WHAT TO SEE, DO AND EAT
Sweden is growing in popularity as a premium destination, offering exciting experiences for all types of travelers. Visitors can discover the northern lights in Abisko National Park or enjoy winter sports in Åre as well as explore Stockholm’s vibrant culture with its museums and archipelago. From the historic city of Uppsala to a sustainable journey through Gothenburg visiting the scenic Swedish Lapland with its reindeer and indigenous Sámi culture speak to the heart of the country. Sweden’s commitment to sustainability and innovative design present visitors with a breadth of opportunities to explore, taste and see in this Nordic country.
RECOGNIZED IN NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC’S "BEST OF THE WORLD" LIST FOR 2025, THE STOCKHOLM ARCHIPELAGO TRAIL IS A SCENIC OUTDOOR DESTINATION IDEAL FOR EXPLORING SWEDEN’S NATURAL BEAUTY.
Known for its expansive landscape of approximately 30,000 islands and islets, the 168-mile hiking trail allows travelers to explore 21 islands. From Arholma in the north to Landsort in the south, travelers will be able to experience both nature and local culture staying in traditional inns, such as Utö Värdshus, and move between sections by boat, taking in the beautiful surroundings. On the trail, a must visit is the island of Sandhamn where you walk through the sparse pine forest with numerous spots with a great view of the sea and horizon. Here you can stay at the yacht hotel Sandhamn Seglarhotell. Easy to hike the beautiful Stockholm Archipelago Trail section in Sandhamn. Another section is the 16Km long Utö which is like the entire Stockholm Archipelago Trail condensed into one section. You get to experience a vibrant community and wild nature.
Sweden has a rich cultural heritage, and 2025 will see a host of large-scale cultural festivals like The Stockholm International Film Festival and Stockholm Design Week. The Film Festival aims to broaden Sweden’s film repertoire with innovative and provocative movies. Eleven days of seminars, opportunities to meet actors and film workers, and a generous program of exciting films make for a complete and unforgettable experience; while Stockholm Design Week from February 3-9, 2025, highlights innovation and Swedish creativity. Other large-scale events and festivals include Smaka på Stockholm (“Taste of Stockholm”) festival in the summer and the Malmö Festival from August 8-15, 2025. Celebrating its 40th anniversary, this festival will feature a combination of art, music and culture, combining local and international music and food.
NAMED ONE OF THE WORLD’S BEST PLACES BY TIME, STOCKHOLM’S SLOW FASHION DISTRICT FOCUSES ON SUSTAINABLE, SLOW-FASHION BRANDS.
A hub for eco-conscious travelers, the area shows a true commitment to sustainability and innovation in the fashion industry promoting second-hand vintage and upcycled fashion. The area between Slussen and Zinkensdamm on Södermalm in Stockholm is home to 19 unique stores with vintage and second-hand clothes, vintage interiors, organic skincare and more.
Located on the west coast in the south of Sweden, its second-largest city, Gothenburg, presents a vibrant mix of new restaurants, exhibitions and performing arts premieres. It will play host to several upcoming hard rock concerts, further cementing its title as Sweden’s hard rock capital, as well as a brand-new gaming festival. Some of the new restaurants in the city which are a must-try include Restaurant INTE which focuses on modern European cuisine, and the French brasserie Restaurant Collage. For a kitchen that draws on Swedish-French brasserie dining, head over to Restaurant Fabel and Nomi, which houses two restaurants: Aji, serving Japanese-Peruvian food (Nikkei), and Révolte, a pop-up restaurant with new guest chefs every month.
IN TERMS OF NEW HOTELS, STOCKHOLM STADSHOTELL WILL OPEN IN JANUARY 2025 AS THE FIRST ESTABLISHMENT IN SWEDEN TO BE SELECTED BY RELAIS & CHÂTEAUX. A LANDMARK BUILDING, WHICH DATES BACK TO 1870 WAS COMMISSIONED BY QUEEN JOSEPHIN AND IS KNOWN AS “OSCAR I MINNE”, AS A TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF HER LATE HUSBAND, KING OSCAR I.
Centrally located in the capital’s trendy quarter of Södermalm, the hotel will feature 32 guest rooms (including nine suites), with interior decor offering a particular elegance, steeped in Scandinavian heritage. On the ground floor and spilling out into the courtyard, a large, inviting living room, bistro, and classic bar will offer an informal atmosphere, while upstairs, a more elegant yet warm and welcoming fine dining experience awaits serving reinvented traditional Swedish cuisine using local ingredients.
IN THE GOTHENBURG AREA, CLARION HOTEL KARLATORNET OPENED SEPTEMBER 2024 IN SCANDINAVIA’S TALLEST BUILDING, KARLATORNET, AND FEATURES 300 ROOMS, TRENDY BARS, A STYLISH BRASSERIE AND A LUXURIOUS SPA.
The rooftop restaurant “EXO,” will open in spring 2025 and will be the highest in the Nordic region. Hjortviken Country Club will open in January 2025 just 20 minutes from Gothenburg with lakeside views. As Sweden’s first Country Club, the 150-room hotel focuses on outdoor and sports activities and offers a “digital detox” environment with no TVs.
Opened in November in the south of Sweden, Maryhill Estate, Skåne is 35 minutes from Malmo. The meticulously resorted Örenäs Castle mixes old school charm combined with today’s glamorous standard. Featuring 147 hotel rooms and a pool club, gastronomy is the heart of Maryhill with two destinations with two entirely different culinary journeys.
In the Swedish Lapland, the famed Icehotel recently launched its space-themed Icebar Orbit, in November in collaboration with Sweden’s first astronaut Christer Fuglesang. Part of Icehotel 365, a year-round section with 18 art and deluxe suites, an ice cinema, and other unique spaces, Icehotel celebrates 35 years with a newly designed winter hotel opening in December. Guests will be able to participate in an immersive outdoor art experience where visitors can interact with the ice and snow and from February 27 to March 13, 2025, guests can enjoy an eco-friendly snowmobile tour on electric snowmobiles, thanks to a partnership with Vidde Mobility.
Sweden in 2025 offers exciting opportunities for travelers presenting sustainable tourism and a mix of natural beauty, outdoor adventure and technological advancements. From midsummer celebrations to winter wonders to its vibrant cultural scene, traveling to Sweden in 2025 will unquestionably offer a rich, memorable adventure.
Travel Stories
Swellegant Stays: Page8, London
Swellegant Stays: Majamaja, Helsinki
Escape to the Enchanting Winter Wonderland in St. Moritz
A Letter From…Europe: Munich, Germany
Gastronomic Gallivants: Palazzo Portinari Salviati Florence
US
Canada
Digital Version
Subscribe to Swanky Retreats Magazine’s DIGITAL version. Read the latest issue online or download it to your computer.
