Sweden Off The Beaten Path Tips by Maline Top 5 Page for this destination

Stockholm Archipelago

A great way to experience the best of Swedish nature. Get out to the Archipelago east of Stockholm. It contains some
You can easily go from island to island with the help of little shuttleboats.
You can buy a travel pass for 5 days and go island-hopping. Or you buy the tickets as you board the boats. Many islands have hostels of camping grounds so you can stay over, or if you come by boat there are guest harbours. There are also many bed&breakfast options on the islands.
For info on shuttle boats call: Waxholmsbolaget +46 8-679 58 30(waxholsbolaget.se)

If you are going to visit Stockholm and want to make the trip out to the islands, I suggest you go to the Tourist office and have them help you with brochures and adresses. Good luck!

Website: http://www.dess.se

Hudiksvall

The town of Hudiksvall is also known as 'Glada Hudik' (litt. Happy Hudik).

It is situated onn the east coast of Sweden, some 400 km north of Stockholm. TRains pass by Hudik on their way north, and the trip from Stockholm takes about 3 hours.

Hudiksvall is a very picturesque little town well worth a visit, if you are passing by, or have some time to spare and can make the trip from Stockholm. The town is preferably visited during summer. If you have the time, make the trip further into the county of Hälsingland, both along the coast and into the inland.
Points of interest in Hudiksvall: Hudiksvall church, gågatan, the shopping street, Möljen square and the area around it.

Other Contact: Try my Hudiksvall page

Website: http://www.hudiksvall.se

The Medieval Week in Visby, Gotland.

One week at the end of summer, the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea transforms into a medieval place when the annual Medieval Week takes place.

Usually it takes place during the first week of august, but check it out in gotlandinfo.com before you go.

The island's residential city of Visby is usually packed this week, so lodging arrangements are best made a long time in advance. Tthere are plenty of hostels and campings, and many people living in town rent their lodgings to visitors this week, or a aa few weeks during peak season.

Come as you are and just check out the festivities, or bring your best medieval costume :-).
Medieval food for sale, performances, tournaments, markets, and all sorts of activities take place in Visby during this week.
(Picture is a collage of different dresses you can see.)

Gävle

Gävle town, some 150 kilometres north of Stockholm is a great little town. Many Swedes have passed right through by train while travelling north. I live in Gavle for a while a few years back, and found the town very charming. Especially well worth a visit are the old quarters Old Gavle, the city park Boulognerskogen and why not the unique Railway museum?

During summer, Gävle is a very pleasant town to spend a day or two. It's cute, manageable and friendly. Check out my Gävle page for tips if you are planning on going here.

Östersund

Östersund is the capital of the country Jämtland in the north of Sweden. I wouldn't recommend you to travel this far north in Sweden, just to see Östersund but it is a pleasant town and provides an excellent starting point for excursions into the Jämtland landscapes. And these are definitely breathtaking.

One of the main attractions of the town itself is the quite recently opened open-air museum of Jamtli. Here you will learn more about the history and traditions of the surrounding landscapes. Lots of exhibitions too.

In Storsjön, the lake of Östersund, the rumours tell there is a sea monster, called Storsjöodjuret. See if you can spot it :-)
Also, in winter you can drive your car over the ice to reach Frösön island part of town.

To get to Östersund, either drive by car. It would take some 8-9 hours from Stockholm. Several trains for Östersund depart from Stockholm every day. Ususally, you have to change trains in Sundsvall town.

Website: http://www.turist.ostersund.se

Vadstena – Residing place of Sweden's only saint

Vadstena, some miles outside Motala in south-central Sweden is a small cute town dominated by the church and activities centering around Sweden's only saint Holy Birgitta. In 2003 it was 700 years since S:t Birgitta was born and many festivals and arrangements were dedicated to her memory.
The picture is from inside the chuch that was built in accordance with her wishes.

For more pictures of Vadstena see the travelogue by that name...

Motala Motor Museum

If ever there was a hidden gem, this is it.
I am personally not that interested in cars/motorcycles and the likes, but visiting this museum was amazing anyway!
The Motala Motor Museum is right by the water in the middle of town. They have an astonishing collection of cars, radios, mopeds and more from the 20th century. The stuff is presented in "settings" complete with mannequins and items typical for the time of the cars. You can walk around here for ages and just totally lose yourself in all of the items from times gone by. Older people are bound to feel nostalgic. People my age 20:s-30:s will probably feel like they have been transported back in time, or to a movie set from the days of Elvis or something. I can't recommend this place enough, I absolutely loved it, and I'm pretty sure you will too. If you can't go there, maybe a virtual peek inside will be enough... I have put a few more pics in the travelogue, and I also have a link to the museum homepage...
Drive safely!

Other Contact: Adress: Hamnen

Phone: +46 141-588 88

Website: http://www.motala-motormuseum.se/

Alvastra monastery ruins

Rune stone of Rök

Motala - a place to visit in...

Motala- a place to visit in the summer. Here you find the longest lake beach in Scandinavia. Other sights you must see are the flight of locks of Göta Canal and the museum of navigation and shipping. The harbor is also an absolute must, they have very nice icecream!! In short, if you like water you MUST come here!