10 ESSENTIAL PLACES TO SEE IN SWEDEN

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This list of the best places to see in Sweden It will help you organize a trip to a country known for its incredible natural landscapes and charming cities.
With one of the cleanest airs and waters in the world, Sweden stands out for its magnificent routes through extensive forests and crystalline lakes, long-awaited northern lights, cities of Viking past, fishing villages and a healthy gastronomy, in which fish and seafood predominates .
The best time to travel to Sweden is from May to September, when the temperature is pleasant and you can have up to 24 hours of clarity, thanks to the midnight sun. In winter the temperatures of the north zone (Lapland) reach 15 degrees below zero and there are very few hours of light, although it is the best time to see the northern lights.
To make a good route through the country and know its main tourist attractions you need a minimum of 10 days, moving at your own pace by rental car and approaching Lapland on an internal flight or night train from Stockholm.

Based on the experience of our trip to Stockholm and upcoming trips, we have made this list of 10 essential places to visit in Sweden. We start!

1. Stockholm

Stockholm, built on 14 islands that are part of an incredible archipelago of more than 24,000 islands, is one of the most beautiful places to see in Sweden and an essential cities to visit in Europe.
Known as the "Venice of the North" Due to its large number of canals and bridges, this small and modern city is full of charming corners such as the historic Gamla Stan, the well-kept parks and several interesting museums.
A good option to not miss anything is to follow this list of essential places to visit in Stockholm and this one of the best things to do in Stockholm.
You can complete these itineraries on foot through the city by booking one of these guided tours or excursions that will allow you to get to know Stockholm's history better and travel by boat a small part of its archipelago.

Stockholm

2. Lapland

Another of the best things to do in Sweden It is approaching by train or plane to Swedish Lapland, located in the north of the country, to see the fantastic northern lights, between October and March.
The gateway to this extreme area with temperatures that can reach 20 degrees below zero in winter, is the small town of Kiruna, which has a magnificent wooden church.
From this town you can enjoy different activities such as snowmobile routes, sleep in a wooden cabin by a lake, learn about the culture and history of the Sami people and, above all, do a safari to hunt Northern Lights in the National Park of Abisko, one of the best places to see them and where the impressive Kungsleden hiking trail or the king's path begins.
Another of the most original experiences in this area is to book a night at the ice hotel, located in Jukkasjärvi 15 kilometers from Kiruna. If you do not find availability or prefer to sleep in a hotter place, you can book a guided tour that allows you to know the interior of this hotel in which new rooms are built every year.
To get to Kiruna you can catch a low cost flight from Stockholm for about 50 euros or book this night train that takes about 14 hours.

Swedish Lapland

3. Siljan Lake

The Dalarna region has one of the most beautiful natural landscapes to see in Sweden, where Lake Siljan, the sixth largest in the country, stands out.
This lake and its small lakes around, are perfect for canoeing or kayaking, fishing, mountain bike routes and climbing Mount Gesunda for fantastic views.
Other places not to be missed in this region are the Orsa Grönklitt park with the largest community of predators in all of Europe, including the bear, the bucolic town of Mora located next to Lake Silja and the city of Falun, a mining town where is the old La Gran Montaña de Cobre mine, a World Heritage Site.

Dalarna, one of the places to visit in Sweden

4. Gothenburg

Gothenburg, the second largest city to visit in Sweden, it is a modern, creative city with a bohemian air that you will love.
Located on the west coast and surrounded by a beautiful natural environment where water predominates, Gothenburg has the largest port in northern Europe and is much quieter than the tourist Stockholm.
Some of its essentials are walking through Götaplatsen square and Kungsportsavenyen avenue, visiting the Art Museum, booking a canal cruise, climbing to the Läppstiftet viewpoint, getting to know the neighborhood of Haga and making a seafood platter in one of its recommended restaurants.
You can get to Gothenburg from Stockholm by booking this fast train that takes about 3 hours, taking a bus from the Nettbus and Flixbus companies that take about 7 hours or with a 4-day cruise. This last option will take you through the Gota Canal, built in the 19th century and passing through several lakes.

