5 Picturesque things to do when you visit Sweden in the summer

Do you plan to visit Sweden? These 5 relaxing things will make your Swedish summer trip more picturesque.

Sweden is a small charming Scandinavian country, partly connected with the Arctic Circle. Some people mistake it for Switzerland, other people only know it for the Swedish Chef, Meatballs, IKEA, or ABBA. But it is more than that. It is a country that carries the captivating midnight sun as well as the mystical northern light. It is a country that is resting on a foundation of old folk traditions, that despite being peculiar, still makes perfect sense. This article highlights activities that you can do the whole summer, so if you are interested in how to celebrate Midsummer, please read our separate article, because it is worth its own post.

When we visit Sweden we enjoy it as both natives and tourists.

Being an international couple, Swedish-American, we are continuously visiting this enchanting country and have learned to see it through our eyes as natives and tourists. Here are the things that for us make Sweden more than just a destination, but also an experience that always tends to meet our criteria for what Charming is all about. Here are “5 things to do when you visit Sweden.”

1. VISIT A CASTLE

Growing up in Sweden, in a town whose history put the focus on the local castle, built in the 12th century, I always took castles for granted. It was when I got married to my wife that I realized that not everyone has the luxury of having old castles around every corner. I also realized that it sometimes requires someone from the other side of the pond to make the locals see things they grew up with, in a new light.

So thanks to my wife we started a tradition to visit and explore castles whenever we visit Sweden. Starting with the nearby ones, to later expand further away we have now a long list of castles behind us. Still, there is an endless amount of castles we still haven’t seen. 

Not everyone has the luxury of having old castles around every corner.

What is so nice about this tradition is that you can experience history more intimately than just reading about it. You can walk in it, breathe the castle air, and hear the same echoes that kings, queens, peasants, and servants heard walking the same hallways a hundred years ago. But it does not stop there, cause most of the castles have beautiful surroundings, a divine garden filled with flowers, or a labyrinth that you can try to walk through. Not to mention a castle cafe, if you are lucky.

We always try to visit one of our favorite castles called Nynäs slott, (Nynäs Castle in English). It was built in the 1650s and has a big green area and probably one of the most beautiful flower and vegetable gardens we’ve seen. It is perfect for the whole family to enjoy. One of the best perks is that they have a cafe/restaurant in their nearby orangery. It is a perfect destination for any castle day.

2. EXPERIENCE VIKING CULTURE AND MEDIEVAL HISTORY

As with the castles around every corner, Swedish history does not stop there. Here and there you can see older tales being told, but only if you understand how to read the old runic alphabet. Here and there you can see big rune stones, raised for different reasons. Usually to honor a fallen family member, but sometimes for other reasons as well. It was the Vikings that raised them, and Sweden is rich in interesting Viking remains.

Every summer there are many Viking/medieval fairs going on in the whole country. It is a perfect way to travel back in time, and taste, smell and feel the Viking history. The most famous fair takes place on the island of Gotland, in the town of Visby. It is called “The medieval week of Gotland”. The town is known for its surrounding wall that once protected the city from intruders.

It is a beautiful island packed with medieval buildings and ruins. The lovely fragrance of tar lets your senses know that you have arrived at the right time. You will soon be surrounded by the noise of hammers, blacksmiths, and medieval music, and there is where you forget where you once came from. We can recommend limiting your social media usage during this week and just letting the wind of history take you on a journey.

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3. STROLL THROUGH QUAINT FAIRYTALE TOWNS & OUTDOOR MUSEUMS

Sweden has a much younger history than the Viking and medieval ages as well. It is a history whose escapades you might have heard from your great-grandma and grandpa tell you, about when they were young. It is a very charming era to experience and they all deserve their own chapters. A perfect way to experience this is to visit an open-air museum or stop by a quaint storybook town, as we like to call them. 

