Swedish landscape

If there’s one thing Sweden has plenty of, it’s open landscapes. From apple orchards in the south to Arctic tundra in the north, the Swedish countryside is dotted with thousands of lakes, freshwater streams, mountains and rolling hills. Even those living in large cities like Stockholm or Göteborg have direct access to hundreds of unspoiled islands — just a short boat ride from the city center.

Ask outsiders about Swedish nature, and at least a few are bound to say: moose, reindeer and little red cottages. While there may be some truth to this, the landscape’s actual variety may come as a surprise.

Starting in the south, you’ll find everything from deep-green potato fields to some of the richest apple orchards in Europe. On the Baltic island of Gotland, limestone columns rise dramatically from the sea. And in the archipelagos of Stockholm and Göteborg, swimming and sailing are everyday summertime activities.

Traveling north, you’ll pass by endless numbers of lakes, streams, pine and birch trees. As the villages become fewer and smaller, nature takes their place. The landscape becomes more dramatic, and rolling hills rise into mountains. By the time you reach the Arctic Circle, reindeer have replaced cattle, and Arctic cloudberries have become the hiker’s snack of choice.

Learn more about traveling through Sweden