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Sweden offers an extraordinary mix of historic cities, wild national parks, and island-speckled coastlines, perfect for travelers who like to mix culture with the great outdoors. If you’re considering renting a campervan in Sweden, you’ll be happy to know that main routes are well maintained, distances are manageable between major hubs, and many regions are easy to navigate by campervan or motorhome.
From the bustling streets of Stockholm to the serene archipelagos and the Northern Lights in Lapland, this guide covers the best places to visit in Sweden:
Stockholm: The Capital City
Sweden’s capital spreads across 14 islands linked by 57 bridges, blending royal history with cutting-edge design and a world-class food scene. Driving a campervan into central Stockholm isn’t necessary; instead, base in the greater Stockholm area and take public transport or ferries into the old town.
Gamla Stan (Old Town)
Gamla Stan is Stockholm’s medieval heart, a compact island maze of cobblestones, gabled facades, and snug alleyways that date back to the 13th century. Highlights include Stortorget square, the Nobel Prize Museum, and the Royal Palace with its daily guard ceremony.
Early mornings or evenings are best for crowd-free photos and lingering at pocket-sized cafés. Duck into side streets like Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, the narrowest in the city, for a sense of time travel. If you’re road-tripping, plan a half day here, then combine Gamla Stan with waterfront promenades on Skeppsholmen and Strandvägen for a scenic loop that balances history with sea air.
The Vasa Museum
The Vasa Museum safeguards the world’s only almost-fully intact 17th-century warship, raised after more than 300 years underwater and restored with painstaking detail. It’s a deep dive into shipbuilding, naval power, and everyday life in 1628 Sweden. Exhibitions are incredibly visual, so even museum-averse travelers tend to be captivated.
Combine Vasa with nearby attractions on Djurgården to keep logistics tidy. Arrive close to opening to avoid peak lines. On rainy days, Vasa is a stellar indoor option; on sunny days, the surrounding parkland and waterfront paths make it easy to balance museum time with fresh-air exploring.
Djurgården
Djurgården blends cultural heavyweights and green space: the open-air Skansen museum (folk houses, native wildlife, seasonal crafts), ABBA The Museum, the Nordic Museum, and waterfront trails perfect for a leisurely stroll. Summer brings outdoor concerts and picnic-worthy lawns. Autumn paints the tree canopy gold.
You can also consult our list of the best museums to visit in Stockholm to plan a smooth, culture-packed day.
Stockholm Archipelago
With some 30,000 islands and islets, the Stockholm Archipelago promises endless variations: red-cottage villages, pine-clad shores, and smooth granite slabs that warm in the sun. Classic Swedish tourist attractions include Vaxholm, Grinda, Sandhamn and Utö.
Ferries make it easy to string together a day of swimming, kayaking, and café stops. Just check timetables if you’re traveling outside peak summer, when frequencies thin out.
Gothenburg: A Coastal Gem
Sweden’s second city pairs laid-back charm with North Sea energy. Think tram-lined boulevards, canal walks and some of the country’s best seafood.
Liseberg Amusement Park
Liseberg is Scandinavia’s beloved thrill hub, with roller coasters, seasonal gardens, and festive markets. Families appreciate the ride variety and the food stalls, while adrenaline hunters go straight for the coasters and free-fall towers. Spring through early autumn is prime, and December transforms the park with holiday lights.
If you’re visiting with a campervan, follow your time at Liseberg with Gothenburg’s food scene. Think cinnamon buns (kanelbullar), seafood soup (fiskesoppa), cozy fika stops in the Haga district’s coffee bars for a slow coffee-and-pastry break like a local.
The Gothenburg Archipelago
Gothenburg’s southern archipelago is car-free, a rare treat that encourages long, quiet walks and bike rides between beaches, fishing villages, and granite headlands. The northern archipelago allows vehicles and feels slightly more rugged and residential. Either way, ferries make island-hopping easy, and summer sea-bathing is a local ritual.