Gränna is one perfect example of a storybook town. Located near the lake of Vättern. It is a beautiful little town that we always make a stop at. It is famous for its candy making, and with candy, we mean “Polkagrisar” or directly translated to English, “Polka pigs”. It was invented in the little town during an era when the dance of Polka was still a novelty. I would guess that the “pig” part of the name came from the expression of being a “sugar pig”, which is nowadays the same as being a sweet tooth (my guess.) The main flavor is peppermint and it comes in many different colors and co-flavors. It is a perfect destination to stretch your legs, walking the cobblestones with something sweet in your hand.    

The open-air museums can be found almost everywhere. The difference between these two is that an open-air museum is a living exhibition with certain hours, set in a specific time, while a storybook town is just a real town that that happen to have slipped away from the net of modern exteriors. If you all the sudden feel a sense of timelessness, and the beauty of an old handmade shop sign suddenly keeps you more entertained than the phone in your pocket did, then you know you have arrived in one.

We also have to mention “Bamses Värld” which is a part of the zoo called “Kolmårdens djurpark”. It might not be an open-air museum or a storybook town, but Bamse has a very cultural value growing up in Sweden. He has his own comic for children, and most of us growing up in the 80s and 90s grow up with Bamse. I would say he a sort of Swedish version of Disney.
It is a great visit, and being connected to the zoo makes for a beautiful day with zoological adventures. This place is perfect for the whole family.

4. IMMERSE IN IDYLLIC LANDSCAPES

It is said that the color blue makes you calm. If that is true, I believe that a visit to the ocean side of Sweden is a great way to lower the level of stress that we tend to carry with us wherever we go. If you have access to a boat, as we have, thanks to family, it gives you the possibility to explore the many exciting islands in the archipelago.

The salty fresh air, the tickling wind in our hair, and the happy sound of seagulls seem to stay with us for many days after we are back at work after a vacation. To take a refreshing swim with the ocean as a view is lovely. To then have your picnic while the sun is setting, and a nearby lighthouse guides boats into safety is like being in an ocean dream. When we reach land we are more convinced that sea creatures like mermaids and selkies truly exist. 
P.S. Do not go out on the ocean if you are unsure how to manage a boat among other boat traffic. And by all means, wear a life jacket. (Safety first)

If you easily get seasick you will be happy to hear that the ocean is not only the close nature experience you can enjoy. In Sweden, we are happy to have a certain law that gives people the right to walk through forests as they wish, and pick wild berries, or flowers. With certain responsibilities, of course, you can not enter someone’s garden or leave trash. It is called “allemansrätten”, or translated to English, “right of public access.”

Because, nature is there to be enjoyed, not to be kept away from you. For all of you who watch it through the screens, nature is real, I’ve seen it. It is very relaxing to stroll freely through the deep forests of Sweden, knowing that no one is there to stop you. The countryside is also a truly relaxing place to immerse yourself in where wildflowers and cozy little red houses dot the landscape.

5. ENJOY A SWEDISH FIKA AT A SUMMER CAFE

Sweden is the second largest consumer of coffee and the Swedish FIKA culture is part of daily rituals.
One thing that we love is to visit as many summer cafes as we can during our visits. A summer cafe is exactly as it sounds, a cafe that is open during the summer season.

It can be located in places that might not be too inspiring to want to visit when the winter’s harsh grip is knocking on your door but attracts every fiber of your soul during the bright time of the year. It might perhaps be around the many sun-kissed cliffs at the ocean side, or in an old restored barn, suitable for local art exhibits and more. A perfect summer cafe is when the surroundings are as perfect as the treat in front of you, and refills are free.

We hope you enjoyed reading about our 5 favorite things to do when we visit Sweden. Even if you live far away from this peculiarly charming country, remember that you might have similar gems in your own town that are just waiting to be explored by you. As I said in the beginning, sometimes you need someone from the other side of the pond to see the things that have been in front of you during your whole life. THE ADVENTURE IS OUT THERE!

Bye for now & Hej då allihopa! 

– Jonas and Lindsay

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