Tourist Attractions & Monuments Sweden

ABBA The Museum is a museum dedicated to the famous Swedish pop group, from its creation in 1970 to its split in 1983, and its comeback in 2021. Since its opening in 2013, it is a hit, with nearly 300,000 visitors per year! You can discover costumes, instruments, golden records and other objects that belonged to the group, but also exact replicas of the places where ABBA lived and worked to take you closer to the life of the quartet. More than a simple museum, the place has been designed to offer a true immersive and interactive experience. The multiple devices available to visitors are regularly renewed to remain at the cutting edge of technology. During your visit, these devices will allow you to virtually try on the band's costumes, sing songs, create music, play quizzes and even slip into the skin of a fifth member of the band by performing on stage alongside the avatars of Björn, Agnetha, Benny and Frida. Finally, a new space takes you behind the scenes of the quartet's latest project: ABBA Voyage, a series of futuristic concerts in the form of holograms. For an even more interactive experience, rent an audio guide and let the band members tell you their stories!

Good to know: reservations on the site are highly recommended and only credit cards are accepted in the entire museum (including the store and restaurant).

This is where you can get a copy of the famous Dalarna horse, handmade in the purest tradition. More authentic than this, we can not do. If you want to make the original, no worries, because it is possible to order wooden horses of any color, and this, directly from the website! Thus, you will have only the embarrassment of the choice to please you and your friends. Good thing: it is cheaper to buy your horse in Nusnäs than in a store or a tourist office!

The small town of Tanumshede is famous for the exceptional rock engravings that were discovered nearby in the village of Vitlycke (from Tanumshede, follow the signs to the Vitlycke Museum). This site, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, has many huge stones with engravings dating from the Bronze Age and telling the story of the region several millennia ago. When you arrive at the site, follow the marked path.

The Museum of Fine Arts has one of the first collections of international art in the country. It exhibits mainly Swedish and Nordic painters from the ^16th century to the present (Carl Larsson, Ernst Josephson, Ivar Arosenius, Karl Isaksson, Anders Zorn, Edvard Munch...), but also Dutch and Flemish painters from the ^17th century. The museum houses private collections, such as that of Fürstenberg, much admired for its Nordic light and fin de siècle melancholy. On the^first floor, an exhibition is devoted to art after 1945. On the^2nd and^3rd floors, sculptures (Rodin, Per Hasselberg, Johan Tobias Sergel, Henry Moore, Carl Milles...), graphics and drawings. The real masterpieces are exhibited on the^4th and^5th floors. Nordic art of the ^18th and ^19th centuries and the beginning of the ^20th century exhibits, among others, cheerful and rural oil paintings by the Dane Peder Severin Sekoyer (1851-1909), such as The Artists' Festival in Skagen, and funereal ones such as The Death of Charles XII, by Gustaf Cederström (1845-1933), the Double Portrait by Alexander Roslin (1718-1793), and many beautiful oil paintings by Anders Zorn (1860-1920) that show the soft light of the Nordic summers. Of particular note is Nils Forsberg's (1842-1934) terrifying and realistic Family of Acrobats in Front of the Circus Director. Among the more recent works, one should particularly note an oil painting by Odd Nerdrum (born 1944), the enfant terrible of contemporary Nordic art.

At the top of a staircase, the rock of Vetterberget rises above the village, offering a breathtaking view of the surrounding islands.

It is probably the presence of this theatre on the site of Drottingholm that decided Unesco specialists to inscribe this site on the World Heritage List. It is one of the few unrenovated 18th-century baroque theatres in the world that can be visited. Its history is picturesque, since the building was built in 1766 by Queen Lovisa Ulrika and then magnified by Gustav III, who brought in French, Italian and German artists. Then, the theatre was suddenly closed in 1792. It was almost by chance that it was rediscovered by a historian in search of a painting (which is actually on display in one of the rooms). The latter realized the treasure he had just unearthed (the theatre had been dormant for nearly two hundred years), and asked for permission to restore it, which was granted. Today, operas and plays are regularly presented to the public. The hall itself is magnificent, plunged into semi-darkness to make the many trompe-l'oeil effects effective, according to the architect's wishes. The stage sets are still changed by hand using the original mechanical system. The tour will then take you to the rooms adjoining the hall, to the rooms that were used to house the artists in Gustav III's time and to the reception room, where the king liked to have breakfast with the actors, to the sound of an orchestra playing from the circular aerial balcony... A beautiful and impressive visit not to be missed by amateurs!