Campervan tip: fuel and groceries are plentiful on the mainland; stock up before island days. Ferries are frequent, but schedules vary by season, so if you’re chasing sunsets on a far-flung islet, check the return times before heading out.
Bohuslän Coast
North of Gothenburg, Bohuslän stitches together rugged granite coasts, wooden boathouses, and fishing villages like Smögen, Fjällbacka, and Grebbestad. Kayaking through skerries, slurping fresh oysters, and climbing sea-view lookouts define days here.
Universeum
Universeum is an interactive science center with a tropical rainforest hall, Nordic aquarium species, and hands-on exhibits that engage kids and curious adults alike. It’s perfect for mixed-weather days or when you want a break from city walking.
Campervan travelers appreciate how close Universeum is to Liseberg. Visit in the morning, then switch gears to the parks, canals, and cafés lining the Avenyn.
Malmö: A Blend of History and Modernity
Gateway to Skåne and linked to Copenhagen by the Öresund Bridge, Malmö balances medieval lanes and a modern waterfront of boardwalks, sea baths, and cutting-edge design. This modern-meets-historic mix makes the city a smart pick for travelers deciding where to visit in Sweden beyond the capital.
Turning Torso
Malmö’s skyline statement, the Turning Torso, twists 190 meters upwards with neo-futurist flair. It anchors the Västra Hamnen (Western Harbor) redevelopment, where boardwalks, swimming ladders, and cafés make the waterfront a year-round hangout.
Park your campervan on the edge of the center and explore by bike. Malmö’s cycling lanes are superb. For a stress-free stay, check our guide to Malmö campsites for convenient places to park up. Even if you’re not into architecture, the harbor’s sunsets and sea baths (kallbadhus) are reason enough to linger.
Malmö Castle (Malmöhus)
The 16th-century Malmöhus Castle hosts exhibits that jump from Renaissance power to natural history and contemporary art. It’s Malmö’s time capsule, surrounded by castle gardens and canals that are lovely for a slow loop.
Plan for at least a couple of hours to wander the castle rooms, the aquarium corner, and the changing exhibitions. The surrounding Slottsparken and Kungsparken make an easy add-on for a picnic or a short loop along the canals.
Folkets Park
Opened in 1891, Folkets Park is one of the world’s oldest public parks, now a lively mix of green lawns, playgrounds, skate spots, and outdoor stages. On warm days, it’s Malmö’s living room. On cool evenings, bars and music venues keep the energy going.
Come in the afternoon for playground time and green-lawn lounging, then drift toward nearby Möllevången for street food and independent cafés. The park often hosts seasonal events and pop-ups, so a quick check of the local calendar can upgrade your visit.
Northern Sweden: Nature and Adventure
Northern Sweden is among the best places to visit in Sweden, with wild rivers, tundra plateaus and aurora-filled skies.
Swedish Lapland
Swedish Lapland is where subarctic forests open to tundra, rivers run clear, and the sky puts on two spectacular shows: the Northern Lights (roughly September–March) and the Midnight Sun (late May–July). Beyond bucket-list moments, Lapland invites slow travel: smoke saunas, foraging, husky kennels, and learning about Sámi culture.
Distances can be long and services limited, so campervan travelers should refuel and restock before venturing far from towns. In winter, roads are well-maintained but require cautious driving; in summer, bring mosquito repellent and plan for hikes that can turn into all-night sunsets.
Kiruna
Perched above the Arctic Circle, Kiruna is a city in motion, literally being relocated due to iron-ore mining. It’s also a gateway for winter trips to the Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi and summer adventures into wild river valleys and mountain plateaus.
With a rental campervan, use Kiruna as a supply hub: fill the tank, grab groceries, and ask locals about current trail conditions. Day trips can include river rafting, midnight golf under a sun that refuses to set, or quiet paddles on mirror-calm lakes.
