Sweden Travel Facts

Sweden borders Finland and Norway and is also the largest country in Scandinavia. Characterized by beautiful landscapes, Sweden is a perfect country to switch off, relax and find yourself. But thousands of islands, exciting cities and of course the Northern Lights also fascinate travelers again and again.

Source: Destination Explorer

Fast facts to know

• Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government.
• Home of Pippi Longstocking, Inspector Wallander and ABBA.
• Largest country in Scandinavia.
• Two thirds of Sweden is covered by forests, fields or wilderness.
• The Swedish territory includes 221,800 islands.
• 85% of Swedes live in the south of the country, mainly in the three big cities.
• The moose is the country’s most famous animal.
• The right of public access (allemansrätten) regulates how to deal with nature, but is not a written law, but a list of rules of conduct.
• Sweden’s capital Stockholm is spread over 14 islands with a network of bridges.
• The sale of alcohol is expensive and only allowed to the state.

Exciting cities in Sweden

• Stockholm
• Gothenburg
• Malmo
• Trelleborg
• Uppsala
• squid
• Visby
• Falun
• Helsingborg
• Karlskrona

History of Sweden

• First settled by humans 11,000 years ago.
• Viking Age from 800 to 1050.
• Christianization from the 11th century.
• 1397-1523 Kalmar Union between Norway, Sweden, Denmark.
• 1544 Sweden is declared a Protestant kingdom.
• In the 17th century attempts by the royal family to attain a position of hegemony in Europe.
• 1611 to 1613 The Kalmar War between Denmark and Sweden ends with the surrender of the Finnmark to Norway, which is under Danish rule.
• Conquest of large parts of northern Germany, including Western Pomerania, the Archdiocese of Bremen and the Diocese of Verden in the Thirty Years’ War.
• Efforts to colonize outside of Europe are only successful in the short term.
• 1809 Finland ceded to the Russian Tsarist Empire after the Napoleonic Wars.
• Beginning policy of neutrality, also in World War II Sweden tries to prevent participation in the war.

Climate & travel weather in Sweden

• South: cool-temperate oceanic climate (summer quite humid and cool, winter cool but still quite mild).
• East: continental climate with greater temperature differences between summer and winter.
• North: Polar climate with very cold winters, sometimes below 40° C (short winter days, summers are also short and changeable).
• Recommended travel time:
  • Ski season: December to April (snow guaranteed).
  • Outdoor Activities: May to July.
  • Beach holiday: June & July (precipitation is always to be expected).

Ideas for trips in Sweden

• King’s Path Kungsleden.
• Stora Nyckelviken Manor.
• Gripsholm Castle.
• Wanås Sculpture Park.
• Mårbacka Manor.
• Varberg’s cold bath house.
• Rosendal Castle.
• Vasa Museum in Stockholm.
• Watch the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) in the arctic winter (October to March).
• do dog sled rides.
• Hike!
• Sigtuna’s old wooden houses.
• Hiking on the Kullaberg.
• ABBA Museum in Stockholm.
• Gota Canal.
• Ice Hotel Jukkasjärvi.

Eating & drinking in Sweden

• Swedish cuisine is based on solid, traditional home cooking.
• Very popular: reindeer meat, elk meat, salmon caviar, fish, seafood.
• Favorite pastime of all Swedes: drinking coffee and telling stories.
• Beer and wine are popular with meals.
• Classic Swedish ingredients: potatoes, fish, meat, mushrooms.
• In many restaurants, you put your meals together like in a canteen.
• Tap water is free in many restaurants and can be drunk without hesitation.
• Breakfast: continental style with bread, jam, cheese.
• Lunch: quite early from 11.30 am.
• Dinner (midday): served around six o’clock.
• Popular side dish: bread, usually flavored with cinnamon or sweetened with syrup.
• Swedes like to snack, popular with tea and coffee: cinnamon rolls, Viennese bread.
• The traditional Christmas buffet is called Julbord.
• Typical dishes:
  • saffron pastries.
  • Smoked reindeer hearts.
  • Engraved Salmon.
  • Surstromming (fermented herring).
  • Älg (moose, as a goulash-like stew or steak).
  • Filmjölk (thick sour milk).
  • Fiskbullar (fish cakes).
  • Kanelbullar (cinnamon rolls made from yeast dough).
  • Knäckebröd (classic Swedish dry bread).
  • Köttbullar (meatballs).
  • Sill (herring).

Particularly scenic

• Rockets from Digerhuvud.
• Stone coast in the north of the island of Gotland.
• Österlen in southeast Skåne.
• Bohuslan coast.
• Lake Vättern.
• National Parks:
  • Abisko National Park.
  • Sarek National Park.
  • Fulufjallet National Park.
  • Tiveden National Park.
  • Store Mosse National Park.
  • Hamra National Park.
  • Muddus National Park.
  • Padjelanta National Park.