Sweden Tours & Holidays

The Scandinavian countries – Sweden, Norway, Denmark – have had their cultures examined and re-examined over the past few years by disgruntled citizens of the world desperate to improve their lives. Everything from education to work to parenting has come under the spotlight and unfortunately there’s no resounding answer except, perhaps, this: be more Swedish.

Despite the modern world fawning over Sweden’s Swedishness, the Swedes are a humble bunch and don’t take kindly to arrogance and boasting. You won’t seem them going for broke at work either thanks to ‘lagom’, a Swedish word meaning ‘just the right amount’. They do what they need to do and get out, which is perhaps the reason for their enviable work-life balance, not to mention a world-leading amount of parental care on offer to mothers and fathers.

So what are the Swedes doing once they’ve done just the right amount? Probably drinking coffee. Sweden is one of the world’s biggest coffee consumers and the tradition of ‘fika’ is a cornerstone of the country’s culture. ‘Fika’ is a noun, a verb, a concept – a state of mind, even. It essentially translates as a break for coffee and cake, but it’s really an opportunity to catch up and socialise with friends and colleagues.

Like the rest of the Scandinavian countries, Sweden is big on the outdoors. The principle of ‘allemansratten’, or ‘freedom to roam’, is protected by law and this gives all people the right to be free in nature, meaning they can hike, camp, ski tour and forage wherever they like as long as they respect the land and its owners.   

Whether the Swedes are meeting for a hike or having coffee at one of Stockholm’s galleries, you can bet that they won’t be late. Punctuality is key and contributes to the general politeness that pervades society so if you do happen to travel on a Sweden tour, keep an eye on the time.

Ancient

Following the last ice age, Germanic tribes from Central Europe moved north into the southern regions of Sweden while the Sami indigenous peoples hunted in the north. These tribes grew over the next thousand years as technology advanced, with the economy coming to rely on fishing, farming and trade.

Vikings

Scandinavia’s most well-known historical period is the age of the Vikings. The Vikings were fearsome warriors from Norway, Denmark and Sweden, equipped with fast yet sturdy boats that allowed them to raid the Baltic and European coastlines. Sweden had experienced a sudden population boom and needed to import goods to feed the masses and these imports were financed through mercenary activities.

The Vikings went as far as Constantinople and Baghdad, establishing trade with Byzantium, while some went on to establish Russia after conquering the Slavic tribes in the region. The ones that did return to Sweden were rich with gold, silver and slaves.

Christianisation and the Kalmar Union

The Viking age ended with the Christianisation of Sweden over the 12th century. Wars were fought with Denmark and Norway and crusades were led to the unconverted Finnish tribes across the sea, but Sweden would eventually join Denmark and Norway in the Kalmar Union, a response to the increasing power of the Hanseatic League on mainland Europe. This union, at the end of the 14th century, led to riches but it was Denmark that really ruled Scandinavia.

Regionalism increased over the following centuries and separatist parties were formed, which eventually rejected the rule of the Danish king in the 16th century. Sweden was then taken by force and Swedish nobles were executed in Stockholm, leading to a rebellion led by Gustav Vasa, who was named King of Sweden in 1523. Scandinavia was split into the Kingdom of Denmark-Norway and the Kingdom of Sweden.

Age of Freedom

Through the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries Sweden continued to wage wars and lost land in the Baltics as well as economic stability. The death of Charles XII, in 1718, ushered in an era known as the Age of Freedom, as in freedom from the dictatorial king. What the Swedes lost in territory they gained in intellectual progress and the reign of Gustav III, in the late-18th century, was a blessing for the Swedish arts with drama, opera and poetry becoming prominent expressions of Swedish culture.

World Wars and modern Sweden

At the outbreak of WWI Sweden declared itself neutral. This neutrality remained through WWII though much has been made of their decision to let German troops through to take Norway.

Following the war, Sweden introduced child care, unemployment benefits and more socially positive policies. The country went from strength to strength and has become a prosperous nation with strong systems in place to support its population. That said, Sweden’s decision to be a haven for those fleeing persecution has led to a real test of its welfare policies, which is currently coming to a political head.

The government is currently run by the Social Democratic Party, who have dominated the country’s politics for much of the past century, but the Sweden Democrats – a nationalist anti-immigration party – have seen a swift rise, mirroring far-right movements across Europe. As of 2020, they are set to become Sweden’s most popular party, and it remains to be seen what effects this will have on the country.