Abisko National Park
Abisko National Park is famed for crisp winter skies and a dry microclimate that boosts your odds of seeing the aurora. In summer, it turns into a hiker’s dream, with wildflowers, waterfalls, and segments of the Kungsleden (King’s Trail) tracing glacial valleys.
Space is vast here; plan hiking routes with daylight and weather in mind. Base near the park and pack layers, since the mountain weather flips quickly. Shoulder seasons (late August/early September) are golden for fewer crowds and fiery birch forests.
Southern Sweden: Historic Sites and Coastal Beauty
Southern Sweden is one of the best places to visit in the country, blending medieval towns, Renaissance castles and long Baltic beaches with apple orchards and quiet coastal trails.
Ystad
Ystad looks lifted from a storybook: half-timbered houses, cobblestones, medieval monasteries, and Baltic breezes. Crime-fiction fans will recognize it from Henning Mankell’s Wallander series, but the town rewards all visitors with cafés, beaches, and day trips to ancient Ales Stenar (a Viking-age stone ship formation near Kåseberga).
Ystad is easy to explore on foot, while nearby fishing villages and sandy coves are perfect for a slow campervan loop. In peak summer, arrive early. Parking fills quickly on beach days.
Österlen
The Österlen region rolls with apple orchards, white-sand beaches, and artists’ studios. Towns like Simrishamn and Brantevik have a soft, seaside rhythm, while national parks such as Stenshuvud serve up coastal hikes and hilltop panoramas.
Kivik brings orchards and cider tastings, while Kåseberga overlooks Ales Stenar and chalky cliffs. Campervan travel is easy thanks to short hops between beaches, villages and Stenshuvud National Park. Stock up in Simrishamn or Kivik before smaller coastal detours.
Kalmar (Gateway to Öland)
Kalmar ties Sweden’s past to the Baltic via its Renaissance-era Kalmar Castle and historic wooden districts. It’s also the bridge gateway to Öland, an island of windmills, limestone plains (Stora Alvaret), and long, family-friendly beaches.
Kalmar’s waterfront promenades and the County Museum add depth, from Hanseatic trade to the Kronan shipwreck exhibits. It’s easy to base a campervan on the city’s edge and roll in by bike or bus for stress-free sightseeing.
Gotland: An Island of History and Natural Beauty
Storybook walls, windswept cliffs and clear Baltic light define Gotland, from medieval Visby to wild beaches, pine forests and rauk sea stacks.
Visby
A UNESCO World Heritage darling, Visby surrounds you with medieval walls, church ruins, and a maze of rose-lined lanes. Summer weeks buzz with cafés, night markets, and medieval festivals; shoulder seasons are perfect for leisurely rambles and sea-view picnics.
Leave the campervan outside the tightest historic core and explore on foot or bike. Then widen your radius for coastal drives to wind-carved cliffs, limestone beaches, and sleepy harbors where smoked fish is a local staple.
Fårö
North of Gotland, Fårö is a quieter realm of windswept beaches, pines, and the famous sea-stack formations called rauks. The late filmmaker Ingmar Bergman lived and filmed here; you can feel the contemplative mood in the stark light and open horizons.
Services are limited compared to Visby, so refuel and carry snacks and water. Even short coastal walks can stretch when you’re lured by photo stops every few meters, so plan time accordingly.
Stora Karlsö
Stora Karlsö, a small island off Gotland’s west coast, is a sanctuary for seabirds and wildflowers, with limestone cliffs and guided walks across open meadows. It’s a fantastic day trip in late spring and summer, especially for nature lovers. Ferries run seasonally from Klintehamn and spots can fill up in peak weeks, so it’s smart to book ahead.
Beyond the Classics: More Places to Visit in Sweden
If you’re choosing where to go in Sweden off the main trail, start here. The picks below stay under the radar yet fit easily into a classic route, especially by a rental campervan.
