Tourist AttractionsSweden
Sweden, a beautiful country in Scandinavia located in northern Europe, borders Norway and Finland. It boasts unique tourist attractions, historic sites, and stunning coastlines, complemented by first-class hotels and special facilities for guests and tourists.
The capital of this country is Stockholm, where administrative activities are conducted. You undoubtedly know that Stockholm, due to its modernity and advancement in everything from lifestyle to food, design, fashion, and advanced scientific technologies, is considered one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The Swedes claim that Stockholm has the beauty and characteristics of an international metropolis. Transportation in this city is easy, and the air is particularly clear and fresh, with impressive greenery and a rich cultural, urban, and historical heritage.
Sights to See in Sweden
Stockholm Archipelago
Surrounding the capital, Stockholm, is a chain of small islands, representing Sweden’s largest archipelago. Tourists have easy access to thousands of beautiful islands and a few inhabited areas. To enhance your travel experience, you can take summer excursions to the islands with passenger boats on archipelago tours. Some of the islands are home to untouched wildlife, making them ideal spots for sailing orhiking.Thus, you can create wonderful memories with a unique travel experience. Although you may feel far from the city in this area, you should know that you can easily take daily trips to these islands.
The Stockholm Islands During Your Visit to Sweden
Attractions of Sweden
Kållberg Nature Reserve
Visit the Kållberg Nature Reserve to observe Sweden’s unique and diverse ecosystem. Here, you can find various plants and animals that do not exist anywhere else in the world.
Djurgården Island
Another important attraction in Sweden is Djurgården Island, where numerous attractions such as galleries, the Skansen open-air museum, and a zoo showcasing local wildlife can be found. On this island, you can experience the traditional culture of Sweden and see Swedish handicrafts.
Gröna Lund
As mentioned in the tourism sectionof SelMagz, the very popular amusement park “Gröna Lund” in Stockholm, located by the water, offers massive amusement rides, a casino, various restaurants serving diverse cuisines, and numerous concerts performed by local and international artists during the joyful spring and summer weather on its grand stage.Skåne
In southern Sweden lies an area called Skåne with the most fertile soil in the world. The region boasts beautiful gardens and scenic peaks from the 12th to the 19th centuries. Visiting this area allows you to enjoy agricultural lands, the beautiful nature of lakes, and forests, creating memorable experiences with the delicious foods served in local Skåne restaurants.
Jokkmokk
In northern Sweden, there is a town called Jokkmokk with a market that is 400 years old. This market opens every year in February. We recommend trying the local food of this town and witnessing the stunning local dances in this area. The deep culture of Jokkmokk is showcased at the Ájtte Museum. Due to its location above the Arctic Circle, this town experiences endless daylight in summer and long nights in winter.
Kosterhavet National Park
Kosterhavet is Sweden’s first national underwater park, covering an area of 450 square kilometers, featuring the richest diversity of marine life. It includes about 200 different types of plants and animals, including coral reefs beneath the water, located in the Koster Islands in western Sweden. Tourists visit this park in summer for diving and swimming, and during other seasons for fishing, bird watching, and hiking. Furthermore, tourists can enjoy sailing alongside sea pigs and remnants of wrecks.
Malmo
The historic medieval city of Malmo is known for its modern and contemporary buildings, perfectly blending old and new. As Sweden’s third-largest city, it features an old town (Gamla Staden) with three main squares named Stortorget, Lilla Torg, and Gustav Adolfs Torg. In the old town, you can visit Malmohus Slott castle. Turning Torso is a new attraction in Malmo, recognized as an architectural masterpiece spiraling over 190 meters into the sky.
Ystad
Ystad is a coastal town in southern Sweden, known for the Greyfriars Monastery (one of Sweden’s best-preserved medieval monasteries) and the Church of St. Mary (a large medieval church), both showcasing stunning Gothic architecture. You can admire the charming views of half-timbered buildings while walking through Ystad’s cobbled streets. The Ales Stenar stone monument is located east of Ystad and consists of 59 large stones arranged to form a ship.
