Do you plan on going for a vacation this summer? Then we recommend you book a flight to Sweden, as we heard it is worth visiting this time of year. Sweden is one of the world’s northernmost countries and one of the largest in Europe. It is a sparsely populated country characterised by its long coastline, large forests and numerous lakes.
Sweden experiences extreme contrasts between its summer and winter days. During the summer, the days are longer with very few hours of semi-darkness. During the winter months, the days are characterised by pitch darkness.
In this article, we shall be discussing why you should pay a visit to Sweden this summer!
Stockholm
Stockholm, also known as the “Venice of the North” is the capital city of Sweden. Stockholm lies on a number of islands and peninsulas and is surrounded by lakes which lead to the Baltic Sea, forming deep inlets. Stockholm is renowned for its world-class museums, theatres, galleries and parklands. Travelling around Stockholm couldn’t be easier as the underground railway system, the Tunnelbana, can take you almost anywhere in the city. Alternatively, a highly efficient and regular bus network is also available and is easily accessible for those areas not reached by the underground system.
If you visit Stockholm, then you should definitely go to the royal palace (Sveriges Kungahus), located at the water’s edge on the periphery of Gamla Stan. This is the official residence of the King of Sweden. The palace is one of the largest in Europe, boasting an excess of six hundred rooms and several museums. It dates back from the 18th century and boasts baroque architecture.
Another iconic building in Stockholm is the City Hall which is known as Stadshuset. The City Hall is situated close to the water’s edge and is topped by three golden crowns. This was built in 1923 and since then the prestigious Nobel banquets have been hosted every year. Hosts first dine in the Blue Hall and then proceed to the formal ballroom, the Golden Hall. The Golden Hall walls are covered by around eighteen million mosaics.
Ice Hotel
Have you ever imagined sleeping in a room made out of ice? You can now include this in your bucket list! Situated in the north part of Sweden, you can book a room in the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi. This hotel is rebuilt each year with a brand-new design. This hotel is constructed via ice blocks from the River Torne. The hotel has around a hundred rooms and an ice chapel which is popular amongst couples who intend to get married. The hotel also holds an ice restaurant. The area where the ice hotel is built is well equipped with temperatures below minus five degrees centigrade. This way they ensure that the structure always remains intact.
Gothenburg
Gothenburg is the second-largest city in Sweden. This is situated on the west coast and it has a population of around 1,570,000 inhabitants. In Gothenburg you can take the padden tour which is a tour by boat allowing you to enjoy the city’s harbour and seventeenth-century canals.
Whilst in this beautiful city, you can also pay a visit to the Gothenburg Museum of Art. This prestigious museum opened in 1923 and contains paintings from world-famous painters such as Gauguin, Picasso, Monet, Chagall and Van Gogh. For those who love paintings of the renaissance and baroque period, the museum also boasts pieces by Van Dyck, Rembrandt, Rubens and Jacob Jordaens.
Are you ready to pack your bags and book a flight? Sweden is also renowned for other beauty! Attention to all the single men out there.