Uppsala & Sigtuna (History within Easy Reach of Stockholm)
Uppsala, a university city north of Stockholm, blends a soaring cathedral, riverfront cafés, and botanical gardens tied to Carl Linnaeus. It’s refined yet relaxed, and a lovely day trip or overnight from the capital.
Nearby Sigtuna, founded in the 10th century, lines up rune stones along lakefront lanes and preserves an intimate medieval vibe. Both towns are easy for campervan travelers thanks to short distances, frequent services, and straightforward parking on the outskirts.
The High Coast (Höga Kusten)
A UNESCO-recognized coastline shaped by post-glacial uplift, the High Coast delivers cliff-top trails, suspension bridges (like Högakustenbron), and islands such as Ulvön. It’s one of Sweden’s most photogenic hiking regions, especially in late summer and early fall.
Dalarna & Lake Siljan
Dalarna, home of the painted Dala horse, is Sweden’s folkloric core: red cottages, summer fiddling festivals, and lake country drives around Siljan. Towns like Rättvik and Tällberg charm with wooden piers, hilltop views, and craft shops.
It’s campervan heaven: short hops between villages, swim-ready lakes, and country roads that beg for slow travel. Summer is peak, while shoulder seasons are tranquil and restorative.
Åre & Jämtland Mountains
Åre is Sweden’s adventure capital: skiing in winter, hiking, biking, and waterfall chasing in summer. The surrounding Jämtland mountains are laced with huts and trails that suit both families and seasoned trekkers.
If you’re driving a rental campervan, watch mountain weather and carry layers even on short hikes. Fuel and food are readily available in Åre, but supplies thin between villages, so top up before scenic detours.
Tiveden National Park
Between lakes Vättern and Vänern, Tiveden hides a fantasy forest of giant boulders, crystal lakes, and mossy trails. It feels wilder than its southern location suggests and rewards half-day loops with picnic rock slabs and swim coves.
Road access is straightforward, but services inside the park are minimal. It’s a brilliant contrast stop between Stockholm and Gothenburg itineraries.
Marstrand & the West Coast Fortresses
Marstrand pairs yacht-filled harbors with the 17th-century Carlsten Fortress and sea-sprayed walking paths. The island’s car-free core and café culture make it a breezy day trip from Gothenburg, especially on sunny, windy days when the granite glows.
Park on the mainland and ferry across. If you time sunset, the harbor lights and fortress walls turn the return crossing into a postcard.
Frequently Asked Questions
What part of Sweden should I visit?
It depends on your style. For culture and food, head to Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö. For wild nature and the Northern Lights, choose Swedish Lapland and Abisko. To blend hiking with sea views, try the High Coast and Bohuslän. If you love storybook towns and beaches, Österlen, Ystad, Gotland, and Öland are standouts.
What is Sweden’s most beautiful place?
Beauty is subjective, but many travelers rave about the Stockholm Archipelago at golden hour, the aurora over Abisko, limestone cliffs on Gotland and Stora Karlsö, the High Coast viewpoints, and the sun-washed fishing villages along Bohuslän.
Where should I go for a first-time trip?
Split your time between Stockholm and the archipelagos for an urban-coastal combo. Add Abisko or Kiruna in winter for aurora, or Österlen and Ystad in summer for beaches and slow drives.
Is Sweden expensive, and how can I save?
Sweden isn’t a classic budget destination, but you can trim costs by traveling in a rental campervan across the country, using public transit within cities, and balancing restaurants with picnics from supermarket delis. Campervan travel lets you spread lodging costs and pivot to free outdoor attractions (parks, islands, beaches).
Is Sweden good for campervan travel?
Absolutely. Roads are well maintained, signage is clear, and many top sights cluster within reasonable driving distances. In remote regions, plan fuel stops and provisions ahead of time. Near cities and national parks, navigation is simple and services are frequent, making Sweden one of the best places to visit in Scandinavia for road-trip freedom.
