Sweden is a traveler's paradise.  With its crystal clean air and water, the thousands of acres of unspoiled forests and majestic lakes to explore, is a great destination for all those who love the outdoors!

Lapland

Lapland is regarded as the largest intact wilderness in Europe covering a quarter of the total area of Sweden yet with only 5% of the population. Lapland is probably best known as the home of Santa Claus, indeed a visit to Santa World at Mora in Dalarna is what most children dream of. Lapland is both an inviting as well as a magical and unusual place.

There are plenty of outside adventures to be had - climb Sweden's highest peak, Kebnekaise; walk in the national parks of Sarek and Padjelanta; or try cross-country dog-sledding, snowmobiling and skiing. Stay in the Ice Hotel at Jukksjärvi, a very unusual experience!

Skokloster Slott Castle

Skokloster Slott Castle is a magnificent 17th-century castle as well as being one of the most fascinating baroque museums in Europe. It is renowned for its unusual interiors as well as its vast collections of paintings, furniture, applied art, tapestries, arms, and books. The castle also houses a restaurant, conference facilities and an automobile museum.

The Viking Town of Birka

Birka is situated on a lush island in Lake Mälaren, about 18 miles from Stockholm. It was a major port over 1,200 years ago. A new museum houses finds from extensive excavations around the site. Visit the museum and see how the Vikings lived.

The Hanseatic town of Visby

A former Viking site on the island of Gotland, Visby was the main centre of the Hanseatic League of the Baltic from the 12th to the 14th century. Its 13th-century ramparts and more than 200 warehouses and trading establishments from the same period make it the best-preserved fortified commercial city in Northern Europe.

Gripsholm Castle

Gripsholm Castle is located in the small town of Mariested on Lake Maaleren outside Stockholm. A stunning renaissance castle, it was first built in 1540. The castle contains exceptional Renaissance interiors as well as a theatre and the world's oldest and largest portrait collections.

Sareks National Park

The enchanted landscape of Sareks National Park plays hosts to over 100 glaciers as well as mountains reaching over 2,000m. It should only be experienced with the help of a guide unless you’re an expert in outdoor survival. The best views are over the lake and delta of Laiture on the Rapa älv, near the eastern edge of the park.

Öland

Öland is a tiny island boasting many ruins, fortifications and nearly 400 windmills! The biggest Iron-Age ring fort on the island, Gråborg - with a diameter of 200m - is an incredible sight. Nearby, Eketorp has been partly reconstructed as a museum to show what a fortified medieval village must have looked like.

Equally impressive are the ruins of Borgholm Castle which was eventually burned and abandoned early in the 18th century. Also prominent are the lighthouses at the northern and southern tips of the island. Öland is reached from Kalmar via a 6000m bridge - the longest in Europe. Öland is a popular place to celebrate Midsummer.

Old Uppsala

Located just outside modern day Uppsala, Old Uppsala is regarded as the most important prehistoric monument in Sweden and the cradle of Swedish civilization. The three "Kungshögarna" or royal mounds are situated on a ridge and can be seen from miles away. There is a cairn in the centre of each mound where the actual grave was situated. The dead king was burned on a funeral pyre together with his grave gifts which generally included jewellery and gold. There is information provided nearby in numerous languages in addition to an exhibition. A fascinating site, there is plenty of interpretive material on site to guide you through the long and interesting history of the area.

The Kingdom of Crystal

The Kingdom of crystal is located in the province of Småland, in southeastern Sweden. Many of the world’s most famous glassworks can be found here. The Kingdom of Crystal came into existence when the first batch of glass was melted at Kosta in 1742. Kosta is now the oldest glasswork in Sweden and is still making handmade glass. In the Glasshouse see the glass-workers work in front of the furnaces. This trip is a must, especially if you are looking for bargains in crystal treasures.

Author Bio

I am a former IT technician and also a writer for homeadviceguide. I moved to Corfu with my wife, Lina, a few years after we got married. We decided that it is better to live in a place where you can really enjoy life, rather than stay in a big city and spend all your time commuting. I run a local computer repair shop in Acharavi and my wife a local cafe/restaurant.

I write only when I feel the need to and mostly after I visit a new place. I understand how important it is for holidaymakers to find accurate information about each travel destination, this is why I always try my best. My Macbook and my camera are my best friends and this is why I always carry them with me wherever I go.