14 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Sweden

Sweden is a modern and naturally beautiful country in Northern Europe, which is an important part of Scandinavia. It has many old palaces, nature reserves, modern museums, quiet islands and snow-covered areas to visit. Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, Kiruna and Uppsala are some of the famous cities here.

The capital, Stockholm, is made up of 14 islands and is known as the “Venice of the North”. It is home to the Royal Palace, the Vasa Museum, and the Skansen open-air museum. Gothenburg is Sweden’s second largest city and is famous for its botanical gardens, the Universum Liseberg theme park, and the fish market (Feskekôrka). Malmö, on the other hand, has the modern architecture of the “Turning Torso” and the traditional Gamla Stan.

The northern city of Kiruna is the best place in Sweden to see the Aurora Borealis, and is home to the famous Ice Hotel. The city of Uppsala attracts tourists with its ancient university, churches and rich history. In this blog, we will know the best 14 places to visit in Sweden, where you will get a unique experience of nature, tradition and modernity. This will be a complete guide for traveling.

1. Vasa Museum (Vasamuseet), Stockholm

The Vasa Museum (Vasamuseet) on the island of Järndalsgården in Stockholm is Sweden’s most popular museum. It houses the legendary warship Vasa, built in 1628 and sunk after only 1,300 meters of sailing. After 333 years at sea, the ship was recovered in 1961 and, surprisingly, was about 98% intact. The Vasa was a symbol of royal status for the Swedish Navy. The ship had 64 cannons, many designs and carvings.

The museum currently houses more than ten exhibitions in addition to the main ship, where visitors can learn about 17th-century naval construction, the causes of shipwrecks, the rescue process, and the lives of the ship’s crew. There are interactive displays, video galleries, audio guides, and special educational programs for children. There are also guided tours for tourists in various languages, including English and Swedish. The Vasa Museum is open year-round and is easily accessible by tram, bus, or ferry from anywhere in Stockholm.

2. Gamla Stan (Old Town), Stockholm

Gamla Stan is one of the oldest parts of Stockholm. It was founded in the 13th century. The area is full of cobblestone streets, narrow alleys, and colorful old buildings. Everything is preserved and full of history. This area is home to the Royal Palace, which is the official residence of the Swedish royal family. It is one of the largest and famous royal palaces in Europe. Here you can visit the royal armory, treasury, and old palace rooms. The daily guard changing ceremony attracts tourists greatly..

Gamla Stan is home to Storkyrkan, or Stockholm Cathedral. This is the traditional church of the royal family. Next door is the Nobel Prize Museum, which tells the story of the history of the Nobel Prize and its winners. You can walk here and see small handicraft shops, antique bookstores, cafes, chocolate shops, and traditional restaurants. It is easily accessible by walk or by T-bana (Gamla Stan station) from Stockholm Central Station.

3. Drottningholm Palace, Stockholm

Drottningholm Palace is the residence of the Queen of Sweden. It is located west of Stockholm, on the shores of Lake Mälaren. The palace was built in the 16th century. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Inside the palace, there are royal rooms, old furniture, portraits of the king and queen, and historical decorations. Next to it is the Drottningholm Court Theatre, which is an opera theater built in the 17th century, still in use today. Behind the palace, there is a large French and English-style garden. The garden has marble fountains, sculptures, and walking paths. It is as beautiful as a picture, and many people come here for picnics or photo shoots.

Here is the Chinese Pavilion (Kina slott). This is a wonderful Chinese-style building built in 1753. You can go to Drottningholm Palace from Stockholm by bus, boat, or car. In the summer, the boat route from Stockholm City to the palace is very popular.

4. Abisko National Park, Lapland

Abisko National Park is located in the northern part of Sweden, in the Lapland region. It was established in 1909. This park is one of the first national parks in Sweden. It is located near the Arctic Circle. This park is most popular for viewing the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights. The sky is clear here, so many people come to see this bright scene in the night sky in winter.

The popular trekking route, Kungsleden Trail, passes through the park. Tourists can enjoy mountains, lakes, waterfalls, and glaciers by walking on this path. Trekking in summer and skiing in winter are very popular. In the middle of Abisko Park is Abisko Turist station. This is a complete visitor base with a hotel, restaurant, and information center.

5. Icehotel, Jukkasjärvi

Icehotel is the world’s first hotel made of ice. It is located in the village of Jukkasjärvi in northern Sweden, near the city of Kiruna. The hotel is built from ice and snow every year. It is one of the attractions of the Arctic region. The walls, beds, tables of the hotel are all made of ice. Each room has a different design. They are designed by artists from Sweden and around the world. The temperature inside is about -5°C to -8°C.

At the Icehotel, you can sleep on an ice bed in a special thermal sleeping bag. If you want, you can also book a “warm room”. There is also an ice bar, a church and an art gallery. In winter, the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) can be seen here. There are also adventure activities such as ice fishing, husky sledding, snowmobile rides, and skiing.

6. Stockholm Archipelago

The Stockholm Archipelago is a group of about 30,000 small and large islands scattered around the city of Stockholm. It is one of the most beautiful natural areas in Sweden. The islands are surrounded by sandy beaches, forests, villages, small cottages, and calm waters. Here you can go boating, swimming, fishing, cycling, or just relax in the peaceful surroundings. The most popular of the islands are Vaxholm, Sandhamn, Grinda, and Finnhamn.

Vaxholm is known as the “capital” of the archipelago. It has an old castle, restaurants, and shops. Sandhamn is a popular sailing destination for many tourists. Boats, ferries, and catamaran services run daily from Stockholm. There are regular tours in the summer, and some routes also operate in the winter.

