Complete Sweden

After you arrive at Stockholm Arlanda Airport, pick up your rental car and then make your way to Stockholm’s scenic city centre. After settling in at your hotel, spend the rest of the day exploring the beautiful city.  Stroll the well-known street Drottninggatan where you can shop, take photos and feel the relaxed vibe of the capital city. In charming Old Town (Gamla Stan), you will find numerous attractions, including the Royal Palace, the parliament, old churches, beautiful cobble stone streets and medieval houses.

Spend the night in Stockholm.

Driving distance: 40 km / 25 miles
Estimated driving duration: 40 minutes (without stops)

Today, start your Swedish road trip by driving south from Stockholm. On your way, stop by the 18th-century Tullgarn Palace park, an ideal location to take a short walk before stopping in the charming town of Trosa. Next, travel through Linköping where you can visit the open-air museum “Old Linköping”, displaying how a small town in Sweden looked 100 years ago. You can visit the houses and see how Swedish people lived in the old days.

Continue driving until you arrive in the small town of Vadstena, which lies along the lush Lake Vättern. In Vadstena you will find the Vadstena Castle, one of Sweden’s best-preserved Renaissance castles.

Spend the night in Vadstena.

Driving distance: 267 km / 166 mi
Estimated driving duration: 3 hours (without stops)

Drive the scenic route along the Lake Vättern, stopping in Gränna where striped candy canes were invented 1859. Visit one of the confectionery shops and see how this delicious candy is made. Next, drive through the scenic Swedish province of Småland towards the city of Kalmar where you will find the Kingdom of Crystal (Glasriket). Here you can find over 50 glass factories and shops, many of which are open to visitors. End the day in Kalmar, a town full of history, featuring well-preserved 17^th and 18^th century buildings and the Kalmar Castle, which dates back over 800 years.

Spend the night in Kalmar.

Driving distance: 309 km / 192 mi
Estimated driving duration: 4 hours (without stops)

Today you will explore Öland, a region that has sandy beaches along a beautiful coastline, and a vast landscape where you can enjoy the scenery and bask in the solitude of the area. After crossing the bridge, we recommend a visit to the historical site of Borgholm Castle, followed by a stop at Solliden Palace, the summer residence of the Swedish royal family. Next, visit the southern part of the island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Stora Alvaret, which is a giant limestone plateau that has a unique biodiversity and history.

Spend the night in Kalmar.

Driving distance: Driving distance: 141 km / 88 miles
Estimated driving duration: 2 hours and 23 minutes (without stops)

From Kalmar, drive south along the coast of Blekinge, where you find the naval city of Karlskrona which is a World Heritage site. Continue to Skåne, the most southern part of Sweden, where we recommend a visit to Kiviks Musteri and the apple orchards to stop for coffee in the picturesque town of Simrishamn. Next, visit the fortress of Glimmingehus which dates back to the middle ages before continuing your drive to the charming town of Ystad.

Spend the night in Ystad.

Driving distance: 290 km / 180 miles
Estimated driving duration: 4 hours (without stops)

Get ready to see splendid Skåne and the area of Österlen today. Here you will find charming villages, sandy beaches and historical sites. Drive to the popular Ales Stenar stone ship monument, which consists of 59 massive boulders arranged in a 67 metre-long outline with a picturesque view of the Baltic Sea. Next, drive to the fishing village Kåseberga and sample some smoked fish and apple cider that is produced locally. Round out your day with a trip to the beach Sandhammaren, a 12 km long beach which is perfect for a swim or a long walk.

Spend the night in Ystad.

Driving distance: 55 km / 34 miles
Estimated driving duration: 1h 5 min (without stops)

From Ystad, make your way to Smygehuk, the southernmost point in Sweden where you will find cosy cafés, eclectic craft shops and traditional fish smokeries. Continue driving along the south coast and we recommend taking a small detour to the old towns of Skanör and Falsterbo, located on the Falsterbo peninsula, where you will see long stretches of white sand beaches.

