Sweden is such a beautiful country. There are so many things to do in Sweden that a 10-day Sweden itinerary isn’t enough time to experience all that is available.
Good news, Sweden is easy to navigate and the majority of people speak English well.
There are buses, trains and automobiles available for your trip. If you are pressed for time, you can easily fly between major cities.
Myself, being an American, I love the freedom that a car provides, and if you choose to drive, rest assured that the roads are well maintained.
Sweden is beautiful in every season but particularly nice in the summer and autumn.
Contents
16 Things To Do In Sweden In 10 Days
DAY ONE
1- Taste Swedish Fika While Exploring Malmo
Fly into Copenhagen, Denmark Kastrup airport then take the train across the Öresund Bridge to Malmö.
The trip from the airport is about 15 minutes to the Malmö Central Train Station which will place you in the heart of Malmö.
It will cost you about $US11 one way and tickets are available in kiosks in the Copenhagen airport terminal.
The airport is not that big and the kiosks are easy to find.
If you are having trouble, you can always wait in line for assistance at the counter.
Malmö is full of hotels, hostels and AirBnB’s to suit any budget. Search here for more information.
Begin your day by strolling the Gamla Stan (old town) of Malmö including Stortorget, Lilla Torg and stroll down the Södra Förstaden a pedestrian street filled with cafes, restaurants and shops.
After a day of exploring, enjoy the traditional Swedish fika at Lilla Kafferosteriet.
Fika is the Swedish tradition of taking a break each day to enjoy a coffee and sweet baked good.
Lilla Kafferosteriet is the perfect place to introduce you to fika.
One of the oldest buildings in Malmö, Lilla Kafferosteriet is steeped in atmosphere.
Just off of Gustav Adolf’s Torg, this cosy, charming cafe is a great place to rest and rejuvenate.
If you’re planning an extended trip around Scandinavia, read this post about the best times to visit Iceland.
DAY TWO
2- Explore Kungsparken and Malmo Castle
Start your morning, viewing Malmö from a new perspective, the water.
Malmö offers both self-guided and guided tours along the canals.
A guided tour takes you through the old town, Kungsparken (The King’s Park) and past the Malmö Castle.
Taking a guided tour provides you with the history of Malmö.
Tours are offered in English and an added bonus, tours leave from a dock with a cafeteria that serves pancakes and coffee.
If you prefer a self-guided tour, rent a boat across the canal from the Malmö Live conference centre.
After your canal tour, visit Möllanstorget for some fresh fruit and head to Möllans Öst for out of this world cheese, crackers and specialty meats for a picnic.
Möllans Öst is the best cheese shop in Malmö.
Rent bikes and ride through Kungsparken to the ultra-cool and hip Västra Hamnen neighbourhood and the Turning Torso.
Continue along the beach called Ribban and take in the view of the famed Öresund Bridge.
You can picnic at any of these stops along the way.
End your day with a sunset cocktail and spectacular views at the top of Malmö Live in the Sky Room.
DAY THREE
3- Discover Lund, The Cutest University Town
Head to Malmö Central Station and hop on a train to the university town of Lund.
Again, spend some time just walking and exploring the Gamla Stan of Lund.
The streets are cobbled and cute, exploding with cafes, restaurants and unique shops focused on sustainability.
The Lund Cathedral is not to be missed.
The cathedral dates back to 1085 and was built in the Romanesque style of Italy.
Still a functioning church, there are tours available in English.
When there, you must check out the crypt, which has remained largely untouched since its construction in the 1000’s and is most famous for being the home of Finn, The Giant who is alleged to have built the cathedral.
In the crypt, one can see a sculpture of Finn embracing one of the columns and a second sculpture of Finn’s wife.
Before leaving Lund, a stop at the Lund University Botanical Garden will regenerate your energy and leave you feeling calm and peaceful.
The best time to visit is in spring, summer and autumn when the garden is bursting with colour.
The garden also has a lovely greenhouse with over 2,000 species of plants and trees from nine different climate zones.
At Café Botan, you can rest, take in the flowers and have a fika.
The garden is open from 6 am to 8 pm in the winter and 9.30 pm in the summer. Entrance is free.
If you are seeking a little more history, add Kulteren to your list of things to do.
