Who knows Sweden best? Evidently, it is the local population, those who live and work where we holiday. We asked four people from different areas about their best summer tips. Here are local tourism experts’ best tips for a summer holiday in Sweden. Summer in Sweden – the locals’ favorites.
Cycling tours along the Göta canal, surfing on the west coast or a visit to a historic Finn farm are some of the local tips for a summer in Sweden. Here are summer holiday tips from some Swedes:
Finnish forest experiences and cultural history just across the border
Emelie Röjeskog works as a destination developer in Torsby municipality in Värmland, and for her, Finnskogen is at the top of her bucket list this summer:
“If I were to recommend two Finnish forest favorites for the family, it would be Kvarntorp and Mattila. At both locations the whole family can participate in activities. In Mattila, several adventures await in the forest, with a guide or on your own. At Kvarntorp you can experience life from earlier times in beautiful surroundings, and you can get up close to the animals. Don’t miss tasting the Finnish forest dish motti and pork! A must for many locals in the summer”, says Emelie.
Visit the Finn farm Kvarntorp and experience a bygone era
A winding and hilly gravel road takes you to the Finn farm Kvarntorp in Lekvattnet on Finnskogen in the Torsby area. Here you can experience sheep, horses, cows and chickens, and learn more about life on the farm from the farm boy Rolf. For those who really want to feel the wings of history, the traditional Finnish forest dish motti with pork is served, and for those who want to go for something a little more familiar, waffles and coffee are also available.
You can also learn more about Klara at Kvarntorp, the last owner of the farm, Klara Persson Liukkoinen, was a strong-willed and energetic woman. She ran forestry and agriculture on the farm and was the first to acquire a tractor in the area. After her death in 1950, the farm became a memorial and visitor farm for the Finnish forest culture. If you want to learn more about the Finnskogen, a visit to the Torsby Finnskogen Center can also be recommended.
Find peace and silence in Mattila – in the border area between Sweden and Norway
Do you want to learn more about Forest Finns’ mysticism and culture? Then Mattila is the place to visit. Enjoy nice hiking trails, experience the cultural reserve Juhola Finngård, Jussi Kajsa’s residence and life story, or the wonderful “Vita Stone” in Mattila, which is said to have healing powers. Download the Vägvisare Mattila app and discover the area on your own, or order your own Finnish forest guide. Mattila is located in Röjdåfors in the Torsby area.
Active nature experiences at lake Hjälmaren
Travel blogger Sanna Rosell (34), who lives in Örebro, singles out lake Hjälmaren as her summer favourite.
“Lake Hjälmaren really offers wonderful summer excursions in Örebro. One of my favorites is cycling around Hemfjärden and taking a break at the summer cafe along the way, kayaking and camping on uninhabited islands, and taking a tour boat to Vinön. This provides summer memories that show the best of the water city of Örebro”, says Sanna.
On two wheels around Hjälmaren
The cycle tour Hemfjärden stretches 38 km around lake Hjälmaren. On the round trip there are many different sights along the way, such as nature reserves, historic sites and fantastic views over the water. Halfway on the round, there is a cozy summer cafe by Norra Ässundet, where you can have a coffee or lunch and swim at the pier nearby.
Boat trip on the lake
A boat trip on Lake Hjälmaren offers idyllic summer surroundings and opportunities for delicious baths. There are daily boat trips from Hamnbron, right in the center of Örebro. Join a short lunchtime tour with sightseeing or take a longer tour, where you also get to experience the Hjälmaren canal. If you want a better meal, jump off at Katrinelund. Katrinelund Gästgiveri, which is located right next to Hjälmaren’s beach, offers fantastic food and accommodation in scenic surroundings. Here you can take a morning bath from the jetty and enjoy a better meal in the White Guide restaurant Sjökrogen or at the guest house’s other restaurant, Verandaen.
Surfing and cycling along Sweden’s riviera
Catharina Edin from Varberg is one of Sweden’s best kite surfers. She has won two WC bronze medals, and when she is at home in Halland this summer, she uses the opportunity to go on bike rides around beautiful Varberg and visit new bars and cafes.
“I cycle a lot on country roads on the nice roads around Varberg. If I can, I go out to Åkulla and stop at Strömma Farmlodge for a coffee. I think it’s great fun to come home and experience Halland by bike. And another thing I like is that there are so many more and better restaurants and cafes in Varberg these days. It almost feels like Copenhagen. It’s cool that several places in Varberg have been opened by girls my age. The Glou-Glou wine bar, located in the harbor, is one of them. It’s relaxed and really good”, says Catharina.
Perfect surfing conditions and long sandy beaches
In the seaside resort of Varberg lies one of Sweden’s best surfing beaches, the horseshoe-shaped Apelviken. For anyone who enjoys surfing, kiting, SUP and other wave activities, this is the place to go in the summer. The town of Varberg is widely known for windsurfing, and as soon as you arrive in Apelviken, you almost feel California vibes. Surfing culture is fully cultivated here, and in the summer thousands of surfers from home and abroad come to experience Sweden’s number one surfing city.
The two most popular beaches in Varberg are Apelviken and Läjet, and it was here that the Swedish wave sport first started in the 1980s. In addition to excellent conditions for surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing, there are more wind directions and more excitement than you might think. And everything is framed by surf shops, a 5-star campsite, cottage town and restaurants. A smart tip for beginners is to rent equipment and attend surf and kite schools to learn the basics.
“Varberg can compare with all other surfing spots in Northern Europe, if you ask me. A good day at the beach in Varberg offers really good kitesurfing. If you want to combine surfing and kiting with accommodation, Villa Surf Garden is the place. It is a small oasis, a well-kept bed and breakfast with pool and jacuzzi and everything. And then they have electric bikes that you can take down to the beach”, says Catharina Edin.
Experiences along Sweden’s blue ribbon, Göta canal
Alf Mölleryd from the border region of Western Sweden is 67 years old and lives in the town of Sjötorp by the Göta canal. He likes to cycle on long and short trips along the canal in the summer and recommends visitors to take the trip.
“I would like to advise on different types of cycle tours that take you around Sjötorp and show you what the area has to offer. A bike ride along the Göta Canal, including experiences with locks and boats is perfect for the summer holidays. A nice trip is to cycle from Sjötorp to Torsö and take the ferry out to car-free Brommö, which offers wonderful sandy beaches”, says Alf.
Göta canal – Sweden’s blue ribbon
Göta Canal, which stretches from Sjötorp in the west to Mem in the east, is one of Sweden’s biggest construction projects of all time. The canal runs through the landscape between Vänern and the Baltic Sea via the Vättern, and winds its way through the landscape like a blue silk ribbon. Göta Canal has 58 locks, starting in Sjötorp, and along the canal there are charming cafes, cozy B&Bs, beautiful nature and the occasional refreshing ice cream!
One of the best ways to experience Göta Canal is by bicycle. The old construction road that runs along the canal is well equipped for cycling. Along the way you can enjoy the view of the canal and the boats gliding past. Best of all, you don’t have to worry about car traffic – the 87 km long road is completely car-free.
Read more about the Göta canal here.
Meet the locals
In Western Sweden, it is easy to get in touch with the local population through the Meet the locals concept. Here, local residents of western Sweden make themselves available and organize various activities for tourists. Join a guided tour in a vintage car, go on a garden walk, cuddle with the animals on a farm or have a coffee out in nature – all in the company of someone who knows the place, its history and culture. Read more about Meet the locals here.
Summer in Sweden – the Locals’ Favourites, based on a press release from Opplev Sverige
Feature image (on top) Torsby Lodge © Opplev Sverige