Sweden is about so much more than ABBA, meatballs and sleek interiors, even if these do make for a pretty spectacular Scandinavian adventure. This wintry wonderland is home to some of Earth’s most astonishingly beautiful spots with stunning seascapes, storybook fjords and quaint historic towns, as well as the sometimes-elusive Northern Lights. Whether you want head out into a snow-filled wilderness, icicles and all, for an adrenaline-fuelled adventure, or just fancy pootling along the time-worn trails that line the rugged coastline in search of a cosy Nordic café, Sweden is full to the brim with heart-stopping views and out-of-this-world adventures. Although we firmly believe that pretty much all of this Scandinavian jewel is breath-takingly beautiful, we’ve compiled a list of the truly unmissable landscapes in Sweden…
The High Coast
If landscapes boasting views that make your heart skip a beat is what you’re after, then The High Coast off the Gulf of Bothnia is a good place to start. As well as having panoramic sea and mountainscapes at every turn, this rough-cut coastline is overflowing with outdoor adventures and UNESCO Heritage charm. The unusually high cliff faces and enchanted forests that line the Gulf of Bothnia are the ultimate playground for avid hikers, and the quaint art hub of the Nordingra Peninsula has been a magnet for artists and craftspeople for generations. Whether you are a rambling fanatic wanting to don your boots for an ice age-esque hike, or a foodie seeking out the area’s rustic restaurants for a taste of the famously smelly fermented herring (surströmming), the High Coast is brimming with magic and is certainly one of the most unmissable landscapes in Sweden.
Åre
In the winter, there is snow as far as the eye can see. Think frost-tipped trees, icicle-fringed mountain bars and hillsides covered in tiny ant-like skiers, and you pretty much have a perfect picture of winter in Åre. This northwestern district is tucked snugly under a blanket of snow for most of the year, making it the ultimate wonderland for anyone seeking a little bit of an adrenaline kick. Head out into the wilderness to try your hand at some traditional Scandinavian sports, including fishing, hiking and water sports (best saved for the summer as it may be a bit chilly during the frostier months!) or even put your feet up in a Swedish spa, with its traditional wood-clad hot tub and treatments for an afternoon of pampering. If you’re lucky, you may even catch a glimpse of the often-elusive Northern Lights dancing daintily across the deep midnight sky.
Lake Vanern
One of Sweden’s most famed lyrical landscapes is its archipelagos. As the third-largest lake in Europe, as well as boasting the largest collection of freshwater islands, there is no denying that Lake Vanern is one of the most unmissable landscapes in Sweden. Its expansive glassy waters are like an ocean dreamscape, but this body of water is slap bang in the middle of the Swedish wilderness. The lake is pockmarked by pretty, pine-topped islands and rocky outcrops which, when on a kayaking expedition or winter sun-filled yacht trip, make for the perfect place for a picnic or a sundowner as the last of the sun’s rays hit the wake of a distant boat.
Sea Stacks, Gotland
Geology lovers unite. The sea stacks off the island of Gotland are one of the most otherworldly rock formations in Sweden and most definitely qualify as an unmissable landscape to add to your list. The island of Gotland itself is brimming with medieval charm, from its UNESCO-protected Viking-era town of Visby, to the remnants of artifacts found in little fishing hamlets around the coast. The alien-like stacks, otherwise known as rauk, are remnants of ancient coral reefs that grew over 400 million years ago - long outdating the Vikings that lived on Gotland and drawing tourists from far and wide. Despite being known as the country’s ‘tropical’ escape thanks to its corraly past, Gotland does in fact sit slap bang in the middle of the Baltic Sea and, as per its name, there is very little else that is tropical about the island. The area’s wonderfully wild past definitely puts Gotland’s sea stacks on the list of the most unmissable landscapes in Sweden.
The King’s Trail
Spanning over 250 miles across the country’s far north, The King’s Trail isn’t technically a single destination, but it is a surefire way to explore some of the most unmissable landscapes in Sweden. Hiking the full trail is not for the faint hearted, taking around a month to complete the whole thing, but because it is broken into sections, wannabe explorers can get a taste for the wilderness with a slightly less strenuous hiking adventure. The trail is world renowned for its changing landscape, from astonishing Alpine scenes in Lapland, to verdant forests full of birch trees, mirror-clear lakes and mountainsides adorned with tiny villages. The trail is also one of only a few places in the world where explorers can hike above the Arctic Circle, so keep your eyes peeled for Rudolf and his pals. In total, the trail runs through four different national parks, each with their own limitless landscapes that feel like theatres of natural drama – you never quite know what you will stumble upon next…
Written by Immy Kelly