Travel news: Oromantic cities, sports holidays and semen tests

By: Editorial Office | Source: press material

It's Monday again, which of course means travel news here at FREEDOMtravel. A lot of news right now revolves around sports holidays, while you can start thinking about spring and summer travel ...

Ticket lists Europe's most unromantic cities

For Valentine's Day on Saturday, travel agency Ticket named the five most romantic and the five most unromantic cities in Europe. According to Ticket, romance is flourishing in Paris, RomeVenice, Prague and Seville. The five most unromantic cities.

1. Berlin - Creative, cool and raw - but more club nights than candlelight.
2. Birmingham - A lot of shopping, a lot of concrete and quite a bit of love.
3. Warsaw - The post-war architecture makes the city feel more angular, rather than romantic.
4. Brussels - EU meetings and administration characterise the city. However, gets plus in the edge for good chocolate.
5. Naples - Intense, messy and loud. Passionate - absolutely. Romantic? Not always!

Wasaline is now officially part of Stena Line

The official completion of Stena Line's acquisition of Wasaline was celebrated with a ceremony in Umeå. It was on 4 November 2025 that Stena Line announced the purchase of the company NLC Ferry Oy/Wasaline, which meant taking over the operation of the ferry line between Umeå and Vaasa. From now on, Wasaline is part of Stena Line. Wasaline will, with minor adjustments, continue its operations with the same brand.

Stena Line renovates ferries on the Gothenburg-Kiel route

Stena Line has invested millions in extensive refurbishment and modernisation of the Stena Germanica and Stena Scandinavica ferries on the Gothenburg-Kiel route. The renovation includes restaurant and bar areas as well as outdoor decks for the upcoming travel season. At the same time, two theme cruises will be launched in the spring.

In February and March, Stena Line is organising two theme cruises on the Kiel-Gothenburg route. On 20 February there will be Schlager Cruise and on 27 March Rock Cruise, with live music on board.

Swedes escape the cold during the sports holidays

According to recent search data from momondo, Swedes seem to be looking for sun before snow during the sports holidays this year. Several long-haul destinations dominate the top list of most searched destinations for the sports holidays weeks (weeks 7-10). Here are the ten most popular destinations for the sports holidays, weeks 7-10:

1. Bangkok, Thailand
2. Phuket, Thailand
3. London, United Kingdom
4. Malaga, Spain
5. Tokyo, Japan
6. Las Palmas, Canary Islands
7. Paris, France
8. Alicante, Spain
9. Milan, Italy
10. Krabi, Thailand

Where Swedish TUI travellers go during the sports holidays

Thousands of Swedish holidaymakers will soon be travelling to warmer climes. According to booking statistics from TUI, Gran Canaria, Phuket and Hurghada the most popular destinations this year. At the same time, there is a clear trend: more and more people are choosing to travel further afield. Top 5, where most Swedes travel during the sports holidays:

1. Gran Canaria, Spain
2. Phuket, Thailand
3. Hurghada, Egypt
4. Tenerife, Spain
5. Krabi, Thailand

TUI launches new holidays from local airports

TUI is launching several new package holidays from local airports.

• Package holidays from Skellefteå to Gdansk, TUI offers a total of 25 hotels in Gdansk and Sopot.
• Package holidays from Växjö to Gdansk, in co-operation with Ryanair.
• Package holidays from Västerås, in co-operation with Ryanair. the trips go to Alicante, Malaga and London-Stansted.

MSC Cruises invests in marine research in Alaska

MSC Cruises is launching a groundbreaking partnership with the marine conservation organisation ORCA and investing in marine research in Alaska. During the company's first season in Alaska in the summer of 2026, a Marine Mammal Observer will be placed on board MSC Poesia.

A month-long research effort will take place during the peak whale season, allowing, among other things, statistically significant data collection on the behavioural responses of whales to vessel presence and activity.

Here's the most affordable bun for Father's Day 2026

Fat Tuesday is on 17 February and there are plenty of pastry shops offering luxurious semlor to munch on. But as the average price in Stockholm in 2026 rises above SEK 60 for the first time, Sambla wonders: where can you really get the most fika for your money? That's why we weighed the semlor ...

• Skeppsbro Bakery 61 kr, 201 g, 303 kr/kg
• The bakery 62 kr, 198 g, 313 kr/kg
• Bread & Salt 63 kr, 187 g, 337 kr/kg
• Return 60 kr, 178 g, 337 kr/kg
• Fabrique 59 kr, 173 g, 341 kr/kg
• Espresso House 56 kr, 157 g, 357 kr/kg
• Bergstrand's Bakery 64 kr, 179 g, 358 kr/kg
• Wayne's Coffee 58 kr, 146 g, 397 kr/kg
• Thelin's pastry shop 59 kr, 142 g, 415 kr/kg
• Haga 59 kr, 140 g, 421 kr/kg
• Big Bakery 62 kr, 144 g, 431 kr/kg
• Socker Sucker 64 kr, 139 g, 460 kr/kg
• Gateau 59 kr, 110 g, 536 kr/kg
• Average 60,50 kr, 161 g, 385 kr

So it's the semla from Skeppsbro Bageri that stands out as the most affordable luxury semla! At 201 grams, it is the survey's heavyweight - and the one that gives you the most semla per krona.

Premiere of Streetfood Festival in Halmstad

On 26-27 June 2026 Halmstad a new event when the Streetfood Festival comes to the city for the first time. For two days, Stationsparken will be transformed into a vibrant meeting place filled with food trucks. There will be both international and local flavours and a great atmosphere.

Did you miss the last travel news? Read the Love trips, hotel sex and glamping cars