A road less travelled: Sweden’s top hidden spots to discover this summer

This month, we’re getting under the skin of Sweden’s summer offering. Northern Europe’s largest country boasts a staggering variety of cosmopolitan cities, untouched wilderness and world-leading arts, culture and business opportunities – but the best-kept secrets are off the beaten track. Read on for our picks of the best hidden gems and weekend getaways to discover on your next trip to Sweden.

June is a fantastic month in the Nordics. The long winter has receded, taking with it the dark, candlelit nights, and ushering in a summer of cobalt skies, vivid urban energy and lush green wilderness. The southern region of Sweden is rich in stunning nature and peppered with historical sites, with a trove of hotels, restaurants, resorts offering local cuisine and off-piste experiences to help you unplug and unwind. At this time of year, the rolling hills of Skåne are carpeted with yellow canola, while the spectacular southern coastline is a summer holiday favourite.

Photo: Emelie Asplund Visby

The vibrant city of Malmö – just over the Öresund strait from Copenhagen – is bursting with art and culture venues and events for locals and visitors alike. The centuries-old streets have the heady, melting-pot energy of a city packed with hidden gems, played out beneath a jaw-dropping modern skyline.

From June onwards, Malmö’s world-class Nordic dining scene is flooded with the Swedish summer’s best farm-to-table produce and local seafood, while its thriving ecosystem of seasonal conferences, festivals and summits proves, again and again, why the city is one of Scandinavia’s favourite business destinations. Meanwhile, Sweden’s second-largest city of Gothenburg offers fascinating urban history and world-leading cultural experiences, in an archipelago locked and loaded with outdoor adventures and breathtaking views.

Kayaking. Photo: Henrik Trygg

You’ll find the mildest weather in the south of Sweden, but the entire country enjoys warm summers, with famously long, sun-drenched days that fade into short, turquoise nights. In this edition of Scan Magazine, we’ve curated some of the best hidden gems and weekend getaways to make the most of Sweden’s glorious summer months. Digging beneath the ordinary, our June offering includes a slew of off-the-beaten track hotels, homestays and country lodges, city escapes and wild pursuits, suitable for quick trips and slow stays alike.

Photo: Tina Axelsson

For information about travel, accommodation, attractions and more, visit: www.visitsweden.com and www.sweden.se