Sweden Map & highlights Helping Dreamers Do.

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Sweden Map & highlights

Covering an area twice the size of Britain, a list of places to visit in Sweden combines unforgettable nature with unique human imprints. In the north, Lapland's fascinating Sami culture vies with Arctic wilderness lit by unending summer sun or auroral winter darkness. Central Sweden is a fairytale heartland of vast forests teeming with bears and elk, broken by clearings dotted with pretty wooden cottages. Coasts come dotted with fishing hamlets facing enchanting archipelagos: historic Ostgota, beach-fringed Oland, lushly wooded Lulea. Rich history is everywhere: ancient stone circles, majestic medieval towns, rock art as old as the Pyramids.

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Our Sweden Vacations

1. Bergslagen
2. Bohuslan Coast
3. Dalarna
4. Gotland and Faro
5. Hoga Kuste
6. Jamtland
7. Kungsleden (King's Trail)
8. Lulea archipelago
9. Ostergota archipelago
10. Osterlen
11. Smaland
12. The Wilderness Way

Bergslagen

1. Bergslagen

This mineral-rich region north of Lake Malaren has been mined since before Christ - a history chronicled amid 750 km² of wilderness by the world's largest open-air museum. Come today for wildlife riches amid vast forests dotted with lakes: seek out plentiful moose and beaver; listen for wolves; watch osprey pluck fish from secluded waters, while red squirrels enjoy arboreal heaven.

Bergslagen

Bohuslan Coast

2. Bohuslan Coast

One of the world's most stunning shorelines stretches north of Gothenburg – vast seal-draped monochrome rocks lit up by dazzling clapboard cottages in dreamy villages like Fjallbacka (Ingrid Bergman’s summer haunt) and Smogen. Islands include artists' favourite Tjorn with its superb gallery, linked to lushly wooded Orust, alive with fishing and boat-building bustle. As Sweden's seafood epicenter, Bohuslan is a gourmand paradise too.

Dalarna

3. Dalarna

Along with snowy northern vistas and island-fronted rocky shores, Swedes consider this central province another of their most archetypal landscapes – a pine-forested swathe leavened by lakes, rolling hills and flower meadows scattered with pretty wood cabins. In case you think it's all too picture-postcard, note the fiercely independent Darlaners were the first Swedes to rise against Danish occupation in the 16th century.

Dalarna

Gotland and Faro

4. Gotland and Faro

Gotland is queen of Sweden's islands, a natural wonderland covered in cultural treasure. Medieval eminence fills the walled capital Visby, alongside Europe's largest cluster of medieval churches (over 90), standing stones and Bronze Age relics. Surreal rock stacks (rauk) rise from secluded beaches, while Gotland woods offer truffles as well as trees. Film buffs come to visit little sister island Faro, long-time home of director Ingmar Bergman.

Hoga Kuste

5. Hoga Kuste

Reached by one of the longest suspension bridges in Europe, the 'High Coast' is where pine-crested cliffs dive into an ocean dotted with pretty islands like Hogbonden, Ulvon and Trysunda. 16th century Harnosand provides a picturesque slice of civilisation, complemented by fishing villages like Ornskoldsvik. The coast's rocky facade is capped by twisty roads and a 130km hiking trail.

Hoga Kuste

Jamtland

6. Jamtland

Nestled below Lapland, the liquid heart of this region is Lake Storsjon, ringed with watercourses and rich farmland - and reputedly home to Sweden's take on the Loch Ness monster. Go in search aboard an 1870s wooden steamship from charming lakeside town of Ostersund after visiting its excellent Jamtli history museum. In winter, skiers flock to Are, while July offers a truly bizarre nude fiddlers contest in Hackas!

Kungsleden (King's Trail)

7. Kungsleden (King's Trail)

Sweden's top hiking and skiing route runs 450km across Lappland from Abisko to Hemavan, with free huts (no electricity) every 10-20km over the first half. The most popular section is the 86km traverse (allow 5-6 days) of the Abisko National Park - Sweden's driest area – from pretty Lake Tornetrask to Nikkaluokta, taking in Sweden's highest mountain (the 2,100m Kebnekaise). In summer, you'll probably bump into Sami reindeer herders.

Kungsleden (King's Trail)

Lulea archipelago

8. Lulea archipelago

Stockholm may have a larger island retinue but Lulea's 'mere' 1700 offer seclusion far from the capital's tourist throngs and R&R-ing city slickers. In summer, islands like Sandon, Junkon and Kluntarna have mainland ferry links, otherwise get paddling! Forage or fish, camp wild or cosy up in a clapboard cottage, swim or kayak, watch birds or just hang with the fishing folk on Hinderson.

