Stockholm

Extraordinary islands in the stream





More than anything else, it is Stockholm’s unique, breathtaking location that has made the city known far and wide as one of the world’s most beautiful. Built on 14 islands around one of Europe’s largest and best-preserved mediaeval city centres, the Swedish capital is superbly positioned, with stunning and extremely varied scenery in every direction. To the west, lake Mälaren branches out among lush, idyllic landscapes. To the east the magnificent Stockholm archipelago stretches seaward, an enchanting maritime world of more than 24,000 islands, islets and skerries.

The city itself charms the visitor, with its very own fusion of old and new, traditional and contemporary, urban and pastoral, sophisticated and earthy – all within convenient walking distance of the centre.

It is precisely this characteristic blend that many foreign guests refer to as the city’s magical quality. None of this is news. What is news is that over the last decade Stockholm has developed into one of the world’s most dynamic, creative and attractive scenes within a number of areas: design, music, fashion, shopping and food, to mention just a few.

The new, ”hot” Stockholm is a phenomenon that has made waves all over the world. People often say that in ten years Stockholm has transformed from a large small town into a small big city. It’s in that rare position of having all the international metropolis’ advantages with very few of its common drawbacks, as well as easy air access from most large European cities.

This is the Stockholm that waits to welcome you!

Welcome to Göteborg

Sweden’s second biggest city is situated on the west coast with the sea and archipelago within easy reach.

Photo: Göran Assner

In the middle of Göteborg lies Liseberg, Scandinavia’s biggest amusement park, with lots of attractions, performances and beautiful garden areas. The attractions go from gentle experiences for the children to Scandinavia’s biggest wooden coaster, Balder.

Adjacent to Liseberg is Universeum, Sweden’s national science discovery centre with everything from sharks and rain forest to technically exciting experiments. Neighbor to Universium is the Museum of World Culture that displays innovative exhibits in its award winning building.

Göteborg is one of the leading cities in Northern Europe for holding top events. Many of the major performers of the world in sport and music have appeared on stages such as Ullevi and Scandinavium. The largest sporting event to be organised was the 1995 World Athletics Championships, which was a fantastic public success for the City of Göteborg. In 2006 Ullevi will be staging the European Athletics Championships.

Göteborgskalaset (The Göteborg party) is Sweden’s largest city festival and is arranged in August of every year. There are plenty of outdoor performances with musical artist of every genre, a huge children’s party and all the entertainment is free of cost.

Slottsskogen is a big nature park, perfect for picnics and recreation, with both duck ponds and animal enclosures. Just on the other side of the street are The Botanical Gardens, which are regarded as the finest in Northern Europe with a plant collection of global reputation. Another park is Trädgårdsföreningen in the middle of the city with Sweden’s foremost Rosarium, Butterfly House and Palm House.

And don’t miss a visit to the picturesque Haga with lots of exciting little shops in a genuine Göteborg environment from days gone by. If you don’t feel like walking in the city, you can simply jump on one of Göteborg's many trams. Continue by boat to discover the paradise of Göteborg's southern archipelago with the cliffs and ocean. Boat excursions to Elfsborg Fortress and Vinga nature reserve are very popular.

There are also boats in the middle of town. Paddan offers sightseeing in the canal and harbour.

Malmö

Malmö is Sweden’s third largest city and a commercial centre in southern Sweden. From having been an industrial city, Malmö has transformed into a knowledge-city.

Photo: Malmö Turism

Many small companies orientated towards, among other things, IT, bio- and medical engineering, retail trade and logistics, have replaced the large industries. It is no longer shipyard workers who ride their bicycles from the harbour area, but students from Malmö University. Malmö has obtained a new ecological quarter at the Western Harbour, with exciting architecture and environmentally friendly energy solutions.

Kungsparken "The King's Park". Photo: Alex Brandell/Malmö Turism
Malmö is also a multi-cultural city, with a population that speaks more than 100 different languages. Its cultural life is active. Contemporary art, with both national and international orientation, is shown at the Malmö Art Gallery, Rooseum, and Malmö Art Museum. Furthermore, there are about thirty private galleries. Malmö Music Theatre has one of Sweden’s foremost stages for Opera and musicals, and the Malmö Symphony Orchestra is internationally recognised.

