11 Day Highlights of Sweden

Über das Reiseziel: Sweden’s capital – a Nordic vision of waterways, parks and spire-filled skylines – is justifiably renowned as one of the most handsome cities in Europe. Spread over no less than 14 islands and surrounded by literally thousands of smaller, rocky islets, it combines the drama and open skies of Scandinavia with the verve, dynamism and urban cool of Western Europe. The soul of the place lies in its many faces: the stucco walls of the Old Town, the contemporary pulse of the galleries, the consumerist buzz of the shopping heartlands, the deep peace of the parklands, the thumping bass of the nightlife and, increasingly, the gourmet draw of the restaurants. Stockholm’s location on the shores of the Baltic Sea means seasonal variations hit hard, and many locals will tell you that the only thing to match the beauty of a summer’s evening in Stockholm is the winter charm of its frozen lakes and snow-fringed skylines. It’s certainly true that Stockholm’s unique character is a major reason for its popularity among travelers and, in a continent where charismatic urban destinations come thick and fast, it says plenty that the city’s cultural scene is vibrant enough to rival anywhere else in northern Europe. On top of its exhibitions, museums and concerts, meanwhile, it’s also a deeply romantic setting in which to while away a long weekend – you’d have to be hard-hearted not to fall for the mix of preserved medieval architecture, sweeping water vistas and unfailingly intense nightlife. Most importantly though, it’s worth stressing just how much this is a city apart. It’s the most populated urban area in Scandinavia, yet two thirds of it are still comprised of water and greenery. And if this doesn’t seem probable, well, you’ve got the ideal excuse to go and check

Über das Reiseziel: Gothenburg is Sweden's second city and Scandinavia's largest port. Despite this, a great mix of city bustle and small town friendliness has made it famous as Sweden's friendliest city for years. In a nutshell, Gothenburg is a lively city with interesting sights and an unrivalled seaside atmosphere. Poseidon rules the city, the gigantic bronze sea god statue bares his muscles in the middle of Gotaplatsen, the city’s art centre, but his domain extends far beyond. Seafarers auction their catch weekday mornings at the Fiskekorka, meaning fish church. It is an indoor fish market which got its name from the building's resemblance to a Gothic church. Though Gothenburg is a bustling city, it can be pretty and restful, especially in the many parks. Slottsskogen has lakes, birds, and a zoo with Swedish animals. Just beyond are the famous Botanical Gardens, with collections from all around the world. Museums abound, but two are of special interest. The Röhsska Museum, the national museum of Swedish design and applied art and the Gothenburg Art Museum, housed in a magnificent building flanked by the theatre and concert hall, it features a world-class collection of Nordic art. Gothenburg's Cathedral, Domkyrkan, was built in 1815 on the ruins of two earlier churches which burnt down in 1721 and 1802. The neo-classical building is located at Vastra Hamngatan in the middle of the city centre. Gothenburg is not at all an industrial city as such but more a logistic centre. No grim environments or tall chimneys at all. Instead you have a huge amount of green areas, archipelago and loads of sport and culture. The bustle of crowds, the cosmopolitan restaurants, the cafes along the popular Avery, and the nearby western cost of Sweden make this city a humming one.

Über das Reiseziel: Malmo is Sweden's third largest city by population. Once an isolated city on the southern tip of Sweden, Malmo is fast becoming a major multicultural centre. With the completion of the Oresund Bridge in 2000 connecting Sweden to Denmark, Malmo is now only a 30 minute car or train ride from the centre of Copenhagen. With canals, beaches, and historical sites Malmo makes a wonderful tourist destination. Malmo is compact enough that you can walk to most of the major attractions. The historical city centre around the Main Square, Stortorget, offers an interesting mixture of old and new buildings, which can be perfectly explored on foot. West of the main square of Stortorget, there is the old town, Gamla Staden. It's a pleasant area filled with bars, restaurants and some very fine old houses. Some of these include the famous and cute little one storey houses which barely look big enough to house one lonely fisherman. Sankt Petri Kyrka, St. Peter's Church, is tucked away at the back of Stortorget, on Goran Olsgatan. It's a red-brick church, it’s the oldest building in Malmo, and an example of Baltic Brick Gothic from the 14th century. Pride of Malmo, its magnificent City Hall was the largest of its kind when it was built back in 1546. Today's town hall facade in Dutch Renaissance style was added in the 1860s and replaced a neoclassical facade from the beginning of the 1800s. On the facade you can see sculptural ornaments. Lilla Torg translates as "Little Square" and was built in the late 16th century as a commercial area for smaller market traders. Its present-day centrepiece is another of the city's quirky public artworks: the bedside lamp. The square is surrounded by some impressive medieval buildings and is also one of the top nightlife spots in the old city as it is home to many bars and pubs. In the pleasant green parks and coastal suburbs, such as Sibbarp, you get a good glance of the Swedish nature and landscape. Malmo is a creative and inquisitive city and Sweden most multicultural metropolis. Once a grey industrial city, it has reinvented itself as a modern and cool city with a vibrant night life.

Über das Reiseziel: Kiruna ist die nördlichste und größte Stadt in Schwedisch Lappland. Sie liegt etwa 145 km nördlich des Polarkreises, was es möglich macht, die Mitternachtssonne und die Polarnacht dort zu erleben. Sie ist die Heimat des berühmten Eishotels, das jedes Jahr sein Aussehen ändert, da es jedes Jahr von verschiedenen Künstlern neu erbaut wird. Die Kiruna Kyrka ist ein wunderschönes Gebäude und hat Preise für das schönste Gebäude Schwedens gewonnen und ihr Turm ist künstlerisch verziert. Es ist eines der größten Holzgebäude Schwedens und ist bekannt für seine spezielle Zelt-ähnliche Struktur. Das Rathaus von Kiruna wurde 1963 eingeweiht. Es wurde einmal von schwedischen Architekten zum schönsten Gebäude gewählt. Es beherbergt die lokale Regierung und veranstaltet oft verschiedene Ausstellungen. Es hat auch eine kleine, aber ziemlich renommierte Kunstsammlung berühmter schwedischer Künstler. Im Sommer können Sie die LKAB-Eisenmine besuchen. Sie werden 540 Meter in die Erde hinabsteigen und über das Leben in der Mine lernen. Kiruna ist ein perfekter Ausgangspunkt, um die Wildnis und Landschaft des nördlichen Lapplands zu erkunden, einschließlich des höchsten Berges Schwedens, dem Kebnekaise. Es gibt mehrere Nationalparks, die alle leicht von der Stadt aus zu erreichen sind, darunter der Nationalpark Abisko, einer der schönsten Orte in Schweden. Kiruna ist ein Ort der Kontraste, wo die Sommersonne fast zwei volle Monate lang ohne Untergang scheint, während die Polarnacht ihr dunkelblaues Tuch über das Gebiet für die letzten drei Wochen im Dezember legt. Die Kontraste zeigen sich auch in anderer Hinsicht, denn hier finden wir das alte Saami-Lappland-Handwerk und -Lebensweisen, die Seite an Seite mit der Hochtechnologie existieren, die Kiruna zu einem einzigartigen europäischen Forschungszentrum gemacht hat.