Once in Helsingborg we recommend a visit to Sofiero Palace & Garden, where you will find historical parks and gardens with a stunning variety of rhododendrons. Continue driving along the west coast of Sweden to Halmstad, where you will find long sandy beaches, nature reserves, and art like the sculpture Picasso’s Head of a Woman.

Spend the night in Halmstad.

Driving distance: 219 km / 136 mi
Estimated driving duration: 3 hours (without stops)

After breakfast at your hotel, get ready for your drive to Gothenburg, Sweden's second largest city.

We recommend a stop in Varberg where you can visit the Varberg Fortress, walk along the sea and enjoy a Swedish fika at Varberg’s square, which is one of Sweden's main squares with the most traders in the whole of western Sweden. Next, explore Varberg city centre, which is known for its fine shopping, small unique shops, cafes and restaurants.

Spend the night in Gothenburg.

Driving distance: 144 km / 90 mi
Estimated driving duration: 1 hour 40 min (without stops)

Plan to spend today on foot, seeing where the day takes you in this charming city. It is recommended to walk down Avenyn, the main shopping street that is full of interesting stores and fine restaurants. Other points of interest include the Feskekôrka fish market and the fun Liseberg amusement park. Art lovers should make a stop at the Gothenburg Museum of Art followed by an afternoon Fika in Haga.

Spend the night in Gothenburg.

Today, you will make your way to Sunne, and along the way, we recommend exploring the surroundings of Trollhättan and the impressive Göta Canal. The Göta Canal is one of the most remarkable waterways in the world and one of the communication links between Sweden's two largest cities. The three separate Trollhättan lock terraces create an idyllic and green park area and here one finds lock segments from 1800, 1844, and 1916. This is also the starting point for the boat trips offered in the summertime.

Continue to drive north to Sunne through the Swedish forest and enjoy the scenery, making a stop at Lake Vänern or one of the other lakes for a swim.

Spend the night in Sunne.

Driving distance: 284 km / 176 mi
Estimated driving duration: 3 hours 40 min (without stops)

Spend the morning in Sunne before you continue your road trip to Dalarna, which is the third most popular tourist site in Sweden after Stockholm and Gothenburg. For garden enthusiasts, a visit to Rottneros Park (closed in May and September) is a must. Here you will find elaborate gardens and sculptures. You can also visit the home of Nobel Prize winner author Selma Lagerlöf: Mårbacka, which is now a museum.

Spend the night in Lake Siljan area.  

Driving distance: 189 km / 117 mi
Estimated driving duration: 2 hours 21 min (without stops)

This morning, in Mora, we recommend visiting the 18th century home and museum of Anders Zorn, one of Sweden’s most celebrated painters. Drive to Nusnäs and visit the Grannas Dala Horse Workshop. Here at this family-owned workshop from the 1920s, you can see how this popular symbol of Sweden is made.

In Rättvik, you can visit the Rättvik church which has a history that goes back 800 years. In this area there are many opportunities for outdoor activities such as fishing, horse riding and swimming.

Other options today include visiting the pretty village of Tällberg by Lake Siljan, just 15 km south of Rättvik, or if you prefer to go north, you will find the Styggforsen waterfall, where you can take a stroll in the nature reserve and look at the “troll hole” cave located at the foot of the waterfall.

Spend the night in Lake Siljan area.

For those with Swedish heritage, a stop at the Dössberget Museum in Bjursås, just outside Falun, might be of interest. Even if you don’t have Swedish roots, the great view, atmosphere and lunch makes it well worth a visit. In Avesta, you will find the largest Dala Horse in Sweden. This is a perfect stop for a great photo and a snack at the café-restaurant located here. You will end the day back in Stockholm, where you will spend the evening at your leisure.

Spend the night in Stockholm.

Driving distance: 308 km / 191 mi
Estimated driving duration: 3 hours 51 min (without stops)

Enjoy one last Scandinavian breakfast before checking out of your hotel. If you have time, squeeze in some last-minute shopping or visit a museum or two that you may have missed earlier in the trip. When you are ready for departure, head to the airport and return the car before flying home.