ZAFARI / Europe

Sweden

This is where the longing begins.

A red cottage by the water. A jetty waiting for an evening swim. Days that seem never to end. Follow the coast, walk into the forest or let the next small road decide where you go.

Explore the country ↓Cover photo: Per-Åke Adolfsson / Unsplash
At a glance

The essentials

CapitalStockholm
Populationapproximately 10.6 million
Area450 295 km²
CurrencySwedish krona · SEK
General price level99%Western comparison group = 100%. A figure of 120% means 20% higher.World Bank, household consumption PLI, 2024. ZAFARI re-bases the mean of US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Sweden, Canada and Australia to 100. This broad index is not a hotel or restaurant price quote. Source ↗
LanguagesSwedish · five recognised national minority languages
Time & emergency02:03Europe/StockholmLocal time in Stockholm112
Hotels & restaurantsSee price examples ↓Separate indicative ranges for accommodation and meals, where verified.

Card payments are common. The comparison currency is Swedish kronor: 1 SEK = 1 SEK. Read current visitor information before travelling. Official travel advice ↗

Find your way

Two ways to see the country

World map

Sweden on the world mapAuthor: Al MacDonald Editor: Fritz Lekschas License: CC BY-SA 3.0 ID: ISO 3166-1 or "_[a-zA-Z]" if an ISO code is not availableMap: Al MacDonald / Fritz Lekschas, CC BY-SA 3.0

Cities and routes

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ZAFARI

10 attractions

Old Town & Vasa Museum
01

Old Town & Vasa Museum

Stockholm · culture

Stockholm’s historic heart combines lanes, palaces and quays with an exceptionally well-preserved seventeenth-century ship. Allow at least a full day.

Read more here

Explore the Old Town on foot, then continue to Djurgården for the Vasa Museum. Use the museum’s visitor information to plan tickets and opening times.

Official information ↗
· Photo and licence ↗
Stockholm archipelago
02

Stockholm archipelago

Stockholm · nature

Thousands of islands stretch from nearby Fjäderholmarna to bare outer skerries. Explore by scheduled ferry or kayak, or stay overnight on a small island.

Read more here

Choose between a short trip near the city and a longer island journey with an overnight stay. Check ferry timetables before setting out.

Official information ↗
· Photo and licence ↗
Visby & Gotland
03

Visby & Gotland

Gotland · history

A UNESCO-listed medieval town, limestone beaches and sea stacks. Midsummer is busy; May, June and September offer a quieter visit.

Read more here

Walk Visby’s walls and lanes. Beyond the town, sea stacks, villages and beaches call for more time and often your own transport.

Official information ↗
· Photo and licence ↗
Abisko National Park
04

Abisko National Park

Lapland · mountains

Mountain hiking and northern lights in Swedish Lapland, at the northern end of the Kungsleden trail.

Read more here

Abisko is a starting point for short walks and longer mountain journeys. Weather changes quickly: read the park’s visitor advice and choose a route suited to your experience.

Official information ↗
· Photo and licence ↗
Icehotel & Kiruna
05

Icehotel & Kiruna

Kiruna · Arctic

Art, architecture and Arctic life north of the Arctic Circle. Combine a visit with Kiruna’s urban transformation and Sámi experiences.

Read more here

Icehotel is in Jukkasjärvi; Kiruna offers city services and access to the mountain region. Plan transport and the season before booking.

Official information ↗
· Photo and licence ↗
Laponia & Sarek
06

Laponia & Sarek

Norrbotten · wilderness

A vast UNESCO area with living Sámi culture and remote mountains. Sarek requires experience and careful preparation.

Read more here

Laponia is a large World Heritage area. Sarek has no ordinary road access: visitors need mountain experience and independent planning.

Official information ↗
· Photo and licence ↗
High Coast
07

High Coast

Ångermanland · hiking

Coastal mountains, islands and remarkable evidence of land uplift. Skuleskogen National Park is a natural starting point for hiking.

Read more here

Combine viewpoints and coastal villages with walks in Skuleskogen National Park. Match the route to the weather and your ability.

