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Stockholm -

You will probably begin your Sweden sightseeing adventure in Stockholm, the country's colorful and historic capital city. There's lots to see and do, so put aside a few days to tick off the best visitor attractions.

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Vasa Museum -

An absolute must-see, the Vasa Museum in Stockholm is famous the world over for the only almost fully intact 17th-century ship that has ever been salvaged—the 64-gun Vasa. The pride of the Swedish Imperial fleet, the vessel sank on her maiden voyage in 1628. It's now one of the most visited exhibits of any museum in the country.

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Museum ships -

The Vasa Museum, set on the island of Djurgården, is also known for a further four museum ships, including the ice breaker Sankt Erik, launched in 1915, and the lightvessel Finngrundet, which began operations in 1903.

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Skansen -

To get an idea of how folk lived and worked in the 1800s, head over to Skansen open-air museum, also located on Djurgården. It features a full replica of an average 19th-century town made up of houses and farmsteads from all over Sweden.

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Living in the past -

Visiting Skansen is a wonderfully immersive experience. Inhabiting the numerous shops, mills, churches, schoolhouses, and homes are costumed interpreters who carry out their daily chores as if living in the past. In the summer, there are displays of folk dancing and music  concerts.

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ABBA The Museum -

Sweden's most successful musical export is honored by a museum dedicated to Agnetha, Björn, Benny, and Anni-Frid, collectively known as ABBA. At this entertaining interactive tribute to the Swedish band, you can virtually try on ABBA's costumes, sing, play, and mix original music, and even become the fifth member of the group. The museum is found on Djurgården Island.

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Gröna Lund amusement park -

Djurgården is all about having fun and feeling good, and it all happens at Gröna Lund, Stockholm's funky amusement park. Besides the rides and roller coasters, Gröna Lund is a well-known outdoor concert venue. World-class acts to play here have included Jimi Hendrix in 1967, Bob Marley in 1980, and Elton John, who thrilled crowds in 2017.

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Gamla Stan -

For a less frenetic Stockholm experience, wander through Gamla Stan, the city's Old Town. Dating back to the 13th century, the entire area is a medieval marvel of narrow stone-paved streets and cobbled lanes radiating out from tidy squares. Stortorget, the central square, is especially appealing surrounded as it is by rows of colorful merchants' houses.

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Nobel Prize Museum -

Gamla Stan is home to a plethora of shops, boutiques, cafés, restaurants, and bars. It's also where you'll find several museums, one of which is the Nobel Prize Museum. Here, visitors can follow the changes of the 20th century through more than 900 Nobel Prize and the Nobel Laureates, presented via short films, original artifacts, and electronic media.

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Stockholm City Hall -

After browsing the Nobel Prize Museum, saunter over to Stockholm City Hall, the venue for the annual Nobel Prize-giving ceremony. You can't miss the building; just look for the landmark 106-meter-tall (347 ft) tower, topped by three crowns.

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City Hall tour -

A tour of the building affords entry to Blå Hallen, the Blue Hall, where the Nobel banquet is held, and the amazing Gyllene Salen, the Golden Hall, lined by 18 million gold mosaic tiles. Incidentally, if you fancy eating like a Nobel Laureate, the City Hall restaurant offers ceremonial menus from years past.

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Drottningholm Palace -

Out of Stockholm about 11 km (6.5 mi) west lies the outstanding UNESCO World Heritage Site that is Drottningholm Palace. Lying on the island of Lovö, this sumptuous building dates back to the 17th century, and is currently the official residence of the Swedish royal family. The good news is that much of the palace is open to the public.

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Drottningholm Palace interior -

A guided tour of the palace opens doors into some of the building's most opulent rooms and halls. The library and the great staircase are standout architectural features. Elsewhere, the Chinese Pavilion, the palace theater, and the magnificent gardens are equally appealing in their historic grandeur.

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Stockholm archipelago -

Stockholm is surrounded by water, in which are floating more than 30,000 islands. No wonder the city is called the "Venice of the North." Many of these islands are textured by woodland; others are little more than uninhabited rocky islets. Exploring this wondrous water world by kayak is an exhilarating experience.

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Sightseeing tours -

If kayaking is not your thing, how about joining a scenic sightseeing cruise? The pristine waters are plied by a fleet of steamboats that operate through the archipelago year-round. Many tours include lunch or dinner.

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Kiruna -

Exploring beyond Stockholm offers up all sorts of opportunities to discover a land of astonishing unspoiled beauty. Kiruna in Lapland is Sweden's northernmost town. Indeed, it lies on the same latitude as central Greenland. Arrive here in winter and you'll be greeted by the aurora borealis, or northern lights. Visit during the summer and the midnight sun is visible from mid-May to mid-July.