Stone Monument in Sweden
Recreational Attractions in Sweden
Aare
Aare is a town in northern Europe’s steepest area, known for its excellent skiing slopes. This town offers extraordinary winter views and opportunities to see the Northern Lights for tourists, even though it has beautiful shopping centers and restaurants. Most tourists visit this region mainly for skiing.
Visby
The walled medieval town of Visby is highly regarded as a UNESCO World Heritage site, known as the old Viking town. This city is referred to as the “pearl of the Baltic Sea.” According to UNESCO, the walls of Visby date back 700 years and are well-preserved, making it a fortified city in northern Europe. Interestingly, despite the ruins dating back several centuries, this town embraces the simple modern Scandinavian lifestyle. Along the winding cobbled streets, you can see luxurious wooden houses over a hundred years old. Rest assured, there are plenty of ruins for sightseeing, as Götland has nearly 90 churches built before the 12th century.
Marstrand
Marstrand is a town dating back to 1200 AD, located in western Sweden, known for its sailing opportunities and the old castle. The 17th-century Carlsten castle is situated in Marstrand. When visiting Marstrand, you can take many pictures of the decorated historic buildings with colorful facades, surrounded by cobbled streets. Don’t miss visiting the Strandverket art museum, the restored Pater Noster lighthouse, and the beautiful hiking trails in this area.
Carlsten Castle in Sweden
Natural Attractions in Sweden
Uppsala
Located 70 kilometers north of Stockholm, Uppsala is a city from the twelfth century and is the religious center of Sweden. In ancient times, before Sweden embraced Christianity, the Swedes worshipped Norse gods (from Scandinavia). They built shrines and temples to honor these gods, and once Christianity triumphed over Norse religion, a Christian church was constructed in the 12th century in this kingdom. This church still exists and symbolizes an important part of Sweden’s history.
One of the oldest universities in Scandinavia, Uppsala University, was founded in 1477. The Fyris River flows through Uppsala, with medieval sections of the city located on the western bank. The castle and Uppsala Cathedral dominate the horizon of this city. The 18th-century botanist Carl Linnaeus lived in Uppsala, so be sure to visit the botanical garden next to the castle as well.
Abisko National Park
Abisko National Park is regarded as the main and most important location for adventurers to camp and explore the Northern Lights. Mount Nuolja with its sky station is situated in this park, 900 meters above sea level, offering some of the most extraordinary views in the world. Hiking in the forests next to Lake Trollsjön is a unique summer activity for visitors, and skiing facilities have been established for the winter months.
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is located on Sweden’s western coast and features parks dating back to the 19th century. One notable park is Kungsparken, which circles a canal that encloses the city center. As Scandinavia’s largest port city, Gothenburg hosts the largest film festival in the region, along with numerous music festivals throughout the year.
Gothenburg, Sweden
Sights in Sweden
Gotland
Gotland is Sweden’s largest island, surrounded by the Baltic Sea and is among the most popular tourist destinations in Sweden.
Fishing, agriculture, tourism, and information technology are Gotland’s top industries. This place enjoys more sunshine throughout the year than anywhere else in Sweden, making it a favorite for sun-chasers. Visby, the only city on the island, is a walled town that has preserved much of its ancient urban landscape and old buildings. Approximately 100 medieval churches are located on this island. You can enjoy beautiful white sandy beaches, natural plant life, and interesting seabird species here.
Sigtuna
Sigtuna, the oldest town in Sweden, is located on Lake Mälaren in Uppland, north of Stockholm, discovered around 980 AD during the Viking era. We recommend that discerning travelers visit this area because it holds many beautiful sights, thus despite its small size, it is highly valued among tourists. Local restaurants, art shops, clothing stores, and charming cafes fill the medieval center of this town. Don’t forget to visit the ruins, the medieval church, and the enchanted stones nearby. The Church of St. Mary is a brick building in the Gothic architectural style and is one of the main attractions of this town, making it an ideal travel destination.
Swedish Lapland
Swedish Lapland is located at the northernmost point below the Arctic Circle, attracting many tourists in summer due to its 24-hour daylight. It is suitable for sailors, climbers, and lovers of the wild nature. This land is home to the indigenous Sami people, who live in vast forests and barren tundra.
Stockholm Islands
