10 of the Best Places to Visit in Sweden

by Janna Wieling on Feb 17, 2025Reading time: 8 min.
Best places to visit in Sweden
Sweden is a fantastic destination for Au Pairs, offering a blend of beautiful nature, vibrant cities, and tranquility. As an Au Pair in Sweden, you'll not only get the chance to care for children and experience Swedish culture but also explore some of the country's most iconic places. More about the most popular Au Pair destinations in Sweden can be found in our guided tour for Sweden. In this article you can find 10 great travel destinations in Sweden:

Stockholm

As Sweden's capital, Stockholm is a must-see for any Au Pair. The city is spread across 14 islands and is home to beautiful architecture, vibrant culture, and numerous museums. Highlights include: Gamla Stan (Old Town) with narrow cobblestone streets, colorful buildings, and historic landmarks; the Vasa Museum, the ABBA Museum, and Skansen, the world’s first open-air museum with historical buildings and a zoo.

Göteborg (Gothenburg)

Located on the west coast, Gothenburg offers a relaxed vibe with a coastal charm. It’s less touristy than Stockholm but full of great food, parks, and cultural events. Despite the many attractions of the city, such as the Konstmuseum or the Liseberg Amusement Park, Gothenburg is perfect for people who love nature. You can stroll around the Slottsskogen, a mini-zoo with all kinds of animals in their natural state, hop on a boat to explore the Southern Archipelago, or visit the Gothenburg Botanical Garden

Malmö

Malmö is the third largest city in Sweden, situated on the south coast of the country, just a short train ride from Copenhagen, Denmark. It’s known for its international feel, modern architecture, and beautiful parks. The city hosts many examples of Scandinavian architecture, such as Malmöhus Castle and the Stortorget Square, and European masterpieces, like the Turning Torso Tower of Santiago Calatrava, as well as big green woods and parks, such as the Folkets Park, known for being the oldest public park in the world. Malmö also has a lot of nightlife and festivals to offer, such as the Malmöfestivalen in summer.

Kiruna

Kiruna is Sweden's northernmost town, famous for its stunning winter landscapes, the Northern Lights, and the iconic Icehotel, which is a unique hotel made entirely of ice and snow, rebuilt every year. The city is a dream destination for nature lovers, as the city is surrounded by a varied and extensive landscape. There are deep forests, extensive marshes, lakes, rivers, and mountains—such as Kebnekaise, Sweden's highest mountain. The landscape is ideal for outdoor activities such as hiking, skiing, snowshoeing, fly fishing, and dog sledding. Here you will make memories for life, maybe with your newfound friends?

Abisko National Park

An hour's drive and about an hour and 30 minutes by train from the center of Kiruna is the Aurora Sky Station in Abisko, one of the best places in the world to marvel at the Northern Lights. Abisko is a great destination for outdoor lovers, especially for hiking and skiing. It is a good idea to combine this stop with Kiruna once you are up in the north.

Visby and Gotland Archipelago

Visby is a medieval town on the island of Gotland, with cobbled streets, ancient ruins, and UNESCO World Heritage status. The popular Pippi Longstocking films were also shot in the streets of Visby and just outside the town, at Kneippbyn Resort, you will find the original Villa Kunterbunt. Beyond Visby, the Gotland Archipelago includes a series of picturesque islands, perfect for outdoor activities like kayaking, hiking, and cycling.

Dalarna

The central Swedish region of Dalarna means “the valleys”, which refers to the wooded, hilly landscape around Lake Siljan and the Dalälven River. The diverse landscape is ideal for hiking, cycling, and skiing. In addition, sights such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site Falun and two fascinating artists' houses offer insights into culture and history. The typical souvenir from Dalarna is a horse made of wood, either bought or self-painted. Dalarna is also a hotspot for midsummer festivals. At the end of June, you can mingle with the locals and dance around the maypole in the idyllic towns of Tällberg, Rättvik, and Leksand. The most important day is Midsummer's Eve ('Midsommarafton'), which is always the Friday between June 19 and 25. 

Östersund

Located in central Sweden, Östersund is surrounded by beautiful lakes and mountains, perfect for outdoor activities year-round. The city is located on a lake. It is called Storsjön, “the big lake”, and is Sweden's fifth largest. The island of Frösön is located in front of the city center. Frösön is home to an open-air museum, a beautiful church, the airport, and a ski slope. Frösön and the city center are connected by a bridge, which is also very easy to walk across. One of Östersund's main attractions is the Jamtli—a mixture of local history museum, open-air museum, and amusement park. Östersund has a kind of Loch Ness monster. It is called Storsjöodjuret, or simply “Birger”, and is the lake monster of Storsjön. There are even special viewpoints around the lake from which you can (perhaps) spot the monster.

Höga Kusten (The High Coast)

As a UNESCO World Heritage site, the High Coast offers dramatic landscapes with cliffs, islands, and forests. Perfect for hiking and outdoor exploration. The High Coast is ideal for nature lovers and those who want a quiet, serene experience. It’s a great place to explore Swedish wilderness. Skuleskogen National Park is a stunning national park with diverse hiking trails, where mountains, ancient forests, and seashore combine to create a landscape that is also unique in Sweden.

Kalmar

Kalmar is a historical city located on the Baltic coast in the southern Swedish region of Småland. The city is famous for its medieval Kalmar Castle and proximity to the island of Öland, which is known for its long sandy beaches, lighthouses, and nature reserves. Kalmar is partly built on islands, so there are numerous opportunities for canoeing and kayaking. The largest of the islands is called Kvarnholmen. The city center has been located there since the 17th century. It is surrounded by a city wall and consists largely of historic buildings.

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