Summer in Sweden: 7 things you need to know before you go

Summer in Sweden is the time every Swede looks forward to the other nine months of the year! Because summer in Sweden means long days, lots of light, festivals and parties and fun things happening everywhere. But also… mosquitoes! And not being able to sleep because of the daylight. And possibly even a fire ban due to the risk of forest fires. I have spent every summer in Sweden for the past eight years (and moved to Swedish Lapland in the summer of ’23) and in this article I have collected my very best tips for things you probably didn’t realize about what summer in Sweden can also be like …

Hej hej! My name is Antonette and in 2023 I moved from The Netherlands to Sweden. On my website, you will only find firsthand information, written by a local. Enjoy!

At the time of writing, Midsummer is approaching and that means that in the north of Sweden there will be no sunset at all for a period of time. The Midsummer Night’s Sun holds many under its spell, but also from their sleep.

This means that in most of Sweden it hardly gets dark during the months of June and July. You can enjoy super long days and fully enjoy all the beauty that Sweden has to offer.

But… it can also disturb your peace of mind. It has happened to me regularly that it’s still bright and you’re outside and all of a sudden it’s midnight or even after midnight. The 24 hour daylight can be quite a thing if you are sensitive to light and can cause trouble sleeping. I always carry a sleeping mask whenever I travel in the summer and make sure that I still go to bed at my regular bed time, even if I don’t always feel like it.

The summer holidays in Sweden are slightly different than elsewhere in the world. Most schools close their doors from midsummer (June 21) and reopen in mid-August. In the summer, don’t be surprised if official institutions also close their doors. Think of banks or hospitals and no, I’m not kidding. Where I live, regional hospitals sometimes close for summer. Summer is holy to the Swedes and almost everyone takes a vacation in July. Road works are also regularly stopped during the summer holidays as there simply is no staff.

This ensures many parties, festivals and fun happenings. The Swedes love to party, so don’t be surprised if you encounter drunk Swedes in many places in the summer. Officially you are not allowed to drink in public in Sweden (e.g. on a beach or in a park), but in the summer it seems as if everyone somewhat lets go of that rule. Besides summer we have many parties, festivals and happenings as we want to soak up the most.

Around midsummer there are festivals and festivities in many places that celebrate the arrival of summer. As a tourist you are very welcome at midsummer celebrations, you will find them all throughout Sweden, but most commonly in Stockholm and Dalarna. Some smaller towns, like where I live, have no special midsummer celebrations though.

Although according to it Sweden’s right to roam you are free to start a fire anywhere, there is often a fire ban in Sweden in the summer due to the high risk of forest fires. This is always announced publicly, for example at campsites and at petrol stations. And since you don’t want to be the one who starts a forest fire with a spark, I strongly advise you to follow the applicable rules.

With the arrival of summer, the mosquitoes have also returned. They usually appear around the end of May and, depending on the weather, they are there until mid/end of August. Mosquitoes can really ruin your holiday, but you can also take measures to protect yourself against mosquitoes. My best tips about how to deal with mosquitoes in Sweden can be found here.

In Sweden it is very common to take a cooling dip in a river or lake or even the ocean. Although it can be a super hot day, the water is often cold, especially the further you go towards the mountains. So be prepared to take a big hit in terms of cold if you suddenly jump into the water out of nowhere. The lakes and rivers are of course also full of fish, so you may feel something moving along your leg, although normally they just get out of your way. Almost all lakes and swimming spots have rescue buoys for emergencies.. Swimming is of course always at your own risk.

By the way, the Swedes love to swim naked. This probably sounds strange, but you shouldn’t be surprised if you suddenly see someone emerging from the water without swimming clothes during a walk. Nothing to be afraid of, it is very normal in Sweden. Wearing swimwear is of course no problem for you as a visitor, but do what you feel comfortable with!

Let me be honest, summer brings hustle and bustle. Cities are emptying out, but places like islands in the various archipelagos are filling up with Swedes going to their holiday homes. Places such as Bohuslän, Österlen and the Höga Kusten are also popular places for Swedes to go on holiday. Several national parks (including Fulufjället and Skuleskogen) cannot handle the crowds in the summer and often close their parking lots early in the morning because they are full.

If you are looking for calm and quiet Sweden, try to stay away from the south and coast and head inland and north instead.

Summer means picking berries! I love going out and coming home with containers full of berries to enjoy. I bake with them, have them as a snack and freeze them for winter so I always have vitamins at hand. You can also make jams and juices with them. Which berries you find where and when you can read in my article about berry picking in Sweden.

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

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I hope you found this article about summer in Sweden useful. Would you like to read more about summer in Sweden? Then you will may like the following articles:

• What to do in Åre in summer?
• The most beautiful waterfalls in Sweden
• The weather in Sweden: this is what you need to know!

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