Sweden
Top tourist attractions and sights in Sweden combine historic cities, design, and natural beauty. The capital Stockholm spreads across islands with its Old Town and museums, Gothenburg offers canals and coastline, and the wider country is known for forests, lakes, archipelagos, and the chance to see the Northern Lights.
General information
Sweden is the largest of the Nordic countries, a long land of deep forests, tens of thousands of lakes, rugged coastlines and Arctic wilderness in the far north. It pairs some of Europe's most liveable, design-conscious cities — led by the island capital, Stockholm — with vast, easily accessible nature, protected by the traditional "right to roam". From the midnight sun and northern lights of Lapland to the medieval lanes of Gotland, Sweden offers refined urban culture and pristine outdoors in equal measure. Swedish is the language, but English is spoken almost universally, making the country easy to travel, if on the expensive side.
Transport and how to get there
The main gateway is Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN), with further international airports at Gothenburg (GOT) and Malmo. Sweden's comfortable SJ trains link the southern cities efficiently, and the Oresund Bridge connects Malmo directly by train to Copenhagen in Denmark. Distances are large, so internal flights or overnight trains help for reaching the far north, while a car opens up the lakes, coasts and countryside.
Prices
Sweden is expensive, in line with the rest of Scandinavia. Expect roughly 1,100-2,100 SEK per night for a mid-range hotel (about 95-185 EUR), with hostels from around 350 SEK. A casual meal runs about 150-260 SEK, a coffee (the beloved fika) 40-50 SEK and a beer 65-90 SEK. Public transport and intercity trains add up, so passes and advance tickets help. The currency is the Swedish krona (SEK); prices are approximate and vary by season, with the far north peaking in winter and summer.
Main attractions
Stockholm leads with the old town of Gamla Stan, the extraordinary Vasa warship museum and its beautiful archipelago. Gothenburg, on the west coast, offers canals, seafood and the Liseberg amusement park, while the medieval walled town of Visby on the island of Gotland transports visitors to the Middle Ages. In the far north, Swedish Lapland delivers the northern lights, the famous Ice Hotel, husky sledding and the culture of the indigenous Sami — all set amid the silent forests and fells that define the Swedish wild.