Swedish Attractions: Things to Do in Sweden in the Summer

The 190 kilometre long Göta Canal starts from Sweden’s east coast and travels through the country’s southern parts to the Vänern Lake, passing through idyllic and picturesque Swedish scenery. Canal cruises with accommodation onboard as well as shorter sightseeing cruises are offered. Cycling along the canal is also popular and there are excellent cycling and walking routes along this long waterway.

North Sweden invites nature lovers for hiking, fishing, camping and outdoor sports. There are several national parks in the north of Sweden where the mountains and forests are home to bears, elks, wolves and lynx and the rivers are full of trout and salmon. The Sarek National Park, the Stora Sjöfallet and the Padjelanta park together cover more than 5200 square kilometres and form the biggest national park in Europe. There are hiking trails through the Swedish wilderness for all levels of hikers and organized tours are offered too.

Gotland is a pretty island in the Baltic Sea and easy to get to by ferry Nynäshamn, an hour’s bus ride south from Stockholm. Ferries arrive in Visby, a charming medieval town with cobblestone streets and old wooden houses. Gotland is small enough to be perfect for cycling, or for touring by car. There are beaches, nature, wildlife and birdlife but also comfortable holiday cabins to rent and some quality restaurants.

Located south of Gotland, the Öland island is known for beautiful beaches and is another popular summer holiday destination among Scandinavians.

Sweden’s capital Stockholm is a gorgeous summer city with events, culture, great dining, shopping and clubbing. The city is spread over several islands and is a charming city break destination in the summer. The archipelago around Stockholm has over 24 000 islands and can be explored by boats and ferries.