Day 1: Welcome to Sweden
This tour starts at the airport, where you are met and transferred to your accommodation 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. A visit to the Vasa Ship Museum and the City Hall, with its famous Blue Hall, where the Nobel Prize banquet is held each year, is highly recommended. Stay the night in Stockholm.

Highlights:Stockholm, Vasa Ship Museum & City Hall

Day 2: Vikings and the world’s largest Dala Horse
After a hearty breakfast start your drive north. Around the town of Enköping there are many interesting sights to explore, including the Grönsö Castle, several nearby medieval churches and many Viking age rock carvings. Continue north to the town Sala. Here you can take a guided tour of the Sala Silver mine and it is even possible to spend the night (not included) in the one of a kind mine suite. As well as the guided tours of the mine there is a mine museum, a police museum and several crafts shops to visit in the area. When entering the province Dalarna, your first stop is Avesta, where you will find the largest Dala Horse in Sweden. This is a perfect stop for a great photo and an afternoon snack at the café/restaurant located here. After the stop drive to the World Heritage city Falun where you stay the night.
Driving distance approx. 235 km

Highlights:Grönsö Castle, Viking age rock carvings, Sala Silver mine, the largest Dala Horse in Sweden & Falun

Day 3: Swedish History and Culture
Wake up to a generous breakfast buffet before venturing out to explore the surroundings. Start at the Dalarna Museum, which covers the cultural history of Dalarna. If you liked the Sala Silver Mine a visit to the Falun copper mine is also highly recommended. Here you get to descend to 50-60 meters depth on the guided tours. At Big Hyttnäs in Sundborn the history goes back to the 16th century, but today it is a perfect example of how people lived 100 years ago. Here you will also find the Carl Larsson Gården Museum, which is where the well-known Swedish artist Carl Larsson lived and worked. If you have Swedish heritage a visit to the Dössberget heritage museum situated in Bjursås outside Falun on a hill with a great view might be of interest (if you don´t have Swedish heritage, go anyway for the view, atmosphere and great lunch). In the afternoon drive to Rättvik where you stay the night.
Driving distance approx. 125 km

Highlights:Dalarna Museum, Falun copper mine, Big Hyttnäs, Carl Larsson Gården Museum, Dössberget heritage museum

Day 4: Leisure by the Lake or Walking to the Waterfall
After breakfast you can visit the Rättvik church which has a history that goes back 800 years. Here traditions are important and boats still stop by the church pier in connection with church services. Make time to see the old church stables that were used as shelter for people and horses. In this area there are many opportunities for activities such as fishing, horse riding and swimming. If you wish you can take a short tour to the pretty village of Tällberg by Lake Siljan just 15 km. south of Rättvik. If you decide to rather go north of Rättvik you will find the Styggforsen waterfall approx 20km north of Rättvik. Take a walk in the nature reserve and look at the “troll hole” cave located at the foot of the waterfall. Stay the night in the Rättvik area.

Highlights:Rättvik church, Tällberg, Lake Siljan & Styggforsen waterfall

Day 5: Handicrafts and Nordic Wildlife
Start the day by driving west to Nusnäs and visit the Grannas Dala Horse workshop. At this family owned workshop, opened 1922, you can see how this popular souvenir and symbol of Swedish handicraft tradition is made and of course you can also buy your own piece. Continue the short drive to Mora where we recommend visiting the home and museum of the artist Anders Zorn, who became one of Sweden’s most famous painters around 1900. Also visit Zorns Gammelgården, a collection of old log buildings, some dating all the way from the 13th century. Just north of Mora at the Grönklitt bear park, Europe’s largest natural bear park, you will not only find bears but also wolves and other Swedish animals in their natural habitat. This is a must for all animal lovers! Stay the night in the Mora area.
Driving distance approx. 45 km (With detour to Grönklitt Bear Park approx 80 km)

Highlights:Grannas Dala Horse workshop, Anders Zorn Museum, Zorns Gammelgården & Grönklitt bear park

Day 6: Country Side Scenery
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before you start your drive towards Sunne in Värmland. Just south of Mora, at the small island of Sollerön in Lake Siljan, you will not only find Viking graves dating back to the 10th century but also a Viking museum and a “collector museum” with all kinds of things people have collected. Continue through the Swedish forest and enjoy the scenery. Why not make a stop by one of the many lakes for a swim? Another recommended stop before Sunne is Torsby where you can visit the local veteran car museum. Stay the night in the Sunne area.
Driving distance approx. 190 km

Highlights:Sollerön Viking museum, Sollerön collector museum & Torsby local veteran car museum

Day 7: Relaxing day in Sunne
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 can also visit the home of Nobel Prize winner author Selma Lagerlöf: Mårbacka, now a museum. Why not treat yourself with a visit to the famous Selma Spa where you can enjoy numerous treatments or a dip in one of the pools or Jacuzzis. Stay the night in the Sunne area.

Highlights:Rottneros Park, Mårbacka Museum & Selma Spa

Day 8: An artistic route to Örebro
The area you will pass today is well known for its many artists. On your way towards Karlstad we recommend a coffee or lunch stop at the beautiful Sillegården, which also offers exhibitions of local artists. Another recommended stop on the way is the Klässbols Linen Mill; here you will find quality linen goods for sale. Products from Klässbols are used by the royal family, by Swedish embassies around the world, and by the hotels that accommodate the Nobel ceremony visitors. After passing Karlstad, on the way east, don´t miss the 15 meters high Picasso sculpture in Kristinehamn, donated to the city by the artist in 1964. If you are up for it the Nobel Museum in Karlskoga is well worth a visit. At arrival to Örebro, see the open-air museum in Wadköping, with its beautiful old buildings, craftspeople and shops. Also visit the 14th-century Örebro Castle and join a guided tour to learn about its remarkable past. Stay the night in Örebro.
Driving distance approx. 235 km

Highlights:Sillegården, Klässbols Linen Mill, Picasso sculpture in Kristinehamn, Nobel Museum in Karlskoga, Wadköping open-air museum & Örebro Castle

Day 9: Castles on the way to Stockholm
After a nice breakfast it is time for the last leg of this trip around Sweden. Drive towards Eskilstuna, where you can visit the Rademachersmedjorna, a 17th-century blacksmith community, where the smiths are still busy with their craft. Also visit the Sigurd rock carving, created 1,000 years ago. Continue east to Mariefred, through an area famous for its many castles and manor houses, and explore the 16th-century Gripsholm Castle—enjoy the art exhibition inside and the castle’s well-preserved interiors from different eras. Finally you arrive back in Stockholm where you return the rental car and check in to your centrally located hotel. In the evening we recommend a stroll in the Old Town with its many restaurants and bars. Stay the night in Stockholm.
Driving distance approx. 205 km

Highlights:Rademachersmedjorna, Sigurd rock carving, Gripsholm Castle & the Old Town in Stockholm

Day 10: Departure
Enjoy one last Scandinavian breakfast before it is time to check out from your hotel. Transfer is provided from Stockholm Central Station by Arlanda Express train to Arlanda airport. Passengers departing with the afternoon flight will have time for some last-minute shopping, a perfect way to end your holiday.

Note:Extra days and activities in Stockholm before or after the tour can easily be added to this package; contact us for details.