Sweden's largest botanical garden. Here, in a magnificent setting, almost 12,000 species of plants grow. The Japanese valley, the arboretum with trees from all over the world, the tropical greenhouses, rare orchids or bamboo forests... This site is a delight for those who love nature and are looking for a moment of calm, surrounded by splendid plants. A visit not to be missed, whether in winter or summer, for adults and children alike!

Here, different types of environments have been recreated that are home to many rare animal species. You can visit the exhibits in any order. The underwater life, with huge aquariums in which turn large sturgeons, beautiful rays and especially sharks; the deadly animals: behind glass walls, some of the most dangerous reptiles in the world; an area dedicated to the polar fauna; and especially the reconstruction of a tropical forest where you move freely, rubbing shoulders with small monkeys, caimans and iguanas.

The summer residence of the botanist, built by him in 1758. This mansion is one of the best preserved in Sweden and reflects both the private life of this man and his scientific work. It was bought by Carl von Linné in 1758, as a refuge from the unhealthy environment of Uppsala. Many plants, cultivated by Linnaeus himself, grow in this lush park. From the hill overlooking the farm, one can enjoy the view and dream of the ^18th century landscape.

In the west of the city and about 15 minutes' walk from the Main Square, you will find the most authentic part of Karlskrona, and it is well worth a visit. It was first settled by craftsmen, as evidenced by some wooden houses from the first half of the 18th century. The streets running north-south are named after ships, those running east-west after famous admirals, for a maritime atmosphere. Those who speak several languages will be able to recognise the authentic Björkholmskan dialect in this area, which is rich in diphthongs.

The white lighthouse, called Långe Erik, and the vents forests by winds during storms, give a severe appearance in the area.

The city museum, located in the building that once housed the offices and warehouses of the former East India Company (Östindiskahuset), is a combination of an archaeological museum, a historical museum, an industrial museum and a theater museum. Today it houses several historical collections evoking the life of Gothenburg from the Middle Ages to the present day, as well as temporary exhibitions on modern and contemporary Gothenburg.

This amusement park is 200 m long and 500 m long, and is located 10 minutes east of Göta Platsen and has been in existence since 1923. There are traditional large wheels, rides and raffles, but also a house built on the opposite and a "crazy house"! Flume Ride is a circuit on rapids that you perform sculpture in a large log excavated in a canoe. The park recently filled new Russian mountains with cliffs wood… for 100 million crowns! In winter, from early November to 23 December, the park transforms into a huge Christmas market, where every inhabitant of Gothenburg has to go and drink a glögg.

Built in 1705 on the order of Admiral Count Hans Wachtmeister, the museum presents exhibitions on stonecutters, shipbuilding, navigation and fishing. The exhibits change regularly, so be sure to check the website. The museum is suitable for both adults and children. In the basement, in summer, the Greven café offers homemade cakes and quiches. After the visit, you can enjoy the beautiful baroque garden.

This ^19th century park is one of the best preserved in Europe. Its rose garden is the largest in Scandinavia, and its English style, with its winding paths and period gardens, makes it a truly romantic place where many weddings are celebrated. During the summer, the rose garden is filled with thousands of colorful and fragrant roses. In the elegant 1878 greenhouse, you will find palm trees and other types of tropical plants.

The Great Square of the city of Malmö is presided over by the (equestrian) statue of Charles X Gustav (1622-1660), the king who, having ascended the throne after the abdication of Queen Christine, recovered Skåne in 1658 at the end of the first Northern War. Vast and rectangular (but converted into a parking lot), the square is bordered by some interesting buildings among which we will mention :

The town hall (Rådhuset) is the large brick building (on a base of ashlar) in the Dutch Renaissance style that dominates the east side. Built in 1546 (extensively remodeled in the ^19th century), it has a spectacular baroque gable in the center of its façade. Just to its right, the Apoteket Lejonet is worth a look for its interior, unchanged since the 1900s, and more specifically for its wooden furniture and beautiful earthenware jars.

