12 Weekend Trip Ideas for Southern Sweden

Thinking of spending your holidays in Sweden? Or already in Sweden and looking for a short break or weekend trip to discover somewhere new? Then you have come to the right place! Over the last (almost) 4 years living in Gothenburg, on Sweden’s West Coast, I have spent many a weekend exploring different areas of Sweden – From Abisko in the North to Österlen in the South. There are so many beautiful places to explore, whether you want a city break or a nature escape, in this blog post you will find my top 12 favourites!

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West Sweden: A Spa Weekend in Smögen

Smögen is one of “the” summer destinations in Sweden. This is mostly because of its picturesque harbour, fresh seafood and great swimming spots! However, there is so much more to do in Smögen that makes it the perfect weekend away at any time of the year! Only a few hours drive (or bus) north of Gothenburg, it is an easy to reach spot perfect for a coastal getaway. Stay at this cosy b&b run by a local or enjoy the spa facilities at Smögen’s Hafvsbad! Hire bikes and explore the town, or cycle over the bridge to Kungshamn where you can hike a section of the Kuststigen! We have spent quite a few weekends in Smögen over the years. My personal favourite time to visit is in the early autumn when the town is quieter and the spa feels much cosier. Make sure to wander down to Smögen Bryggan where you will find the iconic colourful boat houses lining the harbour!

Keep reading: A complete guide to Smögen or A Weekend at Smögens Hafvsbad

Skåne: Hiking in Mölle and Kullaberg Nature Reserve

The town of Mölle, and nearby Kullaberg Nature Reserve, makes for a very cosy weekend getaway. Located on Sweden’s West Coast in the region of Skåne, the area is known for its unique nature – rocky cliffs and big forests. You might even be lucky enough to see porpoises swimming around in the water. Base yourself in this beautiful villa just outside of Mölle and make day trips to explore the area. Make sure to visit the Naturrum to learn about the area, walk down to the famous driftwood sculpture Nimis, and head to the lighthouse for a panoramic view of the coast. While Mölle is very much a summer destination, my personal favourite time to visit Kullaberg Nature Reserve is in the autumn. The nature in late October is so beautiful with the trees turned vibrant shades of oranges and yellows.

Continue exploring: You can read my full guide to Mölle and Kullaberg Nature Reserve here! I have included tips on hiking paths, places to stay and things to do!

Stockholm: A City Escape

Stockholm is the perfect place for a short city break and one of the most popular options for holidays in Sweden! There are so many things to do there you will likely find that just one weekend away in Stockholm is not enough. You can spend the weekend exploring the old town and taking in views from the archipelago, enjoying the restaurant scene and visiting some of the cities oldest cafes, or taking in a bit of culture and history and some of the many museums! One of the best ways to see the whole city is to take the hop-on-hop-off bus tour which takes you to the most popular areas! Make sure to take a trip out into the archipelago, visit the Vasa Museum (one of the best museums I have ever been to), visit the Fotografiska Museum, or take a walking tour around the popular area of Södermalm.

Tips: Read my guide to One day in Stockholm or the 3 Day Stockholm Itinerary

Skåne: A Cosy Weekend in Österlen and Ystad

Österlen and Ystad are two of my favourite areas to spend holidays in Sweden! Farm shops, great restaurants, hiking, and some of Sweden’s most beautiful beaches – what more could you want? I absolutely love the countryside feel of Österlen, with farm shops and cafes sprawled out across the area and such beautiful nature located so close by. There are so many different trips you can take here depending on your interests! Stay at Ystad Saltsjöbad and spend the weekend in the town enjoying the spa and the beach, or head to the incredibly beautiful Rubensholm Bed & Breakfast and enjoy the quietness of the landscape!

Make sure to visit places like Stenhuvuds National Park, Simrishamn and Ale Stenar, not forgetting to stop for fika at Olof Victors! If you like a more active adventure. there are great cycle paths, and if you enjoy hiking, you can also hike one of the most beautiful sections of the Skåneleden which runs along the south coast. A great way to do this if you’re not comfortable hiking alone is to go on a private tour with a guide, which includes accommodation and breakfast!

See more: Read my weekend guide to Ystad and Österlen!

Småland: Rock Candy in Gränna

Gränna is the perfect place for a weekend trip to discover the authentic Sweden. Known for its creation of Polka Gris (rock candy) the very cosy little town centre is lined with spectacular sweet shops! Located on the Vättern, Sweden’s second largest lake, there are lots of different things to do here! Take a ferry over to the island of Visingsö where you will find castle ruins, cosy boutiques and a lot of farmland to explore! In the autumn, the people on Visingsö hold an Apple festival where they sell their apples and other crafts they have produced. You can hire bikes near the port and cycle around the island! If you don’t want to head out into the lake, you can instead take a hike around Gränna! There are some amazing views of the town from the cliffs above, or you can walk to the nearby town of Röttle for a beautiful forest walk to a waterfall! 

