My Swedish Bucket List

Written by William Mansell

During these testing times living under restrictions of a pandemic, most of us are yearning to get back to travelling whether that be in our own countries or abroad. Sweden boasts multiple fantastic landscapes to visit and things to do from the mild south to the Arctic north and everything in between. Discover some of the places on my Swedish bucket list.

Ice Hotel

Taking my top spot is the amazing, original Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi, northern Sweden. This awe-inspiring place has been on my list for a while now! Every year a dedicated team come together to create a unique hotel made of ice harvested from the local Torne river. At the end of the season the hotel is left to melt back into the river, completing its own circle of life.

Guests have the opportunity to spend the night in one of the art suites designed by artists and designers from all over the world. But it’s the setting of Ice hotel, 200km above the arctic circle, which makes the place truly special. In winter, when the surrounding landscape is transformed into a snowy wonderland, the view is stunning.

Packed with activities from dog sledding & ice fishing to Northern lights safaris, there is no shortage of things to immerse yourself in all year round. If you want the ice experience but don’t want the extra travel, the Ice Bar can also be found in Stockholm. In 2016 the Ice hotel opened ‘365’ – a sister hotel on the same site. Here, guests can experience the thrill of sleeping in a room crafted from ice all year round.

Here you can find the website.

Moose Spotting

With around 57% of Sweden covered in forest, it’s no surprise you can encounter an abundance of wildlife. None more synonymous than the King of the forest. These majestic beasts can be found countrywide but are often difficult to spot in the wild. With a large moose population, Bergslagen Forest, located over Värmland county holds the best chances of sighting moose. Alternatively, there are moose parks dotted across Sweden. Småland-Jönköping-Göteborg-Dalsland are perfect for observing moose up close without wasting time searching for them!

Stockholm

The great capital, Stockholm, is usually the first place visitors tend to visit in Sweden, however the city is overflowing with exciting places, much more than one visit will allow. Museums, shops, parks, restaurants & cafes full of history, design & life. Whether you prefer to take in the culture or to be at one with nature, there is something for everyone whatever the season.

Museums worth a visit:

• Vasa – Dedicated to the Vasa ship which sank on its maiden voyage in the Stockholm harbour.
• Nordiska – A whole museum dedicated to the culture of Sweden.
• Moderna & Arkdes – 2 in 1 dedicated to contemporary art, design & architecture.
• Fotografiska – A photography museum.
• ABBA – Do I need to explain this?!

City hall, Gamla Stan, The Royal palace, Subway art & Djurgården are among other places to explore. Essential to any day in Stockholm would be to have a Fika. Many lovely cafes dotted around the city serve delicious drinks and pastries to die for! Stockholm is not just limited to the city. In the summer the archipelago opens up and the waters fill with boats and people swimming, enjoying every last ray of sun.

More information can be found here.

Tree Hotel

An hour north of Luleå, is the Tree Hotel and as a designer this this is an exciting place to visit. Comprised of 7 uniquely designed tree houses including the Mirror Cube, the Bird’s Nest & the UFO, they all make a bold, playful statements against the backdrop of the forest. The 7th Room tree house designed by  top Norwegian architects, Snøhetta, takes the humble tree house to the next level. Blending quality materials & Scandinavian design into a 100sq meter area of Swedish luxury.

Similar to the Ice Hotel, the location is perfect for exploring the great Swedish wilderness year round. Moreover, the tree hotel also offers a multitude of activities or you can kick back and relax with a Fika whilst taking in the breathtaking views from your tree house. Allemansrätten, or the right to roam, is a big factor which allows everyone acces to nature, with an emphasis on every person having the responsibility to look after it.

Here you can find the website.

Göteborg & Malmö

Sweden’s 2nd & 3rd largest cities also have a lot to offer. Gothenburg is the gateway to the west coast with opportunities aplenty to get outside and hike. Malmö, setting for the Turning Torso tower and hit Scandi noir The Bride, is just a short car or train ride over the renowned Öresund bridge from Copenhagen. Both cities are home to plenty of sights, culture & great food scenes.

I hope I have inspired you to work on your travel bucket lists. Let us know in the comments if any of these places have made it onto your bucket list? Or are there any other Swedish gems you’ve found?

If you find this article interesting you can read my previous post here.

About the Author

I’m a wannabie Swede, currently living in the UK, hoping to soon call Sweden home! A designer, creator and all-round Swedish fan, I am highly interested in the culture, music, design, nature & of course Fika! When I’m not travelling, I also love to watch Scandi noirs, listen to Swedish music & I watch Melodifestivalen every year! These have all helped me to develop my Swedish language skills!