Text and photo: Peter Bergström
Are you looking for inspiration for a holiday in Sweden? We have travelled through large parts of the country and collected our best tips from landscapes we have visited ourselves. Here you will find our guides to Sweden's landscapes - with attractions, nature experiences, small towns, coastal gems, camping, camping sites and ideas for road trips at home.
Table of contents
Quick guide: Sweden's landscapes
- Number of guides right now: 25 Swedish provinces
- Suitable for: road trips, camper, nature trips, weekend and summer vacation
- Here you will find: attractions, hiking, coast, small towns, national parks, camping and motorhomes
- Perfect for you who: want to discover Sweden landscape by landscape
- Read also: Vacation in Sweden
Our guides to Sweden's landscapes
Here we have collected our guides to Swedish landscapes that we have traveled to and written about ourselves. Click through to each landscape to find our best tips on attractions, nature experiences, excursions, coastal stretches, small towns and destinations that are suitable for both car holidays and motorhome trips.
Norrland
Lapland
Lapland attracts with mountains, national parks, hiking trails and some of Sweden's most spectacular natural environments. There are both classic mountain destinations and quieter places where nature takes center stage.
Read the guide: Things to do in Lapland
Norrbotten
Norrbotten is large, magnificent and full of contrasts – from archipelago and coast to mountains, midnight sun and wilderness. A perfect landscape for those who like big views, long roads and experiences that feel far from everyday life.
Read the guide: Things to do in Norrbotten
Västerbotten
Västerbotten offers coastline, river valleys, a small town feel and great nature experiences. This is a landscape where you can combine culture, nature and nice stops along the way in a very pleasant way.
Read the guide: Things to do in Västerbotten
Ångermanland
Ångermanland attracts with the High Coast, mountain views, hiking, fishing villages and one of Sweden's most dramatic coastal landscapes. Here you will find both classic sights and nature experiences that are perfect for a road trip.
Read the guide: Things to do in Ångermanland
Jämtland
Jämtland is perfect for those who want to combine mountains, lakes, small towns and outdoor activities all year round. Waterfalls, views, hiking and winter experiences await you here, making the landscape just as interesting in summer as in winter.
Read the guide: Things to do in Jamtland
Härjedalen
Härjedalen offers mountains, open spaces, forests and small towns that are perfect for those who want to travel more leisurely and get close to nature. Here you can combine hiking, viewpoints, mountain roads, winter activities and quiet stops in a landscape that feels both magnificent and calming.
Read the guide: Things to do in Harjedalen
Medelpad
Medelpad is a landscape that often falls into the shadows, but here you can find coast, forest, city and nature within easy reach. This makes the area extra nice for those who want to discover more of Sweden beyond the most obvious choices.
Read the guide: Things to do in Medelpad
Hälsingland
Hälsingland offers forests, coast, river valleys and a cultural heritage that stands out. There is a nice mix of nature, history and excursions that make the landscape both varied and easy to enjoy.
Read the guide: Things to do in Hälsingland
Gästrikland
Gästrikland surprises with its industrial environments, nature, coastal locations and historical sites. A beautiful landscape for those who want to combine sights with calmer nature experiences and local gems.
Read the guide: Things to do in Gästrikland
Svealand
Dalarna
For many, Dalarna is the epitome of Sweden, with red cottages, lakes, forests and strong traditions. Here you can combine culture, nature and classic sights with small towns, viewpoints and beautiful roads.
Read the guide: Things to do in Dalarna
Värmland
Värmland offers deep forests, sparkling lakes, cultural history and great roads for road trips. Here you will find our best tips for sights, nature experiences and excursions in a landscape that is especially suitable for cars and campers.
Read the guide: Things to do in Varmland
Västmanland
Västmanland is an underrated landscape with forests, mill history, castles and waterfront environments. It's a great place to combine cultural history with nature and discover places that many people otherwise drive past.
Read the guide: Things to do in Västmanland
Uppland
Uppland has much more to offer than just its proximity to Stockholm. There are castles, small towns, an archipelago, runestones, nature reserves and coastal environments that are perfect for both day trips and longer tours.
Read the guide: Things to do in Uppland
foolishness
Närke is small in size but contains both city life, cultural history, castles and beautiful natural environments. The landscape is perfect for those who want many different experiences within short distances.
Read the guide: Things to do in Narke
Södermanland
Södermanland attracts with castles, archipelagos, small towns, nature reserves and nice excursion destinations near Stockholm. This is a landscape where you can easily combine history, coast, hiking and charming city centers.
Read the guide: Things to do in Sodermanland
Östergötland
Östergötland offers coastline, castles, canal experiences, historical environments and vibrant cities. There is a nice mix of nature and culture here that makes the landscape easy to explore over several days.
Read the guide: Things to do in Östergötland
Götaland
Bohuslän
Bohuslän is one of our big favorites in Sweden, with granite cliffs, fishing villages, an archipelago and salty swimming. This is a landscape that is just as suitable for a summer holiday as for shorter excursions along the coast.