At the corner of Kansligatan, Residentet is a building oscillating between baroque and neoclassical, and sporting a yellow façade. As its name suggests, this small palace was the governor's residence when it was built in the early ^17th century.

On the opposite side (Frans Sueligatan) stands one of the oldest buildings in the city, the Kock House (Kockska Huset). This stark, dark brick house with stepped gables dates from 1523 and was the former home of Mayor Jörgen Kock, who made Malmö the second largest city in the Danish kingdom. The basement now houses the city's most famous restaurant, Årstiderna.

The Paddan boats are small boats which, since 1939, have been sailing tourists and curious people on the canals of Gothenburg. They have become one of the symbols of the city over time and offer a very good approach to its history. Several guided tours are proposed, for example a commented cruise (in English) which takes us under about twenty bridges and makes us meet huge ships in the city's ports.

If you want to learn more about the city and get someone who knows a lot about the history of Gothenburg's streets and monuments, call Franziska. She is an English-speaking guide who knows Gothenburg like the back of her hand and can tell you everything you need to know about this beautiful western city. After an hour's guided tour through the streets of the city, the city will hold almost no secrets for you. Enough to satisfy the curious!

It is a paradise for naval history and model ship enthusiasts. Here are exhibited reproductions of magnificent three-masted ships from the 19th century, merchant sailing ships and other warships, modern submarines, cruisers from the beginning of the 20th century... Photos, navigation objects of all kinds and paintings retrace the history of Swedish and international navigation through the ages. Few explanations in English (none in French).

A remarkable museum that takes us back in time, from the first engraved stones dating from the^5th century to the reconstruction of a Gotland farm in the ^19th century, through the exceptional Viking treasures discovered in the north of the island and the geological curiosities of the "island of a hundred churches". Children will love the Ship o'Joy exhibition, where they can play together in boats, fishermen's huts and cargo ships. A small café and a store.

Malmö Castle is the heir of a first building founded by Erik of Pomerania in 1430 before being rebuilt a century later and occupied by the mint. After the return of Skåne to Sweden, the defenses were strengthened and a moat system dug. After the return of peace with Denmark, the building was converted into a prison and then into a museum in 1937. Of the castle itself remains, beyond the wooden bridge over the moat, a massive facade framed by two round towers, all built of brick.

In the courtyard, a modern building (also without lightness) houses four sections of the Malmö Museums (Malmö Museer). The restaurant Wega is located on Slottsholmen, right next to the main entrance of the Malmö Museums.

The Governor's House and the House of Technology and the Navy are located outside the castle. Between the museum and Kommendanthuset, there are some brightly painted wooden huts: this is the Fiskehoddorna, which serves as a fish market every morning.

Kontsmuseet (Museum of Fine Arts). Beautiful collection of Swedish landscape artists such as Carl Fredrik Hill (1849-1911). There are also contemporary works, notably by the sculptor Carl Fredrik Reuterswärd (born in 1934) and the Malmö-born surrealist painter Max Walter Svanberg (1912-1995). One room is devoted to a sketch made by the Dane Joakim Skovgaard for the mosaic of the cathedral in Lund. Beautiful collection of Russian paintings from the late ^19th century and representative works of Swedish design.

Historical museum. Documents, plans and objects tracing the history of Malmö Castle and focusing on life in Skåne in the ^17th century, when it became part of Sweden.

Aquarium & Tropicarium. Local fish and amphibians, but also (more exotic) gymnotes, better known as electric eels, and other piranhas.

Museum of natural history. Flora and fauna of Skåne, geology and paleontology with notably a dinosaur skeleton.

Kommendanthuset (the Governor's house). An ^{eighteenth-century} mansion that now houses exhibitions on photography. Right next to the Governor's house is a very nice little café serving organic and locally grown products (sandwiches, pies, salads, ice cream and homemade pastries).

