10_ScanMag_76_May_2015_Q9_Scan Magazine 1 07/05/2015 09:03 Page 73
TO P 1 SP 0 S EC U IA IN MM L T SW ER HE ED EX M EN PE E: 20 RIE 15 NC
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Top 10 Summer Experiences in Sweden, 2015 It is already getting warmer in Sweden and we are all looking forward to summer. Summer in Sweden is all about being outdoors as much as possible to make the most of the sunlight. Most Swedes will take a long holiday in July or August of around one month to have time to really relax in their summer houses or just by the sea or a lake. By Anna Hjerdin, Communications manager, Visit Sweden
The main event in the summer is of course Midsummer Day on the Friday closest to the 21st June and the longest day of the year. This is when Swedes head outdoors to pick flowers for garlands, make a maypole to dance around while pretending to be a little frog during the ‘Små Grodorna’ (The Little Frogs) dance , and of course to eat herring, new potatoes and strawberry cake with lots of cream and sing songs and drink schnapps. Having survived the Midsummer celebrations it is very nearly time for the long summer holiday. The Swedish cities tend to feel quite empty during the summer
months but it is a great time to visit. Restaurants and bars move outside and festivals take place in all the main cities, for example the music festival Way out West in Gothenburg and the Malmö Festival. If you are in Gothenburg or Stockholm, make sure you hop on a boat and travel out in the archipelago. You don’t need to go far to find an island paradise. Fjäderholmarna is just about 15 minutes away from central Stockholm. On the West Coast you can travel by tram from Gothenburg to Saltholmen and then on to the boats that take you out into the archipelago.
If you are in Skåne in the South of Sweden, you can enjoy long sandy beaches and picturesque seaside villages, cycle along the coast line and even visit Swedish vineyards. Or travel further north to Swedish Lapland to experience the midnight sun, when the sun never sets over the magnificent national parks. Welcome to celebrating summer in Sweden 2015!
Photo credits: Top left: Niclas Vestefjell Middle left: Henrik Tryg Bottom left: Ola Ericson Top right: Rodrigo Rivas Ruiz Bottom right: Conny Fridh
For more information, please visit: www.visitsweden.com
Issue 76 | May 2015 | 73