Things to do in  Sweden

With its baroque facade, lavish Royal Apartments, and impressive treasury, the Stockholm Royal Palace is everything you'd expect from a regal abode. Although the Swedish royal family now resides in Drottningholm Palace, the Royal Palace still holds an important role, both as a historic monument and as the host of banquets and receptions.

Built to house the wreckage of the mightyVasa warship, Stockholm’s Vasa Museum (Vasamuseet) is now one of Scandinavia's most-visited attractions, drawing over one million annual visitors. Part of Sweden’s National Maritime Museums system, the Vasa Museum is located on the island of Djurgarden and remains the only place in the world where visitors can see a fully intact 17th-century ship.

With its tangle of cobblestone streets, brightly painted buildings, and bustling squares, Stockholm Old Town (Gamla Stan) is one of the Swedish capital's most photogenic districts. The historic center also boats the city’s oldest quarter—dating back to 1252—and plays host to some remarkably preserved medieval monuments.

Opened in 2000 and made famous by the popular TV showThe Bridge, the 5-mile (8-kilometer) Øresund Bridge dominates the Øresund Strait—the stretch of water separating Denmark and Sweden. The total length of the road and rail link is 10 miles (16 kilometers), which allows you to travel between the two countries in just 10 minutes.

Stockholm City Hall (Stadshuset) looms over the Kungsholmen waterfront and is one of the capital’s most impressive landmarks, with a redbrick façade and 328-foot (100-meter) tower topped with the Three Crowns of Sweden. Dating back to 1923, the hall contains elaborate ceremonial chambers which are open to visitors via guided tours.

Dominating the city’s skyline, Malmö’s 623-foot (190-meter) Turning Torso is the tallest building in Scandinavia. Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, the structure comprises nine 5-story pentagons, and features a top segment that twists 90 degrees from the building’s base.

Soaring peaks, rushing rivers, a vast lake, and tumbling rapids make Abisko National Park and the Abisko Canyon one of Lapland’s most magical landscapes. In summer, when the white nights mean the sun never fully sets, the alpine meadows come alive with wildflowers. In winter, waterfalls freeze, and conifers droop under the burden of snow.

Located in the heart of Stockholm’s Old Town, the Nobel Prize Museum celebrates more than a century of natural sciences, arts, and culture, and the creative minds that have and continue to dedicate their lives promoting dialogue on their respect fields.

The Royal Swedish Opera (Kungliga Operan) is Sweden’s national theater and houses the Royal Swedish Opera, Ballet, Orchestra, and Choir. It was founded in 1773 by King Gustav III who was an avid supporter of the arts and paid for the opera house’s operations out of his own pocket.

Uppsala Cathedral, notable for its towering spires, is one of the Nordic countries' tallest cathedrals. Originally built for Roman Catholic coronations, it's also the resting place of important historical figures, including King Gustav Vasa of Sweden. Visitors flock here to see its Treasury museum, home to a magnificent collection of medieval church fabrics.

Uppsala Castle, a 16th-century fortress in Uppsala, Sweden, played a pivotal role in Swedish history. Built during the reign of King Gustav Vasa, it has hosted royal coronations, assassinations, and abdications. Visitors come here to see the original castle ruins at the Vasaborgen and the on-site Uppsala Art Museum exhibits.

Affectionately called Kungsan, this public park smack dab in the middle of Stockholm is one of the city's most important public spaces. Surrounded by restaurants and cafés, the park is an ideal place to rest after your walk through central Stockholm. It comes alive with blossoming cherry trees in spring and an ice skating rink during winter.

This up-and-coming island district in central Stockholm was once considered the slum of the city. But today Södermalm, often referred to simply as “Söder” (Swedish for “south”), is the bohemian sector of the area full of hip cafes, cool vintage shops, and fantastic waterfront views.

The private residence of Sweden’s royal family, Drottningholm Palace (Drottningholms Slott) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the country’s best-preserved 17th-century castles. Over the years successive royal residents have renovated the palace, which is inspired by French and Dutch styles and features lush rococo interiors and multiple baroque gardens.

Located on Djurgården island in Stockholm, Tivoli Gröna Lund is Sweden’s oldest amusement park. Most of its structures are old commercial and residential buildings dating from the 19th century, giving it a uniquely historic look and feel. From roller coasters to rock concerts, Gröna Lund entertains visitors of all ages.