Tekniken och Sjöfartens Hus (House of Technology and the Navy).

The Jamtli Museum is an open-air museum with historic buildings, and an indoor museum with permanent and temporary exhibitions. "Jamtli" literally means "Jämtland hill" in the local dialect. The place is known for its bell tower, whose architecture is very typical of 18th century Sweden. Along a road, you will see it at the edge of a pavement. You will find an archaeological and handicraft collection, works of art and artefacts that will take you deep into the history of the region.

On Lake Mälaren, 49 km from Stockholm. Take the E 4 direction Arlanda and Uppsala, then in Märsta, take Route 263 Tourist Office: Stora Gatan 33 Tel (0) 8 592 806 50 - www.sigtuna.se

Sigtuna is one of Sweden's oldest cities. It was founded around the year 980 by King Eric Segersäll and his son Olof Eriksson Stötkonung, who created the first currency in Sweden in 995. It is a very pleasant excursion, with its charming streets lined with wooden house. Some Viking archaeological remains are exposed in the pretty Sigtuna Museum, located in Stora Gatan 55 and open daily from 12 to 16 h (entrance 20 Sek, 15 Sek for students). There is the famous "Viking of Sigtuna", a Viking head of a few centimetres, remarkably sculpted in an elk horn whose origin and function remains mysterious, as well as the coins of that time. It is also in Sigtuna that the greatest concentration of unfortunately stones is found in the world. You can rent boats (canoes, boats…) at Våffelbruket café in the port (Tel 592 508 00). For a coffee, stop at the Tant Bruns, Laurentiigränd 3.

It is a temple of cultures and traditions, of peoples and their rites of the 19th and 20th centuries. You will discover the ways of life through instruments, weapons, clothes, means of transport and other usual and ritual objects. You will see Indonesian masks, Chinese carnival costumes, an Inuit child's kayak, arrows and headdresses from Indian tribes, Beninese engravings... The sound and visual atmosphere allows you to immerse yourself in the different contexts.

Shop, information, reservations in this very central office that will give you the keys to the city. Do not hesitate to follow their advice: Walking tour will give you a very complete approach of the city (count 2 h by walking without stopping…).

With an average of three million visitors per year, Liseberg Park is the largest amusement park in Scandinavia. The park is 200 m wide and over 500 m long and has been in existence since 1923, a 10-minute walk east of Göta Platsen. It has the traditional Ferris wheels, rides and raffles, but also a house built upside down and a "crazy house"! From time to time, pop music concerts are also held in the park.

A very beautiful museum, located in the bowels of Helgeandsholmen, under the old bridge (Norrbro), which will fascinate adults and children alike because it takes a playful look at history, from the ^13th century - when the city was founded on Stadsholmen - to the beginning of the ^16th century and Gustav Vasa's accession to the throne in 1523. A must for urban history buffs but also for those who want to discover the secrets of the Swedish capital's past.

This company offers several tours (commentaries are mostly in Swedish and English, ask before you buy the tickets). The historical tour takes you around the large island of Kungsholmen, passing by Långholmen and Reimersholme. The tour "Under Stockholm's Bridges" takes you around the islands of Södermalm, Djugården, Essingen and the Old Town, passing under several bridges that connect different parts of the capital. You can also take a tour along the royal canals or in the archipelago.

Riddarholmskyrkan (Knights' Church) is the only medieval church still visible in Stockholm. It houses the tombs of the kings of Sweden. It is here that Gustav II Adolf, Charles XII, Charles XIV John, Gustav V and their wives are buried. The coats of arms of the knights of the Royal Order of the Seraphim are also displayed here, and cover part of the walls of the building. The church, originally a Franciscan monastery, was built in 1280. Its bell tower overlooks the island of Riddarholmen.

Dating from 1912, this very pretty church built on the model of a Lappish hut is worth seeing. As you get closer, you notice that it seems to be entirely covered with red wooden tiles. The bright gold-plated statues that adorn it create a striking contrast with the dark red colour of the rest of the building. Inside, the magnificent sculpture of St. George and the dragon, the altar and, just above, the frieze painted by Lotten Zeinwoldt are worthy of note.

