Sweden Vacations

There are a few cultural pieces in Sweden celebrated for their history and significance to Swedes, and to the larger world.

The Viking Age is important in Swedish history. The Vasa Ship Museum is dedicated to a single ship, the Vasa, a huge 17th century sailing ship that sank in the middle of Stockholm’s harbour on its maiden voyage. It was dredged up from the floor of the harbour in 1961, 300 years after it sank, and restored to its original state. It’s now displayed in a large auditorium, decorated with hundreds of carved sculptures. The museum tells the story of the ship and life at the time of the sinking, and also about the people who lost their lives in the tragedy. 

The Nobel Museum offers an insight into the history and recipients of the Nobel Prize since the award’s inception in 1901. Exhibits tell the story of Alfred Nobel, who is known to have invented dynamite, and then spent his fortune on developing the Nobel prize to award those working to the benefit of humankind.

Pop House houses the ABBA Museum, which celebrates the band’s popular music and homegrown talents that burst into global popular culture. The museum is located on Djurgarden Island in Stockholm. Also on the island is Skansen, the oldest open-air museum in the world. Combined with a zoo featuring animals native to Scandinavia, Skansen features examples of dwellings and farms from across the country and from various time periods over the history of the nation. You’ll find dairies, bakeries, and handcraft centres here – it’s an excellent spot for families and offers great views of the harbour and city.

The IKEA Museum allows visitors to follow the development of IKEA showing how its furniture, products, and events became a desirable global series of products. Design and product development, sustainability, and the environment as well as communication and marketing are all included in a tour of the museum. 

Sweden’s constitution guarantees the right of public access to its parks – nature, the outdoors, and healthy lifestyles are very Swedish. Get outside, you’ll thank yourself for it. No matter the season, Sweden is a perfect vacation spot with lots to explore in warm and cold environments.

97% of Sweden is uninhabited – there is a lot of pristine nature to explore. About a tenth of the land is protected by nature reserves and parks. In fact, Sweden was responsible for establishing the first national park in Europe in 1909, and there are now 29 national parks  and more than 4000 reserves.

Laponia is one of Sweden’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites. It’s a large mountainous area of Lapland, a northern province, 95% of which is protected. The landscape is diverse with tundra, waterfalls, and glacial rivers, and it is where the Sami reindeer range. Swedish Lapland, above the Arctic Cirle, with it’s natural beauty, is the perfect place to view both the midnight sun in the summer and the Northern Lights in the winter. 

Fulufjallet National Park established in 2002 is home to Sweden’s largest waterfall, Njupeskar, at 93 metres. Here you’ll find moose, reindeer, brown bears, lynx and several species of birds.

Kosterhavet National Park is Sweden’s first marine park, established in 2009. The park is made up of the sea and shores around the Koster Islands. Many of the more than 6,000 marine species are unique to the area. Sea birds, and grey and harbour seals also nest here.

If you’re into palaces, The Royal Palace is one of the biggest in the world, with over 600 rooms, changing of the guard daily at midday. Drottningholm Palace is the current home of the royal family, even though the Royal Palace is the official residency. Drottningholm Palace is a 17th century Versailles-like palace situated on Lovo Island on Lake Malaren, and stands as Sweden’s best-preserved royal palace.

The Viking Age had a significant impact on Sweden. With strong boats that allowed ocean travel and crossings, Vikings accumulated wealth by pillaging unsuspecting monasteries in Britain and Ireland, allowing them to travel even further and gain more wealth. Historiska museet is a Viking history museum. With over ten thousand items and relics in its vaults, from time spanning ten thousand years, including weapons, runestones, gold jewelry, and gold bracteates (flat gold pendants with punchwork and intricate artistic designs), drawings, religious objects, and pottery. 

Stockholm was founded in 1252 as the Swedish state and the church’s wealth and influence were growing. The Black Death plague wiped out a third of the population, and at the end of the 14th century, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden were united under the Union of Kalmar until Christian II of Denmark invaded. Following a rebellion, Sweden ceded from the union in 1523. 

In 1697 King Karl XII began his warfare filled reign. Following his death, the government became more powerful and the enlightenment had begun by the end of the 17th century where artists, philosophers, and scientists emerged. When industrialization arrived in the second half of the 19th century, a new middle class emerged. Many small farmers were left behind, and nearly a quarter of the population, including many peasants fled and migrated to other countries.

In 1912 Sweden declared itself neutral and remained so through WWI. In the interwar period, Sweden had a Social Democrat-Liberal Coalition that brought many important reforms including suffrage for all adults over 23. Neutral again in WWII, Sweden  made a controversial move in allowing Germany to pass through its territory en route to invade Norway. 

Sweden joined the EU in 1995 and is a member of the United Nations. It enjoys a high standard of living in health care, education, and equality. Swedes are generally very progressive and don’t appreciate displays of racism, misogyny, homophobia, or other bigotry – joking or otherwise. Punctuality is taken seriously, so be on time, and say thank you regularly.

Traditionally, Swedish cuisine is simple in nature and also tasty and healthy. The diet consists of fish (especially herring and salmon), meat (especially reindeer and elk), and potatoes, as well as foraged berries and mushrooms. Meatballs and cinnamon rolls are popular, but there are other small farm inspired local dishes to share. Fermentation and smoking are traditional culinary techniques used to preserve foods for use over the cold winter months.

If you’re with a big group of people, ordering the smorgasbord, or experiencing this meal is a traditional Swedish buffet-style sitting you won’t want to miss. There are hot and cold dishes where everyone at the table can pick and choose what they want to eat. Meatballs, salmon, pies and salads are often a part of the mix as are other meats, cheeses, and breads.

Kottbullar are Swedish meatballs. Some serve meatballs with gravy, others prefer a lingonberry sauce, or an au jus. Recipes often call for the meatballs served with potato puree or boiled potatoes, and raw lingonberries.

A fresh salmon sandwich with cured gravlax salmon (salt, sugar, and dill) will always hit the spot with a cold beer on the side. Crayfish are red, bite-size freshwater or saltwater shellfish considered an August specialty, and there are many festivals in the month celebrating them.

Raggmunk are traditional Swedish potato pancakes fried in butter and served with pork and lingonberries and Jansson’s temptation is a rich casserole made from creamy potato and anchovies.

Don’t dare neglect your sweet tooth, for there is a Prinsesstarta waiting for you – this gorgeous round cake is a favourite Swedish dessert known as princess cake. Yellow sponge cake is filled with jam, vanilla custard, and whipped cream – a thin layer of green marzipan covers the whole cake. It’s a work-of-art cake.

Fika, the afternoon pastime, is not as fancy as the English high tea but it’s a good deal more relaxed. Order a coffee and pastry stuffed with cinnamon or cardamom, or for the ultimate Swedish sugar rush, a slice of the princess cake. This is a fixture in Swedish daily life, an important time to get away from work, and to nurture relationships and a healthy balance in life.

Kaffe (coffee), is a very popular drink in Sweden, and so is tea. Brannvin is a traditional Swedish vodka, and Swedish beers include pilsner (lagers) and lattol (light beer).