See more: The perfect autumn weekend in Gränna

Skåne: Båstad and Bjärehalvön

The Bjäre peninsula (Bjärehalvön), is a beautiful area of Skåne located on the South West Coast of Sweden. The area is known for its dramatic cliffs, especially in Hovs Hallar Nature Reserve, somewhere that feels straight out of Jurassic Park. We spent an amazing weekend in this area in early summer (June) a few years ago and it has to be one of my all time favourite trips in Sweden! We stayed in this amazing Airbnb located within Grevie Åsar Nature Reserve, and spent the days exploring the different villages, farm shops and nature reserves! Don’t miss Kafé Sockerärtan, Båstad’s beautiful Agardhsgatan, or the blooming flowers at Norrviken Gardens!

Read more: Find our itinerary and where we stayed in this guide to Bjärehalvön!

Dalarna: Winter Skiing in Sälen

Sälen is definitely a winter destination, but from the months of December – March it makes for the perfect weekend away! Sälen is a great ski resort located much further south than its counterparts! With all the soft powdery snow and a relatively long season, there is no wonder that skiing is one of the most popular holidays in Sweden. Sälen is a very well known destination for downhill skiing and cross-country skiing, with tracks for both beginners and advanced skiers! Arrive Friday afternoon and check in to your hotel, hit the slopes and end the day by the sauna with a nice cup of hot chocolate! Spend all of Saturday exploring another of the ski resorts in Sälen and then take a small trip out on Sunday before driving home!

See more: You can read my guide to cross country skiing in Sälen here! I have included some of the best accomodation in this post – places we have stayed and loved!

West Sweden: Exploring the Flowering Kinnekulle 

Kinnekulle is probably my favourite place in Sweden which is why we visit every single spring. If you haven’t already heard of it, its an amazing nature reserve located on the south of Sweden’s biggest lake, the Vänern. In the early spring the landscape lights up with vitsippor, and the air is filled with the smell of wild garlic which grows bountifully around the area. In late May/ early June, the wild garlic starts to boom and the forests become something else. Kinnekulle is a great weekend away for a mix of hiking and visits to nice cafes and shops. You can hike the Kinnekulle trail, camp along the way, or drive around and hike small sections of the nature reserve. Make sure to visit Hellekis Säteri for lunch and stop off at Munkängarna to see the wild garlic!

Read the guide: The Best Things to Do in Kinnekulle

West Sweden: Canoeing and Culture in Nääs

Nääs is a very small area around 30 minutes outside of Gothenburg. It is known for Nääs Slott, an old castle turned museum demonstrating the traditional ways of both house and garden upkeep. Across its big moat is Nääs Fabriker, an old factory turned spa, hotel with a boutique shopping gallery and some great cafes! You can spend the weekend cozying up in Nääs Fabriker, walking over to the castle or hiring canoes and paddling around its moat. Take a day trip to Jonsered’s Trädgården for lunch and walk, or hike along the Gotaleden to Floda or evening Alingsås!

Read more: You can read about our day trip canoeing around Nääs Slott here!

Uppsala: Discover the Old City

Uppsala is a University town just north of Stockholm! It is a beautiful little city with castles, old libraries and some great walks to do! Spend a day walking around the town, visiting Uppsala University, walking around Linneanum and Uppsala Slott. And the next visit Gamla Uppsala, the oldest part of the city filled with Viking graves and historical sites. There are a lot of great walking tours in Uppsala, my personal picks being this Uppsala Univerity historical tour, and the gruesome history of Uppsala! Another super fun activity that gives you a great perspective of the city is roof walking on Uppsala Slott!

West Sweden: Canoeing Along the Dalsland Canal

Believe it or not but the Dalsland Canal is known to be one of the best places in Europe for canoeing! With a big lake system connected by a series of locks, it is a really, really special experience exploring here. We took a 3 day canoe trip last summer, starting and ending in Bengtfors, and it was one of the most incredible trips I have taken! If you don’t fancy canoeing, Dalsland is also known for its beautiful, untouched nature! Another weekend trip we have taken was to the town of Fengersfors where we stayed in a cosy B&B and spent a few days hiking, swimming, and just enjoying the slow pace of the area. While you’re there, make sure to head down to Håverud to see the aqueduct – an impressive piece of engineering made over 100 years ago. We took the canal boat from Bengtfors to Håverud and loved it!

Read more: Guide to canoeing in Dalsland or 2 Day Dalsland Itinerary

Kalmar: Summer City of Västervik

Västervik, known as Sweden’s summer city, makes a perfect weekend trip! With direct buses to Gothenburg and Stockholm, and easy train connections to other parts of the country, it is easy to reach and perfect for a mini-break! Take a day trip out into the Tjust archipelago to the sleepy island of Idö, explore the history of Ankarsrums Bruk, or just spend wander around the beautiful old town.

Continue Reading

• More from West Sweden: Gothenburg Archipelago Island Guide, West Sweden’s Best Islands and Villages, West Sweden Map with over 300 places to visit, 2 Days in Gothenburg
• More from Skåne: One Day in Malmö, Day Trips from Malmö, Bjärehalvön Guide
• More from Northern Sweden: Visiting Umeå in Winter, Northern Lights in Abisko, Things to do on Sweden’s High Coast
• More Weekend Destinations: Åstol, Käringön, Söderåsens National Park, Falkenberg Strandbad, Tanum and Grebbestad
• The Ultimate 10 Day Scandinavia Itinerary