Very well done museum about the Swedish mountains and the Sami. Indeed, Jokkmokk is the center of the Swedish Sami culture, it is normal that the museum presents the Swedish Lapland and of course the culture of the Sami people. Through eight rooms, you will discover all the aspects of the life of this people: craft industry, customs, traditions, folklore, history, way of life... Think of asking for the explanatory guide in French available free at the entrance, because the texts are in Swedish inside the museum. The name Ajtte means "the barn" in the Saami language.

In this baroque castle, one of the most famous in Sweden, rooms dating from its construction have been preserved in their original state. Here, Carl Gustaf Wrangel (1613-1676), potentate and big spender, and his wife Anna Margareta von Haugwitz (1622-1673), created a splendid residence. Coming from the aristocracy, they sought to understand the world by collecting art and antiquities as well as specimens of nature. The apartments house remarkable collections of paintings as well as furniture and textiles.

Visit Stockholm is the official tourist office of the city. Although you can't visit them directly, you can contact them by email, phone, Facebook or Instagram. You can contact them for information but also for good plans. The staff is very helpful and pleasant and responds quickly to all requests for information. They speak several languages, including French, so they will be able to inform you easily.

The main attraction of Varberg is of course the fortress that was originally established on this site at the end of the ^13th century, facing the North Sea, to protect the coast against the Danish invaders. At that time, it was nothing like the huge building we see today. It was then a wooden castle perched on the promontory. Over the centuries, and mainly between 1588 and 1618, the Danish king Christian IV had imposing walls built around the castle to protect it from the power of the new cannons of the time. The castle became Swedish again in 1645. Unprecedented in Scandinavia by its design, the fortress played an important role in the relations between the kingdoms of Norway, Denmark and Sweden until the ^19th century, when it lost its defensive role and became, in part, a prison. Prison that now houses the youth hostel. Since the beginning of the ^20th century, the place has become a museum.

The Länsmuseet is an integral part of the fortress. It offers interactive exhibitions that the visitor follows with an audio guide and, in high season, you will meet knights in armor, peasants and lords who walk through the streets and fortifications. Ideal for children.

The great annual market and the medieval days, the first weekend of July, are a perfect opportunity to visit the fortress, which finds for the occasion the buzzing and colored animation of the past centuries...

Rather well preserved, the ruins of these two churches built in the th century dominate the lake. They are the memory of Sigtuna, and are among the first stone buildings erected in the Mälaren Lake area. By all seasons, under the snow or under the spring sun, the rough stones and vaults have a typical charm and recall the ferveur of the Nordic peoples, freshly christianized, to honor God.

Following in the footsteps of one of four guides draped in black and wearing top hats, this nighttime walk (departure 7pm for English tours) takes you on a tour of the old city through its murders, mysteries, executions, diseases and ghosts... As you explore the dark streets and alleys that make up the old town, you'll get to see, touch and feel history! A one and a half hour tour, for the moment only in Swedish and English... For the exact schedule, please check the website.

Located inside Skansen, this wildlife park, which allows visitors to dive into the wild, has grown steadily since its inception in 1978 and now offers more than 200 species of animals such as monkeys, scorpions, parrots and frogs. The aquarium itself allows you to become familiar with all kinds of tropical species. It also has a breeding center for endangered monkeys.

Villa Waldemarsudde was originally the home of Prince Eugène (1865-1947), son of King Oscar II. Having moved to Paris in the 1880s to study art, the Prince was one of the leading landscape painters of his time, as well as a leading art collector, focusing on Swedish, Nordic and French art. Over the years and during his many travels, he began to acquire dozens of contemporary works, which are now on display in the museum for our enjoyment. The visit is in two parts.

The gallery. A large part of Eugène's personal collection. Here we find a jumble of the Prince's landscape creations, as well as numerous canvases by Swedish artists, the most famous of whom are Anders Zorn(La Frileuse, Sur le port d'Alger) and Carl Larsson(Karin et Biito).

