Day 1: Arrival/Stockholm
This tour starts at the airport, where you will be met and transferred to your hotel in the heart of Stockholm. If you arrive early, we recommend getting the Stockholm Card, which gives you access to most museums in Stockholm, the Stockholm underground and local buses.

Day 2: Stockholm – Örebro
From Stockholm, you will drive west to Mariefred and explore the 16th-century Gripsholm Castle—enjoy the art exhibition inside and the castle’s well-preserved interiors from different epochs. In Eskilstuna, you can visit the Rademachersmedjorna, a 17th-century blacksmith community, where the smiths are still busy with their crafting. Also visit the Sigurd rock carving, created 1,000 years ago. Head on toward Örebro, where you will stay the night. Driving distance approx. 210km.

Day 3: Örebro – Karlstad
After breakfast, visit the open-air museum in Wadköping, with its beautiful old buildings, craftspeople and shops. Also visit the Örebro Castle and join a guided tour to learn about the remarkable past of this 14th-century castle. In Karlskoga, the Nobel Museum is worth a visit. Take the detour to Grythyttan and visit Grythyttans värdshus for a unique gourmet experience. After a delicious meal, you’ll drive to Karlstad, where you’ll spend the next two nights. Driving distance approx. 280km.

Day 4: Värmland
For those with roots in Värmland, the Kinship Center in Karlstad is where you can search for information about your Swedish relatives: http://www.emigrantregistret.s.se. The center is open Monday–Friday during summer. For garden enthusiasts, a visit to Rottneros Park is a must; here you will find several different park settings, gardens and sculptures. Even for non-garden devotees, there is plenty to see, including a “motorbikes as art” exhibition. You’ll also visit the home of Nobel Prize winner Selma Lagerlöf: Mårbacka, now a museum. The Klässbols Linen Mill is open to visitors; here you’ll find quality linen goods for sale. Products from Klässbol are used by the royal family, by Swedish embassies around the world, and by the hotels that accommodate the Nobel ceremony visitors. Driving distance approx. 75km.

Day 5: Karlstad – Gothenburg
Drive along the shore of Lake Vänern, which will give you several opportunities to go for a swim. Drive to Trollhättan and take on the ropeway tour to enjoy the stunning view over the town. The impressive flight of four locks at Trollhattan covers a 32-metre difference in water level. See how the boats are guided through the system before you continue the drive along the riverbanks of Götakanal River to Gothenburg, or drive west and visit the islands of Orust and Tjörn, which are well worth visiting. Don’t miss the Bohus Fort by the Göta älv River, north of Gothenburg. You will spend the night in Gothenburg, the second largest city in Sweden. Driving distance approx. 760km.

Day 6: Gothenburg and Stones of Småland
Start the day by strolling through the city center of Gothenburg, and maybe take a guided tour. In the afternoon, head out from Gothenburg and drive towards Småland, home to many of the emigrants who left Sweden in the 19th and early 20th centuries to start a new life in America. On the way, you’ll stop at the Smålands stenar, the “Stones of Småland”, which are graves from the Iron Age (2,500 years old) with stone formations. Spend the following two nights in Växjö. Driving distance approx. 230km. 

Day 7: Småland and the Emigrant Museum
Between 1846 and 1930, around 20% of the Swedish population, approximately 1.3 million, left the country. Today you will have the chance to visit the House of Emigrants, a museum and research institute that shows the history of the Swedish emigrants: http://www.utvandrarnashus.se/eng/. If you are looking for information about your Swedish heritage, this is the place to go.

Day 8: Kingdom of Crystal
Drive around the “Kingdom of Crystal” (Glasriket) and visit some of its most famous glassworks. There are more than 50 glassworks in this area, and many of them are open to visitors. If you’re lucky, you’ll find a special gift or souvenir in one of the glasswork stores, which offer good prices. Also visit the Lessebo paper factory, where you’ll learn how paper was produced in the old days; paper has been handmade here since 1693. (Open Monday to Friday). Driving distance approx. 230km.

Day 9: Old Linköping – Vadstena
Drive north to Vimmerby and visit the hometown of Swedish author, Astrid Lindgren. Here you can find a replica of Pippi Longstocking’s village, featuring famous figures from her books. Make a stop in Linköping and visit the open-air museum called “Old Linköping”, which shows what a small town in Sweden looked like a hundred years ago. Here you can visit the houses and find out how Swedish people lived in the old days. Driving distance approx. 273km.

Day 10: Vadstena – Stockholm
See the sights in the 12th-century town of Vadstena, including the Cloister, and explore the surroundings of Vadstena Castle. Stop in Borenshult by Göta Canal River, to see the manually operated Borensberg Lock, which is worth visiting. Short cruises on the canal are offered in the area. If you like, you can visit Kolmården International Zoo on the way north. On your way back to Stockholm, we recommend you visit the pretty little town of Trosa by the coastline, and the 18th-century Tullgarn Castle, which has some of the most beautiful interiors from this time period. Stay the night in Stockholm. Driving distance approx. 515km.

Day 11: Departure
Transfer from Stockholm by Arlanda Express to Arlanda Airport. Passengers departing on the afternoon flight will have time for some last-minute shopping, a perfect way to end your holiday.