Sweden

Like its neighbor Norway, Sweden is known for its beauty, both natural and urban. Strawberry fields, snow capped mountains and beautiful stretches of countryside dotted with ruins, with beautiful modern cities that are on the cutting edge of technology and fashion make Sweden an enchanting place to visit.

The nation’s capital of Stockholm is a delight, with beautiful architecture, museums and a great nightlife scene. A vibrant mix of old and new, the city is sleek and modern yet retains its history in pockets of the city like the Gamla Stan, where labyrinthine cobbled streets wind through historic buildings dating back to the 13th century. Other major cities of Göteborg and Malmö are just as beautiful, with heritage sites, parks, and museums where Sweden’s Viking heritage and is proudly displayed.

Visit Sweden in winter and you will encounter piles of pure Scandinavian snow and in summer, head north and experience the incredible midnight sun. If you are lucky enough to be in Sweden during the summer solstice, you will witness the traditional Swedish celebration of Midsummer, celebrated with huge bonfires and dancing around a flower encrusted maypole.

Sweden’s vast wilderness areas are great to explore hiking or cross-country skiing, and there is no shortage of historic sites in its countryside that are a testament to the country’s Viking heritage. Ancient graves marked out with stones in the shape of a ship are a common sight, burial mounds of bygone kings can be seen on cliff tops facing over the ocean, and ancient rune stones still stand at random locations across the country.

The Swedes are a happy and friendly bunch, famous for their hospitality and tolerance of visitors to their country. Like their Norwegian counterparts, the Swedish have a reputation as a progressive society, with massive contributions to foreign aid and environmental research, and a social system that makes education and health a top priority, and this is reflected in its people.