From subway art to the Icehotel, this is how you explore Sweden
❄️ Preface · In Sweden, I learned the joy of “just right”
After spending half a month in Sweden, my biggest takeaway wasn’t the breathtaking scenery but the Swedish philosophy of life called “Lagom”—not too much, not too little, just right. They can smile while drinking hot lingonberry juice in an ice hotel at minus 20 degrees Celsius, and they can stop working exactly at 3 PM to fully enjoy a cinnamon roll with coffee. This country blends cold and warmth in a way that’s addictive.
· --
📍 Stockholm · The design museum floating on water
This city is made up of 14 islands, with water just a few steps away. The cobblestone streets in the old town creak underfoot, and around the corner, you’ll find the glass facade of the modern art museum—a perfect balance of contrasts.
✨ Highlights
· Subway art gallery: Spend one ticket to see the “world’s longest art gallery.” The wisteria mural at T-Centralen station is a must-photograph spot. At Kungsträdgården station, archaeological ruins are displayed as decorations—very hardcore.
· Old town (Gamla Stan): Mustard yellow and brick red houses packed together. Explore the alleys to find the Nobel Museum. It’s small but full of substance.
· Vasa Museum: A 17th-century warship that was salvaged and almost fully restored. Standing under the ship and looking up gives you goosebumps.
· Monteliusvägen viewpoint: A secret spot in the southern district overlooking City Hall and Lake Mälaren. At sunset, the whole city turns golden. Locals like to bring a bottle of wine and sit here in a daze.
🍽️ Food recommendations
· Swedish meatballs: Don’t just think of IKEA. Try the handmade ones at Pelikan, an old restaurant in Södermalm, served with lingonberry sauce and creamy mashed potatoes. The flavor is next level.
· Cinnamon roll: Join the locals for fika. Fabrique or Svedjan Bageri are recommended. The dough is moist and soft, with just the right amount of sugar filling. Every bite is pure happiness.
· Shrimp sandwich: Open-faced, piled high with shrimp, boiled egg, and dill fish roe sauce. One sandwich is filling.
📌 Travel tips
· A single subway ticket is valid for 75 minutes and can be used on buses and ferries. Download the SL app to buy tickets directly.
· Most museums are closed on Mondays. Thursday evenings often have free entry. Check the official website in advance.
· --
📍 Gothenburg · Sea breeze and roller coasters on the west coast
Sweden’s second-largest city lacks the polish of the capital but has the rough and casual vibe of a port city. In summer, the sea breeze mixes with the screams from amusement parks—it’s exhilarating.
✨ Highlights
· Liseberg amusement park: The largest roller coaster park in Northern Europe. Outdoor concerts are held on summer nights. The thrill level is maxed out.
· Fish church (Feskekôrka): Looks like a church but is actually a seafood market. Fresh oysters with white wine, sitting by the pier in the breeze—pure enjoyment.
· Haga old town: Rows of colorful wooden houses. Everyone has a giant cinnamon roll. Find a café and lounge for the afternoon.
· Gothenburg archipelago: In summer, hop on a ferry to island-hop and bike around. Steam in a sauna on a deserted reef, then jump straight into the sea—this is a Swedish-approved summer ritual.
🍽️ Food recommendations
· Seafood: The west coast is Sweden’s seafood kitchen. Pickled herring and smoked salmon at the fish market are must-tries.
· Pea soup with pancakes: If you’re in Gothenburg on a Thursday, find an old restaurant and order this traditional meal. The Swedish military has eaten it for decades.
📌 Travel tips
· Summer is the best season in Gothenburg. Archipelago tours and amusement parks are in full swing.
· The city center is small. You can explore on foot or rent a bike.
· --
📍 Kiruna · The ice and fire saga inside the Arctic Circle
Visiting Sweden in winter without chasing the northern lights is a missed opportunity. Kiruna is the northernmost town in Sweden. It’s truly cold, but the beauty leaves you speechless.
✨ Highlights
· Icehotel: Rebuilt every winter with ice sculptures, ice rooms, ice beds, and reindeer skin sleeping bags. Sleep one night at –5℃ and revive yourself in the morning with a hot lingonberry juice.
· Aurora sky station: Take a cable car up the mountain. It’s one of the world’s best spots to watch the northern lights. Sit by the fire eating cinnamon rolls while the green lights dance—it’s worth the cold.
· Sami cultural experience: Feed reindeer, listen to traditional Sami chanting (Joik), stay in red wooden cabins, and experience the survival wisdom of the Arctic Circle’s indigenous people.
