Swedish Nature

Nature for everyone

68 million out of Sweden’s total area of 111 million acres are covered in forest and scattered with nearly 100 000 lakes. Only a small part is given to cities, towns and villages. Amongst these and the landscape of forests, rolling hills, mountains, streams, rivers, and ever-changing coastline are some of the world’s most beautiful places to explore including 400 registered hiking trails, to be exact.

Nature is an integral part of the Swedish lifestyle. We believe nature contributes not just to physical well being but mental health too, and we’ve got the statistics to back this up; simply watch our case study on the 72 Hour Cabin to find out more.

"Allemansrätten", or the Right of Public Access is a major part of why nature is so important to us. This enables anyone to discover the landscape and our nature on foot or by bike; to swim, canoe or kayak; pitch up a tent for a night. It’s something we’re proud to share with anyone who visits.

Nature and the city

No matter whether travellers stay in the heart of Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö or Luleå they won’t be more than 5 km away from a National Park, Nature Reserve or nature conservation site. They also won’t fail to notice how seamlessly our cities blend urban with nature. Our cities are easy to explore on foot, bike or even in a kayak. Imagine to simply wake up and take a trail out of the city.... maybe it will lead to an archipelago island, maybe it will lead to a moose safari, to one of Skåne’s sandy shorelines or even to the perfect fika in Alingsås!

Nature is also ever-present in our places to stay. From the architecture and interior design to the locally sourced construction materials used, it’s clear to see the influence nature has on our spaces. This is truest when it comes to some of Sweden’s most inimitable escapes; accommodations close to nature such as Sami eco lodges, private island retreats, unique hotels such as the original Ice Hotel in Kiruna, The Wood Hotel in Skellefteå or a humbly luxurious cabin on your own island in deep forests of Central Sweden.

Activities in nature

Anywhere visitors travel, they will find hiking and biking trails that are suitable for their skill level. The trails are well-marked and STF (Swedish Tourist Association) maintains hundreds of simple places to stay along the way.

As many of Sweden’s walking and cycling trails are hundreds of kilometres long, they’re broken into sections, enabling your clients to choose the part that is right for them. For instance, Sweden’s first national cycle path, the Kattegattleden is a 390km coastal route that runs between Helsingborg and Gothenburg. It’s divided into eight parts so your clients can enjoy it all in eight days or enjoy a sliver at their own pace. Similarly, the 400km long Kings Trail or Kungsleden, leading from Abisko to Hemavan, should be enjoyed in segments. More national cycle routes can be found here.

OUR TIP: There are many providers of outdoor a wide range of outdoor activities in Sweden. Our tip is to explore some of the sustainable experiences with the ‘Nature's Best’ certificate.

Whether on the coast or on the many rivers and lakes of Sweden for active water lovers a canoe or kayak tour is simply a must for a holiday in Sweden. Depending on their experience and sense of adventure, your customers can explore the wild rivers Torne, Kalix or Lule in the north or try sea kayaking on the west coast. By the way: the Bohuslän region with its picturesque fishing villages is world-famous for its seafood. The Stockholm archipelago with its 30,000 islands and islets is also highly recommended when you love water-based sightseeings. It's easy to discover the individual character, culture and food of each island. Or how about a trip to Sweden's largest and most beautiful island Gotland, with its diverse landscape and 800 kilometres of coastline?

During the winter months, the areas of Åre and Östersund in Jämtland; Idre, Sälen & Kläppen in Dalarna; and Björkliden and Riksgränsen in Swedish Lapland, which are also mountain biking meccas, provide some of Europe’s best conditions for winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding and ‘après winter sports’ to suit every taste and ability. Alternatively, visitors could try a husky-led adventure in the family-friendly areas of Kiruna, Boden or Vindelfjällen, Europe's largest Nature Reserve or other winter activities such as cross-country skiing or long distance ice skating on the frozen lakes.