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SWEDEN TRAVEL GUIDE
Sweden often gets voted as one of the best countries in the world to live in. But it also has much to offer visitors who are there for just a short amount of time on their holidays. Great cities such as Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo are complemented well by the wilderness and wide open spaces that can be found in much of the country. Although not a budget destination, you get what you pay for in Sweden and just about everything is served with high quality in mind. An ideal place to visit if you are looking for a hassle-free holiday.
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SWEDEN WEATHER - When To Go
With its typical Scandinavian climate, the best time to visit Sweden is without doubt during July and August. Although you could get away with visiting the southern regions at other times of the year and still have some warmth, if you are travelling to northern Sweden, and in particular above the Arctic Circle, it would be best to do so between June and September, unless you are there for the skiing.
Temperatures in Gothenburg and Stockholm usually sit in the low 20s (°C) in the summer while most rain falls in late summer. Off peak seasons in Sweden are generally very late summer, autumn and early spring. Christmas is a busy time in southern Swedish cities.
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SWEDEN HIGHLIGHTS - Places to Visit
- Stockholm: the Swedish capital lies amid a huge archipelago halfway up the Baltic coast of the country and is the main hub. Stockholm is like no other capital; most of the buildings are low-rise, it is all divided up by water and it has a perfect blend of shopping, dining and sightseeing options. There are many fine areas to check out, such as City (T-Centralen) amid downtown Stockholm with its many fine buildings; the Old Town (Gamla Stan), with its cobblestone alleys and old buildings; the relaxing city island of Djurgården; and the bohemian Södermalm, with its huge collection of cafés, galleries and pubs. [For more info on Stockholm, have a look at our visitStockholm.co.uk website].
- Gothenburg: is Sweden’s second city and one of endless shopping, an interesting café culture, loads of intricate landmarks and a picturesque harbour. You can easily get around Gothenburg on foot or by tram and you may find most of your time is spent in Brunnsparken, the main district. Götaplatsen Square is also immensely popular while the harbour features many fun attractions and an opera house. Gothenburg has its own airport or you could take a train direct from Stockholm in a few hours.
- Malmo: is an interesting city and the gateway to southern Sweden should you enter the country by road via Denmark. It actually has a Danish feel about it, looking more like Copenhagen than Stockholm, and there are plentiful squares and parks to have a wander in. The three squares of Gustav Adolf's, Big Square and the Little Square are the main attractions, while the Turning Torso building is Scandinavia’s biggest and fanciest. The nearby beach is popular in the summer while a thriving café culture and nightlife in the Big Square finish the place off. Malmö is 20 minutes away from Copenhagen Airport by bus via the Øresund Bridge.
- Gotland: is Sweden’s largest island and lies south of Stockholm in the Baltic Sea. Visit Gotland to get away from it all and learn more about the country’s Viking culture. The town and medieval port of Visby is the island’s capital and biggest attraction, a walled Hanseatic town. It features ancient and ruined buildings of past eras that lie within the city walls and include valued sites Drotten, St Lars, and St Nicolai. The ancient cathedral of St Maria is also worth a look as is the Gotlands Fornsal historical museum. If you are here in mid-August, try and get to the medieval week festival. You can travel to Gotland by plane or ferry.
- Uppsala: this lively university city in the province of the same name just north of Stockholm is a popular destination for those who enjoy bars and clubs and getting to know the locals. The town is pockmarked with churches and castles and the three main landmarks are the 15th century Uppsala University (Scandinavia’s oldest), Uppsala Cathedral (Scandinavia’s largest) and Uppsala Castle, with its huge halls and paintings. Uppsala is a short trip north of Stockholm by bus or train.
- Umeå: lying higher up than most other Swedish centres, this university town lies amid stunning landscapes and is a pumping town. This charming place has an interesting pedestrianised town centre and is easy to explore on foot with its small shops and pubs. Many visitors specifically visit Umeå for its outdoor activities, however, with much in the way of biking and hiking trails nearby. The nearby lake is also enjoyable and comes with cabins and camping areas and even floating saunas. Although beautiful in the winter, Umeå does get quite cold and dark. Umeå is 10 hours from Stockholm by night train.
- Kiruna (and Lapland): for those who really must see Swedish Lapland, Kiruna makes a great base to do so and is the country’s northernmost city. It is quite an unusual town and has many diverse attractions in addition to the wilderness areas nearby. It is home to the world’s largest underground iron ore mine and also has the renowned Icehotel (yes, a hotel made of ice) 10 miles away if you fancy something a bit different accommodation-wise, as well as easy access to northern Lapland. Hikers will be pleased to know that Sweden’s highest mountain, Kebnekaise, is here. Flying or night train from Gothenburg or Stockholm is the best way to get here.
- Other Sweden highlights: Borås, Sweden’s textile centre, makes a decent daytrip from Gothenburg; Sarek National Park, up in the north, is a must-see for those in this region into mountain scenery and waterfalls; and Karlskrona is the old naval capital of Sweden and fairly pleasant.
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SWEDEN HOSPITALITY - Eat, Drink, Sleep
- Food and Eating Out: home of the smorgasbord, the cuisine of Sweden is hearty yet expensive and you will find most of your budget going towards it when eating out at anything other than a market, café or McDonalds. The Swedes love their potatoes and meatballs and popular dishes include husmanskost, meat hash, Baltic herring and pea soup.
- Entertainment and Nightlife: Swedish towns and cities have a fantastic nightlife, particularly in Uppsala, with its range of cafés, bars, traditional pubs and nightclubs. Expect to pay hefty entrance fees for nightclubs, however, and disproportionate amounts for beer given Europe’s average prices.
- Accommodation: hotels in Gothenburg, Stockholm, Malmö and other important centres are available in all categories although prices are quite steep. Staying in a mid-range and higher place in the heart of Gothenburg and Stockholm will set you back a pretty penny, yet standards and services are excellent. The university cities of Uppsala and Umeå have cheaper accommodation while camping where you like in the wilderness, under the ‘every man’s right’ law, is a boon for lovers of the outdoors.
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SWEDEN FLIGHTS - Flying from the UK
To compare flight prices from UK airports to Sweden, try the useful Skyscanner website.
STOCKHOLM FLIGHTS:
Flights from London to Stockholm are available with BA / British Airways (from Heathrow).
Scandanavian Airlines fly to Stockholm from London Heathrow and Manchester, plus added seasonal flights from Manchester and Edinburgh. Some flights are via Copenhagen.
These flights arrive at Stockholm Arlanda airport, the closest to the city.
Ryanair operate flights to Stockholm from London Stansted, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow-Prestwick. Note however that the two airports that are used by them (Vasteras and Skavista) are both around 60 miles from Stockholm itself, so remember it will take quite a bit of extra time to get to Stockholm city centre from there.
GOTHENBURG FLIGHTS:
Scandinavian Airlines fly from London Heathrow to Gothenburg.
Ryanair fly to Gothenburg from London Stansted and Glasgow-Prestwick
Also try travel sites such as Expedia.co.uk or ebookers for flight deals to Sweden, possibly via Copenhagen or Amsterdam from your regional airport.
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