Sweden is the third largest country in western Europe. Because of its long, narrow shape and northerly location, the landscape is highly diversified. The ever-varying Swedish coastline stretches for thousands of kilometres, from Haparanda on the Finnish border high up in the Gulf of Bothnia, all the way to Norway and the North Sea to the west.

The Swedish landscape features countless lakes and waterways, surrounded by vast pine and spruce forests in the north, mixed with romantic oak, birch and other leafy forests further south. Sweden has majestic mountains and glaciers, as well as wide-open countryside, interspersed by small idyllic villages and vibrant cities such as the capital, Stockholm.

Southern Sweden
The southern part of the country is noted for its variation and contrasts. In southern Sweden, no day is the same as the next.

The forests of Småland versus the plains of Skåne. Lush, leafy Blekinge in contrast to the sandscapes of Öland and Gotland. The pulse of the cities against the backdrop of Dalsland’s silence.

Gotland and Öland are the eastern outposts of the region and the country. Mile-long sandy beaches, fascinating ”raukar” – natural statues of stone – and the mediaeval town of Visby make the islands a holiday paradise for relaxation, seclusion and nightlife. Visby, once part of the Hanseatic League, and the agricultural landscape of southern Öland have both been granted world heritage listing by UNESCO.

The inland of the region is divided by the country’s largest lakes, Vänern and Vättern. On the east side are Småland and Östergötland. The latter features a beautiful archipelago and Kolmården Zoo, one of Sweden’s most popular destinations. Småland is known for its vast forests and world-class furniture and glass design. Storybook characters like Pippi Longstocking came to life here, through the writing of Astrid Lindgren.

On the west side are Dalsland and Västergötland. Göta Canal, one of Sweden’s foremost historical and cultural building works, meanders through Östergötland and Västergötland. This transport route is now a popular destination with impressive locks and a wide range of related activities. Dalsland has the most lakes in Sweden, with beaver, osprey and lots of fish.

Skåne, Blekinge, Halland and Bohuslän are coastal landscapes, each with its own character. Skåne features leafy beech forests, castles and manor houses and Danish-influenced cuisine, culture and architecture. Blekinge is the garden of Sweden, with dazzling floral displays, idyllic fishing villages and untouched islets that taste of salt and sea. Halland’s trademark is endless sandy beaches for play and pleasure, plus coastal towns bustling with life. And Bohuslän offers rock carvings, delicious seafood, pictoresque fishing villages and a spectacular archipelago.

Malmö and Göteborg are the region’s two main cities, where you can indulge yourself in entertainment in the form of concerts, festivals, sporting events and many other things that are part of city life.

There’s always something to do in southern Sweden. Roam through history, visit one of the region’s five world heritage sites, challenge yourself physically, browse in small shops and outlets or play a round of golf at one of the many courses. The choice is yours.

Central Sweden
Central Sweden enjoys the perfect balance between nature and culture. Fertile plains and mystical forests provide a magnificent backdrop to rock carvings, historical ironworks and manor houses. You’ll find five world heritage sites, classified for their unique cultural-historical value. The central region of Sweden is characterised by rolling hills, forests, lakes and folklore.

In the west are the provinces of Dalarna and Värmland. Vast forests with wild animals, interspersed with lakes and rivers for rafting and canoeing, and rapids for whitewater rafting. Dalarna is Sweden’s foremost folklore region, where folk traditions remain strong. The Midsummer celebrations are widely known, the folk music rallies and folk music festivals attract visitors from around the world and the annual long-distance ski race, the Vasaloppet, draws many thousands of participants.

The province of Närke, with its impressive administrative centre Örebro, is located in the middle of the region and has long been a centre of trade and travel. Further north is Västmanland, a province filled with music and culture, golf and equestrian sports, as well as magnificent countryside: expansive forests, thousands of lakes, mountains and valleys, five climatic zones and a rich animal life.

Gästrikland is the most easterly province, on the Baltic coast. It’s small, with northern Sweden’s oldest city – Gävle – and the country’s largest zoo. Also in the east is Uppland, enchanting with its fertile plains, magical forests and greatly varied coastline. Excursions can consist of bronze-age rock carvings, runestones from the Viking days, mediaeval churches with beautiful frescoes, or Walloon ironworks. And the university town of Uppsala, the city of knowledge, has long been a source of inspiration for artists, scientists and spiritual leaders.
In Sörmland scores of small country roads wind their way through an undulating countryside with stately homes and hundreds of lakes and waterways. Some 400 castles and manor houses, with their history, art, architecture and exquisite surroundings, stand proud by the forests and bays of the region.

The true jewel of the region – and the country – is Stockholm, the national capital, stretching out over 14 islands. Fascinating environments with cobblestone streets, parks, waterways and islands combine with a bustling, continental atmosphere with cafes, bars and restaurants, making Stockholm a modern, vibrant city with historical charm.

Experience a region where the past is alive.

Northern Sweden
The northern half of Sweden treats the visitor to powerful experiences. Enormous forests, unregulated rivers, clean air and water, not to mention silence, are nature’s gift to visitors and residents.

To the east, by the Gulf of Bothnia, is a coastline with miles and miles of beaches, pictoresque fishing villages, vibrant towns and fascinating archipelagoes with hundreds of islands. To the west an impressive mountain chain rises up, attracting seekers of adventure and relaxation.

The unique climate brings pleasant temperatures and mild, light nights during summer, while the winter features biting cold, the mesmerising northern lights, and metres of snow. In the far north you can enjoy the midnight sun in summertime, and the corresponding polar night in winter, when the sun doesn’t appear for days.

Northern Sweden consists of seven provinces, each with its own distinctive character. Norrbotten and Lapland with their strong Lapp cultures and untouched wilderness. Västerbotten with its healthy entrepreneurial spirit, including Umeå, a town known for its university and a thriving cultural scene. Medelpad and Ångermanland with the High Coast, a UNESCO world heritage site where dramatic cliffs plunge into fjord-like bays. Jämtland and Härjedalen with their vast forests and tall mountains that attract skiiers and adventurers throughout the year. And Hälsingland with its blue mountains and innumerable lakes, combined with folk music rallies and its very own style of farmhouses.

The wide-open spaces and diverse countryside are ideal for adventure and physical activities, both summer and winter. The possibilities are virtually endless: hiking, skiing, snow scooter riding, canoeing, dog-sledding, seal safaris and trips on ice breakers, just to mention a few.

Northern Sweden is a rich cultural landscape, with rock carvings and relics from earlier settlers. Here the Lapp culture is always present, through the intricate handicrafts, the characteristic ’yoik’ style of singing, and the reindeer husbandry. There are also three world heritage sites to visit, experience and enjoy – Laponia, Gammelstad Church Village and the High Coast.

Though the region covers half of the total land area of Sweden, only one seventh of the country’s population lives here. That leaves space for both body and mind.