Malmö Festival. Photo: Malmö Tursim
Malmö’s beautiful parks and green open spaces are renowned. How many cities can boast a 2 kilometre-long sand beach with clean water within walking-distance from the heart of the city? Proximity is another distinctive feature of life in Malmö; it is possible to walk to most places and a large part of the centre comprises pedestrian shopping areas.

A highlight during the year is the Malmö Festival, held in August, which draws close to 1.5 million visitors and offers over 900 hours of free entertainment. Traditionally, the world’s largest crayfish party is held at Stortorget on the inaugural evening and a tremendous fireworks display ends the Festival week.

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Northern Sweden

The northern half of Sweden treats the visitor to powerful experiences. Enormous forests, unregulated rivers, clean air and water, not to mention silence, are nature’s gift to visitors and residents.

Photo: Patrik Trädgårdh

To the east, by the Gulf of Bothnia, is a coastline with miles and miles of beaches, pictoresque fishing villages, vibrant towns and fascinating archipelagoes with hundreds of islands. To the west an impressive mountain chain rises up, attracting seekers of adventure and relaxation.

The unique climate brings pleasant temperatures and mild, light nights during summer, while the winter features biting cold, the mesmerising northern lights, and metres of snow. In the far north you can enjoy the midnight sun in summertime, and the corresponding polar night in winter, when the sun doesn’t appear for days.

Northern Sweden consists of seven provinces, each with its own distinctive character. Norrbotten and Lapland with their strong Lapp cultures and untouched wilderness. Västerbotten with its healthy entrepreneurial spirit, including Umeå, a town known for its university and a thriving cultural scene. Medelpad and Ångermanland with the High Coast, a UNESCO world heritage site where dramatic cliffs plunge into fjord-like bays. Jämtland and Härjedalen with their vast forests and tall mountains that attract skiiers and adventurers throughout the year. And Hälsingland with its blue mountains and innumerable lakes, combined with folk music rallies and its very own style of farmhouses.

The wide-open spaces and diverse countryside are ideal for adventure and physical activities, both summer and winter. The possibilities are virtually endless: hiking, skiing, snow scooter riding, canoeing, dog-sledding, seal safaris and trips on ice breakers, just to mention a few.

Northern Sweden is a rich cultural landscape, with rock carvings and relics from earlier settlers. Here the Lapp culture is always present, through the intricate handicrafts, the characteristic ’yoik’ style of singing, and the reindeer husbandry. There are also three world heritage sites to visit, experience and enjoy – Laponia, Gammelstad Church Village and the High Coast.
Though the region covers half of the total land area of Sweden, only one seventh of the country’s population lives here. That leaves space for both body and mind.




Central Sweden

Central Sweden enjoys the perfect balance between nature and culture. Fertile plains and mystical forests provide a magnificent backdrop to rock carvings, historical ironworks and manor houses. You’ll find five world heritage sites, classified for their unique cultural-historical value. The central region of Sweden is characterised by rolling hills, forests, lakes and folklore


Photo: Johan Warden / Link Image


In the west are the provinces of Dalarna and Värmland. Vast forests with wild animals, interspersed with lakes and rivers for rafting and canoeing, and rapids for whitewater rafting. Dalarna is Sweden’s foremost folklore region, where folk traditions remain strong. The Midsummer celebrations are widely known, the folk music rallies and folk music festivals attract visitors from around the world and the annual long-distance ski race, the Vasaloppet, draws many thousands of participants.

The province of Närke, with its impressive administrative centre Örebro, is located in the middle of the region and has long been a centre of trade and travel. Further north is Västmanland, a province filled with music and culture, golf and equestrian sports, as well as magnificent countryside: expansive forests, thousands of lakes, mountains and valleys, five climatic zones and a rich animal life.

Gästrikland is the most easterly province, on the Baltic coast. It’s small, with northern Sweden’s oldest city – Gävle – and the country’s largest zoo. Also in the east is Uppland, enchanting with its fertile plains, magical forests and greatly varied coastline. Excursions can consist of bronze-age rock carvings, runestones from the Viking days, mediaeval churches with beautiful frescoes, or Walloon ironworks. And the university town of Uppsala, the city of knowledge, has long been a source of inspiration for artists, scientists and spiritual leaders.
In Sörmland scores of small country roads wind their way through an undulating countryside with stately homes and hundreds of lakes and waterways. Some 400 castles and manor houses, with their history, art, architecture and exquisite surroundings, stand proud by the forests and bays of the region.