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Kiruna Church -

Kiruna Church stands as the town's architectural landmark. Consecrated in 1912, this is Sweden's largest wooden structure. Built in an unusual Gothic Revival style, the church is certainly worth investigating for its Art Nouveau interior.

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Ice Hotel -

Actually, if you're in the Kiruna region in winter, consider a stay in the Ice Hotel at nearby Jukkasjärvi. Rebuilt each year with snow and ice, this is the coolest accommodation you're ever likely to check in to.

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Kebnekaise -

Sweden's highest mountain, Kebnekaise is 90 km (55 mi) west of Kiruna. Its northern peak summits out at around 2,096 m (6,876 ft). The mountain lies in Swedish Lapland, well inside the Arctic Circle, and is accessible to the fit hiker via several trails.

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Göta Canal -

For many, a Swedish vacation means living life on the water. And you'll be in your element on the Göta Canal. This incredible feat of engineering links Gothenburg with Söderköping on the Baltic Sea, a pleasant and meandering 190 km (118 mi) watercourse featuring 47 bridges and 58 locks. You can jump aboard a passenger cruise vessel or hire your own boat and follow a route that also includes traversing a number of open-water lakes.

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Gothenburg -

Gothenburg's urban layout reflects the city's centuries-old links with the ocean. Several canals dissect this busy sea port, founded in 1621. Cultural attractions include the Gothenburg Museum of Art and the Museum of World Culture. For petrolheads there's the Volvo museum, which exhibits the history of the Volvo automobile from its development in 1927 until today.

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Liseberg theme park -

Liseberg in Gothenburg is one of the most popular visitor attractions in Scandinavia. The amusement complex wows with its variety of rides, thrill-a-minute options that include the Balder wooden roller coaster, the ominous-sounding AtmosFear, and the Kållerado rapids ride.

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Elfsborg Fortress -

A worthwhile diversion, not least for the leisurely boat ride, is Elfsborg Fortress, located at the mouth of the Göta River. The island stronghold dates back to 1899, built to defend the city. Take a picnic with you and chill out under the weathered ramparts.

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Visby -

Visby on the island of Gotland is one of the most celebrated destinations in the country. This medieval city is arguably the best-preserved in Scandinavia, its magnificent town walls enclosing a veritable time capsule of ruined churches and timber-framed merchants' houses, some of which date back to the 17th century. Its classification as a UNESCO World Heritage Site lends Visby additional cultural clout.

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Øresund Bridge -

Industrious Malmö lures tourists with a wealth of visitor attractions, among them the Moderna Museet (Modern Art Museum) and the 14-century St. Peter's Church. But the city's greatest claim to fame is the breathtaking Øresund Bridge. This is the longest combined road and rail bridge in Europe and links Sweden with Denmark. It's quite the TV star, having featured in the acclaimed 2011–2018 Nordic noir television series 'Broen' ('The Bridge').

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Abisko National Park -

Abisko National Park has been providing a sanctuary for wildlife since 1909. Situated well within the Arctic Circle, this wilderness destination is a year-round draw for outdoor enthusiasts: the 440 km-long (270 mi) Kungsleden hiking trail, which follows the Scandinavian mountain range, is a challenge few hikers can resist.

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Sigtuna -

Sigtuna is just 45 minutes and a thousand years away from Stockholm. Founded in 980 CE, this is Sweden's first ever town. Its ancient veneer is tangible in the medieval churches, weathered ruins, mysterious rune stones, and moss-covered buildings that remain to this day. Pictured is St. Olof's, one of Sweden's oldest stone churches, built in the 12th century.

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Lund Cathedral -

Another place of worship worth casting your eyes over is Lund Cathedral. Standing boldly over Lund in the southern province of Skåne, the 12th-century building is distinguished for its solid twin towers. It is the oldest and finest Romanesque church in Sweden.

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Astronomical clock -

Lund Cathedral is noted for its amazing 14th-century astronomical clock. Stand in front of this magical timepiece at noon or 3 pm on weekdays and watch the two knights set above the calendar emerge to engage in a brief clash of swords.

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Treehotel -

Sweden is one of the greenest countries in the world. Exemplifying the country's commitment to the environment are the tree hotels found scattered across the countryside, created to reconnect visitors with nature. The village of Harads is home to the innovative Treehotel complex (pictured). Hotel rooms are built high into the canopy of a pine forest, a design based on the ecological principle of sustainability. 

Sources: (Smithsonian Magazine) (Britannica) (Interesting Engineering)

See also: The best islands to visit in the Stockholm archipelago

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