Coast, Lakes and Red Houses - Motorhome trip through versatile SwedenMotorhome trip through versatile Sweden

Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and is built on fourteen islands where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea. In the thirteenth-century district of Gamla Stan, you'll find the Royal Palace, while the Vasa Museum houses the seventeenth-century warship Vasa from 1628. From the hills of Södermalm, you can overlook the city and the surrounding archipelago, which consists of approximately thirty thousand islands and rocks.

Linköping is a city in the province of Östergötland, home to the thirteenth-century Linköpings domkyrka, one of Sweden's best-preserved medieval cathedrals. In the open-air museum Gamla Linköping, you can stroll among a hundred historic wooden houses and artisan shops that have been relocated from the city center. A boat trip on the Kinda kanal takes you through a landscape of forests and lakes.

Jönköping is located at the southern tip of Lake Vättern, Sweden's second-largest lake. In the Tändsticksområdet, you can visit the match museum, housed in the 1848 factory where the safety match was invented. You can walk through Stadsparken for a view over the city or choose the paths along the shores. Local amenities are geared towards a simple stay with direct access to nature.

Västervik opens the gate to a vast archipelago of some 5,000 islands. Explore the Västervik archipelago from the quay by ferry or kayak. On the Gränsö peninsula, the nature reserve invites you to walks through oak forests. Here you follow paths along the rocky coast with sea views. The center of Västervik features charming wooden houses from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. The atmosphere in the city is lively, with the scent of the sea and the sound of boats in the harbor.

Oskarshamn is a port city on the Baltic Sea coast in Småland with ferry connections to the islands of Gotland and Öland. At the Döderhultarmuseet, you can admire the wood carvings of Axel Petersson, and from the harbour, you can sail to the Blå Jungfrun National Park, established in 1926. This granite island is located in the Kalmarsund and is part of an archipelago where you can fish or hike along the rocky coastline.

Kalmar is a coastal city dominated by Kalmar Slott, a twelfth-century fortress that was converted into a Renaissance palace in the sixteenth century. The Ölandsbron from 1972 connects the city with the island of Öland. On the city island of Kvarnholmen, you will find seventeenth-century architecture and the baroque Kalmar domkyrka.

Öland attracts travelers with a landscape of vast limestone plains and historic wooden windmills. The Stora Alvaret limestone plain covers the south and received UNESCO World Heritage recognition for this nature reserve. Approximately 350 wooden windmills adorn the fields as a reminder of ancient traditions. At the ruins of Borgholms Slott, you walk among the thick walls of a castle overlooking the coast. The atmosphere is expansive when you look out from the coast over the blue Kalmarsund.

Växjö, the beating heart of the Swedish Kingdom of Crystal, combines a rich history with a modern, relaxed atmosphere. The Växjö Domkyrka proudly displays its two twelfth-century towers. In the Smålands museum, founded in 1867 as Sweden's oldest provincial museum, you can admire the impressive national glass collection. The city is beautifully situated between the lakes Växjösjön and Helgasjön. Everywhere you will find inviting parks and charming coffee bars, perfect for quietly enjoying the green surroundings.

Karlskrona is Sweden's only baroque city and has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1998 due to its naval port from 1680. You can visit the Marinmuseum on the island of Stumholmen, where you can admire figureheads and a Cold War submarine. The city is spread across 33 islands in the Blekinge archipelago. From the water, you can discover the serene beauty of this archipelago, with its many small islands and connecting bridges.

Ystad is known for the Wallander stories and the more than three hundred historic half-timbered houses that adorn its centre. Here you can stroll through medieval streets and past the thirteenth-century Sankta Maria kyrka. Outside the city, on the hills near Kåseberga, lies Ales Stenar, a megalithic monument in the shape of a ship. This charming port city combines a literary atmosphere with a rich history, visible in its old facades and the tranquil harbour on the Baltic Sea.

Malmö is Sweden's third-largest city, where Santiago Calatrava's 190-meter-high Turning Torso marks the skyline. Since 2000, the Öresundsbron has connected the city with Copenhagen. In Lilla Torg square, you can stroll past sixteenth-century half-timbered houses and visit the coffee bars in the surrounding neighborhoods.

