Sweden is a beautiful country, with lots of soul and unique characteristics. It’s no surprise that millions of people visit Sweden every year, with its incredible landscapes, lively culture, ample sunshine, and breath-taking sites. With so much to see and do, there are a few things to know before visiting Sweden. Island hopping is, for example, a must. And if you visit during the winter months, cold weather gear and layers are required. During any season, you’ll want sun protection and swim gear. You also will probably not to be able to pronounce Swedish words on a whim while there. Although English is widely spoken throughout the country, it doesn’t hurt to learn some Swedish for your trip. A quick and effective way is to practice on language apps like Babbel that provide courses for languages of many countries including Sweden. Now let’s go to why Sweden should be your next travel destination.
Nature and forests
Swedes take pride in and have a lot of respect for nature, and you’ll see that in how well nature and the forests here are taken care of. National parks and nature reserves are strictly protected and therefore flourishing due to Sweden’s environmental laws and local culture that cares.
Lakes
If you love lakes, Sweden is a wonderful place to visit as it has over 96,000 lakes. A few of the most popular lakes are Lake Hjälmaren, Lake Mälaren, Lake Storsjön, Lake Tisnaren, Lake Vänern, and Lake Vättern.
Wildlife
Animals free in the countryside of Sweden, and you may just see wild moose, deer, lynx, and beautiful birds. Wild animals are not hunted for food here and are greatly appreciated.
Saunas
Saunas are incredibly popular in Sweden. A spa day or even just spending a bit of time in a sauna is a classic Swedish tradition to experience here. A popular option is the ‘floating sauna’, which is a steam room built on barges so you can swim and use a steam room. While in the middle of the forest or along a seaside walk, you may just stumble upon a sauna. Just prepare for the traditional sauna rule, where you switch between hot sauna and a cold shower or a run through the snow.
Midsummer
Midsummer is a national holiday in Sweden and it is a great time to be in the country to partake in the festivities. People get together for days of celebrating with food, drinks, games, and music.
Midnight sun
There is plenty of sunshine in Sweden, and it is said that the sun is out 24 hours a day. Up north you can actually get 24 hours of daylight in a certain part of the ear, while further south of Sweden may see just a few hours of dimmer light. Many people find that when they travel and explore a new destination, they stay up later as there is so much to see and do. Having the extra sunlight makes it a lot easier to stay up late, but you’ll want to be sure you have a sleeping mask or blackout curtains at your place of accommodation so you can get some proper rest in.
Design
Art and design are well-embedded in daily life in Sweden, and there has been an even greater revival of the arts here. From ceramics, fashion, urban gardening, to business ideas centered around design and sustainability, there is a lot of creative energy in Sweden that you can see integrated into city landscapes and upkeep of the country’s nature, sites and museums.
Great seafood
Sweden is a coastal country with a ton of islands, so there is plenty of great fresh seafood here. There is a wide variety of seafood options, including caviar, herring, cod, tuna, crabs, lutfisk, and surstrӧmming. You’ll see options for fried, baked, and grilled seafood here. Even if you are not particularly keen on fish, it is worth trying and experiencing in Sweden!
The best part is that these are only some of the reasons why you should visit Sweden. There are many other good reasons to visit Sweden, as it such a wonderful place.
