The BEST Sweden Travel Itinerary
Looking to spend anywhere from a week or two in Sweden?
This Sweden itinerary is customizable to add or subtract from any of the locations you visit, depending on your interests.
This itinerary can be anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks, depending on how much time you want to spend in each of the destinations.
Sweden is a beautiful country, which I have been blessed to visit several summers, from childhood to adulthood.
I have family in northern Sweden which has meant that I’ve seen a lot outside the beaten track and know about some hidden gems.
As a Canadian, I know how it is to experience Sweden as a tourist from another country. But Swedish heritage, I also have some ‘insider knowledge’ that can help you enhance your tourist experience in Sweden!
So, let’s jump in – a Sweden travel itinerary!
Things to Know About This Sweden Travel Itinerary
✅ A car is useful, but you could easily do the key things on this itinerary without a car
✅ It is written assuming that you’re arriving in Stockholm. If you’re arriving via Malmö or Göteborg, then the recommendations would change slightly as they are many hours away, on the other side of the country – scroll down to see recommendations for southwest Sweden!
Important: If you’re renting a car, then it makes sense for Uppsala to be the first stop on your itinerary, because it’s only 35 minute drive from the international airport. If you’re not renting a car, then Stockholm should be the first stop.
*I have written this itinerary as if you’re not renting a car – so Stockholm is the first stop. But if you are renting a car then simply reverse Stockholm and Uppsala.*
Sweden Travel Itinerary
Stop # 1: Stockholm
How long to spend: 2-5 nights
Where to Stay: near Gamla Stan (old town)
How to get there: From international, you will fly into Arlanda International Airport which is 39 km (24 miles) from the Stockholm city centre
Things to Know About Stockholm
✅ It’s a city on water. Getting around Stockholm can be by foot, taking a boat (from one island of the city to another) and there’s also a metro system
✅ You need at least 2 full days in Stockholm in my opinion, but you should consider longer if you’re travelling with kids or if you want to see the archipelago
Things to Do in Stockholm
- Walk through the Gamla Stan (Old Town), admire the cobbled streets, beautiful architecture, and shop for Swedish souvenirs
- Visit some fascinating museums: Skansen Open Air Museum, Vasa Museum, Nordic Museum – all are on the same island
- There are so many great day trips from Stockholm, which include the Stockholm archipelago of 1,000s of islands to choose from, the Queen’s castle, and some nearby towns, like Mariefred
- If you’re in Stockholm with kids, I doubt you’ll be able to visit without spending a day at Gröna Lund, the amusement park on water! I used to go here when I was a kid, and I am bringing my kids this summer 2025 – it’s a small but lovely amusement park.
Stop # 2: Uppsala (day trip from Stockholm OR 2-3 nights)
How long to spend: at least 1 full day, as a day trip, or spend a night or two
Where to stay: downtown Uppsala
How to get there: There are many organized day tours from Stockholm that will take you to Uppsala, and another nearby city named Sigtuna. You could rent a car and drive, or take public transit
Things to Know About Uppsala
✅ It’s a small-ish city of about 250,000 people
✅ It’s one of the oldest cities in Sweden, and it has a fascinating history that dates back to the Middle Ages
✅ It’s known for old architecture and beautiful botanical gardens in summer
Pro Tip: Uppsala is actually closer to the Arlanda Airport than Stockholm is. So, if you’re renting a car in Sweden, then I recommend visiting Uppsala first if you’re renting a car, and then heading down to Stockholm. This is what we did – the city of Uppsala is only a 30-minute drive from the Arlanda International Airport!
Things to Do in Uppsala
- Go admire the beautiful orange Uppsala Cathedral
- If you have a car, go see the Old Uppsala Church (Gamla Uppsala kyrka in Swedish), which is about a 15-minute drive north of the city. It has a Viking runestone embedded into the side of it – this runestone was even featured in Atlas Obscura
- Admire the beautiful botanical gardens
Stop # 4: Sigtuna
How long to spend: maybe 1 day, or 1/2 day
Where to stay: You can visit while staying in Uppsala (35-minute drive south, on the way back to Stockholm) or day trips from Stockholm can take you to both Uppsala and Sigtuna
How to get there: Drive from Uppsala (35 minutes) from Stockholm (35 minutes) or book a day tour from Stockholm
Things to Do in Sigtuna
- Check out the St. Olof Church ruins, that date back to the 1100s
- Check out the Sigtuna Town Hall, which is the smallest townhall in Europe and dates back to 1744. It was featured on Atlas Obscura here
- See the unique phone box library, which has turned into a library of used books. Some may even take place in Sweden (many written in Swedish, but there may be the odd one written in English or other languages)
Stop # 3: Gotland Island (3-5 nights)
How long to spend: 2-5 days
Where to stay: Visby, the largest city on Gotland
How to get there: You can either fly from Stockholm in 35 minutes, or take a 3-hour ferry ride from Nynäshamn, which is 59 km south of Stockholm
What you Need to Know About Gotland
- Gotland is definitely one of the best places to visit during summer in Sweden. It is the warmest and sunniest part of Sweden, has medieval ruins, turquoise water beaches, and definitely a different vibe from the rest of the country.
