Sweden is a great destination for the entire family. Along with all of the natural beauty and abundant wilderness, there are plenty of activities to keep the children thoroughly entertained.

Slottsskogen Park
Slottsskogen Park is a popular place to head on summer days. Located in Gothenburg, the park is teeming with sunbathers and people-watchers in the afternoons. Children will particularly enjoy the pool here, which is full of seals, with feeding time at 14:00 being a highlight. The park also contains Barnens Zoo, where both children and adults can learn about animals from around the world. There is also a playground nearby at Plikta. The park is accessible by taking tram number 1 or 2 to Linneplatsen, or alternatively, tram number 7 to Botaniska Trädgården.

Humlegården
Humlegården in Stockholm is a great place to take the kids, with its large playground, called Humlan, which also has staff who can watch the children, giving parents a chance to take a rest. Refreshments are available in the small cottage, while hotdog barbeques are held here on Tuesdays. There are also three-wheelers, scooters and pedal cars for those who want to try a different way of getting around.

Gröna Lund
A must for all visitors to Stockholm, Gröna Lund is Sweden’s most impressive amusement park. From rollercoaster rides and a house of fun to a free-fall zone and haunted house, you are guaranteed to have fun here. Suitable for an entire day’s outing, there are plenty of food stalls here to keep hungry thrill-seekers happy. This is also a popular location for concerts, with the park hosting some big name performers, while the Grönalundsteatern theatre also provides lively entertainment. Gröna Lund is only open from late April to early September.

With the country having dozens of lakes and much of it experiencing cool weather in the winter, ice skating is a popular activity. For those interested in figure skating or snowboarding, you would be hard pressed to find areas with as much scenic beauty as Sweden.

Football
Like the rest of Europe, football is a national passion and you will find both watching and participating in matches a popular pastime. Some notable Swedish football heroes include Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Henrik Larsson and Fredrik Ljungberg. Matches are often held at the weekends at major stadiums around the country, while on a lesser scale, most parks and school fields fill up on sunny afternoons for local matches.

Ice skating
Ice hockey is also hugely popular, with the city’s teams having large followings. Try the rink at the King's Garden in Stockholm, while is only there is the winter months; skates are available for hire. Each year Sweden is host to the Vikingarännet, the world’s longest race across thick ice, stretching at 80kms. Anyone can register in the race, making it open to visitors as well as resident Swedes.

Skiing and Snowboarding
Situated in the north of Sweden, 620kms from Stockholm, Åre has one of Sweden's largest ski resorts and one of the largest ski areas in northern Europe, with 44 lifts. Host to several ski competitions throughout the year including The Freeride and Red Bull Big Air, this is the resort to head to if you want to hit the slopes. For those who want to take it easy, the après-ski scene here is top-notch. Characterised by beautiful scenery, efficient Swedish operation and excellent facilities, this resort is ideal for all levels of skiers and snowboarders, with slopes ranging in difficulty.

In Sweden, you will be faced with many tempting and traditional Scandinavian delights, with potatoes, meat and fish all playing significant roles in the country’s cuisine. Many of the dishes are simple, with the natural flavours being the only seasoning in most cases, with a distinct absence of spices.

Must-try items include; Swedish meatballs (köttbullar), which are traditionally served with gravy, potatoes and lingonberry jam, while plättar (Swedish pancakes) is another favourite, also served with jam. Sweden’s variation on the sandwich is the smörgås, which is a type of open-faced sandwich, and you should not leave without sampling a smörgåsbord, which is a kind of platter with rye bread, cheeses and cold meats among other delicacies. Sill, pickled herring, is a speciality that you will find country-wide and is often served as a starter.

While the more traditional dishes still play a significant role in the country’s cuisine, you will also find a plentiful supply of other European flavours, with Swedish interpretations of pasta and pizza being very popular. International cuisine, ranging from Thai and Japanese to Mexican and Indian are also present in the larger cities, as are steak and grill restaurants.

Take-away food is widely available for those who want to grab a quick bite outside mealtimes, with all the well known chains present as well as some Swedish home brands such as Sibylla or Max, while kebab shops, burger bars and Chinese outlets are also open late.

Sweden’s larger cities such as Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö offer an excellent range of shopping opportunities, with big name chains widespread and often housed in modern shopping malls. While you will find everything imaginable available, prices are more expensive here than in most other European countries, making bargain hunting something that does not feature on most people’s holiday itineraries. While it is nice to pick up some traditional Swedish souvenirs, the majority of visitors tend to stick to window shopping preferring to buy similar items back at home.

Most shops will have set prices, with bargaining only acceptable at markets and in antique shops.