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Overview

Self-drive trip in Southern Sweden

Experience Swedish nature, culture and history in beautiful surroundings. That self-drive trip in Southern Sweden takes you to many of the country's biggest attractions, including the Gripsholm castle, Kingdom of Chrystal, Göta Canal, Öland and more. The package includes 4 stars and charming accommodation all over south Sweden including Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö.

Car rental packages are becoming an increasingly popular option for travellers in Sweden, and for good reason. They allow far greater individual freedom and flexibility than scheduled group tours, and as self-drive customers are effectively their own tour guides, these tours also offer a more intimate experience. This unique itinerary takes you through varied scenery to places of great historical importance. This self-drive tour is an excellent option for individuals, couples, small groups and families who want to travel the country at their own pace and leisure.

Do not hesitate to get in touch with our Scandinavia expert to get more information about that wonderful tour in Sweden!

Itinerary

Day 1| International flight

Day 2| Arrival in Stockholm
This tour starts at the airport, where you are met and transferred to your accommodation in the heart of Stockholm. If you ask someone who has visited Stockholm the first word they would probably use to describe it is -beautiful- and that it is. Stockholm is a major international city with great shopping, quality eateries in abundance, fabulous standard hotels, an internationally renowned club and music scene and a vibrant cultural life. Where Stockholm comes into its own however is its sheer, natural beauty.
Stockholm, as a city, is over 700 years old and spreads across 14 islands as it faces proudly out to the Baltic Sea. You can get to just about all of Stockholm's many wondrous sites on foot, which is the perfect way to see the city. You can also take a boat trip that will give you a different facet of Scandinavia's largest and probably most beautiful city.

To qualify the natural -beauty- of Stockholm, try a summer morning stroll in Djurgården, a dip in Lake Mälaren from Norrmälarstrand, or a quiet moment to yourself in Hagaparken. We think you'll know what we mean. If you arrive early, we recommend getting the Stockholm Card, which gives you access to most museums in Stockholm, the Stockholm underground and local buses. Stay the night in Stockholm.

Day 3| Stockholm - Örebro
From Stockholm, you will drive west to Mariefred and explore the 16th-century Gripsholm Castle, enjoy the art collection inside and its well-preserved interior from different epochs. You may want to take a leisure ride on the train at Mariefred Railroad Museum, dating back to the end of the 19th century. In Eskilstuna, you can visit the blacksmith community, which dates from the 17th century, and where the smiths are still busy with their crafting. Head on toward Örebro and the open-air museum in Wadköping, with its beautiful old buildings, craftspeople and shops. Stay the night in the Örebro area.

Day 4| Örebro - Karlstad
After breakfast, visit the Örebro Castle and join a guided tour to learn about the remarkable past of this 14th-century castle. Take the detour to Grythyttan and visit Grythyttans Värdshus for a true cluinary experience. After a delicious meal, you will drive to Karlstad, where you will stay the night.

Day 5| Karlstad - Trollhättan
Drive along the shore of Lake Vänern to Trollhättan-for water lovers there will be several opportunities to go for a swim on the way. The interesting -ropeway tour- provides a beautiful view of the Trollhättan, where you will stay the night.

Day 6| Trollhättan - Västkusten
Explore the impressive flight of locks at Trollhättan, consistsing of four locks, covering a 32-metre difference in water level. Drive west and visit the islands of Orust and/or Tjörn, both of which are well worth a visit. Stay the night in the Trollhättan area.

Day 7| Västkusten - Gothenburg (Göteborg)
Göteborg - the Swedish name of Gothenburg - Sweden's second largest city, is undergoing a transformation from industrial seaport to contemporary cultural and international sports venue. With the addition of the Gothenburg Opera in 1994 and a revamping of some of the city's museums, its cultural landscape is also changing - all for the better.
Perhaps the most surprising change in Gothenburg is in its restaurants and other eateries. The city has gained an international reputation for innovative cuisine using local produce, mainly north Atlantic fish and shellfish. Gothenburg boasts several Michelin Guide restaurants which should not be missed when you visit.

En route to Gothenburg, see the impressive lock system of the Trollhätte canal, and how the boats are guided through the canal system, before driving along the riverbanks of Göta älv River to Gothenburg. Make sure you don't miss the Bohus Fort by the Göta älv River, north of the city. You will spend the night in Gothenburg.

