Beautiful Sweden always has things to do, no matter what time of year it is. Set a goal to visit Sweden and enjoy the great outdoors and other things that this wonderful country has to offer. This country has so much history that as you walk through the nature and see places you had never even thought of before, you’ll feel like you’re in a fairy tale. You can walk around in a hotel made of snow and ice. You could also walk through Stockholm’s old town. In the wonderful country of Sweden, there are many things to do.
Why Bucket List Sweden?
You might be wondering why I say Sweden. A lot of people don’t know much about this country. But when they get there, they are amazed by how beautiful it is and how anyone can go almost anywhere. Here are my top reasons for saying “bucket list Sweden.”
Bucket List Sweden
- Plenty of Nature: 63% of Sweden is made up of forests. They can also explore a lot of different types of wilderness. From the swamps to the highlands. The highest mountain in Sweden is Kebnekaise, which is in the north. Prepare yourself if you want to hike it! Read Hiking Kebnekaise to learn more.
- Camp out in Nature- In Sweden, you can go outside and wander around pretty much anywhere. The same is true for camping.
- Outdoor Activities– Swedes love being active all year, no matter the season. That’s a lot of things to do outside. You can swim, ski, hike, kayak, and go on canoe trips in some great spots.
- A City of Islands—Stockholm is Sweden’s largest city, and it is made up of 14 islands linked by 50 bridges.
You have to see the Northern Lights at least once in your life. In northern Sweden, you can see the northern lights in some of the best spots. You will be amazed as the sky changes colors. - Another great thing to see in northern Sweden is the Ice Hotel. When it gets cold, a whole new world opens up. The Ice Hotel is beautiful, and once you’re inside, you won’t feel so cold.
- In Sweden, the water is safe to drink everywhere. I was shocked when I learned this. It is safe to drink water from lakes in Sweden because the water is so clean. This is something they’re very proud of.
- Meet Moose—Meeting moose at a park is a one-of-a-kind moment.
Best Things to See
As we walk through a Swedish National Park, the air is full of life. Birds fly into the clear lake, then come back up somewhere else. We’re getting deeper into the wild with each step. The outdoors has always called to me. But if you like cities, you have to see Stockholm with its islands. Or, you can brave the winter cold and go to northern Sweden, where the Ice Hotel stands tall. Also, this is the best spot to see the Northern Lights! If you want to do something really different, go to the province of Varmland and find a spot where you can get close to moose.
Nature
Sweden is 63% nature, so it’s hard not to enjoy the beauty outside of cities. Different types of wilderness can be found all over Sweden. That’s a big reason to put this on your Swedes bucket list. The United States has at least 400 hiking trails, and there are 30 National Parks and about 4,000 nature reserves. The King’s Trail is Sweden’s longest trail. It’s about 440 km long, and if you walk at a pretty good pace the whole way, it could take you a month to finish. The trail is split up into sections, though, which makes it a little easier to walk.
National Parks:
- Abisko
- Ängsö
- Blå Jungfrun
- Dalby
- Söderskog
- Djurö
- Fulufjället
- Färnebofjärden
- Garphyttan
- Gotska Sandön
- Haparanda archipelago
- Kosterhavet
- Lake Åsnen
- Muddus/Muttus
- Norra Kvill
- Padjelanta/Badjelánnda
- Pieljekaise
- Sarek
- Skuleskogen
- Sonfjället
- Stenshuvud, Skåne county
- Stora Sjöfallet/Stuor Muorkke
- Store Mosse
- Söderåsen
- Tresticklan
- Töfsingdalen
- Vadvetjåkk
Kebnekaise
As I step in the melting snow, I hear a sound like a crunch. Things were not going well for the snow or for us because the day was getting hotter. After a long hike for half the day, we finally reached the top of Kebnekaise, Sweden’s tallest mountain. I was tired, and when we got to the bottom, places that had snow on them before were now full of rushing water. It was not easy to get across about 5 of those! But the view from the top of Kebnekaise was beautiful, and the hike itself was fun. Find out more about it here!
