On a trip to Sweden, our Europe specialist Harriet sampled all the best Scandinavian experiences. She learnt how to make Swedish crisp bread, ventured deep into the country’s oldest mine, and travelled through the picturesque Swedish countryside. Eager to discover how to make the most of your trip? Read on for the lowdown on Harriet’s trips and her top tips for a Swedish adventure to remember.
- Where did you visit?
- What did you get up to?
- What made your trip special?
- What’s your favourite thing you ate?
- What new things did you learn?
- What was something you’d never done before?
- What’s one thing that can’t be missed?
- Were there any personal highlights?
- What’s a top tip you’d give to clients?
Where did you visit?
I flew into Stockholm, the country’s colourful capital, then took a two-hour train north to the region of Dalarna. I spent five nights in Sweden in total, each one in a different hotel.
What did you get up to?
I tasted beer at a local brewery in Dalarna; visited the Falun Coppermine, which is one of Sweden’s oldest mines; learnt how to make crisp bread; went on a guided tour around the Falun Coppermine, one of Sweden’s UNESCO World Heritage sites; and fell in love the Swedish concept of fika – a cosy coffee and cake break.
What made your trip special?
Getting to enjoy Swedish heritage and feeling like I was discovering a lesser-known part of the country. You can really tell that Sweden’s nature has always been an integral part of their culture and folklore. Dalarna, in the middle of the country, was one of my favourite finds. The region has lots of gorgeous lakes complete with little beaches, and some great mountain restaurants. It’s comparable to Finland’s lake scene, which is hard to compete with.
What’s your favourite thing you ate?
Dinner in the Fryksås Hotel was fantastic. The chef was a student of Gordon Ramsay’s, and the restaurant has incredible views of Lake Orsa and Siljan. The meal consisted of a light fish starter, followed by the best lamb I’ve ever eaten and topped off with a local berry dessert. Simple, local and delicious! Oh, and of course all the kanelbullar (Swedish cinnamon buns) I ate during every fika.
What new things did you learn?
I learnt how to make knäckebröd (Swedish crisp bread) in an open oven, which is much harder than it seems. Skedvi Brod is a new gastro spot ‘out in the sticks’ that bakes and sells it, and I found out that Benny Andersson, of ABBA fame, is one of the many stakeholders – you can’t get much more Swedish than that!
What was something you’d never done before?
I’d never been down a coal mine before, so visiting the Falun Coppermine was a great experience. It was the world’s biggest mine in the 1500’s, and they used to transform the copper into coins, church spires and palace roofs. It’s one of the best-preserved historical mining sites in the world and rightfully became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001.
What’s one thing that can’t be missed?
You literally can’t miss the views, they’re everywhere! The idyllic islands, wild national parks and colourful buildings are a big draw for many travellers planning a trip to Sweden.
Were there any personal highlights?
Yes – my husband is Swedish, and we had traditional Dala horses at our wedding. They’re little figures of horses that have been hand carved and painted. I had no idea where in Sweden they came from, so it was such a highlight to visit the factory in Dalarna. We even watched the masters at work and met the man who painted the horses for our wedding!
What’s a top tip you’d give to clients?
Move around as much as you can – there are so many towns and sub-regions to visit within Dalarna. A road trip will let you visit multiple spots and take in all the gorgeous Swedish views.