In operation since 1882, Kulturen is part archeology, part sociology and part history.
Kulteren is both an indoor and an open-air museum featuring buildings, artifacts and historic gardens that allow visitors to experience Sweden as it was in the past.
There are more than 15 exhibits spanning medieval times to the present day.
If you are travelling with kids, this is a must-stop spot as the exhibits are interactive and fun.
During the summer months, there are tours offered in English.
At the end of your day of exploring, head over to the Grand Hotel for drinks and atmosphere.
The Grand Hotel manages to exude old-world charm and young hip energy at the same time.
ALTERNATIVE ITINERARY: Rent a car and head out to one of the many regional parks and beaches in Skåne. There are so many different topographies to choose from, including white sand beaches, forested trails and rocky cliffs.
DAY FOUR
4- Walk The Haga In Gothenburg
Head to Malmö Central Station and hop on a train to Gothenburg (Göteborg). Look here for ample accommodation options.
First stop – The Haga.
The Haga is the oldest neighbourhood in Gothenburg. Its main pedestrian street is called Haga Nygata.
Haga oozes charm and atmosphere and is filled with houses built in the traditional Gothenburg style known as “landshövdingehus.”
These houses were designed with one floor made of brick and the rest of the homemade of wood.
Today the homes are most often used as shops and cafés.
You can easily walk to Haga from the city centre. You can also take a tram and stop at either Hagakyrkan or Järntorget.
5- Discover History At Skansen Kronan Fortress
After shopping and eating, head over to the Skansen Kronan, a fortress dating to the 1600s.
Over the years, the fortress has been used as a prison, a residency and a museum but today most people gather up goodies in the Haga and then picnic atop the Skansen Kronan hill enjoying sweeping views of the city.
6- Have Fun At Liseberg Amusement Park
If you are visiting Gothenburg with children, be sure to check out the amusement park, Liseberg.
Liseberg is Scandinavia’s largest amusement park and it offers rides appropriate for all ages, shows and seasonal decorations.
7- Learn Something New At The Universeum
Also fun for children and adults alike, Universeum, Scandinavia’s largest science centre. Seven fun-filled floors of all types of environments to experience.
From tropical rainforests to deep-sea exploration, visitors can see birds, sharks, snakes monkeys and sloths all in one place. And they offer activities to let children get hands-on experience with scientific experiments.
Universeum can be toured on your own or with guides.
Check out these tours in Gothenburg.
DAY FIVE
8- Cruise The Bohuslan Archipelago
One of my favourite places in Sweden is the Bohuslän Archipelago just off the coast near Göteborg.
The archipelago has charming fishing villages with red Swedish timber houses sitting on granite rocky islands while green forests jut out of the water.
The area is teeming with legends blind sea captains, mermen and sea witches.
Most of the islands are uninhabited, but occasionally, a lone house on an island is shrouded in mystery.
Not surprisingly, activities in and around the archipelago are associated with the sea and include seal safaris, lobster safaris, fishing and boating excursions.
Cars are not allowed, making these islands perfect for long walks and bike rides.
Check out the West Sweden Tourist Board for ferry lines and route suggestions for island hopping the Swedish way.
DAY SIX
9- Explore Dalsland, Sweden’s Hidden Gem
Being in nature regularly is one of Sweden’s strongest cultural mores.
Swedes believe very firmly in the powerful influence that nature has on living a healthy and balanced life.
The Dalsland region is known as miniature Sweden because it offers a little bit of everything.
One can find green forests, blue lakes and rivers, and grey granite hills to climb.
Dalsland is one of Sweden’s hidden gems, and the area is rife with things to do if you want to experience the Swedish cultural commitment to nature.
The Western Sweden Tourism Board can assist you in arranging hiking, swimming, camping, canoeing, kayaking, rock climbing, fishing, a beaver safari or a moose safari. Accommodations range from camping to luxury digs.
Check here for accommodation suggestions.
DAY SEVEN
10- Take A Spa Break In Dalsland
After all, that outdoor activity, treat yourself to a luxury break with a visit to the Glass Cabins at the Baldersnäs Herrgård.
This manor house offers a place to unwind, recharge and commune with nature, while still providing a comfortable bed, a soft down comforter, spa and gourmet meal.