Official information ↗
· Photo and licence ↗
Gothenburg & Bohuslän
08

Gothenburg & Bohuslän

West coast · city and sea

Trams, seafood and culture in a relaxed city, followed by a granite coast of fishing villages and kayaking waters.

Read more here

Start in Gothenburg for museums and restaurants, then choose a coastal village farther north as a base for exploring the rocks and islands.

Official information ↗
· Photo and licence ↗
Drottningholm Palace
09

Drottningholm Palace

Stockholm · World Heritage

A royal World Heritage site near Stockholm, with a Baroque park, the Chinese Pavilion and an eighteenth-century theatre still in use.

Read more here

Allow half a day or more for the palace and grounds. Check current tours and opening times before visiting.

Official information ↗
Österlen & Ales stenar
10

Österlen & Ales stenar

Skåne · landscapes

Rolling hills, orchards and fishing villages surround Sweden’s best-known stone ship setting above the sea at Kåseberga.

Read more here

Ales stenar stands above Kåseberga. Combine it with villages, coastal scenery and local food on an Österlen day trip.

Official information ↗
Arrive and explore

Transport

Getting to Sweden

Travel by rail through Copenhagen and across the Öresund Bridge, or by ferry from Finland, the Baltic countries, Poland and Germany. Stockholm Arlanda is the main international airport.

Five airlines to compare

Can you travel by train?

Yes. Trains from Denmark run to Malmö and onward towards Gothenburg or Stockholm. Journeys from elsewhere in Europe usually involve changes in Hamburg and Copenhagen.

Getting around

Sweden is a long country. Trains connect major cities; coaches reach areas without railways. A car helps in rural areas. Flying can save time to the north; examples include SAS and PopulAir, while BRA mainly operates for SAS.

  1. SJ
  2. VR Snabbtåg
  3. Snälltåget
  4. FlixBus
  5. Vy Bus4You / Vy express

Earlier planning examples, one way: Stockholm–Gothenburg by train SEK 300–1,200, Stockholm–Malmö SEK 350–1,400 and Stockholm–Kiruna by air SEK 700–2,500. Check current prices for your dates.

Stay and eat

Prices and food

Approximate prices in Swedish kronor (SEK) that may vary by region, date and standard.

Accommodation per night

Meals per person

10 hotels to compare

02

Ett Hem

Stockholm · boutique/luxury

Food culture: 10 dishes

Explore more

Food, coffee and evenings

Restaurants

03

Vyn

Österlen · fine dining

Cafés

  1. Vete-Katten · Stockholm · classic
  2. Drop Coffee · Stockholm · speciality coffee
  3. Johan & Nyström · Stockholm · roastery
  4. da Matteo · Gothenburg · roastery
  5. Lilla Kafferosteriet · Malmö · historic house
  6. Güntherska · Uppsala · bakery
  7. Rosendals trädgård · Stockholm · garden
  8. Gunnarsons Specialkonditori · Stockholm · tradition
  9. Flickorna Lundgren · Skäret · day trip
  10. Pom & Flora · Stockholm · modern fika

Nightlife

  1. Berns · Stockholm
  2. Trädgården · Stockholm
  3. Sturecompagniet · Stockholm
  4. Café Opera · Stockholm
  5. Slakthuset · Stockholm
  6. Pustervik · Gothenburg
  7. Yaki-Da · Gothenburg
  8. Moriska Paviljongen · Malmö
  9. Étage · Malmö
  10. Flustret · Uppsala
ZAFARI

Golf · places in pictures

Vallda Golf & Country Club

An aerial view of Vallda golf course, with water and bunkers.
An aerial view of Vallda golf course, with water and bunkers. Mickael Tannus · Free editorial use when mentioning Vallda; credit required
A bunker and green at Vallda Golf & Country Club.
A bunker and green at Vallda Golf & Country Club. Mickael Tannus · Free editorial use when mentioning Vallda; credit required
A misty green at Vallda Golf & Country Club.
A misty green at Vallda Golf & Country Club. Bruhnsfoto · Free editorial use when mentioning Vallda; credit required

Gustavsviks GK

Golf scenery at Gustavsviks GK.
Golf scenery at Gustavsviks GK. Sebastian F · Public domain

