxation – this is Sweden! Exploring Sweden’s endless landscapes leaves you with a sense of freedom and awe. Whether you are travelling by car or bicycling, trekking or hiking, boating along the waterways on a boat, ferry, kayak or canoe, you will be awed by the magnificent landscapes and ancient and modern sites that you will encounter. Keep your camera ready at all times!

The petroglyphs, known as the Rock Carvings of Tanum, tell the story of the life of their European ancestors during the Bronze Age. In 1994, the collection of petroglyphs were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. They are truly outstanding for their large numbers and incredible quality and can be found in western Sweden where there are close to 2000 such sites in the northern province of Bohuslän. The legacy of the Vikings can be seen in the inscriptions and markings engraved on the Viking runes. 

Fortresses and castles are spread along the length and breadth of the country. One of the outstanding ones is the Gripsholm Castle – a fortress / castle which is about 60 km west of Stockholm. Up to the 18th century it belonged to the Swedish Royal family and is now a museum, although should the King want to reside there at any time, it would be at his disposal and therefore is part of what is called “The Crown Palaces in Sweden”, the property of the Swedish State. Another magnificent palace which is also on the outskirts of Stockholm on the island of Lovon, is the 16th century Drottningholm Palace, the private residence of the Swedish Royal Family. 

Norrland is the northern region of Sweden where you can catch a view of The Northern Lights in the wintertime and enjoy the endless twenty-four hours of daylight in the summer months in the area north of the Arctic Circle. The sun does not set at night and the halo it emits produces unforgettable colors and images of the midnight sun.  
During the spring month of April, in the far North where the indigenous Sami people live, you might get a chance to see them as they migrate with their herds of reindeer seeking greener pastures. 

As this area becomes more popular with the tourists,  you’ll be able to take a closer look at the culture and life of the Sami. At the same time, you can partake and enjoy adrenaline-filled activities like speeding through northern forests and frozen steppes in a snowmobile or mushing - riding in a sleigh drawn by husky dogs.

Svealand, a region that forms the dominant part of Sweden, was once the cultural center and as a result has many tourist attractions. One of the popular sites to visit is Vänern Lake which is not only the largest lake in Sweden but of the European Union as well! You can enjoy all kinds of water sports trekking in the scenic hiking trails in the area or exploring some interesting towns and cities in the area like Karlstad. This town is on the shore of Lake Vaeren combining recreation and culture. You can visit one of the many museums and the Karlstad Cathedral, known for hanging two model ships as well as an exquisite chandelier from its ceiling. 

When you sight the Örebro’s castle, a landmark from the 1300’s, you’ll know that you are in Örebro, a lovely, small town located between Stockholm and Gothenburg on the river Svartån. Biking is a popular way of getting around this quaint town and a favorite pastime is to do so along the trails by the main river.   

At the tip of an archipelago in the Baltic Sea are more than 14 islands connected by dozens of bridges. Stockholm’s Old Town (Gamla Stan) in the city center was once known as the “Town Between the Bridges (Staden Mellan Broarna). It is comprised of the islands and islets of Stadsholmen, Riddarholmen, Strömsborg and Helgeandsholmen. 

The official residence and major royal palace of the monarchy is the Stockholm Palace or the Royal Palace (Kungliga Slottet). As well, in the center of Gamla Stan near the palace is the church Storkyrkan or Stockholms Domkyrka (Stockholm Cathedral) and Sankt Nikolai Kyrka (Church of Saint Nicholas), known to be the oldest church in Stockholm. The atmosphere of the colorful buildings, the old and the new and the cobbled streets create a perfect postcard picture!
There are major museums you can visit, including the Vasa Warship Museum and the Skansen Open-air Museum, which shows the type of homes and farms that there are all over Sweden.

Replacing and combining older museums in Sweden are The National Museums of World Culture consist of four museums, three of which are in Stockholm: the Museum of Ethnography, the Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities, the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities and the fourth being the Museum of World Culture in Gothenburg.

The southern and most populous part of Sweden is Götaland with many attractions and sites to interest the tourist, especially the Liseberg Amusement Park, one of the largest in all of Scandinavia. The Universeum science center and museum hosts international film and music festivals. The southern part is Skåne County, with a long coastline surrounding it. The south-western side is characterized by pristine, white beaches which serve as a magnet for tourists and vacationers. The largest city of the region is Malmö, connected by the vast Öresund Bridge to Copenhagen, Denmark.

Not that we are showing off, but there are quite a few Swedish world-renown names that have put Sweden on the map! 
Alfred Nobel - the inventor of dynamite and the initiator of the Nobel Prize, Salma Lagerlöf the writer who created The Wonderful Adventures of Nils, the movie director Ingmar Bergman, the singing group ABBA and where would we all be without IKEA (need we say more)!

Stockholm, the magical capital of Sweden. Sweden is a country replete with tourist attractions that fulfills the Nordic dreams of its travelers. The number 100,000 is impressive and that is number associated with the amount of lakes that can be found in Sweden! One more reason to make Sweden a destination.