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Ten Instagram pictures that prove Sweden is the best summer country

Summer in Sweden doesn't last long, and for this reason, when it arrives Swedes make the best of it.

Published: 19 June 2017 17:12 CEST
Ten Instagram pictures that prove Sweden is the best summer country
Swedish summer. Photo: Tove Freij/Imagebank.sweden.se

1) The beaches (yes, the beaches)

If you feel like swimming and drinking Margaritas in front of a nice, sandy beach but you can't stand the Mexican summer temperatures, then Sweden is perfect for you. Go to Malmö in southern Sweden, the city's Ribersborg or 'Ribban' beach will almost make you wonder where you are – Sweden or the Maldives?

Follow The Local Sweden on Instagram!

 

Un post condiviso da R E N E (@rene_humphrey) in data: 5 Giu 2016 alle ore 12:52 PDT

2) The water

If you like to spend your summer time simply surrounded by water, then you can definitely do it in Sweden. Sweden has almost 270,000 islands.

Don't forget to check our travel pages for all our best Sweden holiday tips!

 

Un post condiviso da Sofie Nordenberger (@sofienordenberger) in data: 27 Ago 2016 alle ore 07:22 PDT

3) The music festivals

Music festivals are another typical summer attraction. In Sweden, you will never run out of sounds in the summer time. The country is, in fact, the perfect venue for many, different music events like 'Way out West', 'Into the factory' or 'Bråvalla Festival'.

 

Un post condiviso da Bråvalla Festival (@bravallafestival) in data: 11 Ott 2016 alle ore 08:03 PDT

4) The water (again)

If you don't want to waste money on petrol, you are afraid of flying and tired of walking, then Sweden is just the perfect place. In summer you can kayak, canoe or sail in park lakes, rivers, lakes and the sea. Or make it a longer journey and float from one island to another on the west coast or in the Stockholm archipelago. 

 

Un post condiviso da Karin (@karing29) in data: 3 Mag 2017 alle ore 13:32 PDT

5) The forests

If you prefer the tranquillity of the countryside over the crowded beaches, then Sweden is your summer destination. Go to pick some delicious berries in the Swedish forests, but don't forget to cover yourself in mosquito spray. The picture below was taken in the picturesque Dalarna region.

 

Un post condiviso da Mikaela (@mikah43) in data: 11 Giu 2017 alle ore 22:09 PDT

6) The outdoors

If you have been sitting still all winter in front of a computer, then Sweden in summer will make you sweat. Go hiking, climbing or simply enjoy the view at Höga Kusten for example, it's a perfect summer activity.

 

Un post condiviso da Höga Kusten (@hogakusten) in data: 5 Mag 2017 alle ore 06:29 PDT

7) The Midnight Sun

A never ending summer is impossible but a never ending sun is possible in the Swedish Lapland. You can experience the Midnight Sun in the north, from June to mid-July, when the sun does not set at night.

 

Un post condiviso da Fabrizio Pomentale (@fabrissio80) in data: 7 Ago 2016 alle ore 01:26 PDT

8) Midsummer's Eve

Midsummer's Eve is one of the most typically Swedish traditions. It is an occasion for a large gathering of friends and family. So pick some flowers, make a wreath and get lost in the dances. 

 

Un post condiviso da Sarah Eggar (@saraheggar) in data: 19 Giu 2015 alle ore 08:57 PDT

9) The barbecue parties

Swedes do it on the beach, on the roof, in the park, on a boat. We're talking about barbecues, of course. Barbecue whenever you want, wherever you want. In summer you can appreciate the smell of a wide variety of flowers but you can also be captured by the smell of sausages cooked by the neighbour. 

10) The light

So go outside and enjoy the Swedish light, it's summer!

 

Un post condiviso da Mia, 49 yo, Swe (@miamore68) in data: 13 Giu 2017 alle ore 11:30 PDT

Share YOUR best Sweden pictures with us by tagging us on Instagram!

READER INSIGHTS

‘Benny is always very kind’: Foreigners’ top encounters with Swedish celebrities

We asked The Local's readers to tell us of a time they met a Swedish celebrity. Here are their best stories.

Published: 16 April 2024 11:10 CEST
Updated: 16 April 2024 14:27 CEST
'Benny is always very kind': Foreigners' top encounters with Swedish celebrities

Some readers shared stories of encounters with Swedes who are also global stars, such as Abba or the King and Queen of Sweden, others spoke of meeting national celebrities who had helped them get to know their new home country.

Anne Foo from Malaysia is a fan of the Sällskapsresan movies by Lasse Åberg, who plays the kind but hapless Stig Helmer.

“It was one of the first Swedish films I watched when I first moved to Sweden that I could understand without needing to be fluent. It helped me understand the Swedish psyche and their humour and Swedish people in general,” she said.

Multi-talented artist Åberg is also known for his sketches of Mickey Mouse, as well as Trazan & Banarne, one of Sweden’s most famous children’s shows, and his band Electric Banana Band. Anne met him when she visited his museum, Åbergs Museum, outside of Stockholm.

