The independent guide to Scandinavia
Sweden isn’t just about snowy forests and design shops. This section is packed with ideas for things to do on a trip to Sweden, from dog-sledding on lakes in the far north to tracking down cool cafés in Stockholm and Gothenburg. For more detailed guides on where to stay, what to see and do, and where to eat, check out our individual city guides.
For the most part, trains in Sweden are comfortable and crowd-free – and usually they run on time. On the…
If seeing the northern lights is high up on your bucket list, Sweden is a very good place to start….
We love a good-value hotel here at Routes North, but sometimes even cheapskates like us want to be treated like…
There are countless good reasons for taking a guided tour in Stockholm – whether it’s learning about Swedish history from…
From the centre of Gothenburg it’s only a short bus or tram ride across the river to Hisingen. Despite this area being just…
There’s a lot more to Sweden than the mainland. When you include all of the little rocky outcrops and sandy…
Sweden isn’t just some tiny nation in the northern reaches of Europe. Geographically speaking, it’s huge: the distance between Sweden’s southern tip…
Astrid Lindgren is Sweden’s best-loved children’s author, and is as much a part of the Swedish consciousness as fika, salt…
Getting around on two wheels isn’t just for Stockholm’s beardy hipsters. Sweden is a real cyclists’ paradise, and pedalling from…
Summer has finally arrived in Scandinavia, and there’s no better way to soak up the sunshine than by hanging out…
Stockholm might not be the best place for skiing and snowboarding in Sweden, but there are some great real and…
Visiting the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi is one of the absolute highlights of a trip to Swedish Lapland. For many people…
VIKINGS! For history geeks, one of the big joys of a visit to Sweden is learning all about the fierce folk who…
A red cottage in the countryside is one of the most recognisable symbols of Sweden. If you want to learn…
Karlstad is the surprisingly lively capital of western Sweden’s Värmland region. It’s home to one of the largest coffee brands…
Forget bumpy bus rides and overpriced domestic flights: if you want to see Sweden comfortably, cheaply and with a can…
Museum Gustavianum in Uppsala doesn’t have a lot of just one thing; it has a little bit of just about…
Picture the scene: the lake lapping gently at the reeds, the summer sun sinking slowly towards the horizon, and then…
The world’s largest scale model of the solar system is in Sweden – and it’s really, really big. What do…
Instagram is an ever-changing source of inspiration, but sometimes it can become a bit overwhelming, making it difficult to find…
The trip from Kiruna to Narvik, just across the Norwegian border, is one of northern Sweden’s most beautiful journeys. The route…
Wander around Stockholm for long enough and you’re sure to work up a healthy appetite. We took our rumbling bellies…
When you look at a piece of John Bauer’s art, you fall into his mythical world of deep northern forests….
Sweden has produced some pretty famous shopping brands. You already know the big ones but there’s much more to the…
The university city of Uppsala is an easy train ride from Stockholm and it makes a great place for a…
More than 500km north of Stockholm as the crow flies, Umeå is a vibrant, modern, multicultural city known for its beautiful…
Drive through Sweden and you’ll see there’s no shortage of fast food restaurants. You won’t find all of the big…
Accommodation, food, transport and sightseeing tours: when you start adding up all of the ingredients, a lengthy visit to the…
There’s no getting around it: Stockholm is an expensive city. But there are plenty of cheap-ish places to stay. Book…
The Gothenburg City Card is touted as one of the best ways for tourists to save cash when visiting Sweden’s…
After months of cold weather and gloomy skies, spring is the magical time of year when Sweden bursts into life,…
Want to see Sweden on a teeny-tiny budget? Then bundle your clothes into a backpack and prepare for a big adventure….
