The right to roam, or allemansrätten in Swedish, has been enshrined in law since 1994 although the need to connect with nature has long been a fundamental part of lifestyles. You only have to see a group of Swedish people running naked from the sauna into a nearby lake to understand that being natural is, well, second nature. Having a right to access land also aligns with the Swedish core principles of equality and responsibility. Everyone should be able to walk, run, camp or swim in the countryside, no matter what their background. Removing clothes in the sauna is a pretty good leveller for everyone anyway. Moving on, here are our five best hikes in Sweden, all day trips that are part of our longer walking holiday. Clothing is advised.
Högklint, south coast of Gotland
Gotland is Sweden’s largest island and, on this walking holiday, you get to explore a combination of its sublime seascapes and ancient heritage. We’re talking stupendous sea stacks, limestone caves and divine islets. On the last day, however, you head to Högklint, which are the highest sea cliffs (48m) on the island, where you need deep Baltic breaths to take in their magnificence. En route, you also have some seriously gorgeous Gotland moments. The first is Södra Hällarna Nature Reserve which protects the area’s cliffs, sea stacks (raukar) and wildflower-filled meadows. It’s one of those places where you think, surely this walk can’t get any better? It can.
The next stop is Fridhem, where Villa Fridhem was the summer residence for Princess Eugénie of Sweden in the 1800s, apparently medically prescribed to do so. Taking a sea dip around these parts is high on our list of prescriptions too. Last but not least is Högklint, the natural godfather of Gotland, which you don’t want to mess with, so stay back from its crumbly edge. The walk comes to a close in the former fishing village of Ygne fiskeläge, where you can get a bus back to Visby. Although, given that this is a famously beautiful sunset spot, you can also take your time and just walk back. It is your last day after all, so you might as well garner as much of Gotland as you possibly can.
Distance: 12km
Walking time: 3h
Marstrandön and Koön Islands, Bohuslän Archipelago
Bohuslän Archipelago is West Sweden’s archipelagic arcadia, boasting a seascape of granite rocks that have been worn down to smooth islets and island idylls, perfect for hiking and adventuring. We have an eight day, self-guided walking holiday there with each day bringing you another island idyll. However, it’s the walking trail on day two that is one of our favourites, mainly because it captures the cultural and natural heritage of the Bohuslän region perfectly, setting the tone for a sublime trip.
Your walk starts in Marstrand, which is the main town on the (mostly, except for residents) car-free island of Marstrandsön, which means Marstrand Island in Swedish. It’s joined by a narrow straight with the island of Koön, which is where you spend the night. Start with a 5km circuit around Marstrandsön with highlights including Carlstens Fortress, the ridiculously pretty town of Marstrand with its red, white and yellow weatherboarded houses and various bathing beaches. After meandering around Marstrand, and enjoying a seafood feast somewhere lovely, you head back to Koön. Here, you bring the most divine of days to a close with rambles over the archipelago’s typical granite rocks, across wooden bridges and along cliffs, where you get perfect sunset views over Marstrandsfjorden.
Distance: 12km
Walking time: 4h
Sandön, Stockholm Archipelago
As well as exploring the contemporary and very cool capital of Stockholm, Island lovers who haven’t discovered its sprawling archipelago have a treat in store. The Stockholm archipelago is made up of over 24,000 islands and islets stretching out into the Baltic Sea, all within a hiking heartbeat of Stockholm. You can go island-hopping on our summer Stockholm archipelago tour or our quieter autumn or spring one. On the summer one, it’s the day of walking on the island of Sandön that’s our Scandi standout. Known as Sandhamn locally, it’s one of the furthest islands out in the archipelago but, as this trail starts with a ferry journey from the island of Grinda, where you spend the previous night, it’s only a 50mins ferry journey from there.
After arriving at the main town of Sandhamn, with what feels like a model collection of clapboard houses, bobbing boats and sandy beaches, you start a circuit of the island. This is a trail where pine trees cling to rocky shores, white sands glint at the side of the trail and fecund forest floors are foraging heaven, with blueberries and lingonberries in late summer. Trouville beach is the other natural treasure on the far side of the island, with white sands and no shortage of Baltic sailors. Don’t miss a visit to Sandhamn bakery on your way back, before heading to Grinda on the late afternoon boat.
Distance: 10km
Walking time: 2.5h
Mölle to Arild, Kullaleden Trail
Welcome to Skåne in the south–west of Sweden, where the Kullaleden Trail is a 70km journey around the Kullen Peninsula, starting out from the medieval city of Helsingborg. Famously foodie and arty, this region is also very pretty, and you can hike through it on this eight day, self-guided walking holiday. Our highlight is the halfway point on day four, a totally salty and satisfying saunter. Starting out from Mölle, famous for its sea swimming, you head out along cliff trails through birch and oak forests, taking an early stop at the exquisite Ransvik Havsveranda waterfront cafe.
From here you continue through Kullaberg Nature Reserve to the 13th-century Kullen Lighthouse which has superb views over Kattegat Strait, especially at sunset. You also have an option to visit Silver Cave, located down a rocky path below the lighthouse. If it’s been raining, it’s best to avoid this bit, and continue on through a beech forest to Josefinelund, another great viewpoint. Before bringing your walk to a close in Arild, a former fishing village but now very artsy enclave with the Kullaberg cliffs rising up behind it. You should also check out the giant public art installation, Nimis, which adds to your walk by about an hour.
Distance: 17.3-18.8km
Walking time: 5-6h
Simrishamn to Kivik, Österlen Way
The Österlen Way is another Skåne long-distance trail, starting and ending in Ystad. It’s part of the larger Skåneleden Trail and you can walk it in eight days on this holiday, following a section between Ystad and Alunbruket. On day five of the tour, you take on the longest but most eclectic of hiking itineraries. Starting in the fishing village of Simrishamn, you then swap marine life for meadows and apple orchards, many of which are the source of local cider and apple juice. You should be able to sample some in one of the small villages that you pass en route, such as Baskemölla and Vik.
Dipping in and out of the coast, with sweeping views across the Baltic, the trail then treats you to forest canopies for a while, and also includes an ascent to Stenshuvud (97m), in the eponymous national park. This ascent which feels quite tough compared with the other flat bits of the trail, but worth it for the views across Hönö Bay. The day comes to a close in the pretty harbour town of Kivik.
Distance: 22km
Walking time: 5-6h
Food festivals in Sweden
Swedes love their sustainable food and there is no shortage of events to tuck into while on our walking holidays. Check out the street food festivals in Stockholm or Gothenburg during June, July and August respectively. We’re totally here for herrings in its bespoke festival in Marstrand at the beginning of June. And if you time your trip there with the first Thursday after 08 August, this is Crayfish Premiere Day, the beginning of the season to fish for this important food source in the region’s lakes. To gorge on Gotland, you could extend our very last hiking tour at the end of August to take in their famous Skördefestival, or Harvest Festival at the beginning of September. And you have two foodie fests in Kivik on the Österlen Way to keep an eye out for, with the Österlen Wine Festival at the end of July and the Apple Market Festival, which runs from the end of September into October.
We hope that our chosen list of the best hikes in Sweden has inspired you to join the allemansrätten gang. If it has, it’s also worth noting that this concept of right to roam has a striking motto attached to it: Inte störa, inte förstöra, which translates as ‘don’t disturb, don’t destroy’. So please roam responsibly, and respect the Swedish stewards of these spectacular landscapes. For more information, don’t hesitate to contact our adventure specialists. You may also enjoy reading our blogs on West Sweden, the Best time to go to Sweden and the Skåneleden Trail. Sweden’s beautiful south.
