Things to Do in Sweden

1. Exploring the Heritage of Drottningholm Palace: Built in 1699, Drottningholm is the home of the Royal family of Sweden, therefore, automatically, is one of the most beautiful and majestic monuments of Sweden.

You can even take a self-guided audio tour of the palace to explore its rich hostage and know about its centuries of history. Moreover, this beautiful castle also reserves its place in the list of UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Location: 178 93 Drottningholm, Sweden.
Timings: 10 A.M. – 4 P.M.
Entry Fee: 130 SEK (INR 1120) (adults), 65 SEK (INR 560) (children) (General Entry).

2. Explore the depths of Lapland: Lapland is Sweden’s Northern largest as well as the largest province. If you are in Sweden to experience the mind-blowing natural phenomenon of Northern Lights and Midnight Sun in the best way possible, this is the very place to be.

Additionally, this is the region you need to be if you wish to experience the best of skiing, canoeing, and hiking. Moreover, this is one of the most scenic regions of the country and a must-visit for all who plan a visit to Sweden.

3. Go hiking on the King’s Trail: Hiking is one of the most important activities to do in Sweden. This 400-kilometer long hiking trail is the most popular one and is well equipped with huts and cabins between Kvikkjokk and Abisko for a fulfilling experience.

This majestic trail is all covered with snow during the winters and becomes a skiing paradise. On the other hand, you can get to admire the beauty of the Scandinavian mountain ranges on your hiking adventures during the warmer months.

4. Gorge on some authentic Swedish food: Each country has a great authentic food platter to offer to its visitor. The same is the case with Sweden. Your visit to this country would be incomplete if you leave without gorging on some of the most popular Swedish cuisines such as salmon with dill potatoes, crayfish august, vaffeldagen, and Selma to begin with.

5. Take a Boat Ride along the Gota Canal: Did you know that Sweden has a set of Canals which interconnect all the lakes in the country with each other? Well, Gota Canal has the most scenic of the surroundings and stretches over 200 kilometers and connects Lake Vattern to Lake Vanern. You can choose the route of your choice and hop on a boat to take a ride along these beautifully crafted waterways.

Timings: 9:00 A.M. – 6:00 P.M.
Price: Variable (as/route selected).

6. Go Kayaking: Sweden is home to several archipelagos which home some beautiful and inhibited islands with clear waters surrounding them, throughout the summers. If you are visiting Sweden during the summers, do not forget to go Kayaking under the clear skies in one of Sweden’s archipelagos to feel the adrenaline rush and to admire the endless beauty of nature as it is one of the most beautiful things to do in Sweden. Some of the most popular areas where you can go kayaking include Skanses and Stockholm Archipelago.

7. Go Skiing in Are Village: If you want to indulge in skiing and sledding adventures, visiting Are and spending a few days is a must for you. The famous icy slopes of Are has witnessed endless world championships and is a great adventure sports destination.

Moreover, even if you can go skiing only during the winter months, Are acts as a wonderful hiking destination if you are planning to visit Sweden during the summer months. Do not forget to get on the Ski lift and view the surroundings of Are is the best way possible.

8. Stay at the ICEHOTEL: Imagine staying at a hotel completely made with ice, including your beds! Sounds interesting right? Well, there is a hotel in Sweden where you can stay with ice all around you!

Ice walls, ice beds, ice bars, ice sculptures, combined with the best of the luxury and services, ICEHOTEL is more of an experience than just a stay. You must stay at this unique hotel, even if it is for a day to experience staying within the freezing temperatures ranging from -5 to -7 degrees Celsius.

Location: Marknadsvägen 63, 981 91 Jukkasjärvi, Sweden.
Timings: The hotel is open year long.
Price: 2000 SEK (INR17200) onwards/ night.

9. Visit ABBA: The Museum: You cannot miss out on the best museum in the country on your visit to Sweden. Moreover, it is a must-visit for music lovers from around the world to know about the legendary band which gave the legendary hits like Mama Mia and Dancing Queen to the world. Apart from knowing about the band’s iconic history, visitors also get to indulge in some interactive sessions to boost up the fun factor.

Location: Djurgårdsvägen 68, 115 21 Stockholm, Sweden.
Timings: 11:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M.
Entry Fee: SEK 250 (INR2150) (adults), SEK 95 (INR816) (children).

1. Admire the mesmerizing Northern Lights: This activity tops the list of best things to do in Sweden. Northern Lights is one of the most magnificent natural phenomena of the world, with flickering shades of pink, and greens coming from the sky and you can get to admire the same in Sweden. Lapland is the best place to be if you wish to witness this natural wonder.

2. Witness the Midnight Sun: Can you imagine the sun still up in the sky when you are fast asleep at midnight? You can get to witness the same if you plan to visit Sweden around the summer solstice (North-June 21, South-December 21). It is one of the most unique natural things to see in Sweden.

3. Join a Pub Crawl tour: If you love to party, it is a must for you to visit some of the most legendary pubs and nightclubs of Stockholm and other major cities of the country. You can join one of the tours which will take you around the best of the pubs and allow you to catch up with some locals as well as travelers from around the world.

