Sweden Vacations

Overview

Sweden, a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in northern Europe, shares a border with Norway and Finland, and is connected to Denmark by the Oresund Bridge. It is the third largest country in the European Peninsula and has a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government.

The history of Sweden is fascinating as it includes such extraordinary figures as the Vikings. One of the wonderful things about Sweden is that it retains the reality and excitement of the past while also offering a lot of modern day excitement. The people of Sweden are a mixture of immigrants from Finland, Iraq, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Somalia, Iran, Norway, Denmark and Poland, reflecting Nordic immigration over the years.

Activities & Attractions

There are a lot places worth seeing in Sweden, but three in particular. The Royal Palace in Stockholm is the official residence of the King and Queen is open for visitors all year. Drottningholm Palace, which is just outside of Stockholm, is Europe's best-preserved 17th century palace and an UNESCO world heritage site. Solliden Palace is on the island of Oland and is more of an Italian-style country house.

Areas of historical significance are often the most favored party sites among locals and visitors. In Sweden you can explore the history of the Vikings and visit various modern culture venues. Gotland, one of the richest historical regions in Sweden, has many attractions including churches, prehistoric sites, museums and more.

The Lake Siljan Region is Europe's largest meteoric impact. It is a very popular summer destination where many outdoor festivals and activities take place. Glasriket is one of the most visited areas in the country because of its world-renowned glass factories. Gamla Stan, Lapland, Visby, Ice Hotel, Museum of Foteviken with the Viking Reserve, and the Carl Larsson-gården are some of the other noteworthy attractions worth seeing.

Lodging

Lodging and accommodations in Sweden are a one of a kind experience. There are a range of hotels in all different price categories. There are bed and breakfasts, castles, manors, cottages and more. Some of these are in ultra-modern settings while others are in ancient buildings. Best Western Amani, Radisson Blu Royal Viking Hotel, and the Scandic Continental are some of the popular hotels in the country. For more details on accommodations in Sweden make sure to visit the Web sites listed in the resource section below.

Transportation

There are multiple airports that can get to and from other countries as well as places within Sweden. While in the country you can travel by bus, tram, light rail or metro systems. There are also plenty of well-maintained highways.

You may want to make yourself aware of the daylight hours in Sweden, especially if you are from the United States. For example, in Stockholm the sun sets at 3 p.m. in December. There are also parts of Sweden where the sun doesn't set for parts of summer and doesn't rise for parts of winter.