Sweden travel guide

Picturesque Vadstena lies right out to Vättern, the second largest lake in Sweden. The town's most famous landmark is the Vadstena Castle, built by King Gustav I in the mid 16th-century. The town's marina stretches from the castle to the shore of the lake, and since Vättern is connected to the Baltic sea by channels and lakes, there are boats from many places. There is a tiny patch of sand on the shore in front of the castle. The charming historical center attracts a fair bit of tourists and so does the imposing abbey, which is located right at the waterfront.

UNESCO enlisted Visby is perhaps the coolest town in Sweden, and certainly one of the most pleasant. For one thing, it’s enclosed by a thick stone wall, with several relatively intact portals and towers, dating back to the 12th and 13th century. The town itself consists of cute little stone and wooden houses, cobble-stone streets (only residents may drive here in summer), an abundance of roses and gorgeous views of the Baltic Sea. Add a host of cafes, restaurants, craft and deli shops and nearby beaches, and you’ve got your perfect summer destination. Because that’s what it is: a summer destination. In July, downtown Visby never sleeps as the party moves here from Stockholm, and in August the town goes medieval-crazy. But quiet corners are never far away, and if you visit in winter, although far gloomier, the snow-covered stone ruins are no less beautiful.