Ostergota archipelago

9. Ostergota archipelago

Stretching from Bråviken in the north to Slätbaken in the south, this island phalanx splits into distinctive areas. Gryt has the Östgötaleden walking trail, with sea views through the Kvädö, Åsvik and Torrö nature reserves. The Sankt Anna islands, meanwhile, are picturesque repositories of history, their bays cradling lonely chapels and ruins like the 14th century royal castle at Stegeborg.

Ostergota archipelago

Osterlen

10. Osterlen

Surrounding the Stenshuvud National Park, this south coast enclave majors on bucolic meadows, coastal marshes, dune-backed beaches, Bronze Age cairns and headlands topped by enigmatic standing stones. Rather than the north's lonely elk-filled woods, here you peer for Nordic orchids and tree frogs. Crime fans should head for nearby Ystad to scout the picture-postcard setting for Henning Mankell's acclaimed Wallander yarns.

Smaland

11. Smaland

This woody lake-filled province has been Sweden's 'Glass Kingdom' since the 18th century. Major glass works such as Kosta and Orrefors are complemented by a dazzling glass museum in Vaxjo - also home to an Emigration Museum about the million-plus Swedes who left for America between 1850-1930. Hike and kayak, then dine on Hyttsill – Smaland nosh cooked in cooling glass ovens.

Smaland

The Wilderness Way

12. The Wilderness Way

The 360km Vildmarksvagen – Wilderness Way – links the tiny settlement of Stromsund to Vilhelmina, cutting through virgin forest, around beach-fringed lakes, through mountains and across the memorably desolate Stekenjokk plateau (NB: this section only open June-Oct). Along the way, skinny dip, marvel at tiny forgotten villages and soak up a wilderness containing Sweden's highest concentration of bears.

Travel Team

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Sweden travel times

Stockholm - Gothenburg: 3 hours by train Stockholm – Kiruna: 16 hours by overnight sleeper train Stockholm – Harnosand ('High Coast'): 4 ½ hours by train Arsta – Uto: 35 minutes by ferry Vaxholm – Finnhamm: 2 ½ hours by ferry

More about Sweden

Best time to visit Sweden

The best time to visit Sweden is best explained using our temperature & rainfall chart as well as taking a peek at our month by month guide and our cultural pick from the Sweden calendar.

Sweden travel guide

Pick through our Sweden travel guide and find out what we consider to be rated, underrated and downright overrated as well as a brief history of Sweden and how to travel like a local on your Sweden vacation.

Things to do in Sweden

Our top activities in Sweden aren’t just based around cycling or paddling around the Stockholm archipelago, although that is a rather nice area to start.

Kayaking in Sweden

Welcome to the Saint Anna archipelago, wild and pristine, the most renowned destination for sea kayaking in Sweden.

Traveling in Sweden with kids

Anyone who’s ever been traveling in Sweden with kids will surely testify that the locals just love their little ones and if you’re looking into activities for families in Sweden then read on and find out what our experts recommend for your next family vacation.

Sweden travel advice

Read a few tips from our friends in Sweden as you learn what our experts Maya Rao, Carmen Hamdi and Marcus Eldh have to say with regards to things to do and how to travel safely in Sweden.

Responsible tourism in Sweden

Doing your research into Sweden responsible travel issues starts here as we’ve got the low down on why preserving Sami culture, defending human and animal rights, and protecting woodland areas will help you travel better in Sweden.

All our Sweden guides

All our Sweden guides. Find all of our Sweden guides in one place, for particular places in Sweden such as Stockholm or Swedish Lapland. Or perhaps you would like to know more about the different types of vacations we offer such as walking or cycling in Sweden.

More relevant guides

Written by Norman Miller

ABTA member P7085 so you are fully protected

Photo credits: [Page banner: Mikael Sundberg] [Bergslagen: Billy Lindblom] [Bohuslan Coast: Mr Thinktank] [Dalarna: Johan] [Gotland and Faro: Bernt Rostad] [Hoga Kuste: Jukka] [Jamtland: Mr Thinktank] [Kungsleden (King's Trail): funkjoker] [Lulea archipelago: Joakim Syk] [Ostergota archipelago: Jan Ainali] [Osterlen: Wikimalte] [Smaland: Didriks] [The Wilderness Way: Daniel Åberg]

Sweden Map & highlights