Plan Your Perfect Coldcation

Getting to Sweden

Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) is the main international hub, with direct flights from most European capitals and many long-haul destinations. For Lapland, fly into Kiruna (KRN) or Luleå (LLA). Gothenburg has its own international airport (GOT).

We recommend booking 6–8 weeks ahead for summer, 4–6 weeks for other seasons. Prices are typically 30–40% lower than comparable southern European destinations.

Travelling by Train

Sweden has one of the most extensive and modern rail networks in Europe – and almost all of it is fully electrified. Travelling by train here is not just convenient, it is one of the lowest-carbon ways to move around the continent.

SJ (Swedish Railways) connects Stockholm to Gothenburg in under 3 hours, Malmö in 4.5 hours, and runs daily overnight services all the way to Kiruna in the Arctic north – a 17-hour journey that is an experience in itself. Wake up above the Arctic Circle.

From Copenhagen, direct trains cross the Öresund Bridge to Malmö every 20 minutes. From the continent, rail connections via Hamburg, Copenhagen and Malmö make Sweden reachable by train from most of Europe without flying at all.

Road Tripping Sweden

A road trip is the best way to explore Sweden's coastlines, lake districts and mountain regions at your own pace. And Sweden is exceptionally well set up for electric vehicles – making it one of the top countries in the world for EV road trips.

Fast chargers are found at virtually every motorway rest stop, most supermarkets and all major towns. Range anxiety simply doesn't exist here. The national charging network is dense, reliable and increasingly rapid – 150–350kW stations are common. EV drivers from Germany, the Netherlands and the UK regularly choose Sweden specifically because the infrastructure is so good.

Car rental companies at all major airports offer EVs. If you're driving your own electric vehicle, the Öresund Bridge connects Denmark directly to Sweden, making an EV road trip from central Europe entirely feasible.

Climate-Conscious Travel

Sweden is one of the most sustainable travel destinations in the world – and visiting here is a genuinely low-impact choice compared to many alternatives.

The rail network is electrified and powered substantially by renewable energy. The hotel industry leads Europe in sustainability certifications. The food culture prioritises local, seasonal produce. And Swedish nature – the forests, the rivers, the clean lakes – is actively protected by some of the strongest environmental legislation anywhere.

There's also something deeper: choosing Sweden instead of a flight to a Mediterranean beach destination is itself a climate-conscious act. Shorter flights or none at all. A destination that doesn't need air conditioning. A country that has invested seriously in its natural environment for generations.

Travel here and you're voting with your feet for the kind of tourism that actually makes sense as the planet warms.

Where to Stay

Sweden has every type of accommodation imaginable: boutique hotels in city centres, forest cabins (stugor) by the lake, luxury lodges in Lapland, and hostels for budget travellers. Our favourite is renting a stuga – a traditional Swedish cabin – directly by a lake or in the forest.

Booking.com has excellent coverage of Sweden, including many unique rural properties that you won't find elsewhere.

Caravan & Mobile Home

One of the best ways to experience Sweden is to take it slow — and nothing enables that better than a caravan or campervan. Sweden's road network is quiet, well-maintained and strikingly scenic. The E4 down the east coast, the roads through Dalarna, the High Coast route — these are drives worth taking without a deadline.

Allemansrätten extends to caravans in many situations: you can park overnight in nature for one or two nights without asking permission, as long as you stay away from private gardens and cultivated land. Combined with Sweden's 13,000+ camping sites and dedicated motorhome areas (many with electrical hookups and waste disposal), this makes Sweden one of the most caravan-friendly countries in Europe.

A few things worth knowing: many Swedish campsites are rated by the SCR (Swedish Camping) quality system and bookable online. The season runs May through September for most sites, with some in Lapland open year-round for winter visitors. Roads in the far north can be narrow — check your vehicle's dimensions before heading into Lapland via smaller routes.

Campervans and motorhomes can be hired from several operators in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. Hiring locally saves on driving distance and lets you start your route without first crossing the country to collect the vehicle.

Activities & Experiences

From Northern Lights tours and dog sled adventures to archipelago sailing and mushroom foraging courses. GetYourGuide has a strong Sweden selection, and many experiences can be booked last-minute.

Don't forget: Sweden's Allemansrätten (right to roam) means hiking, wild camping, berry picking and swimming in any lake is completely free by law.

When to Go

Every month in Sweden offers something distinct. Click any month to find out what to expect.

Budget Guide

Sweden has a reputation for being expensive, but smart travelers can make it very affordable – especially compared to equally beautiful destinations in Norway or Iceland.