5 Best Beaches, Hikes & Northern Lights in Sweden

Fancy a relaxing weekend in the autumn darkness, without traveling far? Sweden is one of the most interesting European travel destinations that never seems to get talked about. Often lumped into the broader region of Scandinavia, and specifically paired up with Finland and Norway, it just is not always viewed as a distinct destination.

One of the most naturally beautiful countries in the world, Sweden should be on the bucket list of any European traveller. This country is famous for its Viking heritage, but today there are a thousand reasons to visit Sweden and is one of the best places to travel solo in Europe. Sweden is also one of the Scandinavian countries that is usually a regular in the lists of the best countries in the world to live.

A country of Scandinavian region, Sweden is famous for its’ extreme climatic and geographical circumstances. Sweden remains under snow for around 4 months of an year, and remains bright with sun light for maximum hours of day in summer. Stockholm, Gothenburg and Uppsala are major cities of this country. But the countryside of Sweden is more beautiful. You can experience the real nature and culture of north pole and Scandinavian countryside.

If you like snow then winter would be a good opportunity to visit Sweden but then sun shine will be less for you to explore the country in day time. If you like bright days then summer may attract you and you will have ample time to explore and travel in the region as days are very big around of 18–20 hours.

So, giving a little bit of attention to each of these categories and more, we are going to delve into Sweden, and why it is such an appealing place for a holiday.

1. Kiruna

If you are going to visit Sweden then you should also try to see the aurora lights at some point. Sweden came up in a previous piece about celebrating holidays under the Northern Lights, and as you might expect of a northern European country like this, there are indeed chances to see this stunning natural phenomenon.

In fact, the northern lights can be seen all over Sweden, such that even people in the southern cities have occasionally reported a little bit of light activity in the sky.

Still, your best bet is to head north, where you will have far and away the best chance of seeing something amazing. There is not one specific destination that is recommended above others, but the closer you get to the northern borders with Norway and Finnish Lapland, the better your chances of witnessing the Aurora will be. You can also look into booking tours specifically aimed at sightings - including some that also offer dog sledding adventures!

2. Lund

There are wonderful cities and towns sprinkled all over Sweden, and any of them can make for a nice refuge if you do not want to spend your whole time hiking and adventuring. On the smaller side, travelers might enjoy Lund, a charming old town of fewer than 100,000 people with cobblestone roads and a Renaissance cathedral.

3. Visby

Visby is famous for it's sheepskin products and you'll find sheep sculptures all around the city. Wander around the Botanical Gardens and find several there along with wild roses. Visby is arguably Scandinavia's best preserved medieval city and whether you're walking along the wall, around the ruins or along the west coast pebble beaches, you'll be in awe at how well looked after everything is and how proud locals are of their island.

In fact, game development has been offered as a subject of choice at the country's Gotland University. This is one of the best preserved Medieval cities of the world. The city is surrounded by the Visby City wall built in 12th Century and every year, Medieval week is celebrated in June/August where people live in tents, wear medieval costumes, cook food on open fire and sell home made crafts. The castles look like they've pulled out straight from a fairy tale.

4. Uppsala

Uppsala is another destination worth considering, both for its deep history (it is often mentioned in association with Vikings, though these histories have been twisted somewhat) and for the charming university town, it is today.

5. Malmo

And then there is Malmo, a slightly larger but not massive coastal city that is linked by tunnel to Copenhagen in Denmark. Any of these places to visit in Sweden can make for a nice place to rest and do a bit of local sightseeing.

Spring comes early, cycling is easy because the landscapes are flat, winters may be free of snow and ice (you get rain instead - often lots), and the European continent is nearby. It feels bubbly, warm, and European. You might as well be in Holland, Denmark, or Germany. Just less crowded.

9. Mälaren

This is a fascinating lake. It is so huge that it has a number of islands islands in it. And those islands again have small lakes. This place is an inception of lakes and islands! And there's an under water hotel, Utter Inn in Lake Malaren.

Hopefully, this paints the accurate picture, which is that Sweden is a remarkable place for an adventure. No matter what your primary reason for going may be, there is a little bit of everything to enjoy, and you might just manage most of it in one trip.