Travel news: The rocket of the year and the sunniest square meter

By: Editorial Office | Source: press material

It was Monday again, which as usual means travel news here at FREEDOMtravel. This week it's all about everything from summer travel destinations to festivals and adventures.

Lisbon is this year's rocket for the summer

Bookings to Portugal are increasing sharply ahead of the summer. According to recent booking statistics from the travel agency Ticket, Lisbon This summer's big rocket among Swedish travelers, with an increase of 90 percent compared to last year. Bookings to the Algarve are also increasing ahead of the summer.

Portugal also offers many festivals and events during the summer. One of the most popular is the Santo António Festival in Lisbon in June, when the city's neighborhoods are filled with music, street parties and celebrations well into the night. Tickets top 10 – most booked destinations in summer 2026:

1. Malaga
2. Alicante
3. Majorca
4. Split
5. Nice
6. London
7. Crete
8. Barcelona
9. Lisbon
10. Bangkok

Viking Market & Birka Historical Tattoo Fest in June

One of the most talked-about events of the summer returns from June 4-7 when the Viking Market and Birka Historical Tattoo Fest take over the world heritage site of Birka. For four intense days, the island is filled with historical crafts, music, living Viking environments and international tattoo art.

The festival is open to anyone traveling to Birka during these days. No separate festival ticket is needed; a regular boat ticket gives access to the entire event. Travelers can choose departures from Stockholm, Hovgården or Härjarö and tickets are available at birkavikingastaden.se.

Swedish Thomas Alm runs around the world

On July 1, 2026, 50-year-old ultrarunner Thomas Alm will start a historic two-year World Run adventure of over 26,500 kilometers. He will thus become the first Swede to do so. The start and finish will be in Stockholm, at Adventure Museum. The purpose is to raise money for AjaBajaCancer, which supports families affected by cancer, in memory of his mother.

Thomas will run through the first half of Europe down to Istanbul, then fly to Australia, New Zealand, North America and South America before running through the second half of Europe and returning to Stockholm in the summer of 2028. Thomas invites anyone who wants to run with him, from a full day to a few kilometers. Follow the adventure at @thethomasalm.

Car holidays this summer – here are the mistakes most people worry about

According to a survey commissioned by hotel and travel search site momondo, one in ten Swedes is planning a road trip during their vacation, while recent data shows that searches for rental cars among Swedish travelers have increased by 8 percent compared to last year. This is what worries Swedes most about car vacations abroad:

1. Hidden fees and extra insurances
2. Unknown traffic rules
3. Driving in large and busy cities
4. Damage to the car and be liable for compensation
5. Parking

Here you will get the most festival for your money in 2026

Summer 2026 will, as usual, bring a wide range of music festivals around Sweden. But which festival really gives you the most value for your money? Sambla has developed an index and ranked 15 Swedish festivals based on artist quality, number of artists and cost.

The analysis shows that Gothenburg's Way Out West festival - despite the highest ticket prices - offers the most festival value for money. With a full 120 acts in the lineup and guests such as The Cure, Zara Larsson and Veronica Maggio, they outdo the others.

1. Way Out West Aug 13–15, Gothenburg (21p)
2. The fireball acid June 5–7, Umeå (20p)
3. Sweden Rock June 3–6, Sölvesborg (19p)
4. Summer coat in Svedala July 9–11, Svedala (17p)
5. Butterfly Festival June 26–27, Gothenburg (15p)
6. Karlskrona Archipelago Festival July 28–August 2, Karlskrona (14p)
7. Summer On June 12–13, Båstad (14p)
8. Midsummer party June 18–20, Leksand (13p)
9. Storsjöyran July 31–August 1, Östersund (13p)
10. Nynäskalaset 7–8 Aug, Nynäshamn (12p)
11. Amaze Festival July 24–25, Smögen (12p)
12. A Day at the Park July 3–4, Varberg (12p)
13. Skellefteå Summertime June 25–28, Skellefteå (10p)
14. Hugo Park Festival July 24–25, Norrköping (10p)
15. Splash July 31–August 1, Luleå (9p)

Here is Sweden's sunniest square meter

Now IKEA, together with SMHI, has identified Sweden's sunniest square meter - the place in Sweden where the sun statistically shines the most.

The exact location is in southern Gotland and has now been marked with a permanent monument in the form of two IKEA armchairs in granite. Behind the initiative is an analysis of 20 years of solar activity. The site has had an average of 2137 hours of sunshine per year – equivalent to almost six hours of sunshine per day all year round.

The idea is to create a new Swedish attraction and a new stop for summer travelers to Gotland, somewhat in the same vein as Sweden's southernmost cape or the center of the country.

Swedish searches for Houston skyrocket

New data from Hotels.com shows that Swedish searches for the host cities of Houston and Dallas, where Sweden will play two group stage matches, have skyrocketed by an incredible 3080 percent and 1890 percent respectively compared to last year. ”Get a Room Guide” and a new survey show, among other things, that: 

• Affordable in Houston: Houston is one of the more affordable host cities in the US, with an average price of SEK 2,388 per night.
• Football-loving Swedes: 31 % states that they traveled specifically to see a live match, while 32 % has not yet done so but would like to.
• The blue-yellow road trip: 70% of Swedish travelers say they want to extend their football trip to explore the destination.
• Smartest budget strategy: Living in Fort Worth (an hour from the Dallas arena) can significantly reduce housing costs. Searches for the city have increased by 430 %.

Did you miss the last travel news? Read the Holiday stress and summer travel trends