The manor house. Built between 1903 and 1905, it is now almost entirely open to visitors. The rooms are still furnished as they were in Eugène's day, and decorated with works by artists such as André Lothe and Anders Zorn. Enjoy the superb view from the flower room! The other two floors are devoted to temporary exhibitions, featuring both ancient and contemporary artists. What's more, the flower-filled sculpture park that frames the museum offers a magnificent view of the channel that links Stockholm to the sea. An attraction not to be missed.

Located since 1999 near Gustav Adolf Square, next to the Opera House and opposite the Royal Palace, the Dance Museum is easily accessible via the Kungsträdgården or T-Centralen subway stations. It is a unique museum that exhibits collections of costumes and sketches of the Swedish Ballet, but also Chinese, African, Thai, Russian outfits and masks... Temporary exhibitions deal with various themes related to dance.

The prospect of a visit to the Army Museum may seem a little daunting. Yet this museum, near Östermalmstorg, is not just located in a former arsenal built in the ^17th century. It is designed to captivate visitors, taking them on a journey through the ages, from 800 AD to the present day. From the Vikings to the Swedish army's peacekeeping missions, from the Thirty Years' War to the Cold War, the museum offers an exhaustive and captivating exploration of military history. For greater visibility, each zone corresponds to a century, providing a clear and accessible chronology. Far from being a mere display of weapons and uniforms, the large permanent exhibition showcases the actors of warfare over the centuries, thanks to some very fine reconstructions (the mannequins are sometimes frighteningly realistic!) and a highly polished sound system, immersing visitors in the atmosphere of the different eras. Medieval warriors, lords, nobles, dragon soldiers, cavalrymen of the Northern War, executioners, artillerymen... all come to life in the museum. In a separate room, the trophies and flags of the armies defeated by Sweden are on display. Among them, an imposing Danish flag measuring no less than seventeen meters by seven! On the first level, you'll find the temporary exhibitions. An audioguide is available in English, enabling you to listen to the history of the museum's various objects.

The Östasiatiska Museet is the museum of Far Eastern antiquities. The museum specializes in Far Eastern cultures, and has about 100,000 objects from Asian cultures. The history of the museum dates back to the early 20th century, when prehistoric Chinese pottery was discovered. Spread over several rooms, the permanent collection contains weapons, tableware, sculptures, and furniture, tracing the cultural and religious evolution of the cultures in question. You can also see temporary exhibitions.

Waxholms Bolaget is a public water transport to the islands of the Baltic archipelago of Stockholm. Whether you are a visitor or a local, you can experience the beautiful scenery of the Stockholm archipelago. The services are part of the public transport system and run all year round, giving residents, businesses and visitors the opportunity to travel between the islands. No need to make a reservation: just turn up at the harbour and board the boat. The timetable changes according to the season.

Anders Zorn (1860-1920) is one of the most famous Swedish painters, and was certainly also the richest during his lifetime. This museum, which exhibits many of his works, is a feast for the eyes. The originality of this artist is to have approached various techniques with an equal talent in each. Pencil drawings, sculptures on bronze or wood, nude paintings, watercolors... This native of the city was undoubtedly one of the most gifted painters to highlight the characters of his paintings, and to reproduce the movements of the water. Simply magnificent!

Famous for its magnificent park and rhododendron grove, which, with 10,000 plants, is the most extensive in Scandinavia. This ^19th century castle was given as a wedding present by King Oscar II to his grandson Gustav Adolf and his wife Margareta in 1905, and the royal furnishings have not changed a bit! Lunch in the castle restaurant, a walk along the ponds... A delight. In summer, exhibitions and concerts on the beautiful and spacious lawns surrounding the castle.

Gothic church from the ^14th and ^15th centuries. The ^15th century tabernacle and the silver treasure in the crypt of the sacristy are worth seeing, as well as the imposing golden chandelier hanging from the vaults. If you look carefully, you will find a hat, the signature of the anonymous donor who gave this piece to the parish. The floor has been redone, as it is said that it had become uneven because of all the tombstones that had sunk on one side and risen on the other over the years!