Sweden lies in the Scandinavian Peninsula and with the neighbor countries of Denmark, Norway and Finland constitutes the general area of Scandinavia. Sweden shares maritime borders with Germany, Poland, Russia, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, being the third largest country of Western Europe. However, besides its metropolitan areas, it is scarcely populated. What the country is really known for is the high quality of life that provides to its citizens. Especially, Stockholm, the capital of the country, was recently announced as the capital with the best quality of life in the world. The protection of the environment and the energy efficiency are main priorities of Swedish people and comprise values embraced by politicians and policy makers too. Visitors will be amazed by the beautiful nature of the country and the splendid cities and little towns. It is absolutely recommended that you visit Sweden and reserve a hotel in Stockholm, the most beautiful and dominant city of Scandinavia.

History

It is not known when the kingdom of Sweden was born, but it is certain that the Swedish Viking Age lasted between the 8th and 11th centuries AD. During this period, Swedish Vikings traveled east and south towards Finland, Russia, the Baltic countries and the Mediterranean. The following centuries and specifically in 1319, Sweden and Norway got united under King Magnus Eriksson. In 1397, Denmark joined the union as well, forming the Kalmar Union. However, the massacre of Swedish nobles in 1520, known as the Stockholm blood bath, led to the collapse of Kalmar Union. In particular, in 1523 Gustav Vasa became King of Sweden, enacting the foundation of modern Sweden. The 17th century saw Sweden rising as one of the Great Powers of Europe. It reached its peak from 1622 to 1660, years characterized by territory extension and economic welfare. However, the continuous battles against Russia, known as the Great Northern War, meant the defeat of Swedish army at Poltava (1709) and the beginning of the end of Swedish Empire. During both World War I and World War II, Sweden remained neutral, preserving intact its industrial base and natural resources. This helped the country maintain its affluent consumer society and economic welfare. Today, Sweden is one of the richest countries in the world, being member of the European Union since 1995, after the fall of the Soviet Union

Art and Culture

Swedish culture, while closely related to the cultural heritage of Scandinavia as a whole, has been shaped by a folklore tradition of combined simplicity and sensitivity. Moreover, the cultural imputes from other larger cultures have been skillfully reshaped and adjusted to local particularities. The unique Nordic natural scenery for instance has influenced the work of many Swedish artists such as August Strindberg, Astrid Lindgren and Ingmar Bergman. Swedish culture has experienced epochs such as the classical antiquity and the Renaissance, a fact that has enriched significantly its heritage. Moreover, the recent rebirth of Swedish creative art has attracted international attention and various art forms such as literature, design, music and architecture have obtained an increasing popularity throughout Europe.

Swedish painting however had already gained international recognition after the 19th century, with painters like Anders Zom and Carl Larson to be the most renowned ones. Today, pieces of their work can be found in art museums such as the Gothenburg Art Museum in Gothenburg. The best museums of Sweden however are located in Stockholm. Particularly, the Nationalmuseum of Stockholm houses Sweden’s largest collection of art, including 16,000 paintings and 30,000 objects of handicraft. Another, remarkable multi-culture place in Stockholm is the Kulturhuset Stockholm, where you can see exhibitions of photography, art and design or attend dance and theatre performances. Other important museums of the country include the Dalarnas Museum and the Dunkers Kulturhus, in Helsingborg. The Malmo Knothole is another art museum worthy visiting, as it accommodates great exhibitions of modern Swedish artists.

Gastronomy

Just about anywhere you go in Sweden you can expect well-prepared food, made from fresh, local produce. Traditional local dishes include an abundant variety of fish and foul, wild boar, sausages, mushrooms, pork and ingredients such as Kalix bleak roe and various local cheeses. Swedish chefs are world famous for their culinary creations and delicious compositions. Restaurants and quality hotels all over the country offer unique gastronomic packages that usually include wine tasting as well. Such a package is the famous Swedish Smorgasbord, a specialty that consists of a number of small dishes, from which you can select your pick. Smorgasbord usually contains a variety of herring dishes, meatballs, salmon, salads, pies, eggs, bred, fried potatoes and other small dishes.

Another local specialty is Crayfish, boiled with dill, sugar and salt. Bread can also be found in many varieties. Hence, you should taste some sweet Swedish bread with Messmör, a soft whey-cheese from the north of the country. Of course, Swedish cuisine has also borrowed many international culinary traditions that have contributed to a unique combination of pure Swedish ingredients with the excitement of global flavors. Restaurants that serve dinners with rabbit and fennel mille-feuille for instance, may also offer traditional dishes such as meatballs or filled cabbage rolls. A magnificent combination of old and new flavors.

Places to visit

Once in Sweden you should certainly visit Stockholm. This fantastic city lives life to its fullest all year long. It is a centre of arts and culture. A place where new exhibitions, film festivals and premiere plays take place on a weekly basis. It is also a favorite destination for people that have interest in new trends, fashion, design, music and relaxing environment. It is not surprising that Stockholm is one of the most crowded museum-cities in the world, accommodating around 70 museums and art galleries. More than 9 million people visit Stockholm’s museums every year with the Nationalmuseum to aggregate the lions share. The city’s oldest section is Gamla Stan, which is located on the original small islands of Stockholm’s earliest settlements. Gamla Stan (Old Town) is surely a place you have to explore, as it captures the imagination with its medieval layout and notable buildings such as the large German church of Tyska Kyrkan. Other beautiful buildings of the area are the Bonde Palace, the Tessin Palace and the House of Nobles (Riddarhuset). Many hotels in Stockholm have baroque style architecture and traditional decorations and they are fairly considered as the best hotels in Scandinavia. Therefore, reserve a hotel in Stockholm and let the city absorb you to its unique rhythm.

Travelers that want to have quieter holidays in Stockholm though can always reserve a hotel in Solna, a suburb area of Stockholm with many hotels and easy commute to the centre. Another frequent visit suburb is Arstadal, which is also close to the centre. Many hotels in Arstadal have trendy style and new or redecorated rooms and apartments. Sweden however is not only Stockholm. A very beautiful small town you should visit for instance is Helsingborg. It is Sweden’s closest point to Denmark in the southernmost part of the country. The historic city of Helsingborg is a fantastic coastal scenic with many old houses and stone-built churches. The most exceptional building of the area is the fortress of Karnan. Finally, should you reserve a hotel in Helsingborg it is also recommended that you visit the museum of Dunkers Kulturhus.

Another fantastic Swedish city is Gothenburg (Göteborg in Swedish). It is the second largest city in Sweden and one of the most beautiful areas of the country. Apart from its natural beauties, as it is situated where the Gota Alv River discharges into the sea of Kattegat, Gothenburg is a city with greatly vivid lifestyle. Gothenburg University, the largest university in terms of number of students in Scandinavia, is the main reason for that. Hotels in Gothenburg promise a pleasant stay to those that want to combine a great nightlife with the splendid surroundings of the fantastic Nordic nature. Malmo is another city worthy visiting. It is the third largest city of Sweden and the capital of the so-called Skane Country. It is a very cozy place, with many historic buildings and parks. It is also a very green city and a new centre of art and education as the newly established University College of Malmo has added a more sophisticated character to the city. Finally, there is a great range of hotels in Malmo, varying from modern constructions to historic hotels dating back to the 14th century.