The largest country in Scandinavia, Sweden shares land borders with Norway and Finland, and is connected to Denmark by the Oresund Bridge between Malmo and Copenhagen, though there are also numerous ferry routes between the two nations. Although part of the EU, Sweden has retained its own currency, the krona, and English is widely spoken, even in rural areas. Although most people think of wide open spaces and snow when they think of Sweden, the country is also home to some lively cities and towns, especially Gothenburg, Malmo and the capital city, Stockholm.
Stockholm is Sweden’s largest city, as well as its capital, and is home to the parliament building, the Riksdag, and the official residence of the Swedish royal family. The Royal Palace of Stockholm, with its impressive state rooms and private apartments, is open to the public, as long as there are no official events taking place. The city itself was actually built on 14 islands, all connected by road and rail bridges, but one of the best ways to explore Stockholm is by boat. There are water taxis between islands or a day trip which takes you on a tour around the best sights. Stockholm is home to several museums and art galleries, including the innovative Fotografiska, which features contemporary photography, and Skansen open-air museum which is on the same island as the city’s zoo. Here you can learn about Swedish cultural and historical traditions, such as farming techniques, pottery-making and even baking.
Gothenburg is located on the west coast of Sweden, and is home to cultural centres such as the Gothenburg Opera House and the Museum of Art, which features many works by celebrated Scandinavian artists. Aeroseum is a more unusual museum, located in a former underground military base close to the city’s airport and featuring aeroplanes from the past few decades. Liseberg is a huge outdoor amusement park, which is very popular with locals and tourists alike in the summer, while the nearby science centre, Universeum, will keep kids entertained if you have bad weather. Malmo is more of a beach resort than a major city, despite the fact that the Baltic Sea is cool all year round. There are several outdoor swimming pools in the town, and one of the more unusual attractions is the Bjerreds Saltsjöbad, a sauna and spa bath 700 metres out to sea along a wooden walkway from the shore. For the equivalent of just a few pounds, you can relax in warmth while enjoying the beautiful sea view in all directions.
Looking for self catering holiday accommodation in Sweden? Then below is a selection of holiday villas in Sweden and holiday apartments in Sweden that can be rented direct from their owners. You can either click on each listing for further details or you can use our search engine on the left if you are looking for something in particular.
