10 Best Places to Visit in Sweden

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Last updated:
06.05.2022

So you are planning a trip to Scandinavia, and Sweden is on your radar? That’s a great start! If it already made it into your itinerary, keep reading, as we are about to present a rundown of the top 10 Sweden tourist attractions that will make your tour to Sweden a once in a lifetime adventure.

1. Visby & Faro, Gotland

The largest island in Sweden, Gotland, is the so-called Pearl of the Baltic which has become a real magnet for tourists.

For its popularity, we can certainly thank Visby, the main town of Gotland, as well as a tiny neighboring country Faro.

Visby town panorama

While Faro is full of various rock formations (raukur), fantastic beaches, it charms its visitors with tranquility. Visby attracts people for the opposite reasons, it is a former Viking settlement, a medieval town that is a Unesco World Heritage site that's full of energy and charm.

It is often named as one of the best preserved ancient walled cities, and the only one like this remaining in entire Sweden!

Did you know?
The world's first serial submarines, on which air-independent electric motors were installed, were called "Gotland."

2. Tree Hotel, Village of Harads

Hidden in a pine forest of Northern Sweden lies a magical city of tree hotels. You can choose from various cozy Nordic tree houses, some of which are just mind-blowing.

Can you imagine yourself sleeping in a gigantic bird’s nest Mirrorcube, or spending a night in a UFO spaceship, or a giant cabin?

Treehotel in harads

Well, everything is possible in Treehotel, where you can actually experience nature in one of the unique ways and be inspired by the surroundings no matter what season it is.

We're absolutely positive that this experience could easily become a highlight of your vacation in Sweden.

TIP: You should always book your place at Treehotel in advance. Contact our specialist today, or book directly.

3. Lund, Skane

We will forgive you if you hadn't heard of this little slice of heaven called Lund. Hidden in the southern tip of Sweden, this university town could be easily named as one of the loveliest in the country.

Dating back to 990, it one of the oldest cities in Sweden! Nevertheless, itis aging with beauty and is full of pulse and lively cafes.

Church of Lund

What not to miss? Lund Cathedral (Lund Domkyrka), the open-air museum (Kulturen), the Botanical Garden, Historical Museum, Holy Cross Church of Dalby (the oldest preserved stone church in Scandinavia), even a simple stroll is magical there.

Quick Lund Facts

  • Location: Sweden, Skane region
  • Currency: Swedish Krone (SEK)
  • Population: 94 393

4. Midsummer, Vastergotland or Dalarna

Lucky you if your tour to Sweden starts at the end of June, as you will get a chance to celebrate the longest day of the year with the Midsummer festival (between June 20 and June 26).

It never goes without flower wreaths, folk dances and singing around the midsummer pole, as well as various rituals associated with nature. It might seem like a weird tradition, but it is definitely a fun one!

Dalarna panorama

You can find Midsummer celebrations all around the country, but if you're not sure which place to pick, we suggest you visit Vastergotland, the so-called heart of Sweden, or go to Dalarna, a place where you can truly embrace Swedish culture and feel like a Swede yourself.

In ancient Greece, this day was also a celebration of social equality
The Greek holiday of Kronos, which honored Kronos, the god of agriculture, coincided with the solstice. The holiday differed from other annual celebrations in that slaves and free citizens participated in the festivities on equal terms.

5. Vasa Museum, Stockholm

It is not difficult to see why "Vasa Museet" is said to be the most visited museum in Sweden, and, actually, in whole Scandinavia. This maritime museum in Stockholm houses the majestic ship "Vasa", which is the only preserved 17th-century ship in the world!

But be sure it is more than a mere old boat, it was one of the world’s high-tech and most spectacular warships at that time, and a real artwork with hundreds of sculptures on it.

Ship in Vasa museum

Interestingly, the ship we see at the museum is 95 percent original, and that's all thanks to the Baltic Sea, whose cold waters had protected this treasure until 1961 when the ship was discovered and excavated.

Did you know?
If the Baltic Sea was warmer, the famous warship "Vasa" would not have been found 95% in tact.

6. Drottningholm Palace, Drottningholm

Set only a 30-minute drive from the Stockholm, Drottningholm is home to the private residence of the Swedish royal family.

The grounds of this World Heritage Site are breathtaking, and you could easily spend a whole day there, visiting the Chinese Pavilion, parks and gardens, the royal theater.

Drottningholm Palace, Drottningholm

You will surely immerse yourself in rich history and feel the serenity of the land.

You can even take a boat trip to get to Drottningholm Palace and make your trip even more enjoyable.

7. Kiruna, Swedish Lapland

If your Sweden adventure takes you anywhere near the so-called Swedish Lapland, don’t miss out on visiting Kiruna, a real winter wonderland.

This small mining town is located in the center of the Aurora oval, and everyone knows that the further north you go, the better are your chances of catching the famous Northern Lights.

Swedish Lapland

But in Kiruna you can experience even more, starting from snowmobiling, dogsledding, to such unusual activities as reindeer sleigh rides or even snowshoeing. Kiruna is also home to one of Sweden’s most magical attractions - the Ice Hotel. We are sure that the sleeping on ice experience can easily become your most unforgettable lifetime adventure.

Swedish Lapland

8. Stockholm, Sweden

We know that most probably your visit to Sweden will include Stockholm, but it just deserves to be on this list.

During the tour of Firebird Tours visits to the famous Royal Palace, the Stockholm Cathedral, and the City Hall are all included.

Stockholm

Yet the jewel in the crown is its Vasa Museum (see point 5) and the well-preserved medieval Old Town.

If you wish to experience the untouched nature of Sweden, you simply cannot miss the unique archipelago in Stockholm with nearly 30 000 islands, which starts just in the outskirts of the city.

Top 5 capital's attractions:

  • Vasa Museum
  • The Royal Palace
  • Skansen
  • Gröna Lund
  • Fotografiska

9. Abisko

There's one more small village on your must-see list of places in Sweden. It's called Abisko and is located north of the Arctic Circle.

Its location makes it ideal for witnessing one of the most spectacular natural phenomena on the planet - Northern Lights.

Northern Lights in Abisko

If you have decided to spend a little bit more time in the area, make sure to pay a visit to Abiskos National Park, which opens up breathtaking views over mountains and nordic landscape.

10. Sarek National Park

Swedes certainly love nature, and creating natural parks is one of the best ways to preserve and enjoy it. So it’s no surprise that there are more than 25 unique natural parks there!

But if you can visit just one, this needs to be Sarek. Sarek National Park is definitely among the most spectacular parks in whole Sweden.

Sarek National Park

It is situated in the alpine area, with mountains as high as 2000 meters (6562 miles), many streams, and mountain slopes.

And if you want to stay there, there are two options: you can stay in a traditional cabin or choose to stay in an equipped tent.

If you consider Sweden for your next getaway but still have doubts when to go, what to wear, or which sights to include to make it a trip of a lifetime, read this Trip Planner for Scandinavia and don't hesitate to contact our travel specialist. We can't wait to see you on one of our tours!

TIP:
Spend another day in Scandinavia, but this time explore Denmark. Hop on a Stockholm to Copenhagen train and discover another gorgeous capital city.