DAY EIGHT
11- Discover The Historic Delights Of Gamla Stan
Stockholm is the beautiful, regal queen of Swedish cities.
Sparkling, shining and serene, it is a visually aesthetically pleasing city and as the biggest city in Sweden, it is bustling with life.
The first day should be spent just familiarising oneself with the area.
Start in the Gamla Stan, the old city.
It is cute, cobblestoned and crowded, but don’t let the crowds sway you.
Gamla Stan is worth a visit as it is one of the largest and best-preserved medieval city centres in all of Europe.
Gamla Stan is the heart of the city, as it is where Stockholm was founded in 1252.
Chock full of restaurants, cafés, bars and shops, Gamla Stan is also a photographer’s delight.
The streets are narrow, cobblestoned twisty streets more akin to alleyways. In fact, one can find the narrowest alley here.
Mårten Trotzigs gränd (Mårten Trotzigs alley) is only 90 cm wide at its narrowest point.
You will also see colourful medieval frescoes that many people describe as fairytale-like.
12- Visit Stockholm’s Royal Palace
After spending your morning in Gamla Stan, head over to the Royal Palace. Both the palace and the Royal Armory, with royal costumes and armour.
Be sure not to miss the changing of the guard which includes a parade of soldiers entering the palace each day.
Inside the Royal Palace, one can also visit the Nobel Museum and the dining room where the famed Nobel dinner is held.
Like most big cities, you can find accommodation at every price point.
Search here for accommodations.
DAY NINE
13- Visit The ABBA Museum
What is more Swedish than the music of ABBA?
Sweden’s most popular band of the 1970s, ABBA’s music still resonates today with people of all ages due in large part to the success of the play and movie Mama Mia.
The ABBA Museum has a mix of music iconic memorabilia, costumes, gold-plated albums, instruments, and awards, but, it is also an interactive experience.
Visitors can sing along to ABBA songs, try out your best 70’s dance moves, mix your own music, create virtual costumes and record your musical performances to take home.
This is a museum that delights both young and old. Book your ticket here.
14- Relax In Skansen Park
Not far from the ABBA Museum lies Skansen Park.
Swedes love being outside and Skansen is the largest open-air interactive museum in the world.
The park is huge and you could easily spend the entire day there.
Covering 75 acres/300,000 m², Skansen includes a replica of a typical 19th-century Swedish town, including employees dressed in traditional clothing and exhibiting the trades of the day.
Guests can see how things were made back in the day – hide tanners, shoemakers, silversmiths, bakers and glass-blowers abound.
There are farmlands and an open-air zoo (Skansen also houses the Stockholm zoo) with farm animals.
DAY TEN:
15- See The Warship In The Vasa Museum
In the morning, beat the crowds and head over to the famous Vasa Museum.
One of the most visited museums in Sweden, the Vasa chronicles the treacherous trip, or non-trip, of the largest warship in the Baltic in the 1600s.
Swedish King Gustavus Adolphus commissioned the ship as part of the military expansion during a war with Poland-Lithuania.
The ship is a testament to man’s ego and bravado as the ship’s designer told the King that the ship was too heavy and was carrying too much weight with all the guns and cannons aboard.
Despite this warning, the King ordered the Vasa to sea and she sank in the harbour after only a few minutes.
The ship was excavated from the sea and is on display in full form.
It is amazing to see and I would say this museum is not to be missed.
16- Go Boating In Stockholm
After you have experienced the Vasa, do not be afraid to explore Stockholm by boat.
Did you know that Stockholm is a series of islands connected by over 50 bridges?
Getting to see all of it takes a little planning and if you are pressed for time, a great way to see the city is by boat.
There are numerous options available for boat tours, including Hop-On, Hop-Off tours that allow you to get off and explore areas at your whim while rejoining the boat tour a bit later.
Another option is to sign up for a guided tour or take a self-guided tour.
With the self-guided tours, you can choose from electric, sail, jet skis or a traditional motorboat.
Book your Stockholm boat tour here.
There is so much more to see and do in Sweden. I hope this itinerary wets your whistle and encourages you to return for a longer visit.
Book your accommodation in Sweden here.
Organise your Sweden tours and activities here.
Looking for more things to do in Europe? Try these cities:
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