Photo: Henrik Trygg
The true jewel of the region – and the country – is Stockholm, the national capital, stretching out over 14 islands. Fascinating environments with cobblestone streets, parks, waterways and islands combine with a bustling, continental atmosphere with cafes, bars and restaurants, making Stockholm a modern, vibrant city with historical charm.

Experience a region where the past is alive.












Southern Sweden

The southern part of the country is noted for its variation and contrasts. In southern Sweden, no day is the same as the next.


Hovshallar in Skåne
Photo: Håkan Sandbring/Position Skåne©sydpol.com


The forests of Småland versus the plains of Skåne. Lush, leafy Blekinge in contrast to the sandscapes of Öland and Gotland. The pulse of the cities against the backdrop of Dalsland’s silence.

Gotland and Öland are the eastern outposts of the region and the country. Mile-long sandy beaches, fascinating ”raukar” – natural statues of stone – and the mediaeval town of Visby make the islands a holiday paradise for relaxation, seclusion and nightlife. Visby, once part of the Hanseatic League, and the agricultural landscape of southern Öland have both been granted world heritage listing by UNESCO.

Ågelsjön in Kolmården
Photo: Henrik Trygg
The inland of the region is divided by the country’s largest lakes, Vänern and Vättern. On the east side are Småland and Östergötland. The latter features a beautiful archipelago and Kolmården Zoo, one of Sweden’s most popular destinations. Småland is known for its vast forests and world-class furniture and glass design. Storybook characters like Pippi Longstocking came to life here, through the writing of Astrid Lindgren.

Marstrand on the west coast
Photo: Kjell Holmner
On the west side are Dalsland and Västergötland. Göta Canal, one of Sweden’s foremost historical and cultural building works, meanders through Östergötland and Västergötland. This transport route is now a popular destination with impressive locks and a wide range of related activities. Dalsland has the most lakes in Sweden, with beaver, osprey and lots of fish.

Skåne, Blekinge, Halland and Bohuslän are coastal landscapes, each with its own character. Skåne features leafy beech forests, castles and manor houses and Danish-influenced cuisine, culture and architecture. Blekinge is the garden of Sweden, with dazzling floral displays, idyllic fishing villages and untouched islets that taste of salt and sea. Halland’s trademark is endless sandy beaches for play and pleasure, plus coastal towns bustling with life. And Bohuslän offers rock carvings, delicious seafood, pictoresque fishing villages and a spectacular archipelago.

Malmö and Göteborg are the region’s two main cities, where you can indulge yourself in entertainment in the form of concerts, festivals, sporting events and many other things that are part of city life.

There’s always something to do in southern Sweden. Roam through history, visit one of the region’s five world heritage sites, challenge yourself physically, browse in small shops and outlets or play a round of golf at one of the many courses. The choice is yours.

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Blekinge

The beautiful region of Blekinge is home to Scandinavians most southern and sunniest archipelago.


On the islands along the coast the archipelago is flourishing and vibrant with idealistic fishing opportunities. There are plenty of untouched islets for the sailor on the look for a little swim in the sea.

It's never far from the dazzling and magnificent display of flower gardens to the thunderous silence of the powerful forest. Whether you choose to go by canoe, bike or hike - there are several possibilities to make your way as slow or fast as you want.

It all happens in here during the summer, with festivals, fishing, swimming, culture, countryside activities, golf, boating and all kinds of exciting adventures for the children just round the corner.

You’re guaranteed your own special place in sunny Blekinge, a paradise where you can relax in good company.

Bohuslän

Bohuslän is packed with charm


Photo: Göran Assner
- the summer warmth of the marine archipelago, the red granite of the rocks and skerries, the fresh prawns, the charming little fishing villages, the wonderful sandy beaches and the idyllic hinterland - all combine to create a special place in the hearts of visitors to Bohuslän.