Gothenburg

5. Ales Stenar, one of the places to see in Sweden

The stones of Ale or Ales Stenar is one of the most famous megalithic ensembles in Europe and one of the essential places to see in Sweden.
This monument from 600 A.D. and located to the south of the country, it is formed by 59 granite blocks located in a boat-shaped row, reaching a length of more than 65 meters.
Its origin and purpose is still a mystery, since many of these places were for funeral rites, but in this case no grave has been found and one of the most accepted theories is that it was a calendar to have the stones aligned with the sun .

Ales Steaner, one of the places to see in Sweden

6. Gripsholm Castle

Taking a trip to Gripsholm Castle, located next to Lake Malaren 70 kilometers from Stockholm, is another of the best things to do in Sweden.
This photogenic castle of more than 600 years old, surrounded by a beautiful natural environment, is part of the palaces of the Swedish Crown, being built by the popular king Gustav Vasa.
In addition to touring its interior with long corridors and rooms with period furniture, it is worth visiting the National Collection of Photo Frames, which contains images of the entire history of the castle.
Upon leaving the building you can take a walk through the well-kept gardens with canyons and Viking remains, and then visit the town of Mariefriend, located next to the same lake and another of the most beautiful places to visit in Sweden.

Gripsholm Castle

7. Gotland Island

The island of Gotland, located in the Baltic Sea, is another of the most essential places to see in Sweden.
This island of white sand beaches and with a great diversity of fauna and flora, is perfect to disconnect from the world and relax in an environment of nature and idyllic medieval villages.
The most amazing natural landscape of this island without mountains are the raukar, geological formations, in the form of pillars of strange shapes, which can reach 10 meters and that have originated from the erosion of the sea on the limestone.
Among its prettiest towns is Visby, a walled city declared a World Heritage Site of cobbled streets and old churches.
Other interesting places in Gotland are the Lummelunda Caves, the Gotland Museum, the Krusmyntagarden herbarium and the Kneippbyn Theme Park, where the original Pippi Longstock series is located.

Gotland Island

8. Malmö, one of the cities to visit in Sweden

Malmö, the third largest city to visit in Sweden and linked to Copenhagen by the famous Oresund Bridge, is characterized by its young and multicultural environment.
Stroll through the historic center of Gamla Staden, where Jakob Nilsgatan Street and Stortorget and Lilla Torg squares stand out, approach the charming Västra Hammen neighborhood full of trendy venues, surprise yourself with the Turning Torso skyscraper in Santiago Calatrava or go to the beach from Ribersborg, they are just some of the best things to do in Malmo.
In addition to not missing any of these points of interest, if you want to know its interesting history we recommend you book this guided tour in Spanish.
Malmo is more than 4 hours by train and more than 10 by bus from Stockholm, while Copenhagen is less than 40 minutes by train and one hour by bus.
If you have more time you can approach the Lund Cathedral, an impressive Lutheran temple from the 12th century, located 20 minutes by train or car from Malmo.

Visiting Malmo, one of the things to do in Sweden

Recommended travel cards
Remember that in order not to pay commissions and always have the current change we recommend you use the N26 card to pay and the Bnext and Revolut cards to get money at the ATMs. They are the ones we use, They are free and will save you a lot.
You can find more information in this article about the best cards to travel without commissions.

9. Smögen

Crossing the bridge that connects the town of Kungshamn with the fishing island of Smögen is another of the best things to do in Sweden.
On this picturesque island of colorful wooden houses, surrounded by a wonderful fjord environment, the best seafood and fresh fish from the west coast of Sweden is served, in addition to the räksmörgås, a popular Swedish prawn sandwich.
During the summer it is filled with Swedes that fill the terraces of the long wooden bridge of the port to have a beer and catch color with the desired sun rays.

Smogen

10. Drottningholm Palace

Drottningholm Palace, residence of the Unesco royal family and heritage, is the most spectacular and best preserved to see in Sweden.
This 18th-century French-style palace forms a Chinese Pavilion, the Palace Theater and the royal gardens, a set that will leave you speechless.
Although the rooms in the southern part of the palace are reserved for the king and queen of Sweden, you can visit most of the building and its magnificent gardens.