4. Hop on a Dinner Cruise: One of the best activities to do in Sweden during the dark hours is a dinner cruise floating above the tranquil waters of Stockholm’s quays. One of the best dinner cruises that you can board on is the S/S Stockholm, which was originally made for Sweden’s king, approximately 90 years ago.

1. Stroll around the old town of Stockholm: With numerous colourful houses on both the sides of the street, the old town of Stockholm will surely let you enjoy some of the most scenic views. A stoll in this area with your partner will let you click numerous lovey dovey pictures.

2. Attend a Jazz Night: For all the couples who wish to enjoy live music while enjoying a tasteful cocktail, attending a jazz night is a must. By doing this, you will not only be offered unmatched fun, but you will also get a chance to dance together on your favourite tunes.

3. Spend a night in an ice hotel: Plan at least a single day stay in an ice hotel to experience this once in a lifetime opportunity. From beds made of ice to all the furniture made of actual ice, this experience will add more thrill to your romantic night.

4. Plan a picnic in the garden society of Gothenburg: This scenic location is home to several wonders of nature and beauty in the form of gardens, sidewalks, artificial ponds and fountains. A day picnicking here with your partner will let you enjoy a playful day out, thus making it one of the most famous activities to do in Sweden.

1. Ride a snowmobile: One of the most famous activities to do in Sweden is riding is no mobile and biking your way through the heaps of snow around you. The thrill experienced as you ride towards the bottom of hills is truly incomparable.

2. Enjoy a husky tour: Visit Kiruna to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience of riding a sledge while the group of huskies push you. The whole experience is ultimate as well as you will surely make various furry friends on your way.

3. Kayaking: as soon as the summers arrive, Sweden becomes a wonderland for water babies as they can indulge in various water-based activities like kayaking. The Saint Anna archipelago is considered to be the best location to indulge in kayaking tours as the water here is still.

4. Ice Climbing: To make your vacation even more thrilling and adventurous, make sure that you opt for ice climbing at least once. Just like rock climbing, this activity also lets you be tied to a harness, using which you climb direct walls made of natural ice.

5. Ziplining: What can be most refreshing as well as thrilling other than zip lining against the most beautiful backdrop of the forests of Sweden. Various places in Sweden offer you a chance to take part in ziplining and enjoy the serenity around you from a better perspective, further making it one of the best things to do in Sweden.

1. The Kings Trail: One of the must activities to do in Sweden is taking an unknown road and hiking till you reach a scenic top spot. The Kings Trail is one such route, which is loaded with serenity on all its sides and will let you explore nature through various challenging paths.

2. Kebnekaise: Famed for being the Highest mountain in Sweden, the path to the top of this mountain will let you enjoy the scenery of snow capped hills. On your way to the top, you will also enjoy gazing at various glaciers and lush green valleys.

3. Sormlandsleden: being an easy hiking trail, this one is divided into hundred parts which collectively cover around 21 km. All the hiking enthusiasts can choose the length of trial depending on their capability and can enjoy a joyful hiking experience.

4. Pilgrim Path: located in the western part of Sweden the pilgrim path passes through both Norway as well as Sweden, and attracts more than thousands of tourists each day. From vast seas to unintended rustic herds, this path passes through various wonders of nature as well as humans.

5. Skaneleden Trail: whether you are an experienced hacker or just an amateur, this hiking trail will make sure that whosoever visits her enjoys a thrilling as well as playful hiking experience. The path to the top of this hill is divided into six sub-trails, each of which has different levels of difficulty.

- By Air: Sweden has two major international airports, Stockholm Arlanda Airport, and Gothenburg Landvetter Airport, which are well connected by major cities from around the world. While booking your flights, you can compare the prices of your flights to these two airports.

- By Train: Sweden can be reached by train from 4 countries, namely Norway (connects Stockholm & Gothenburg with Oslo), Denmark (connects Malm with Copenhagen, operates after every 20 minutes), Germany (“Berlin Night Express” connects Malm with Berlin) & Finland.

The Summer season, ranging from May to September is the best time to be in Sweden. Summers are welcoming in Sweden, with decent temperatures, lesser rain, and longer sun time, providing the travelers the best out of their time there.

A 4 to 5 days long trip will be enough to cover all the major tourist attractions of Sweden. While a few days might be spent sightseeing along famous tourist places, you will still get enough time to try hands on numerous activities to do in Sweden. If the time permits, you can also spend some time shopping for some local goods or souvenirs to take back home and visit markets to enjoy some food touring sessions.

The cost of traveling might vary a lot based on your lifestyle and luxury requirements. However, a decently planned weeklong visit to Sweden shall cost you anywhere between $455 - $560 (INR34000 – INR42000), excluding the flight tickets.

A seven days long trip for a single person in Sweden could cost you around 10K Swedish Kronas. This amount includes all basic necessities like stay, food, travel, etc and also covers various other charges including some sightseeing tours or activity charges.

If you have a valid UK passport/documents or are visiting from any of the EU countries, you shall not require a visa to visit Sweden. Moreover, if you hold a US passport, you can visit Sweden for a time period of up to 90 days without a Visa. However, if you are planning a visit from any other country, you shall need to apply for the visa to visit Sweden.

If you are willing to explore just the major attractions of this beautiful city, 3 full days shall be more than enough. However, to leave some time to yourself to stroll around the city and to laze around a little, plan a visit for at least 4-5 days.