What to See in Sweden: Cities to Explore on Foot

Looking for things to do in Sweden? This Scandinavian country combines Baltic coastlines, forests, mountains and cities shaped by centuries of Nordic history. Its museums, churches, royal landmarks and medieval remains make it worth exploring, while its changing landscapes reveal how much the country’s character varies from south to north. Neywo has free audio guides for 7 cities in Sweden, covering 945 narrated places across 23 walking tours.

Sweden travel guide: landscapes from coast to mountains

Sweden stretches along the eastern side of the Scandinavian Peninsula. The Baltic Sea and Gulf of Bothnia lie to the east, while the Scandinavian mountain chain rises in the west. Although Sweden is the largest Nordic country, much of its territory is lightly populated. Most people live in urban areas, mainly in the south and centre, while the country extends far into the north.

That long north–south span creates a succession of landscapes and climates. In southern Sweden, deciduous forests form part of a wider zone shared with Denmark and much of Central Europe. Farther north, they give way first to southern and then northern coniferous forest, or taiga. Beyond the forests are alpine birch and bare mountain zones.

The climate changes with the landscape. Winters in the far south can be brief, while central Sweden has a humid continental climate. In the north, conditions become subarctic. Across most of the country, four distinct seasons shape the experience of the coast, forest and mountains.

Sweden’s history and culture

The story of Sweden reaches back to reindeer hunters living at the edge of the ice around 12,000 BC in what is now Scania. Much later, the Geats, or Götar, and the Swedes, or Svear, emerged among the seafaring peoples known as the Norsemen. A unified Swedish state took shape in the late tenth century, although the kingdom’s exact beginning remains uncertain.

Sweden later joined Denmark and Norway in the Kalmar Union before leaving it. Its involvement in the Thirty Years’ War on the Protestant side began a period of territorial expansion. Sweden became a major European power and controlled much of the Baltic Sea, but its empire eventually declined. Territories were lost in the following centuries, including the eastern half of Sweden, now Finland, to Imperial Russia. Sweden’s last direct war took place in 1814.

Modern Sweden is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy, with lawmaking power held by the Riksdag. Trade unions, independent Christian groups, temperance campaigners and women’s movements have all helped shape public life. The country’s Nordic welfare system includes universal health care and tertiary education for citizens, while every resident receives a state pension. Swedish is the official language, and Finnish is recognised as a minority language.

Swedish culture also reflects major historical changes. Before Christianity, Norse paganism and worship of the Æsir gods were central, with the Temple in Uppsala as an important centre. Christianisation changed the country’s laws, and Lutheranism became widespread after the Protestant Reformation. Later cultural life produced writers such as August Strindberg, Astrid Lindgren, Selma Lagerlöf and Harry Martinson. Swedish cinema gained international attention through the pioneering work of Mauritz Stiller and Victor Sjöström.

Best cities to visit in Sweden

The best cities to visit in Sweden offer different ways to encounter the country’s history and culture. Neywo’s Swedish destinations range from royal collections and medieval churches to museums, fortifications and northern cultural landmarks.

Stockholm

Sweden’s capital has the largest selection of narrated places on Neywo, with 450 in total. The Royal Collections Department, Riddarholm Church, Storkyrkan and the Nordic Museum are among its featured sights. Together, they introduce the country’s royal, religious and cultural history.

Explore Stockholm for more landmarks and museums.

Uppsala

Uppsala has 112 narrated places. Its principal sights include Uppsala Cathedral, Gustavianum, Uppsala Castle and Carolina Rediviva. The city connects Sweden’s religious and intellectual history with older Norse traditions, including the former importance of the Temple in Uppsala.

Discover Uppsala and its historic centre.

Visby

Visby has 160 narrated places and offers one of the clearest connections with Sweden’s medieval past. Neywo’s featured locations include Lejsturojr, the Drotten church ruin, Gotlands runinskrifter 341 and the Helge And church ruin. Ruins and inscriptions preserve traces of earlier religious and cultural life.

Visit Visby to explore its historic places.

Malmö

Malmö has 84 narrated places. Saint Peter’s Church, Saint John’s Church, Residenset and Malmö Castle are among the city’s highlights. These landmarks show different layers of Malmö’s religious and civic history.

See Malmö for more places to visit.

Gothenburg

Gothenburg has 58 narrated places. Lion Redoubt and Crown Redoubt reflect its military history, while Stora Gårda and Gothenburg Cathedral offer different perspectives on the city’s built heritage and religious life.

Explore Gothenburg through its historic landmarks.

Umeå

Umeå has 53 narrated places, including Bildmuseet, Guitars – the Museum, Västerbottens museum and Norra skenet. Its museums and cultural sites provide an introduction to northern Sweden’s artistic and regional identity.

Explore Umeå through its museums and landmarks.

Östersund

Östersund has 28 narrated places. Jamtli, Nationalmuseum Jamtli, Östersunds gamla kyrka and Great Church are among its featured sights. The city offers an entry point into the history and culture of central Sweden.

Discover Östersund and its main attractions.

Gammelstaden

Gammelstaden is also included among Neywo’s Swedish destinations. The app currently lists 0 narrated places for the city.

Learn about Gammelstaden as part of your Sweden itinerary.

Explore Sweden with Neywo’s free audio guides

Neywo offers free audio guides for 7 cities in Sweden, with 945 narrated places in total and 23 walking tours. Narration is available in 11 languages.

The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace. There is no group and no schedule: you simply walk, listen and decide how to explore Sweden’s cities. Download Neywo to discover Stockholm, Uppsala, Visby, Malmö, Gothenburg, Umeå and Östersund independently.