The most beautiful places in Sweden
You may know it as: and diskho
You should know what: the world’s highest coastline
A climax is needed when you explore Bodviken, a stop on Sweden’s aptly named Höga Kusten. This unique geological formation is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is 938 feet (and rises) above sea level, making it the world’s highest coastline. The dramatic 80 km long hiking trail is not for the faint of heart, but the spectacular views are more than make-up for moments of jelly-bened dizziness. But if you just look up, you will miss out on some of the High Coast’s most spectacular treasures. Stay closer to the ground with a trip to Nämforsen, a place where more than 2,600 Bronze Age rock carvings have been discovered – the largest collection in Northern Europe. Whether you’ve spent the day climbing cliffs or face-to-face with a 6,000-year-old moose carving, end the evening with a High Coast Whiskey bed bug made here in this gloomy beautiful spot.
Toftan
You may know it as: a trash can
You should feel like: a lake surrounded by incredible art
The Dalarna region influenced home furnishings long before Ikea first named a dustbin after one of its lakes. When you travel through Sweden’s countryside, you will no doubt have noticed the distinctive, rust-red exteriors of the traditional cottages and the pigment that gives falu red color painting its characteristic shade is done right here in Dalarna’s centuries-old mine. The area’s impact on home design does not end there. Art lovers should make a pilgrimage to the artists Carl and Karin Larsson’s family home, which was inspired by William Morris and the Arts and Craft movement to hone the thoughtful, rustic style we associate with Swedish design today. Now a museum, Carl Larsson-gården is a tribute to their work and Swedish culture. For a lighter color tone, head to Nusnäs to see folk artists at work paint simple wooden horses with vibrant floral patterns, known as kurbits. The Dala horses are known all over the world, and you can see the largest found on nearby Avesta; 42 feet high, the beautifully decorated figurine would look like home in every modern gallery in the world.