Day 8| Gothenburg (Göteborg) - Halmstad
Spend the day in Gothenburg, shopping, sightseeing or just relaxing. We recommend the Göteborg tourist card, which gives you free admission to city trams and attractions such as museums and the Liseberg Funfair. Drive to Halmstad, where you will stay the night.

Day 9| Halmstad - Malmö
For bird watchers, seal watchers and anyone who likes to go for a swim, the Hallands Väderö Island is well worth a visit. Guided tours and seal-watching tours are available in the area, as well as sandy beaches and rocks to jump from. Make a stop at the -Fredriksdal museer och trädgårdar--Fredriksdal Museums and Gardens. Here you will find historical parks and gardens, houses and farms, animals, meadows and woods. Near Helsingborg, you will also find Helsingborg Fågelpark Birdpark, the only bird park in Sweden. In this big park you will find hundreds of species of birds from all over the world. Stay the night in Malmö.

Day 10| Malmö - Copenhagen - Ystad
Drive over the Öresund Bridge for a visit to Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, or spend the day in Malmö- Sweden's gateway to Continental Europe. Over the past decade, Malmö has undergone a most dramatic post-industrial transformation. This cosmopolitan city has -reclaimed- the seafront, where entire new city districts full of interesting modern architecture and bustling street life have been constructed. Of course, another radical change has been the mighty Öresund Bridge, opened in 2000, which connects Malmö with Denmark's capital Copenhagen, just twenty minutes away. The region now forms a single metropolitan area; one of the most expansive, exciting and energetic in Northern Europe.

Malmö is an ideal centre from to explore this new region and in less than one hour visitors can reach not only two major metropolises, but also a large number of historical and picturesque towns and villages, beautiful beaches and impressive castles and manor houses.
For all its expansion, Malmö remains a small, friendly and pleasant city where almost everything is located within easy walking distance. For example, Malmö has its own beaches at Ribersborg, Sibbarp, Klagshamn and Scaniabadet. So why not take a refreshing dip while visiting. It might also interest you to know that Malmö is a city of 164 nations and 100 languages. This is deliciously reflected in the myriad of restaurants and cafes here.

A visit to Lilla Torg, a marketplace that dates back to 1591, is a must. At Foteviken Viking Town you can learn about Viking history and how to become one yourself. Stay the night in Ystad.

Day 11| Ystad - The Kingdom of Crystal (Glasriket)
Take a look around Ystad, with its many small, half-timbered houses, before starting today's drive. Drive east to Ales Stenar, Ale's Stones-a giant stone formation more than 1,000 years old; its high location by the south coast makes it one of the most visited sites in Skåne. As you drive along the coast, you should not miss Glimmingehus, one of the best-preserved medieval forts (manors) in Scandinavia, dating back to 1499, and the National Park Stenshuvud, which offers rich flora and many exciting animal species. You may want to stop at the 13th-century village of Mörrum, known for its river salmon, and pay a visit to the salmon museum, Laxenshus, for some historic information. The Swedish Punsch museum is an interesting place to visit, containing exhibits from one of the two largest Punsch factories in the 1800s. You can also see how snus (snuff) and cigars were made in the tobacco storehouse in the days when tobacco was grown in the area. Drive north to the -Kingdom of Crystal- (Glasriket), where you will spend the night.

Day 12| The Kingdom of Crystal
Drive around the Kingdom of Crystal and visit some of its most famous glassworks. There are more than 50 glassworks in this area, and many of them are open to visitors. If you are lucky, you can find a special gift or souvenir in one of the glasswork stores which offer good prices. Stay the night here.

Day 13| The Kingdom of Crystal - Vadstena
Drive north to Vimmerby and visit the hometown of Swedish author Astrid Lindgren. Here you will find a specially built village for Pippi Longstocking and other famous characters featured in her books. Make a stop in Linköping and visit the open-air museum -Old Linköping,- which shows what a small town looked like a hundred years ago. You can visit the houses and see how Swedish people lived in the old days. Stay the night in Vadstena.

