Sweden

The Kingdom of Sweden is the largest country in Scandinavia, located on the eastern side of the Scandinavian peninsula in northern Europe.  It is a place of many forests, lakes, mountains, and the rugged coastlines.  It borders with Norway to the north and west, Russia and Finland to the northeast, the Gulf of Bothnia and Baltic Sea to the east and south.  In the south there are sandy beaches and lovely countryside inland.  The coastline in the central part of the country has thousands of islands offshore, the largest islands being Oland and Gotland. In the north of the country the land is more forest, woodland and lakes with less habitation in the mountainous areas close to Norway. The currency is the Krona. The official language is Swedish, with Lapp communities of Sami and Finnish speaking people.

The capital city is Stockholm and other major cities include the large port city of Gothenburg, industrial twin cities of Norrkoping/Linkoping, Uppsala and Malmo.  From Malmo it is easy to take a trip across to Copenhagen.  The Skane region, which includes Malmo, is known for its many castles and historic sites. 

In winter Sweden is a wonderful place for winter sports such as skiing, boarding, skating, ice-climbing and dog-sledding.   In the summer the mountains and lakes are ready for hiking, rafting, sailing and many other outdoor pursuits.  There are also plenty of golf courses to choose from.

Sweden’s coastline is rugged and there are thousands of small islands, some of which are green and others rocky and barren.  There are five archipelagos in total.  The Stockholm Archipelago, on the eastern coast, is comprised of many thousands of islands, islets and skerries many of which are accessible by ferry.  Some of the islands have historic buildings and fortresses, as well as modern facilities with restaurants and hotels.   The islands are of course wonderful places for fishing and sailing, swimming and other water sports and activities.

In the ‘land of the midnight sun’ in the northern Lapland area, adventurers and tourists alike will find plenty of wildnerness areas to explore where you can really get away from it all.  You may see the Sami herding their reindeer, or the Northern Lights in winter.  This is a great place to get to know the native Scandinavian Sami people and study their culture.

The resort of Are is popular with winter sports enthusiasts.  Just about any type of activitiy is available, including skiing, telemark, cross country, snowboarding, snowmobiling and heli-skiing. The après ski and nightlife is equally diverse.  In summer the area is transformed into an outdoor playground for mountain bikers, hikers, as well as water activities, fishing and camping. 

Some areas of Sweden, such as the Baltic coast with its dramatic steep cliffs are listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites. 

www.visitsweden.com

Stockholm

Sweden’s beautiful capital city of Stockholm resembles Venice in that it is built upon many islands. The city is modern and buzzing with activity, and also has plenty of culture with many museums, concert halls, galleries and theatres as well as great restaurants, shopping, botanical gardens and parks. The medieval old town (Gamla Stan) has buildings dating back to the 16th century, such as the Royal Palace, Royal Armoury and Treasury and cathedral and other historical buildings.  It’s a good idea to stroll the cobbled streets and alleys to explore on foot. 

Stockholm’s history and beauty is enhanced by the amount of water and bridges which join the fourteen islands which make up the city.  Don’t miss Stockholm’s Archipelago. You can catch a ferry from Stockholm to the islands and skerries where there is plenty of accommodation, bars, cafes and restaurants, and it is a haven for boaters.  Some of the islands are also open for winter visitors. 

Website:  www.stockholmtown.com

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