Things to do in Sweden

Archipelago islands scattered off a design-obsessed capital, Arctic wilderness far to the north, and a social model that shapes everything from café culture to how cities are built.

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What's worth your time in Sweden

Wander Gamla Stan, Stockholm's medieval old town

Culture

Narrow cobbled lanes and ochre-colored buildings on the original island settlement, with the Royal Palace anchoring one end.

Island-hop the Stockholm archipelago by ferry

Nature

Roughly 30,000 islands and skerries stretch east from the city, with regular ferries reaching car-free islands good for a half or full day.

Tour the Vasa Museum

Culture

A 17th-century warship that sank on its maiden voyage and was recovered almost fully intact in 1961, now the centerpiece of one of Scandinavia's best museums.

Chase the Northern Lights in Abisko National Park

Nature

A famously clear microclimate in Swedish Lapland makes this one of the most reliable aurora-viewing spots on Earth, with a dedicated Aurora Sky Station chairlift.