"Home, Sweet Home" Sweden by StefanE

Sweden Travel Guide: 17,136 reviews and 35,074 photos

Walking on ice, Lake Mälaren, Sweden

Hi and welcome to Sweden my home contry, even if you travel a lot there is nothing quite like home

Lots of Swedes say that there is nothing to do in Sweden in the winter. Of course there are, do you want to try something different, something that is both exciting and scary at the same time? Sweden is the country of 98,000+ official lakes and many of them with islands. Most winters if the weather has been cold for a longer time the lakes will freeze and it's possible to walk between the islands. This is a great experience and at the same time a bit scary! You know that there is just a thin layer of ice between you and the freezing water down below and at the same time the ice normally makes a lot of strange noise like it's going to crack any moment now...

What if the ice breaks, you ask yourself? This is not a big problem if you follow the three musts when moving on ice cover lakes; Company, Equipment and Knowledge (see Warnings or Dangers).

So if you are in Sweden, in the winter and the ice are holding. Get the right equipment, fill a thermos with hot chocolate, grab some sandwiches. Put on some ice spikes on your shoes so you wont look like a fool always falling on your ass :) Find a nice island have a cup of hot chocolate and enjoy the "Wonder, Winter land".

So lets make a short tour on Lake Mälaren to see how it looks, shall we? (Move on to Off the beaten path)

Last visit to Sweden: Feb 1998
Intro Updated Jul 19, 2005
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Reviews (7)

Now lets go home Off The Beaten Path (6)

So lets go home now folks, before the sun sets! Then we can sit in front of the fireplace and brag about how we braved... more travel advice

Ice made this! Off The Beaten Path (6)

This is not a hill :) This is a cliff. The smooth look is because the inland ice has sand papered it this way a few... more travel advice

Lets take the safe route Off The Beaten Path (6)

Lets take a shortcut through there. Gee, feels a lot safer to be close to firm land. more travel advice

I'ts BIG Off The Beaten Path (6)

The ice is wast and you are small, you really feel quite tiny out here... This is not your usuall ice hockey rink or... more travel advice

Warnings Or Dangers (1)
You don't have to worry about...

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Comments (27)

thelittlevoice Aug 30, 2003 at 6:11 AM Report Abuse

wonderful pix, thanks for sharing!
ssm10 Apr 10, 2003 at 12:21 PM Report Abuse

After all those ice pics, I think that I would prefer Sweden in summer !! :-))) Great page and wonderfull country !
SURFIN7TH Jul 17, 2002 at 9:36 PM Report Abuse

excellent page, great country!
yen_2 Apr 9, 2002 at 2:09 AM Report Abuse

Walking in ice, sounds great!EXCELLENT!
Alphons Mar 15, 2002 at 3:37 AM Report Abuse

very nice page
sabsi Mar 11, 2002 at 10:25 AM Report Abuse

beautiful! does hot chocolate help when crashing through the
Sharrie Mar 7, 2002 at 10:47 PM Report Abuse

The road less traveled :) Have u walked on a lake b4? It`s re
Krystynn Mar 7, 2002 at 6:16 AM Report Abuse

If Sweden is this lovely, I`m definitely packing my bags & go
millward Mar 6, 2002 at 1:47 AM Report Abuse

"COOL" page..thanks
Nantosvelta Jan 3, 2002 at 12:39 PM Report Abuse

I mostly like the "hot chocolat" part of your page. Must be f