Day 14| Vadstena - Stockholm
See the sights around the Vadstena Castle, the Cloister and the little 12th-century town itself. Stop in Borenshult by Göta Canal River, where the manually operated Borensberg lock is well worth visiting. Short cruises on the canal are offered in the area, and you can also visit the Kolmården international Zoo on the way north. On your way back to Stockholm, we recommend visiting the pretty little town of Trosa by the coastline, and the 18th-century Tullgarn Castle, which features some of the most beautiful interiors from the period. Stay the night in Stockholm.

Day 15| Departure
Transfer from Stockholm by Arlanda Expressto Arlanda airport. Passengers departing on the afternoon flight will have time for some last-minute shopping-a perfect way to end your holiday.

Budget

**Rates published on this website are for information purposes only and are not legally binding (since departure dates are not given). Prices on this website are known to fluctuate frequently in relation to changes in currencies and hotel pricing. In order to obtain a definite quote, please click here.

Other fees

Lodging

Please note that some countryside museums and activities might only be available between 15th of June until 15th of August.

Overview

Sweden is located in Scandinavia, North Europe. With just over nine million inhabitants in an area larger than California and nearly as large as France or Spain, Sweden has plenty of unspoilt nature. The Swedish countryside is full of green forests and beautiful lakes, a perfect place for outdoor activities like fishing, golfing, horse riding and bathing in the summer.

In the bigger cities like Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö you find a rich nightlife bolstered by plentiful cultural and social happenings in addition to an abundance of first-class restaurants.

The country attracts visitors all year round, not only thanks to its diversity in landscape, but also its vital energy and contrast of lights, shades and seasons that offer new discoveries with every visit

During the hardest winter months, the northern parts of Sweden is known for its limited sunlight which, coupled with the northerly location, makes it one of the best places on earth to see the Northern Lights. October through April, when weather conditions are favourable, you can see the kaleidoscopic Aurora Borealis light up the dark winter sky, a spectacular phenomenon not to be missed. Sweden more than makes up for this lack of sunlight during the summer time; May through August provides long days with bright nights.

Tourism

Nature experiences
From the cascading northern lights that illuminate the sky above the wilds of Swedish Lapland, to the white sandy beaches of the south – it's all yours to enjoy.

Swedish Lapland offers the Arctic wilderness of the Sarek and Abisko national parks with perfectly pristine mountains, alpine meadows, glaciers and wending rivers. If you take one of the local eco-tourism packages, you will leave this last wilderness the way you found it: unique and untouched.

Going south into central Sweden, you will find many opportunities to enjoy the varied landscapes. In winter you can take part in all the winter activities, and in summer you can enjoy just being out in the countryside of Dalarna for example, with its varied flora and fauna and pretty red-painted cottages.

Facts about Sweden:

Population: Just over 9 million.
Capital: Stockholm.
Prime Minister: Mr. Fredrik Reinfeldt.
Currency: Swedish Krona (SEK), plural Kronor.
Language: Swedish (Second language is English).
Total area: 449,964 km2/ 173,731 sq.miles
Location: Sweden is located in Scandinavia, North Europe, between Norway and Finland.
Form of Government: Sweden is a parliamentary democracy.

Getting around in Sweden

Flying
Several local airlines have regular flights to many of the bigger towns in all parts of Sweden.

Buses
Buses run between all cities all year round.
Buses can be few and far between so make sure you plan your bus trip thoroughly beforehand.

Driving
Driving around Sweden in a rented car or your own vehicle gives you greater flexibility than the bus system. All highways and bigger roads are fully surfaced. Many other roads are gravel surfaced, but should be fairly easy to drive, although they tend to slow the traveller down a bit. To get in-depth information about the roads in Sweden, go to the web page of the Swedish Road Administration (http://www.vagverket.se/).

Opening hours
Shops are usually open from 10:00 to 18:00 Monday to Friday, weekends 11:00-16:00. Opening hours of stores vary greatly between places though, especially in the countryside. Office hours are generally from 09:00 to 17:00 and opening hours of banks and post offices are generally from 10:00 to 15:00.