Gothenburg is Sweden's second-largest city and is known for its 17th-century Haga district with wooden houses and fika culture. You can visit the car-free southern archipelago to hike on the granite rocks along the Kattegat. In the city center, you can visit the Liseberg amusement park, opened in 1923, or explore the canals by boat.

Trollhättan fascinates with its powerful Trollhättefallen and the ingenious locks that overcome a 32-meter height difference. Along the banks of the Göta älv, you can watch ships pass through three generations of locks from 1800, 1844, and 1916. The Saab Car Museum highlights the rich development of the Swedish car brand. The city's industrial history is tangible, while hiking trails offer a lively view of shipping and the power of the water.

Karlstad is located at the mouth of the Klarälven river into Lake Vänern, Sweden's largest lake. The Gamla Stenbron from 1811, with its twelve arches and a length of 168 meters, is the longest stone arch bridge in the country. In the Mariebergsskogen city park, you can walk through forests along the banks and visit an open-air museum.

Fredriksberg immerses you in the pristine nature of Tyngsjö Vildmark, where pine forests and dark waters alternate. Hiking trails lead you deep into the wilderness, to the historic Björnhuset, an old log cabin that bears witness to bygone eras. Among the trees and along the water's edge, with a bit of luck, you might spot wild moose. Your motorhome is parked in spacious spots, often directly by the water or at the forest edge, allowing you to enjoy the calm atmosphere of Swedish nature.

Falun is a city in the Dalarna region known for copper mining in the Falu Gruva mine, which has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2001. The mine is the origin of the red paint, Falu rödfärg, which gives wooden houses throughout Sweden their colour. In the historic district of Gamla Bergstaden, the former miners' homes are located near the forests and lakes where you can ice skate on natural ice in winter.

Mora is the finish line of the Vasaloppet, the historic cross-country skiing race held since 1922. You can visit the Zorn Museum with works by Anders Zorn. Nearby Nusnäs shows how artisans hand-carve and paint the wooden Dalahäst. The town is located on Lake Siljan, formed by a meteorite impact, which provides expansive views over the water. The atmosphere in Mora is lively, especially around the Vasaloppet Mål.

Fulufjället National Park draws you to a rugged landscape featuring Sweden's highest waterfall. You hike through ancient forests to the impressive Njupeskärs vattenfall, which plunges 70 meters. On the vast plateau of Fulufjället, you'll discover the spruce Old Tjikko, with a root system over 9,500 years old. A thick carpet of lichen covers the rocky ground, thanks to the absence of reindeer. The park's pristine nature offers serene tranquility, where the wilderness surrounds you.

Östersund combines fascinating Viking history with legends of Lake Storsjön. At the open-air museum Jamtli, you can view the Överhogdal tapestries from the Viking Age and historical buildings. On the island of Frösön stands Sweden's northernmost runestone from the eleventh century. You can also search here for the mythical Storsjöodjuret, the monster of the lake. In the lively center, you will find shops and restaurants with local gastronomy.

Sundsvall is a city on the Gulf of Bothnia known for Stenstan, a city centre that was completely rebuilt in stone after the fire of 1888. Here you can admire the Neo-Renaissance and Art Nouveau facades around the squares. From Norra Berget hill, you have views of the surroundings and can visit the open-air museum with buildings from the Medelpad region. The city is located in the delta where the Selångersån river flows into the sea.

Gävle forms the gateway to the northern Swedish coastline, rich in maritime history. In the Gamla Gävle district, you can stroll past charming wooden houses that survived the great city fire of 1869. The Sveriges Järnvägsmuseum presents an extensive collection of historic locomotives. On the Gulf of Bothnia lies the fishing village of Bönan, where you can discover traditional smokehouses and an old lighthouse. The city's tranquil atmosphere is palpable, especially along the Gavleån river.

Stockholm is the capital of Sweden and is built on fourteen islands where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea. In the thirteenth-century district of Gamla Stan, you'll find the Royal Palace, while the Vasa Museum houses the seventeenth-century warship Vasa from 1628. From the hills of Södermalm, you can overlook the city and the surrounding archipelago, which consists of approximately thirty thousand islands and rocks.