- It’s a bit of a pain to get out here, but it is so worth it – once you see the things there are to do, you’ll be dying to visit Gotland!
You can visit Gotland in winter too, but if you’re in Sweden during winter then I would probably choose an alternate destination for this itinerary (I suggest a few below.)
Things to Do in Gotland, Sweden
- Explore Visby, a medieval walled city with cobbled roads and stone walls.
- Check out the Lummelunda Cave, said to be Sweden’s most impressive cave
- Visit Fårö, a tiny island north of Gotland which is known for its unique rock formations
- See cute fishing villages, such as Grostäde
- Go swimming in the blue waters of Blå Lagunen (Blue Lagoon), a beach
- Spend time in the Södra Hällarna Nature Reserve, located on the coastline south of Visby
- Visit beaches. Tofta beach is one of the best beaches on the island and is a short bus ride from Visby
If you want to keep Gotland apart of your Swedish itinerary, then you can book your public transit from Stockholm to Nynäshamn + ferry to Gotland here on the official website. If not.. check out other ideas (instead of Gotland) below
Other places to include in a Sweden Itinerary from Stockholm
Maybe your trip to Sweden is in summer, or maybe you’re not fussed about the long journey out to Gotland Island. Whatever the reason, if you want to sub any of the places I recommended with something else – then here are the other options to consider:
The cities of Mariefred, and/or Örebro
Mariefred is about a 1-hour drive from Stockholm, and Örebro is another 90 minutes from there. There are both beautiful little medieval cities with castles, and worth seeing. You could rent a car and do a road trip to visit Mariefred and Örebro.
Vimmerby
You can get to Vimmerby from Stockholm in about 3 hours. Vimmerby is primarily known as the hometown of Astrid Lindgren, and there’s a theme park there devoted to her books (ideal if you’re in Sweden with kids.)
However, Vimmerby is worth visiting with, or without kids. There’s a spa, great restaurants, cute Swedish cottages, and so much. Read this guide on things to do in Vimmerby
The Air Force Museum
If you do decide to drive down to Vimmerby from Stockholm, there’s an Air Force Museum you should visit along the way.
You could also specifically drive out to the Air Force Museum, and visit nearby city of Linköping which is a nice city to visit too. See this tourism guide on the area.
If you’re Visiting Sweden from Malmö..
Are you crossing over the Danish border into Malmö? This is also a beautiful part of Sweden with a few gems worth exploring.
Here’s how I’d recommend spending a week in Sweden if you’re coming in through Malmö:
- At least 1 full day exploring Malmö
- (If in summer) Have a beach day in Skanör-Falsterbo, known for its colourful cottages, just 30 minutes south of Malmö
- Spend 1-2 nights in Molle, which is a large fishing village with the brightest lighthouse in Scandinavia, dolphin and whale watching cruises, and a beautiful harbour
Sweden Travel Planning FAQ
Here are the most commonly asked questions about planning a trip to Sweden
How many days do you need in Sweden?
Unless you plan to only see Stockholm, you need at least a week in Sweden to really explore the country. A week in Sweden gives you enough time to experience Stockholm, but also some of the countryside, smaller cities and islands of the archipelago
How to spend 7 days in Sweden?
For 7 days in Sweden, you’ll want to do at least 2 days exploring Stockholm, and a 3rd day as a day trip to Uppsala and Sigtuna. If your 7 days in Sweden is spring, summer or fall, then spend 3 days on Gotland Island. If it’s during winter, then consider seeing Mariefred or Vimberby.
How to spend 10 days in Sweden?
To spend 10 days in Sweden, do your itinerary as follows:
- 2-3 full days in Stockholm
- 1-2 days exploring the beautiful places of Uppsala and Sigtuna
- 1 day making your way out to Gotland Island
- 3 days on Gotland Island (I recommend renting a car on Gotland to see the areas outside of Visby)
- 1 day making your way back to mainland Sweden
Final Thoughts on Sweden
I hope that this itinerary has helped you plan an amazing trip to Sweden. It’s a beautiful country that doesn’t get the same crowds as other places in Europe.