Not to be missed destinations in Sweden

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Our oblong country at the top of Europe, the Nordic region, is a land of many attractions. Whether it's entire cities, beautiful lakes, artefacts or just about anything, there are plenty of different destinations to visit to experience the magic. If you're struggling to decide where to go on your next holiday in the country, here are 5 tips that will definitely work whether you're travelling alone or in a group.

There are a number of different cities in Sweden that offer multiple experiences. This means that you can spend your holiday in one place and then tick off multiple places and attractions that you have visited. In no particular order, we've come up with 5 places you shouldn't miss if you're travelling in the country. From Jukkasjärvi in the north to Lund in the south, there's something for everyone.

Stockholm

We have to start with the royal capital, located on the east coast and with centuries of history behind it. There is undoubtedly something for everyone in this city of millions, which has been Sweden's largest city since receiving its city privileges in the 15th century.

If you're looking for a fun and entertaining experience, you can visit one of the country's three state-run casinos. Casino Cosmopol offers entertainment in the form of casino games, good food, good drinks and socialising. Just like at betsafe.com/en/casino you have a lot of excitement ahead of you.

If you are a little more historically minded, there is the Vasa Museum. It is a museum that opened its doors in 1990 and where the big star is the Regal ship Vasa, which was salvaged in 1961. At the Vasa Museum you can see the ship in its more or less full splendour and get very close to Swedish maritime history.

The Gröna Lund amusement park is located on Djurgården and has been available to city residents and tourists since the 19th century. There are carousels, a dance floor, stages and other attractions, especially in the summer.

Jukkasjärvi

Located just east of Kiruna, Jukkasjärvi isn't much to talk about as a village. Rather, it's what's there that makes people from all over the world flock there. Jukkasjärvi is home to the world's first ice hotel, which also serves as a rare tourist attraction.

Every winter, the hotel is built on the Torne River and extends over the ice in Jukkasjärvi. It is the world's largest hotel made of ice and snow and covers about 5,500 square metres. The hotel does not take the same shape every year, but is rebuilt for each winter season and differs in appearance. 

Around 10 000 tonnes of ice and 30 000 tonnes of snow are used to build the ice hotel in Jukkasjärvi. There is a lot of safety work behind the construction that ensures that the hotel stays in place during the season. The hotel premises include a church, a bar and rooms for over 100 guests.

Visby

On Gotland, Visby is the central town and the capital of Gotland County. It is a town with around 25,000 inhabitants in the urban centre and around 60,000 in the municipality. During the summer, this medieval town is transformed into a holiday paradise to which people flock.

Visby is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is known as the city of roses and ruins. The city played a central role in the Middle Ages and several finds have been left behind since then. Particularly impressive is the 3.5-kilometre-long ring wall that can be viewed.

For those who want to visit pubs and restaurants, there is a wide range of these in Visby, which is one of the most densely populated cities in the country. These are packed during the summer and not least during Almedalen Week, which is organised annually and brings the country's politicians and other visitors to the city.

Göta Canal

Running through Götaland is a canal that is both a popular tourist destination and the name and setting of a film trilogy dear to the hearts of Swedes. The Göta Canal is over 190 kilometres long and has been a busy stretch of waterway since 1832. Add to this the Trollhätte Canal and the Göta River, and the waterway runs right through the width of the country.

In one year, the Göta Canal has over three million visitors. It is an impressive construction where almost half of the 190-kilometre stretch has been blasted out. In Scotland, the Caledonian Canal is a sister canal to the Göta Canal.

For those who want to experience the Göta Canal by boat, there are good opportunities to do so. Several cruise ships float on the canal and several lines are busy, not least during the warmer months of the year. If you travel the full distance, there are a total of 58 locks whose openings often catch curious visitors.

Lund

There are many cities at the bottom of the country, in the Skånethat are worth a visit. Lund is one such place and, like Stockholm and Visby, can boast a long and eventful history. The city was founded just before the year 1000 and several exciting buildings can be found from the following years.

The largest and most visited is Lund Cathedral, a church consecrated in the 11th century. Two towers rise from the building at an impressive 55 metres. There are certainly bigger churches in the country, but there's no escaping the sheer scale of Lund Cathedral, both inside and out.

Lund is also home to some of the country's top handball clubs and is something of a mecca for handball lovers, at least in Sweden. At youth level, the clubs Lugi and H43 have built up an impressive operation. The Lundaspelen, the world's largest indoor handball tournament, is organised every year with IHF-rules for young people.

From Lund, it doesn't take many minutes to get to Malmö, another city with a rich history and attractions. For those who want to get across to Copenhagen smoothly and easily, there is the Öresund Bridge, which opened in the summer of 2020. The bridge is over 15 kilometres long and goes up on land on the Swedish side before turning into a tunnel under water.

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