Walking in Sweden

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Walking in Sweden

Sweden is home to a spectacular selection of long-distance hiking routes, including the famously knee-jarring Kungsleden, which stretches all the way to the Arctic Circle; but our walking vacations in Sweden prioritise taking it easy over punishing your thighs on the trails. You’ll be based in southeastern Sweden, around the bucolic landscapes of the Stockholm Archipelago and Sörmland county, where a patchwork of lakes, woodlands, seaside towns and flat, well-marked trails, is perfect for gentle summertime exploration.

This easygoing approach means that you’ll have plenty of time stop and savour your surroundings: taking time to visit a castle or two, cram your face full of freshly foraged berries, swim in the Baltic from secluded sandy beaches or stay up late to enjoy those long Midsummer nights. Trails are well-signposted, public transport efficient and trips are flexible and self-guided, complete with route notes and luggage transfers - so all you have to worry about is where to get the best meatballs.

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Practicalities

All of our walking vacations in Sweden are tailor-made, allowing you to tweak your vacation to suit the needs of you and your fellow travelers. You’ll have the choice of either going point-to-point - making your way between pre-booked locally run B&Bs, with your luggage sent on ahead of you; or spending a week based at a guesthouse in Stockholm, heading out on a different adventure each day. There are hundreds of trails to be found in and around the island city – which is great for those who don’t want to travel too far.

Either way, you’ll have access to local support and you’ll be provided with a well-designed itinerary as well as a comprehensive information package, so you’ll have the low down on walking routes as well as on cultural, historical and natural sites of interest.

In terms of kit, you’ll need sturdy walking shoes, waterproofs and layers for peeling off or putting on, as you could experience everything from daytime heat to summer downpours to evening chills.

How fit do I need to be?

Although Sweden has plenty of challenging hikes – including the 450km Kungsleden in the north and the Höga Kustenleden on the east coast – our walking vacations are more about relaxed discovery than tough trekking, sticking to the easy going gradients of Stockholm’s archipelago and Sörmland county, just southwest of the capital. All tours are a week long, and you’ll walk anywhere no more than around 20km a day, allowing you plenty of time to stop and rest, or change your plans if the weather’s not looking great. Paths are for the most part flat and well marked, leading through pine forests to beaches, lakes and historic manor houses or farms. You’ll be traveling by water as well as on foot, using the network of boat routes, public transport and bridges that connect the thousands of islands here.

Our walking vacations are well-suited to families, and children aged 10 and over are welcome to join their parents on the trails.

Where will I walk?

Lovely, laid-back Sörmland is Sweden's southernmost wilderness - a pretty-as-a-picture taestry of wild forests, pristine islands and rolling farmland, dotted with castles and manor houses that were once the private country retreats of wealthy city dwellers. It has over 1,000km of well-marked walking routes leading past lakes, open countryside and seaside towns. The much lauded Sörmlandsleden Trail runs through Sörmland and can be walked in sections, such as the 19km walk from Tullgarn to Trosa.

Stockholm’s archipelago is made up of 24,000 islands, which can be easily negotiated by public transport including boats and rail. Larger islands such Nynäshamn, some 90 minutes from Stockholm by train, offer access to smaller gems such as Rånö, Ålö and Utö, which are connected by bridges and offer walks through the forest glades and open meadows, where you can spot roe deer and jackrabbits.

All our walking trips begin and end in Stockholm so you shouldn't miss the chance to explore this very walkable city on foot. Right in the center and not to be missed is the Ecopark - a green oasis where you can hike through ancient woods, visit a palace and jump into a lake from waterside rocks.

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When to go walking?

High season in southern Sweden is July and August - the warmest time of year with the longest, brightest nights, when all attractions and accommodations are open and island boat services are running. This is also the busiest time of year, though, so you’ll find plenty of other people - both tourists and locals - out on the trails. The best time to go walking in Sweden in our opinion is actually around mid-June, as nature bursts into life following the colder, darker days of winter, and you’ll have most of the trails to yourself.

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