Sweden - Becky Ohlsen [5]
UMEÅ INTERNATIONAL JAZZ FESTIVAL late Oct
International jazz musicians have filled Umeå’s stages for this annual event (www.umeajazzfestival.se) 40 years running.
Return to beginning of chapter
NOVEMBER
STOCKHOLM INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL mid-late Nov
Screenings of new international and independent films, director talks and discussion panels draw cinephiles to this important annual festival (www.stockholmfilmfestival.se); tickets go quickly, so book early if you’re interested.
STOCKHOLM INTERNATIONAL HORSE SHOW late Nov
This annual horse show (www.stockholmhorseshow.com) advertises itself as the largest indoor equestrian event in the world. It takes place in the Globe in southern Stockholm.
Return to beginning of chapter
DECEMBER
LUCIADAGEN (ST LUCIA DAY) 13 Dec
Wearing a crown of lit candles, Lucia leads a white-clad choir in traditional singing in a celebration that seems to merge the folk tradition of the longest night and the story of St Lucia of Syracuse.
JULAFTON (CHRISTMAS EVE) 24 Dec
The night of the smörgåsbord and the arrival of jultomten, the Christmas gnome, carrying a sack of gifts, this is the biggest celebration at Christmas time.
Return to beginning of chapter
Itineraries
* * *
CLASSIC ROUTES
AROUND THE CAPITAL & BEYOND
THE MIDDLE WAY
TIP TO TAIL
ROADS LESS TRAVELLED
REINDEER GAMES
VICIOUS CYCLING
TAILORED TRIPS
WORLD HERITAGE SITES
ACTIVITIES
* * *
CLASSIC ROUTES
AROUND THE CAPITAL & BEYOND One Week / Start & End in Stockholm
Start in Stockholm, where mandatory attractions include the Kungliga Slottet, Gamla Stan and Skansen. You can cover those in a couple of days, which leaves an evening for enjoying some of the capital city’s nightlife in Södermalm – try the clubs around Medborgarplatsen, and bars in the SoFo district. On day three, take a boat tour to the ancient settlement on Birka ; it’s an all-day affair. The next day, check out the spectacular cathedral and palace at Uppsala and delve into early Swedish history via the burial mounds and museum at Gamla Uppsala. Spend the rest of the day exploring the adorable village of Sigtuna, with its old-fashioned buildings, cute cafes and atmospheric church ruins. If you fancy a drive, head over to Göteborg and explore the Bohuslän Coast for the last couple of days. Alternatively, you could stay put and sample further from the cultural smörgåsbord that is Stockholm.
This trip takes you through some of Sweden’s most accessible highlights in and around the capital city.
Return to beginning of chapter
THE MIDDLE WAY Two Weeks / Stockholm to Göteborg
Spend the first week as outlined above, exploring the sights around Stockholm. Then head north toward Lake Siljan to take in the surrounding villages, which are famous for being postcard-pretty and steeped in history. Don’t miss the family home of noted Swedish painter Anders Zorn in Mora, the town where the world’s biggest cross-country ski race, Vasaloppet, ends. Tour a copper mine in Falun, home of the World Heritage–listed Falu Kopparbergsgruva. Stop at Örebro to see the fine castle and to wander through one of Sweden’s most beautiful parks before continuing down through the heart of Sweden to Göteborg. Spend a day or two in Sweden’s engaging second city, making sure you visit its theme park and take time to enjoy the city’s hip cafes and bars, as well as its eclectic museums. Spend the rest of your trip exploring the craggy coastline and picturesque fishing villages of the Bohuslän Coast.
This journey cuts a swath through the belly of the beast, touching on two of the country’s best cities and taking in some archetypal Swedish villages.
Return to beginning of chapter
TIP TO TAIL One Month / Kiruna to Malmö
This trip is takes you from the northernmost city in Sweden to just shy of Denmark in the south. Fly in to Kiruna, stopping to check out the Ice Hotel if the season is right. Take the train toward Narvik and stop at Abisko National Park, a hiker’s paradise. Spend a day or so exploring the wilderness, either along the Kungsleden or via any of