Tourism > Tourism in Sweden

Stockholm is the capital of Sweden, and information about tourism there can be found in tourism in Stockholm.

Other Swedish places are worth visiting, including Gothenburg, Lund, Malmö and Uppsala.

Sweden has very many lakes and forests, and it is very good for fishing and canoeing. There are several large lakes, including lakes Vättern and Vänern.

In the winter there is an Ice Hotel built every year near the northern town of Kiruna. Kiruna is also a good place from which to see the Aurora Borealis or Northern lights.

Tourists in the north of the country in winter often enjoy trips in reindeer sleighs with Saami drivers, or in dog sleighs.

It is also possible to ski, with downhill resorts at Åre and Vemdalen, and many cross country ski tracks throughout the northern part of the country. Ice hockey is a popular sport in winter. Many of the bays in the northern part of the country are frozen in winter, and it is possible to go ice yachting, or ice skating on the ice. Many lakes are also frozen, so ice fishing (pimpelfisk) is quite popular.

Swedish horse racing is a little unusual, in that many races are actually trotting races. The horses are not allowed to gallop, and they pull a small trap with the racer on.

Walking is quite a popular activity in the summer. There are no very high mountains in Sweden, so climbing is somewhat limited. The highest mountain is Kebnekaise near Kiruna. Kebnekaise is 6926 ft, 2111 metres high.

The Göta Canal from Stockholm to Gothenburg provides some good trips in the summer.

In the summer the sun hardly sets in much of the northern part of the country, and in the far north it does not set. This allows activity until late in the evening, or even through the night.

The Swedish rail system is called SJ AB and is quite excellent, offering slower-speed trains throughout the country and the faster X2000 trains connecting the major cities. Connection by rail is possible to Norway and Denmark, and to Finland by bus, due to rail gauge differences.

It's possible to take Silja Line boats from Stockholm to Helsinki, Finland, Rostock, Germany or Mariehamn island.