Okay, yes, Sweden is famed for its meatballs thanks to IKEA – an estimated 1.8 million meatballs are eaten daily across their global stores – but there’s more to Swedish cuisine than these glorious balls of bliss. Keep an eye out for these traditional dishes as you’re travelling through the country:

1. Kanelbullar
   
   These cinnamon buns could be considered Sweden’s national snack and are a perennial favourite for ‘fika’ (coffee break).
2. Princess cake
   
   This bright green cake became popular in the UK after appearing in the Great British Bake Off. It’s a sponge cake covered with marzipan and is popular at Swedish celebrations. It was created by a woman named Jenny Akerstrom who taught three of the Swedish princesses to cook. They loved it so much that she named the cake in their honour.
3. Jansson’s Temptation
   
   This creamy potato and anchovy casserole is a stalwart of the Christmas season though the dish can be served at any time of the year. It was named after Pelle Janzon – a food-loving Swedish opera singer.
4. Toast Skagen
   
   One day, apparently, a Swedish chef was sailing with a disgruntled crew and threw together some leftovers in an attempt to cheer them up. He ended up with prawns, mayonnaise, dill and lemon served on Swedish crisp bread and when they asked the name of the dish he looked across the water to Denmark, saw the town of Skagen, and named it: Toast Skagen.
5. Smorgasbord
   
   The Swedish buffet has as many rules as it does ingredients. For the Swedes it comes naturally, but for the unsuspecting traveller, things can get confusing. Begin with herring and cheese (a smorgasbord without herring is a travesty), then move to seafood and gravlax. The third course is cold meats, pickles and salads, then the fourth is hot dishes like meatballs. A word of advice: go slow.

Plant-based options

Vegetarian and vegan restaurants are common in all major Swedish cities and most rural restaurants will also offer vegetarian options. Travellers who are heading north and spending time in traditional Sami areas may encounter more difficulty in finding vegan options in particular.

Located in northern Europe on the Scandinavian Peninsula, Sweden is bordered by Finland to the east and Norway to the west, as well as the Gulf of Bothnia and Baltic Sea. It’s home to pristine rivers, areas of thick woodlands and forest, pure lakes and windswept islands – natural beauty is eminent here. Sweden actually has over 97,000 lakes, with the largest being Lake Vanern (complete with castles on its shores) and the most mysterious being Lake Storsjon, which is supposedly home to a Nessie-like monster.

The majority of the population lives in the south, away from the freezing cold temperatures and unforgiving terrain of the Arctic north. Here you’ll find Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo, Sweden’s three major cities, which are largely built with respect to the natural world and feature dedicated green spaces and waterways. Stockholm is actually built over 14 islands, with the city centre essentially on the water, while the land between Stockholm and Gothenburg is the agricultural heartland of the country with low-lying and fertile soils. The northern areas, home to the indigenous Sami population, tend to range from hilly to mountainous.

Given Sweden’s vast length and different latitudes, the weather varies depending on where you’re travelling, but when compared to other Scandinavian countries the rain in Sweden is not particularly abundant. This is thanks to the protection of the Scandinavian Mountains, which run along the Norwegian border, reaching their highest point at 2469 m (8100 ft). The summers tends to be warmer too, though the exceptions are, of course, are the northern areas past the Arctic Circle, which enjoy very low temperatures even in the summertime.

There’s no doubt that Sweden’s greatest gift is the outdoors. Your money is probably best spent getting outside and experiencing as much of nature as possible, or eating your way through some Swedish cuisine, but if you are intent on picking up a souvenir then the following gifts may be just what you’re after:

Dala horse

Hailing from the province of Dalarna, these painted horses have become an unofficial symbol of Sweden. They were traditionally carved by the men at home and then taken to the main workshop in the village to be painted. The traditional colour is red, but you can also find blue, black, white or skin-coloured horses.

Christmas decorations

The Swedes just know how to do Christmas – the snow’s a little whiter, the lights are a little brighter, and the decorations? They’re just really pretty, so go on and pick up an ornament as the perfect festive monument to your Sweden tour.

Sami handicrafts

The Sami people are the original Swedes, hailing from the northern regions. You can buy hard or soft handicrafts if you’re visiting Swedish Lapland and in other parts of the north. One of the best places is the Jokkmokk winter market, which is held over January and February and has been running for some 400 years. The handicrafts can be either hard or soft, with hard handicrafts like knives and cups traditionally made for men, and soft handicrafts traditionally made for women, like woven bracelets and other jewellery.

The Swedes make the most of their long-awaited summer with a large number of music and cultural festivals being held all over the country.

National Day of Sweden

Held on June 6 every year, the National Day of Sweden celebrates two events. The first is the election of Gustav Vasa as king in 1523, and the second is the adoption of the new constitution in 1809. Celebrations are held around the country, while children present the royal couple with bouquets of summer flowers during a ceremony at Skansen, Stockholm’s open-air museum.

Midsummer Festival

Midsummer is perhaps the most important holiday in Sweden. It’s held in the middle of June and sees the Swedes take to the outdoors – parks, gardens, wherever – to eat lunch, sing songs, eat herring and drink schnapps. In other words, it’s Swedish people being incredibly Swedish.

Culture festivals

All three of Sweden’s major cities – Malmo, Gothenburg, Stockholm – hold cultural festivals in the summertime celebrating local and national arts and culture. Street parties, theatre, food and live music all feature.

For inspiring stories to prepare you for your Sweden adventure, check out these books:

• The 100-year-old Man who Climbed out of the Window and Disappeared – Jonas Jonasson
• How to be Swedish – Matthias Kamann
• The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo – Stieg Larsson