General prices
Water at bars, restaurants and cafés: Free, Milk, 1 litre: 9 SEK, Coca-Cola ½ litre: 12-17 SEK, Hot dog: 15-25 SEK, A loaf of bread: 20-30 SEK, ½ litre beer at a restaurant or bar: 40-70 SEK, ½ litre beer at liquor store: 15-20 SEK, Petrol 1 litre: 13-14 SEK, Entrance to nightclubs: 0-140 SEK

Geography

Geography
The country is divided in three parts: Northern Sweden, Central Sweden and Southern Sweden. Northern Sweden is a vast landscape of towering alpine peaks and endless vistas of pine forest, Polar plains, meadows and glaciers. Its eastern edge is fringed by a rolling coastline, peppered by islands and skerries. No description of Northern Sweden is complete without mentioning Swedish Lapland - Europe's last remaining wilderness.

Lovers of the outdoors life will love northern Sweden's legendary national parks; Abisko and Sarek being two outstanding examples. Northern Sweden is also the ancestral home of the Sami, the indigenous people of the region, whose unique traditions and culture thankfully thrive today. Bear, elk, the wolverine, the golden eagle and the rare Arctic Fox have their home here in Northern Sweden. As if these natural riches were not enough, this the land of the Midnight Sun and the staggeringly beautiful Northern Lights. We could go on...and on.

Central Sweden is Sweden's heartland and a place of striking natural beauty. The pearl of the region is Stockholm, the nation's heartbreakingly beautiful capital city that takes centre-stage in Sweden's cultural and political life. It is spread across 14 islands, each offering its very own take on the city and offering fabulous shopping, great cuisine and just about anything you could want to do.

Going north in the region you will find the great Great Copper Mine in Falun, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The riches found and mined here paved the way for Sweden to become a major power in Europe some three centuries ago. Falun is where the famous, brightly coloured model Dalecarlian horses come from and was home to famous Swedish painter Carl Larsson, whose home is open to the public. Rent a summer cottage by a lake, take a day trip to the Stockholm archipelago, or visit one of the many palaces, castles and manor houses.

Southern Sweden is where around 80% of the population of the country lives and while it does not share the rugged landscape of the north, it makes up for it with pastoral, rolling countryside, endless forest and more temperate climes.

A holiday in Skåne can be what you want it to be: a good old-fashioned seaside holiday, staying in a cottages with your very own lake, or a stay in one of the larger cities of the region; Malmö, Lund and Helsingborg and combing it with trips to Glasriket (Kingdom of Crystal), or just days spent lazing my the sea at Mölle or the enchanting seaside town of Torekov.

Culture

Modern Swedish icons ABBA, design and culture
Perhaps Sweden's greatest export is its culture and its modernity. Swedish design, music, art and literature are admired the world over. That Sweden punches way above its weight, historically and in modern times, in terms of the impact of its culture around the globe is without doubt.

Take Björn Borg's tennis game: stoical, rock solid, with a single-minded attitude and never-say-die tilt. Perhaps descriptive of Swedes as people. But instead of analysing Swedes perhaps we should just enjoy and celebrate the sheer showbiz of ABBA, the functionality and aesthetic of Swedish design, the peace prize of dynamite inventor Alfred Nobel and the Swedish folklore-inspired works of Astrid Lindgren. And much, much more.

As Ingemar Stenmark, man-of-few-words skiing legend, replied to a sports commentator's criticism of one of his performances: -Try it yourself-. So why don't you try Sweden?

Climate

Climate
Hazy, lazy days spent on the beach as the azure waters lap the shore. Might not sound like Sweden but it is. And where else are you going to bask in the Midnight Sun at 12.00 pm...and get a suntan. In Sweden.

It's a shame to dismiss one of the more popular myths about the weather in Sweden (we're thinking of the one about Polar bears wandering the streets of Stockholm, spread we think by jovial Swedish ex-pats) but you can rest assured that Sweden has no wild Polar bears and there is no risk of you being mauled by one as you enjoy the sights and sounds of Stockholm.

Returning to reality, you can divide the country into three regions; central and southern Sweden, the northeast, and the northwest, or far north to describe the weather in Sweden.


In central and southern Sweden the winters are short and quite cold, and summer temperatures are similar to those in southern England, but with a lot more hours of sunshine and daylight. In the northeast meanwhile the winters are severe, the more so as you travel further north, while the summers can be surprisingly warm. In the far north the winters are also severe, with snow lying the year-round on elevated areas, and the summers are short and changeable. And because Sweden lies at a high latitude much of the country has very long hours of daylight in summer and very long nights in winter.