Veckefjärdens GC

Golf scenery at Veckefjärdens GC.
Golf scenery at Veckefjärdens GC. Petey21 · Public domain

Stockholm Golfclub

Golf scenery at Stockholm Golfclub.
Golf scenery at Stockholm Golfclub. Janders · Public domain

Norrfällsvikens GK

Place photograph from Norrfällsvikens GK.
Place photograph from Norrfällsvikens GK. Own work · CC0

Rya GK

Place photograph from Rya GK.
Place photograph from Rya GK. Magnus Bäck · Public domain

Malmö Burlöv golfklubb

Place photograph from Malmö Burlöv golfklubb.
Place photograph from Malmö Burlöv golfklubb. Jin Zan · CC BY-SA 4.0
ZAFARI

Diving & snorkelling · places in pictures

ZAFARI

10 best golf courses

Plan your next round around water, wind and the character of each course.

  1. Visby Golf Club – 18-hole course

    Seaside golf at Kronholmen on Gotland.

  2. Ullna Golf & Country Club

    Lakeside golf shaped by Sven Tumba and Jack Nicklaus.

  3. Vallda Golf & Country Club

    A Scottish-style inland links on Sweden’s west coast.

  4. Falsterbo Golf Club

    Coastal links in the Flommen nature reserve.

  5. Bro Hof – The Stadium Course

    Lakeside golf with large greens and water in play.

  6. The National – Links Course

    An inland links-style course with large greens and open views.

  7. Ljunghusen Golf Club – nine-hole loop 19–27

    Golf in a nature reserve on the Falsterbo peninsula.

  8. Mölle Golf Club

    Golf in the Kullaberg landscape.

  9. Bokskogen Golf Club – Old Course

    The Old Course has eighteen holes, par 71 and six tee options. Redesigned greens make for a challenging round.

  10. Royal Drottningholm Golf Club

    Plan eighteen holes on Lovö around the club’s available visitor tee times.

Explore every place, with photos →

ZAFARI editorial selection of verified courses. This is not an external or official ranking.

ZAFARI

Selected diving and snorkelling spots

Discover life below the surface with local knowledge as your starting point.

  1. Släggö, Lysekil

    Accessible coastal diving in central Lysekil.

  2. Nåttarö snorkel trail

    An underwater trail near the island’s ferry landing.

  3. Ransvik

    Diving from a stony beach on southern Kullaberg.

Explore every place, with photos →

Three reviewed dive and snorkel sites with photographs are available so far. This is not yet a complete top ten.

ZAFARI’s editorial selection of verified places. No official ranking.

Insider tips

Beyond the usual stops

01

Hundreds of islands in Lake Vänern, with natural harbours, walks and traces of earlier island life.

02

A forest landscape between Lakes Vänern and Vättern, with large boulders and walking trails.

03

Decorated farmhouses in Hälsingland form a World Heritage site.

04

Öland’s open limestone landscape has distinctive flora and broad horizons.

05

A free-flowing river links mountains, forests and villages in Västerbotten.

Beaches and swimming

Sweden has shallow sandy beaches and rocky swimming spots. Water is generally warmest from late June to August.

Winter sports

The ski season lasts longest in the north. Mountain areas offer downhill skiing, cross-country trails, touring and dog sledding.

Åre
01

Åre

A large resort with a wide range of facilities

This image was produced by me, David Castor (user:dcastor). The pictures I submit to the Wikipedia Project are released to the public domain. This gives you the right to use them in any way you like, without any kind of notification. This said, I would still appreciate to be mentioned as the originator whenever you think it complies well with your use of the picture. A message to me about how it has been used would also be welcome. You are obviously not required to respond to these wishes of mine, just in a friendly manner encouraged to. (All my photos are placed in Category:Images by David Castor or a subcategory thereof.) · Public domain · Photo and licence ↗
The capital

Stockholm

A city built on islands, bringing together the Old Town, modern design, waterways and the archipelago. Explore it in our Stockholm guide.

Explore the capital →

Temperature and rainfall by month

Earlier rounded monthly averages for Stockholm. Mountains and northern Lapland are much colder. The original table did not provide numeric rainfall values.

