Natural beauty, cultural riches and cutting edge design
As Scandinavia’s largest country – both in terms of geographical size and population – Sweden is home to an extraordinary variety of landscapes and cultures that make it a deeply alluring place to travel. In the far north, Swedish Lapland contains some of Europe’s most untouched wilderness areas, characterised by mountains, glaciers, boreal forests and swathes of uninhabited tundra. The southern half of the country, by contrast, is a largely flat expanse of woodland, lakes and fertile farmland, while the coast is scattered with over 220,000 islands.
From ultra-cool Stockholm and charming Gothenburg to vibrant Malmö and picture-perfect Visby, Sweden’s towns and cities are jam-packed with attractive architecture, innovative design, fascinating museums, beautiful parks, and a richly diverse blend of people from all around the world.
Sharply contrasting seasons
The distinct nature of Sweden’s seasons creates a different kind of appeal throughout the year. From the end of April through to the middle of August, it never gets fully dark, while in the far north, in the height of summer, you can witness the spectacular phenomenon of the midnight sun. The opposite is true in winter, when northern Sweden experiences near-constant darkness (Polar night), and much of the country is blanketed in snow.
Sweden also offers excellent opportunities to see the Northern Lights on dark, clear nights between late August and early April. They can be visible even in the south during particularly strong periods of solar activity, but for the best chances, Swedish Lapland is the place to go. Abisko National Park, deep inside the Arctic Circle, is especially renowned as one of the best places in the world to see the aurora borealis thanks to its dry microclimate and northerly latitude.
A Scandinavian cultural powerhouse
You needn’t look far to find evidence of Sweden’s far-reaching cultural impact. IKEA furniture, H&M clothes, Volvo cars and Spotify streaming are just a few prime examples of Sweden’s international influence in everyday life – not to mention an array of much-loved music artists, including ABBA, Roxette and Aviici. And of course, the Swedes make some of the very best meatballs and cinnamon buns in the world.