🍽️ Food recommendations
· Reindeer meat: A traditional Sami ingredient. You can try it in Kiruna’s restaurants. The meat is firm and has a wild flavor.
· Fermented herring: For the brave only. The can opens on the third Thursday of August every year. It’s best to eat outdoors, served with flatbread and onions. Imagine the taste yourself.
📌 Travel tips
· Aurora season runs from September to March. Days are very short in winter. Plan your itinerary carefully to avoid traveling in the dark.
· Dress in layers like an onion: windproof and waterproof outerwear + down jacket + wool base layer. All are essential.
· --
📍 Malmö · Where modern magic meets pastoral idyll
The first stop after crossing the Öresund Bridge from Copenhagen, Sweden’s third-largest city. The twisting Turning Torso skyscraper distorts the skyline, while the southern Skåne countryside pulls you back to a slower pace of life.
✨ Highlights
· Turning Torso: A twisted white skyscraper, one of Northern Europe’s tallest buildings. It looks like a sci-fi movie set.
· Western harbor colorful houses: Cycle by the sea past rows of Instagram-worthy colorful houses. Every photo looks great.
· Ven island: A hidden gem in southern Skåne. Cycle through wheat and rapeseed fields, holding a cinnamon roll while watching the Baltic Sea sunset. Ultimate healing.
🍽️ Food recommendations
· Scandinavian wine: Believe it or not, Skåne has wineries. Solaris white grape wines are fresh and clean.
· Princess cake: Green almond marzipan wrapped around cream and custard. You can find it in Malmö’s dessert shops. Looks as good as it tastes.
📌 Travel tips
· Take the train from Copenhagen Airport across the Öresund Bridge. It’s just a half-hour trip to Malmö, perfect for a side trip.
· The best time to cycle on Ven island is May to September. The rapeseed fields in bloom are stunning.
· --
📍 Västerås · The silent echoes of the Viking age
If you’re tired of Stockholm, drive an hour west to explore real Viking ruins. No crowds here, just ancient stone ships and the sound of the wind.
✨ Highlights
· Anundshög ancient burial mounds: Sweden’s largest and most important Viking site. Climb the huge mound for a panoramic view of wheat fields and stone ship formations. It’s cinematic.
· Stone ship formations: Outlines of ships made from large stones, used by Vikings for rituals and gatherings. Walking among them, you can feel an ancient mysterious power.
· Runestones: Scattered around, carved with Viking runes. Touching the cold carvings feels like a high-five across a thousand years.
🍽️ Food recommendations
· Back in Västerås city, warm up with fish soup and crispy bread at a lakeside restaurant. Cozy and satisfying.
📌 Travel tips
· Driving from Stockholm is easiest. The E18 highway takes about 1 hour. Parking is free.
· The ruins are free to visit. The Viking farm and café at the entrance are only open in summer. Dress warmly if you visit in winter—the open wind is fierce.
· --
🍽️ Sweden food essentials
Besides the above, these are also worth adding to your list:
· Pickled herring: The soul of the cold table. Available in mustard, dill, and onion flavors. Eat with boiled potatoes and sour cream.
· Crispbread (knäckebröd): A staple that lasts a year without spoiling. Spread with butter, piled with shrimp, or paired with cheese. A Swedish bakery must-have.
· Lingonberry jam: A universal sauce. Goes with meatballs, pancakes, and oatmeal. Many Swedes pick lingonberries themselves from the forest to make jam.
· --
📋 Pre-trip essentials
· Visa: Schengen area. Apply to the country where you’ll stay the longest. Prepare complete documents and don’t falsify your itinerary.
· Safety: There have been recent thefts targeting tourists in Sweden. Don’t leave valuables in your car. Avoid showing off. Keep your bag close. Call 112 for emergencies, 11414 for non-emergencies.
· Environment: Most hotels don’t provide toothbrushes or slippers. Bringing your own is more reliable.
· Payment: Credit cards (Visa/Mastercard) cover almost everything. Many places are cashless. Bring a small amount of Swedish krona just in case.
· Language: Swedish is the main language, but English is widely spoken. Most young people can chat easily.
· Culture: Swedes value personal space. Don’t stand too close in line. Speak softly in public. Tips are included in the bill and don’t need to be given separately.
Sweden’s charm isn’t on a checklist. It’s in the scent of cinnamon rolls at 3 PM and in the moment of shivering wrapped in a sleeping bag on an ice bed inside the Arctic Circle, laughing out loud. Pick the direction you want most and just go.