Jan-1 °C—
Feb-1 °C—
Mar2 °C—
Apr7 °C—
May12 °C—
Jun16 °C—
Jul19 °C—
Aug18 °C—
Sep13 °C—
Oct8 °C—
Nov3 °C—
Dec0 °C—
Stockholm · Climate source ↗
Wildlife and culture

Nature, people and music

Sweden extends from southern broadleaf forests and coastal meadows to conifer forests, wetlands and Arctic mountains. Most large wild mammals avoid people.

Moose

Moose

Sweden’s largest land animal. Road collisions are the main practical risk, especially at dawn and dusk. Slow down where wildlife warning signs are posted.

· Photo and licence
Brown bear

Brown bear

Mainly a forest animal that avoids people. Make your presence known, never approach cubs or a carcass, and retreat calmly after an unexpected encounter.

· Photo and licence
Wolf

Wolf

Rarely seen and generally not a practical threat to visitors. Keep dogs under control and follow local advice.

· Photo and licence
Lynx

Lynx

A mainly nocturnal cat, seldom seen. Tracks in snow are much easier to find than the animal itself.

· Photo and licence
Wolverine

Wolverine

An elusive mountain animal. Powerful, but normally no threat to walkers who keep their distance.

· Photo and licence
Wild boar

Wild boar

Most common in southern and central Sweden. Give them space, particularly females with young and when walking with a dog.

· Photo and licence
Adder

Adder

Sweden’s only venomous snake. Call 112 immediately after a suspected adder bite, even if symptoms initially seem mild. See the guidance from 1177.

· Photo and licence

For visitors, wildlife on roads, ticks, cold water and rapidly changing mountain weather usually need more attention than predators. Keep your distance from animals and follow local advice.

10 notable people

  1. Astrid Lindgren
    Read more

    The children’s author from Vimmerby created Pippi Longstocking, Emil and many other characters. Visit places connected with her life and stories in Vimmerby.

  2. Alfred Nobel
    Read more

    Inventor and entrepreneur whose will established the Nobel Prize. Stockholm hosts the award ceremony and the Nobel Prize Museum.

  3. Ingmar Bergman
    Read more

    Film and theatre director closely associated with Fårö. Films including The Seventh Seal and Persona have drawn film enthusiasts to the island.

  4. Greta Garbo
    Read more

    Born in Stockholm, she became one of classical Hollywood’s major stars. Her childhood neighbourhoods are in the capital.

  5. Anders Celsius
    Read more

    Astronomer and professor in Uppsala, best known for the temperature scale used across much of the world.

  6. Carl von Linné
    Read more

    Naturalist and Uppsala professor who developed the system of two-part scientific species names. The Linnaeus Garden and Hammarby are places to visit.

  7. Raoul Wallenberg
    Read more

    Swedish diplomat who worked to save Jews in Budapest during the Second World War. Museums and archives document his life and work.

  8. Ingrid Bergman
    Read more

    Swedish actor with an international film career, particularly associated with Casablanca and several Alfred Hitchcock films.

  9. Björn Borg
    Read more

    The tennis player from Södertälje became an international star, winning Wimbledon five times in a row.

  10. Avicii
    Read more

    Tim Bergling, known as Avicii, was an influential Swedish electronic music producer. Avicii Experience is in Stockholm.

Plant life

Beech and oak grow in the south, while conifer forests dominate much of the country. Mountain birch gives way to open alpine heaths. Bilberries, lingonberries and mushrooms are part of the landscape. Respect protected species, reserve rules and the responsibilities of the right of public access.

National parks

  1. Abisko · mountains and northern lights
  2. Sarek · wilderness
  3. Skuleskogen · Höga Kusten
  4. Stora Sjöfallet · mountains
  5. Fulufjället · Njupeskär
  6. Tyresta · old-growth forest near Stockholm
  7. Tiveden · forest and rocks
  8. Kosterhavet · marine national park

Music

Choose an artist to open the player. Swedish music ranges from ballads and pop to electronic dance music.

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Sources and updates
  1. Visit Sweden
  2. SCB
  3. Sveriges nationalparker
  4. Stockholm – film och inspiration
  5. 1177 · Huggormsbett / Adder bites