Sweden Coolcation: Saunas, Small Cities and Midnight Sun

If southern Europe’s heatwaves are putting you off, Sweden has plenty to offer. Cool northern shores, quirky food and some very unusual attractions make it a strong contender for a summer escape.

A Sweden coolcation is more than a way to dodge the heat. Here are some of the best reasons to put it on your list.

Why a Sweden coolcation is rising fast

Research from Visit Sweden suggests climate has become a booking essential. Four in ten travellers say heatwaves have made them change their plans, which works well for a country with stable summer temperatures and the Midnight Sun.

This shift matters for holiday planning. Heat is no longer just an environmental issue, it is something that changes where people book and when.

While the south of Europe retreats indoors, Sweden promotes a summer of doing. Think island-hopping in the archipelagos, hiking and open-water swimming, with plenty of daylight to fit it all in.

A pink crystal sauna in the Arctic

Saunas are woven into Swedish life, so a new take on them is worth noticing.

In Skellefteå, northern Sweden, an old industrial quay on the Skellefte River has been turned into an open-air art and relaxation space called Wasteland. Its centrepiece is the Crystal Sauna, a gleaming pink installation that gives the country’s famous sauna tradition a fresh, modern twist among large-scale artworks. It is part art gallery, part spa, and a very Swedish way to cool down after a day outdoors.

Can a roller coaster make you happier?

Gothenburg’s Liseberg amusement park has become a living laboratory, and it is a world first. Working with the London School of Economics and Karolinska Institutet, researchers are studying how shared joy and eustress, the positive kind of stress, affect our wellbeing.

It is an unusual question to ask on a ride, but it is a fun one. Rides and shared thrills may be good for us in more ways than we realise.

More than 1,000 Citizen Researchers are taking part, helping to show how adrenaline-fuelled moments can strengthen social bonds.

Beyond the meatball

Food is a big part of any trip, and Sweden’s offerings go well past the famous classic.

Swedish food has far more to it than meatballs. Some curious local legends to try or read up on:

• Smörgåstårta, a savoury sandwich cake
• The Parisare, a sausage burger from the north
• Wallenbergare, a high-society classic
• Fermented herring, for the brave

It is a country where curiosity pays off at the table. There is also the daily fika, the much-loved coffee and cake break, with a long history of its own.

Townsizing: smaller cities, bigger charm

Move over, big capitals. Travellers are swapping crowded capitals for smaller, characterful cities where you do not need to book a table weeks ahead. Sweden is full of them.

• Lund, for medieval charm and world-class cinnamon buns
• Varberg, for cold-bath culture and a 13th-century fortress
• Uppsala, for Viking history
• Linköping, for historic wooden houses
• Umeå, for a lively contemporary art scene

These places are easier on the nerves and the wallet, and they let you see everyday life at an unhurried pace.

The idea of townsizing was highlighted by Condé Nast Traveller. Sometimes a smaller place makes for a bigger holiday. With cooler weather, calmer streets and a lot to do, Sweden is well worth a look.