7. Göta Canal

The Gota Canal is one of Sweden’s most historic and popular canals. It is about 190 km long. The canal connects the Baltic Sea to the North Sea. It was built between 1810 and 1832. The canal was constructed by Baltzar von Platen and has about 58 locks (gates to control the water level). It is one of Sweden’s greatest engineering feats.

The Göta Canal is dotted with small villages, old lock stations, wooden bridges, hotels, and cafes. Boat, cruise, and kayak trips along the canal are very popular in the summer. Many people travel from the cities of Linköping, Soderkoping, Motala, or Toreboda.

8. Liseberg Amusement Park, Gothenburg

Liseberg is Sweden’s largest and most popular amusement park. It is located in the city of Gothenburg (Göteborg). The park was founded in 1923 and attracts over a million visitors each year. It has roller coasters, water rides, a haunted house, a carousel, and a separate play area for children. The most famous ride is the Helix, which is one of the fastest and most exciting roller coasters in Europe.

It hosts live music concerts, food stalls, a game zone, and a fireworks show. In the summer, the park has a flower garden, and in the winter, it hosts a Christmas market, where there is a festive atmosphere of lights, food, and entertainment. It can be reached in a few minutes by tram or bus from Gothenburg Central Station.

9. Visby, Gotland

Visby is the main town on the island of Gotland. It is located in the Baltic Sea and is one of the most beautiful and historic towns in Sweden. Visby is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city’s main attraction is the medieval city wall. It was built in the 13th century and is still intact for about 3 km. Inside the wall are narrow alleys, cobblestone streets, and centuries-old buildings.

Visby is home to the ruins of several churches, the Gotland Museum, and old houses with balconies. During the summer, Medieval Week is held here, when the city is completely decorated in medieval style. People wear traditional costumes, there are markets, street plays, and war plays. Open sand dunes, cliffs, and the blue sea surround the city. Many people come here to cycle, take beach walks, and enjoy the sunset. Visby can be reached by flight from Stockholm or by ferry from Nynäshamn.

10. Kungsleden (The King’s Trail), Lapland

Kungsleden, meaning “King’s Trail”, is Sweden’s most popular trekking route. It is located in the Swedish Lapland region. The entire trail is about 450 km long, starting from Abisko and extending to Hemavan. Walking along this path, you can see huge mountains, lakes, waterfalls, tundra areas, and the natural beauty of the North Pole. In summer, the sun almost never sets at night, and in winter, the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) can be seen from here.

The trail is divided into four sections, and many tourists do not walk the entire route but only the section from Abisko to Nikkaluokta (about 105 km). This section includes Kebnekaise, Sweden’s highest mountain. Along the way, there are STF (Swedish Tourist Association) cabins and huts where you can spend the night. Many places have kitchens, water, and basic facilities, but electricity and mobile networks are limited.

11. Sarek National Park

Sarek National Park is situated in the Lapland region of Sweden.It is one of the wildest, most remote, and natural national parks in the country. The park was established in 1909 and is one of the oldest national parks in Europe. Sarek is home to over 100 glaciers and six mountains over 2,000 meters high. There are no roads, bridges, or paved trails inside, so it is mainly for experienced hikers.

In this park, you will find countless rivers, valleys, lakes, and tundra wilderness. There is a lot of wildlife such as deer, bears, reindeer, and golden eagles. Sarek is famous for trekking, but it is challenging. You have to make your own way here. The weather can change suddenly, so you need a map, compass, and adequate equipment. To get to Sarek Park, people usually start their journey from Kvikkjokk or Ritsem. There are no hotels to stay in here, so camping is the only option.

12. Skansen Open-Air Museum, Stockholm

Skansen is the world’s first open-air museum. It is located on the island of Djurgarden in Stockholm. It was founded in 1891. The museum consists of over a hundred old houses, churches, farms, and shops. All the buildings have been brought here from different parts of Sweden. In each room, the staff wear traditional costumes, as if they were living in a real village.

Skansen has a zoo, where you can see Swedish wildlife, such as bears, elk, reindeer, lynx, and wolves. There is also a separate farm for children, where they can play with rabbits, goats, and sheep. In the summer, Skansen hosts live music, folk dances, handicraft exhibitions, and a food festival. In the winter, it hosts a popular Christmas market, where you can find traditional food, handicrafts, and lighting. It is easily accessible by bus, tram, or ferry from Stockholm Central.

13. Oresund Bridge

The Oresund Bridge is a stunning bridge that connects the Swedish city of Malmo with the Danish city of Copenhagen. It is a combined railway and highway bridge that carries cars and trains. The bridge is about 8 km long, and then it enters Denmark through a 4 km tunnel. The entire structure is 12 km long, making it one of the most incredible engineering feats in Europe.

The bridge opened in 2000. It has made travel, trade, and tourism between the two countries much easier. Many people now commute from one country to the other every day over this bridge for work. You can easily cross this bridge by train or car from Malmo or Copenhagen.

14. Kalmar Castle

Kalmar Castle is a historic royal palace located in the city of Kalmar in southeastern Sweden. It was built in the 12th century and rebuilt in the Renaissance style in the 16th century. It is one of the most important medieval castles in Sweden. The Kalmar Union of 1397 was signed in this castle, where Sweden, Denmark, and Norway were united into one kingdom. Therefore, it is not only architecturally significant, but also in the history of Sweden.

Inside the castle, there are royal chambers, meeting rooms, old furniture, the Golden Hall, and a prison. Tourists can learn the history of the castle and the story of the king by taking a guided tour. The city of Kalmar is easily accessible by train or car. Kalmar Castle is open to visitors from March to October.