The greatest pleasure for many is lying on a jetty for hours on end catching crabs. For others, it's attractions such as Nordens Ark Rare Species Centre, with its rare and threatened animals, or Havets Hus aquarium in Lysekil.

Still others find great pleasure in wandering through the museum of stone carvings in Viltlycke, listed amongst UNESCO's World Heritage sites.



Dalsland


Those who step lightly in the forest discover a whole lot more ...


El acueducto de Håverud
Foto: Lisa Nestorsson/Västvenska Turistrådet


In Dalsland you can hear a beaver splashing its broad tail at the water's edge. You can see an elk family trotting down to the shore at dusk to quench their thirst in the crystal clear Dalsland water.

You can see an osprey majestically diving for food to take back to its hatchlings squawking high up in the top of a large pine...

Just imagine travelling Dalsland´s beautiful lakes and canals in your own boat. There are numerous places throughout the province that rent out motor or sailing boats to the public. Why not even hire a canoe or kayak?

One of the biggest tourist attractions in Dalsland is the aqueduct in Håverud, dating from 1868. It is still perfectly intact, and not a single one of its 33,000 original rivets has been replaced.


Gotland

Gotland treats visitors to dramatic land and seascapes surrounded by idyllic pastoral island scenes. Everyone can find a special place of their very own on Gotland.

Lime stone stack at Fårö island, Gotland. Photo: Mats Jansson/Gotlands Turistförening

The excellent county museum in Visby presents visitors with a comprehensive view of the island's history, culture and nature. A visit there is a good starting point for your own exploration of Gotland's many landscapes. There's simply so much to explore on the island that you'll never run out of things to do.

Photo: Mats Jansson Gotlands Turistförening

Those interested in culture will have their work cut out for them covering everything there is to see. Nature lovers will enjoy all sorts of land and seascapes, from rugged cliffs to leafy, wooded meadows. The island is literally dotted with museums and other attractions to add to your Gotland experience.

Medieval Week is arranged annually on Gotland in the beginning of August. The Medieval market comes to life in Visby's main street, Strandgatan, with stonemasons and smiths working alongside the clattering of horses’ hooves and bleating sheep.

It's a week filled with colour and spectacle. There are all sorts of musical events, pageants and even jousting tournaments. A great variety of lectures and study courses are also held. Medieval week is a mixture of sobriety and merriment, education and festivity.

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Halland

They live longest and are away from work due to illness least in the country - it is no coincidence that the people of Halland feel good. It is easy to feel good in Halland. You're close to all things that make living easier.




Miles of beaches as long as the eye can see including well-known beaches such as Tylösand, Mellbystrand, Skrea beach and Apelviken. Beaches that encourage relaxation and play for children and adults alike.

And the inland areas reveal the unknown Halland with peace and quiet, adventure and wilderness. Several bike and hiking trails as well as new horse riding trails traverse the countryside, where the forests entice mushroom and berry picking. Lagan, Nissan, Ätran and Viskan are the best known rivers, not least because of the bountiful stocks of salmon and sea trout. Fishing in the Lagan and Ätran rivers is among the best in the country.


Competition and relaxation - two factors that attract the golfer And there is a wealth of golf courses. Over thirty courses means that no two courses are far apart. There are courses to suit everyone, for both the beginner and the experienced golfer. Well-known championship courses such as Tylösand and Forsgården are mixed with open courses.

Like a string of pearls along Halland's coastline, the charming towns of Kungsbacka, Varberg, Falkenberg, Halmstad and Laholm await. During the summertime a continental feel prevails with thronging street life around restaurants, bars and nightclubs. The town centre's small shops, discount stores and outlets provide excellent shopping opportunities to suit all wallets.

It is a short distance to sights of good repute such as Varberg Fortress, Tjolöholm Manor House and Mjellby Art Museum, as it is to more unknown places of delight such as the Tiraholm fishery in Unnaryd, Öströö sheep farm in Åkulla, Gösta's café in Steninge, Ysby's old general store in Laholm and Skår's estate in Kungsbacka. Just to name a few examples …

Ångermanland

Come along on a quietly different journey, and allow yourself to be idle. The most important thing isn’t what you do, but where you are and what you want. If, like many others, you’ve had enough of the high stress levels of modern life, then it’s time to simply put on the brakes. Ångermanland has space where you can just be.