“We were not expecting to see him there but we kind of heard he pops by the museum often to help out. We bought tickets for the guided tour and lucky us the guide fell sick (sorry guide!) and Lasse, who happened to pop by just then, took over and gave us a personal guided tour of his museum. He is just as he was as Stig Helmer. Has a down-to-earth humour, very intelligent and humble.”

Another reader, Doug, met Swedish singer Lisa Nilsson when she was performing the lead role in the musical Next to Normal at Stockholm’s Stadsteater, a performance she got rave reviews for.

“I have loved Lisa Nilsson for years, ever since Himlen runt hörnet was required listening in my Swedish class,” he wrote on The Local’s Facebook page.

“After the performance I waited by the stage door to see if I could meet her. Many people came out, but not her – until finally she exited, alone. I approached her and she was not just gracious – she seemed genuinely excited to meet an American fan. We stood (in the rain, no less) and spoke for a while. I came away feeling that my adoration was well-placed: talented, beautiful, and so down to earth. A wonderful entertainer and an extraordinary human being.”

Some readers also shared pictures of themselves running into a Swedish celebrity.

Benjamin Dyke met football coach Sven-Göran Eriksson in Torsby, where Eriksson grew up, at the opening ceremony of the Svennis Cup, a youth football competition held every year in his honour.

Eriksson, more known by his nickname Svennis in Sweden, during his long career coached teams such as Lazio in Italy and brought England, as coach, to the quarter-finals of the 2002 and 2006 World Cups. Earlier this year he disclosed he had been diagnosed with fatal pancreatic cancer.

Dyke’s encounter with Eriksson happened a few years ago, and he walked up to the Swede to thank him for his time as England manager and the two chatted for a while about that.

“He asked where I came from in England and I answered that all my family come from Liverpool. His eyes lit up (I now know he supported Liverpool all his life, as did his dad) but when I explained that I was an Everton fan (the other Liverpool team…) he quickly shut down the conversation and walked away,” said Dyke.

Sven-Göran Eriksson, left, and Benjamin Dyke in 2018. Photo: Private

Readers also shared their stories on The Local’s Facebook page. Lindelwa posted a picture of her chance meeting with Swedish Melodifestivalen winner John Lundvik at Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport, although she revealed they did not share a flight.

Lundvik represented Sweden in the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Too Late for Love (and co-wrote the UK’s entry, Bigger than Us, the same year), with which he came in fifth.

Lindelwa and John Lundvik. Photo: Private

Gerard met Abba legend Benny Andersson outside his studio in Stockholm.

“I had never seen Benny’s studio so I went to take a look with the ferry from Djurgården to Skeppsholmen. I was told that Benny was in so I waited for a little while and he came out to meet a few fans,” he said, revealing that it was in fact not the first time he ran into Andersson, a composer also known for co-writing hit musicals such as Chess and Kristina from Duvemåla.

“He’s always very kind and patient. I had met him before, last time in 2010 in London for the concert of Kristina at the Royal Albert Hall. Next stop will be May 27th, the second anniversary of Abba Voyage in London where Benny and Björn will do a Q&A before the show.”

Gerard and Benny Andersson back in 2010. Photo: Private

Several other readers also said they had met members of Abba.

“I was a child visiting my relatives in Sweden the year Voulez-Vous was released. My aunt took me to NK [Stockholm mall] to buy the LP. On our way back to her apartment, she spotted Frida on Hamngatan. My aunt was amazing at celeb-spotting, and she was usually very discreet, but in this case she insisted I go up and say hello! Frida was happy to autograph the album for a young fan; it’s still one of my prized possessions today,” said Sue Trowbridge.

Of course, it’s not always easy to recognise celebrities. You might spot a familiar face but not be able to place it, as happened to Linda on two separate occasions when she ran into a Swedish acting star and a member of the Nobel Prize-awarding Swedish Academy.

“I accidentally stared at Pernilla August in a local food shop. She looked familiar but I couldn’t recognise her. She stared back and I suddenly came to my senses and looked another way. Embarrassed. I’ve also stared at Horace Engdahl,” she said.

In The Local’s original survey call-out, we also included a story from Australian reader Jake Farrugia, who was on his lunch break in NK when he spotted a familiar face, Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria. He walked up to her to ask for a selfie.

“She was very nice and we shared some small talk which truly made me feel like we were on the same level and that she had a strong sense of humanity, as I stood there, butchering her native language with my ‘work in progress’ level of Swedish. I can see why the Swedish people have a deep love and respect for her,” Farrugia said.

“It’s a very un-Swedish thing to do, that’s why I think it’s so fun! All of my encounters with celebrities in Sweden have been very positive so far. It’s all in the approach, you have to be respectful and be OK with others not wanting to give you their time of day, since we all have days where we are feeling less social and those can easily be interpreted as a part of our character, but they rarely are a fair representation.

“If I were to be a celebrity, Sweden would be the place to best blend in. It seems like celebrities can live a somewhat normal life as the construct of ‘celebrity’ isn’t viewed as a thing people go hysteric for as is the case in many other countries.”

The Local’s reader Jake Farrugia snapped this selfie with Sweden’s Crown Princess Victoria. Photo: Private
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