- Stockholm: the Swedish capital lies amid a huge archipelago halfway up the Baltic coast of the country and is the main hub. Stockholm is like no other capital; most of the buildings are low-rise, it is all divided up by water and it has a perfect blend of shopping, dining and sightseeing options. There are many fine areas to check out, such as City (T-Centralen) amid downtown Stockholm with its many fine buildings; the Old Town (Gamla Stan), with its cobblestone alleys and old buildings; the relaxing city island of Djurgården; and the bohemian Södermalm, with its huge collection of cafés, galleries and pubs. [For more info, see the Stockholm Tourist Board website].
- Gothenburg: is Sweden’s second city and one of endless shopping, an interesting café culture, loads of intricate landmarks and a picturesque harbour. You can easily get around Gothenburg on foot or by tram and you may find most of your time is spent in Brunnsparken, the main district. Götaplatsen Square is also immensely popular while the harbour features many fun attractions and an opera house. Gothenburg has its own airport or you could take a train direct from Stockholm in a few hours. [For more info, see the Gothenburg Tourism website].
- Malmo: is an interesting city and the gateway to southern Sweden should you enter the country by road via Denmark. It actually has a Danish feel about it, looking more like Copenhagen than Stockholm, and there are plentiful squares and parks to have a wander in. The three squares of Gustav Adolf's, Big Square and the Little Square are the main attractions, while the Turning Torso building is Scandinavia’s biggest and fanciest. The nearby beach is popular in the summer while a thriving café culture and nightlife in the Big Square finish the place off. Malmö is 25 minutes away from Copenhagen Airport by train via the Øresund Bridge. [For more info, see the Malmo Tourist Board website].
- Gotland: is Sweden’s largest island and lies south of Stockholm in the Baltic Sea. Visit Gotland to get away from it all and learn more about the country’s Viking culture. The town and medieval port of Visby is the island’s capital and biggest attraction, a walled Hanseatic town. It features ancient and ruined buildings of past eras that lie within the city walls and include valued sites Drotten, St Lars, and St Nicolai. The ancient cathedral of St Maria is also worth a look as is the Gotlands Fornsal historical museum. If you are here in mid-August, try and get to the medieval week festival. You can travel to Gotland by plane or ferry.
- Uppsala: this lively university city in the province of the same name just north of Stockholm is a popular destination for those who enjoy bars and clubs and getting to know the locals. The town is pockmarked with churches and castles and the three main landmarks are the 15th century Uppsala University (Scandinavia’s oldest), Uppsala Cathedral (Scandinavia’s largest) and Uppsala Castle, with its huge halls and paintings. Uppsala is a short trip north of Stockholm by bus or train.
- Umeå: lying higher up than most other Swedish centres, this university town lies amid stunning landscapes and is a pumping town. This charming place has an interesting pedestrianised town centre and is easy to explore on foot with its small shops and pubs. Many visitors specifically visit Umeå for its outdoor activities, however, with much in the way of biking and hiking trails nearby. The nearby lake is also enjoyable and comes with cabins and camping areas and even floating saunas. Although beautiful in the winter, Umeå does get quite cold and dark. Umeå is 10 hours from Stockholm by night train.
- Kiruna (and Lapland): for those who really must see Swedish Lapland, Kiruna makes a great base to do so and is the country’s northernmost city. It is quite an unusual town and has many diverse attractions in addition to the wilderness areas nearby. It is home to the world’s largest underground iron ore mine and also has the renowned Icehotel (yes, a hotel made of ice) 10 miles away if you fancy something a bit different accommodation-wise, as well as easy access to northern Lapland. Hikers will be pleased to know that Sweden’s highest mountain, Kebnekaise, is here. Flying or night train from Gothenburg or Stockholm is the best way to get here.
- Other Sweden Highlights: Borås, Sweden’s textile centre, makes a decent daytrip from Gothenburg; Sarek National Park, up in the north, is a must-see for those in this region into mountain scenery and waterfalls; and Karlskrona is the old naval capital of Sweden and fairly pleasant.
