The most beautiful places in southern Sweden

Are you going on a trip to southern Sweden and do you want to make sure you don’t miss any highlights? In this article you will find my personal top 10 of the most beautiful places in southern Sweden. Please note: I have not been everywhere (yet) and am always open to additional tips and suggestions, which you can leave in the comments so that other readers can benefit from them too!

I have listed the places from south to north and are in no particular order of preference

The Stones of Ale, or Ales Stenar, is one of the most beautiful places in southern Sweden. These 59 stones are located high above the sea and are well worth a visit. They form a gigantic ship that towers 32 meters above the sea. It’s the best preserved ship-shaped monument in all of Sweden and attracts thousands of visitors every year.

Read more about Ales Stenar here.

Ystad is best known for the books about inspector Kurt Wallander by author Henning Mankell. It’s one of the nicest towns in southern Sweden. Stroll through the narrow cobbled streets past old colored houses and be amazed by the friendly atmosphere here. There are many nice little shops with knickknacks and on the central market square you will find plenty of cozy cafes and places for a fika.

My full article about Ystad can be found here.

Stenshuvud National Park is located on the southeast coast of Skåne and on a sunny day the bright blue water with white sandy beaches almost feels tropical. It’s not a large national park, in half a day you can visit all the highlights without any problems, most of them are only accessible on foot so make sure to wear proper footwear.

You read more about Stenshuvud National Park here.

Another national park not to be missed is Söderåsen, located inland from Skåne. You will find a very special gorge here: the Skåralidsdalen, where you can take beautiful walks. The highlight of your visit to Söderåsen is the Kopparhattan viewpoint, from where you can gaze into the distance.

Read more about Söderåsen National Park here.

Kullabergs Nature Reserve is located on a headland in Kattegat in southwestern Sweden, just north of the city of Helsingborg. Here it becomes clear that this side of southern Sweden is a lot rougher than that of eastern Sweden. You will find exciting rock formations and lonely lighthouses and with a bit of luck you can spot whales.

Åsnen is one of Sweden’s newest national parks and was established in 2018. This park consists largely of water and is located around Lake Åsnen in the Småland region. There are more than 100 different species of plants and there are some short walking routes you can take. In the summer months, Åsnen National Park is ideal for exploring by canoe or kayak.

Read more about Åsnen National Park here.

My favorite city in southern Sweden is Gothenburg. I have been there four times now and every time there is a new place to discover. A fun and not too busy period is spring, when the blossoms are in full bloom. There are also numerous nature reserves around the city, making Gothenburg ideal as a city trip with a bit of nature.

Fjällbacka is truly one of the most beautiful places in southern Sweden, from the water the town looks like a postcard. The colored houses on the Bohuslän archipelago are very photogenic and unfortunately it is also very busy and touristy in the summer. You will find a nice walk to the gorge where Ronja the Robber’s Daughter was filmed and you can of course go out by boat.

Read my complete article about Fjällbacka here.

Another beautiful place in southern Sweden is Store Mosse National Park. This park has the largest wetland area south of Swedish Lapland. The origins of nature in the park date back 14,000 years ago, when the ice age in Europe ended and the ice cap melted. You can take beautiful walks there and you have a beautiful view from the bird watching tower.

The two largest lakes in Sweden are Lake Vänern and Lake Vättern, which are located in the north of southern Sweden. There is plenty to see and do around the Great Lakes, from hiking to kayaking to fishing and moose spotting.

I’m sure there are many more beautiful places to discover in southern Sweden, but every time I travel I’m amazed at how many options there are. For example, I hope to go to Öland again in the future and discover more of Bohus län, but outside the high season.

E-book Sweden for Beginners

Are you planning your first trip to Sweden? Excellent choice—there’s a good chance you’ll fall in love with this country just like I did.

I was once a beginner myself. Back in 2015, to be exact. Since then, I’ve traveled to Sweden every year, and since 2023 I’ve been living in Swedish Lapland. In my e-book, you’ll find everything you need to know about your first trip to Sweden, written by a local (me!).

I share many of my own experiences and all the things I wish I had known when I first traveled to Sweden in 2015.

View the e-book

There is more than enough to do in southern Sweden to keep you busy for a few summers. If you would like to read more about the south of Sweden, you will also enjoy the following articles:

• One week itinerary in the south of Sweden
• What to do in Hoör
• Everything you want to know about Söderåsen National Park in Skåne

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