Sweden Travel Guide

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Sweden is a land of incredible cultural contrast. While urban Sweden is stylish, modern and sophisticated, the countryside offers many simpler pleasures for those in search of tranquility.

Forests, lakes and islands
Sweden's scenery generally has a gentler charm than that of neighboring Norway's rugged coastline and mountains. Much of Sweden is forested, and there are thousands of lakes, notably large stretches of water between Gothenburg and the capital, Stockholm.

The lakeside resort of Östersund, in the center of Sweden, is popular with Scandinavians, but most visitors opt first for the cities and the Baltic islands: the largest island, Gotland, with its array of ruined medieval churches, is a particular highlight. Another major attraction is the so-called ‘Kingdom of Crystal', a forested area between Malmö and Stockholm boasting many fine glassworks.

Household names
The land and its people have an air of reserved calm, and while perhaps best known for its automotive and musical exports - Volvo and Abba are household names - a strong historical undertone bubbles close beneath the surface. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Stockholm, where dozens of museums, and attractive medieval and baroque edifices housing boutiques and cafés overlook the attractive harbor.

Geography

Sweden is bordered by Norway to the west and Finland to the northeast, with a long Baltic coast to the east and south. Approximately half the country is forested and most of the many thousands of lakes are situated in the southern central area. The largest lake is Vänern, with an area of 5,540 sq km (2,140 sq miles). Swedish Lapland to the north is mountainous and extends into the Arctic Circle.