Europe

If we were to mention ABBA, Björn Borg, Greta Garbo or Santa Claus, what would it conjure up for you? No need to contemplate for long, it’s Sweden, of course! A magical land on the Baltic Sea, as cold as it is unpopulated. Because that’s what Sweden is: a land where there are more pine trees than people, a country undiscovered by tourists and unspoiled by the madness of men. Between stretches of water,&nbsp;sleigh dogs, herds of reindeer, the aurora borealis and royal castles, Sweden offers a dazzling spectacle of beauty and nature, particularly in Lapland. That’s one side. On its other side, you will find urban Sweden, modern and busy, the forerunner of design and the grande dame of music. You will visit the lively districts of the Stockholm archipelago and its 24,000 isles and islands. You’ll be carried away by a very special atmosphere, unique to the north, and perhaps you’ll even be taken for a Viking on the island of Björkö!

Sweden

Örebro

Located in Stockholm, this museum is named after its treasure: the immense warship "Vasa". You can explore its 69 metre long keel, its 64 canons and 3 decks.

Musée Vasa

Motala

The capital of Sweden and the largest city in Scandinavia, Stockholm is an elegant and majestic city, made up of both land and sea.

Stockholm

A rural town on the edge of Lake Vättern, Gränna unmasks some beautiful examples of traditional architecture, all made of wood.

Gränna

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Located at the edge of Lake Vättern, the tiny town of Gränna (with about 2000 inhabitants) was one of the first towns to be guaranteed city status in Swedish registers, which says a lot about the history of the place. Today, Gränna is especially famous for its wonderful wooden houses that make up its town centre, which is surprisingly lively for a place this size. The city proved be a <a href="/sweden/">beautiful Swedish stop</a> for me, especially because of its location at the edge of the lake. However, I don't recommend spending more than half a day there, although the surrounding nature gives you the chance to go for some beautiful walks. In short, it isn't an essential stop on a trip to Sweden, but it is a nice rural destination.

A rural town on the edge of Lake Vättern, Gränna unmasks some beautiful examples of traditional architecture, all made of wood.

A very quaint village, Gränna particularly owes its livelihood to the fame of its confectionery and you can even catch a glimpse of it being made through the plate glass windows of some workshops. It is interesting, but you are really spoilt for choice: polkagris shops are in tough competition with one another! There is practically nothing else on the high street, trying to outdo each other for shapes and colours with which to attract those with a sweet tooth. Rather crowded in summer, as it is located on <a href="/sweden/"> Sweden's </a> busiest trunk road, I visited Gränna in winter, a time when tourism is not at its peak. I was thus able to discover another facet of Sweden, more simple and appreciated by the locals. On the other hand, it really is very, very cold here! In fact, the temperature stopped me from making the most of the place, despite the fine weather. A good cup of hot chocolate set me right, but I think I will come back when it gets a little warmer!

A small picturesque town, located on the shores of huge Lake Vättern. This is where polkagris, the twisted colourful sweet that you see hooked onto the Christmas tree in illustrated children's books, was born.

Gränna Holidays

Gränna: How to get there?

Gränna: See when to go?

Gränna: For how long?

Gränna: What to see nearby?