Photo: Anders Eliasson



Time and peace of mind heighten your ability to truly appreciate places, moods and details. Because it’s true that something great can often be found within something much smaller. Balm for the soul is what it is – an elusive moment so easily forgotten…

And when you put your hands on your knees and try to catch your breath after hiking to the top of some lookout point that tempted you, you’re very much living in the here and now. When you inhale you feel the fresh air and when you exhale you spread the satisfaction. Your breathing isn’t just exchanging air, it’s also changing pace, which in turn gives you energy.

Whether you’re enjoying the cultural life of Härnösand, walking along the Höga Kusten or relaxing in a remote cabin somewhere around Sollefteå, you’ll notice something very important: that you are on a holiday within yourself. That you are simply relaxing so much that things which normally bother and gnaw at you have completely vanished.

To say that the scenery at the Höga Kusten (High Coast) is intoxicatingly beautiful would be an understatement. The area is so special that Unesco granted it world heritage listing.

Every day since the Ice Age the land here has been rising, millimetre by millimetre. When you walk along the Höga Kusten you both see and feel that your feet and your senses are experiencing something very different.

Hälsingland

Hälsingland is famous for its blue mountains and its countless lakes. It is an ideal area for outings in the forest and on the land, walks and hikes, canoe trips, fishing, cycling and skiing. There is also a lovely coastline with small fishing hamlets and pleasant restaurants.


Photo: JärvZoo

Hälsingland is also well known for its beautiful and ornate historic farmsteads and wooden manor houses. You can explore the area on your own or join a guided tour to visit some of the 200-year-old farms.

Throughout the summer months, there are various festivals, musical events and the world-famous Hälsinge Hambo dancing championship.

Winter Hälsingland offers the visitor a great variety of sporting and cultural experiences. The ski slopes are excellently maintained, and you can even ride well-shod Icelandic horses! Why not try the snow mobile and scooter tracks, or the typical Norrland ice fishing, then relax by an open fire.

Västerbotten/Lappland

Västerbotten runs from the beautiful archipelago in the east to the mountain regions at the northern border. A stretch extending about 500 km containing everything you can imagine of the Swedish countryside

Undisturbed national rivers, forest areas stretching for miles, an archipelago alive with sailing vessels, unpredictable fishing lakes and mighty mountains inviting both winter activities and mountain hikes in the sun. If you take into account two large towns and a number of smaller communities with charm and a retained aura of authenticity, a few colleges and universities and not to mention a flourishing cultural life, you have Västerbotten in a nutshell.
A county that has what you are looking for - whatever you are looking for.

Although constituting an eighth of Sweden’s total area, Västerbotten only hosts around 3 percent of the countries population. In other words there is plenty of space for wild animals and untouched, undiscovered raw nature.For example, the nationally known Moose farm in Bjurholm is a must see.

The largest town is Umeå where 110,000 inhabitants can pride themselves on having one of Sweden's largest universities, and everything in the town comfortably in reach by bike. Neighbouring Skellefteå to the north, for its part, holds a prominent place in Swedish music and festival culture, whilst small companies prosper in the region. A few miles inland you will discover Lycksele with a Nordic zoo on one side of the town and undisturbed wilderness on the other.

The Lapp culture has its obvious history in Västerbotten which is very much alive today. In the mountain regions there are reindeer pastures and active cult sites like the well-known Fatmomakke in Kultsjödalen. There is ample space for hiking, scooter trips and fishing in the mountain regions of Västerbotten depending on your taste and the current season. The alpine superstars Ingemar Stenmark and Anja Pärsson grew up on the steep slopes of Tärnaby Hemavan and Kittelfjäll is the place for ski- and snowboarders who are looking for some extreme action in natural snow!

The coastland, for its part, has seal safaris in the archipelago and beautiful mill environments, the fantastic delicacy Västerbotten cheese which nowadays constitutes its very own holiday destination – The house of Cheese (Ostens Hus) in Burträsk. But naturally there are considerably more sights worth seeing. Regardless of whether you are looking for challenges or tranquillity, rock or Opera, a place to work or to study, mountains or the archipelago, our firm belief is that you will find what you are looking for in Västerbotten.

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