Canoe or Kayak in the Pristine Lakes
There are about 100,000 lakes in Sweden, which makes it a great place to kayak or canoe. Also, the water is so clear that you can see the bottom of the lake while you’re paddling. Some places have islands where you can rest or eat food. It doesn’t seem real. Sweden has about 270,000 islands, which means there are a lot of places to be alone. If you want to see everything Sweden has to offer, don’t forget to check out the water areas! There is a boat you can take out if you don’t want to canoe or kayak. Check out here to learn more about canoeing in Sweden.
Camp out in the Wilderness
The law in Sweden is called “Allemansratten,” which means “freedom to roam.” For up to two days, you can camp anywhere in the wild. But you should be kind to the environment and to nearby people’s homes. Don’t set up your tent in their front yard; give them room. You need to be between 700 and 900 meters away from a house. Break up branches and twigs to use for a fire. In any case, these burn better than real branches. It’s important to try to leave the area the way you found it. So, there was no trash left behind. Find out more about Wild Camping.
Stockholm
There are many waterways in this city because it is made up of islands. You can choose to walk or take the water to get around the city. Old town is a beautiful part of Stockholm. The way the buildings are built and the way some parts of the area look like nature is trying to take over the buildings make you feel like you’ve gone back in time. This part of the city is very pretty. Along with the buildings, the city has a lot of stone statues that you can find all over. There are even places where faces are cut into stone walls. Check out here to learn about hiking in Stockholm.
Skansen
You should check out the subways in Stockholm while you’re there. Each one has a different theme and an artistic touch. One has rainbows all over it, while the other looks like it was made a long time ago. Skansen is the name of a cool island in Stockholm. You can see a zoo, a museum, and many other things there. Everyone in the family will enjoy it!
Archipelagos
Archipelago is just another word for a group of islands. Sweden has a number of these. There are many great archipelagos, but the Gothenburg Archipelago, Stockholm, and Skåne (Sk-o-n-e) Archipelagos are some of the best. On many of these islands, you can go hiking and even take a swim. You can get to these great little spots by boat, canoe, or kayak.
My mom and I went to the Gothenburg Archipelago, which was beautiful. There were bridges between half of them. To get to the first island, we just used my car and took a ferry. We saw a beautiful nature reserve with a garden that made you feel like you were in a forest with tall trees and bushes. This should definitely be on your list of things to do in Sweden. Half of the islands don’t have any cars on them at all! You can walk, ride a bike, or take a ferry to get there. I want to see more of these beautiful islands the next time I’m here.
Northern Lights
On a cold, dark night, the sky was lit up by different colors. The music it dances to is something people can’t hear. These are most likely to be seen in Kiruna or a nearby city in northern Sweden. When the nights get longer, it’s a good idea to go up there. Since it doesn’t get too bright here from September to April, those are great months to visit. If you keep your eyes on the sky, 9:00 to 11:00 pm might be the busiest time for seeing things. What month you go really does matter, though.
Ice Hotel
The very well-known Ice Hotel is a building made of ice. By itself, that is a beautiful sight. You’re in luck; this beautiful architect is also from northern Sweden. You might be able to see both the Northern Lights and the Ice Hotel at the same time. This is in Jukkasjarvi, which is only 17 km (11 mi) from Kiruna. There are many things you should see as you travel through northern Sweden. Here you can book the Ice Hotel.
Ice Hotel Activities
Ice Hotel guests can choose to stay in either the Ice Hotel that is rebuilt every year or the Ice Hotel that stays the same year after year. The Ice Hotel, which is made of snow and ice, looks different every year because it melts. This makes it an ongoing art project. You can book different types of rooms and do different kinds of things there. Horseback riding, safaris, and photography tours are some of the things that can be done. All of these are about the Northern Lights.
Meet Moose
The long brown nose lets out a snort as it walks up to the fence. There were leaves on the branches and food for us to give to the huge animals. As I looked into its eyes, the moose grabbed my branch very hard and started to eat it. The moose chewed while standing tall. Its ears would move to the sounds of the moose expert talking about moose or the kids laughing. We were able to pet their heads while we fed them and learned about their pasts. This is without a doubt an experience that is worth it! Värmland Moose Park has more information on this.
Adventures in Sweden
You can read more about what was talked about or find out about other fun things you can do in Sweden at Adventures in Sweden. That page also has some articles about National Parks you can visit and one about one-of-a-kind things you can do. Or find out about the beautiful old mines that have been overgrown. Read on to learn more here!
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