Read the guide: Things to do in Bohuslan
Dalsland
Dalsland is sometimes called a miniature Sweden, and it's easy to see why. Here you'll find lakes, forests, canals, small towns and quiet nature experiences that are perfect for a more leisurely trip.
Read the guide: Things to do in Dalsland
Västergötland
Västergötland is a varied landscape with plateau mountains, castles, historical environments, small towns and nature experiences. Here you can travel between culture and nature in a way that makes the landscape perfect for a longer tour.
Read the guide: Things to do in Västergötland
Halland
Halland offers long beaches, coastal towns, nature reserves and great excursions all year round. The landscape is perfect for those who want to combine the sea, small town feel, cycling, swimming and good food along the west coast.
Read the guide: Things to do in Halland
Småland
Småland attracts with deep forests, glassworks, lakes, coast, moose and classic Swedish environments. There is plenty of variety here for families with children, nature lovers and those who want to take a road trip through southern Sweden.
Read the guide: Things to do in Småland
Öland
Öland is one of Sweden's most distinctive travel destinations, with long beaches, open landscapes, royal environments and the unique Alvaret. It is an excellent place to travel around for several days and combine nature, swimming, history and small stops along the way.
Read the guide: Things to do on Öland
Gotland
Gotland offers medieval urban environments, rauks, sea, beaches and a light that makes the island truly special. This is a destination where you can easily fill several days with both classic sights and quieter nature experiences.
Read the guide: Things to do on Gotland
Blekinge
Blekinge is often called the Garden of Sweden, and here you can find an archipelago, coastal towns, nature reserves and peaceful environments near the sea. The landscape is perfect for those who like experiences near the water, small excursions and holidays at a leisurely pace.
Read the guide: Things to do in Blekinge
Skåne
Skåne is one of Sweden's most varied landscapes, with sandy beaches, rolling fields, castles, small towns and dramatic coastlines. Thanks to its short distances, it is perfect for road trips, weekend getaways and longer holidays.
Read the guide: Things to do in Skåne
How to use our landscape guides
Our guides to Sweden's landscapes are built to be easy to use, whether you're planning a longer vacation or just looking for your next excursion. You can choose a landscape and get the best tips in one place, or use the guides to build a road trip through several parts of Sweden.
Many of the guides are also particularly suitable for those traveling by car or camper. This makes it easy to combine small towns, nature experiences, coastal stretches, viewpoints and spontaneous stops along the way.
Our best tips for traveling through Sweden
Traveling through Sweden is often easier than many people think, but there are a few things that make the trip even better. We especially like the fact that a car or campervan gives you the freedom to discover small detours, viewpoints and places that are otherwise easily missed.
- A car or campervan gives the most freedom: especially if you want to see multiple stops on the same trip.
- Combine multiple landscapes: It provides more variety during the holiday and makes the trip more enjoyable.
- The coast is at its best from May to September: especially for swimming, boat trips and evenings by the sea.
- Mountains and inland areas require a little more planning: The distances can be long and the weather can change quickly.
- Book campsites well in advance in the summer: especially on the coast, on islands and near popular travel destinations.
- Leave room for spontaneous stops: that's often where the best experiences are found.
For those traveling by camper or car
As we often travel by motorhome, we know how important it is for a trip to be practical – not just to look good in pictures. Many of our landscape guides are therefore particularly suitable for those who want to travel by car or motorhome and make several stops along the way.
In the guides you will often find tips that are perfect for a flexible trip, such as scenic roads, coastal stretches, small towns, ferries to islands, nature reserves and areas where it is easy to combine experiences with camping or motorhome parking.
More guides for holidays in Sweden
If you want even more inspiration for traveling at home, you can also check out our other guides about holidays in Sweden, road trips, small towns, coastal destinations and Swedish favorites.
FAQ – common questions about Sweden's landscape
How many provinces are there in Sweden?
Sweden has 25 historical landscapes. On this page we have collected 23 of the landscapes that we have traveled to ourselves and written guides about.
What is the difference between province and county?
Landscapes are historical and cultural areas, while counties are administrative divisions. When traveling in Sweden, landscapes often feel more natural and inspiring to start from than counties.
Which landscapes are best suited for a summer holiday in Sweden?
It depends on what you are looking for, but Bohuslän, Halland, Öland, Gotland, Blekinge and Skåne are popular choices for the coast, swimming and summer atmosphere. If you prefer nature and hiking, Jämtland, Lapland, Norrbotten, Dalarna and Ångermanland are great options.
Which landscape is best for a road trip in Sweden?
Skåne, Småland, Halland, Bohuslän, Västergötland, Värmland and Dalsland work particularly well for road trips thanks to the variety and the many stops along the way. Öland and Gotland are also great if you want to travel at a slower pace over several days.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVORITE LANDSCAPES IN SWEDEN?
Do you have a favorite among Sweden's landscapes? Feel free to tell us in the comments – we're always curious about which places others like the most, and that's often where we find ideas for our next trip.
English (UK) 
Svenska