Best time to visit Sweden

2 min summary When to go Map & highlights Things to do Kayaking Cycling Northern Lights Stockholm Families Tips Responsible tourism All our Sweden guides

Best time to visit Sweden

There's a season for everything in Sweden, whether you want ice and aurora or sylvan summer frolics.

Winter and summer both count as the best time to visit Sweden! January and February offer winter wonders: stalking wolves and aurora in the north plus Sami festivals; skating frozen lakes in the south. June to August brings long warm sunny days for exploring islands and lakes, or scoffing seafood in ravishing coastal villages. October offers autumn colour and a dramatic thinning of crowds, while December is a season of celebratory hot spiced wine and cosy candle-lit interiors.

Call us for the best time to go to Sweden

Stockholm Weather Chart

MIN °C

MAX °C

RAIN (mm)

JAN

-5

FEB

-5

-1

MAR

-3

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

-3

Our Sweden Holidays

Sweden, Month by month

The further north you travel in Sweden, around Lulea, then the colder it’s going to get with snow falling and freezing temperatures expected throughout January and February and into March. The winter can be the best time to go to Sweden if you’re hoping to catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights over Swedish Lapland or follow wolf prints across snow covered tracks. It’s still relatively cold in April, even down south, but clear blue sky days and warm togs more than make up for the odd flurry of snow or chilly evening temperatures. May signals the start of the summer both for the north and south of the country and is the best time to go to Sweden for outdoor lovers looking for peaceful lakesides and uncrowded forest trails. June, July and August are also ideal times to visit in terms of temperature but you will find more crowds as well as a fair few mozzies around the lakes and birch forests, particularly in the lowlands of the north. Temperatures are starting to dip in September and October especially at night and on higher ground; and as Sweden enters November and December it’s time to wrap up warm as the first snow showers start to return in earnest.

What happens when in Sweden

Marcus Eldh from our supplier Wild Sweden offers two contrasting suggestions for the best time to visit Sweden: “The warm season is May to September when the weather is easygoing and there is plenty of light with long sun hours. To experience snowy landscapes, Northern Lights and Sami culture, I would go in "Spring-Winter", which is basically February-April when the light has returned to Sapmi (Lapland).”

Travel Team

If you'd like to chat about Sweden or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

01273 823 700

Calling us from outside the UK?

rosy@responsibletravel.com

Festivals & events in Sweden

Did you know about...?

The first Friday after June 21 sees the erecting of giant maypoles (an old fertility symbol) for Midsummer - Sweden's biggest excuse for carousing, fuelled by beer and aquavit. Mass consumption of pickled herring with potatoes and sour cream lessens the next day national hangover. Note many museums and tourist facilities close for the day.

More about Sweden

Sweden travel guide

Pick through our Sweden travel guide and find out what we consider to be rated, underrated and downright overrated as well as a brief history of Sweden and how to travel like a local on your Sweden holiday.

Sweden Map & highlights

Sweden covers an area twice the size of Britain, which means that if you’re looking to make the most of your time here our interactive Sweden map and highlights will provide a priceless introduction.

Things to do in Sweden

For the best things to do in Sweden you need to head out into the wilderness where the Northern Lights, Arctic predators and more than 2000 protected natural areas form just the tip of the iceberg.

Kayaking in Sweden

The Saint Anna archipelago, wild and pristine, is the most renowned destination for sea kayaking in Sweden - a remote, almost uninhabited landscape, just made for adventurous discovery.

Cycling holidays in Sweden

Sweden is one of Europe’s most underrated cycling destinations, but we’ll help you uncover its secrets with plenty of practical advice in terms of locations and things to do, from whizzing along forested bike tracks in Sörmland to leisurely pedals around the Stockholm Archipelago.

Seeing the Northern Lights in Sweden

Watching as the aurora borealis streak across the night sky is one of those magical experiences that’ll stay with you for the rest of your life, so deciding when and where to watch them is key.

Things to see & do in Stockholm

One of the most beautiful capital cities in Europe, Stockholm is bursting with elegant waterside buildings, excellent museums and cool cafes.

Walking holidays in Sweden

Explore the trails in Sweden where forests brim with birdlife and berries, curious cattle wander gentle rolling fields and island hopping is all part of the fun.

Wildlife holidays in Sweden

Just a couple of hours from Stockholm and you’re in forests inhabited by beavers, bears and enormous moose, while Lapland brings winter adventures where spotting reindeer, driving huskies and getting to know the Sámi culture are all on the cards.

Winter holidays in Sweden

Head to Sweden come wintertime and you’ll find picturesque snow-draped landscapes and plenty of ways to get around them: think cross country skiing, snowmobiling and dog sledding, with accommodation ranging from luxury treehouses to hotels built from ice.

Travelling in Sweden with kids

From woodcrafts to wilderness walks and wolf-tracking, if you’re looking into exciting activities for families in Sweden then this page should give you no end of inspiration on how to keep the kids entertained.

Sweden travel advice

Read a few tips from our friends in Sweden as you learn what our experts Maya Rao, Carmen Hamdi and Marcus Eldh have to say with regards to things to do and how to travel safely in Sweden.

Responsible tourism in Sweden

Doing your research into Sweden responsible travel issues starts here with the low down on preserving Sami culture, defending human and animal rights, and protecting woodland areas.

All our Sweden guides

Find all of our Sweden guides in one place, to particular places in Sweden such as Stockholm or Swedish Lapland, or for more detail about the different types of holidays we offer such as walking or cycling in Sweden.