Once visitors swap the sophistication of
Stockholm for the wild, open spaces beyond,
the fun really starts. Sweden’s love affair
with the great outdoors is enshrined in law
with the brilliant Right of Public Access, or
Allemansrätten. Nature is seen as something
to be enjoyed and not owned – private
property is an alien concept.
THE FINAL FRONTIER
There is total freedom to roam across
another’s land, swim or sail in their waters
and pick mushrooms and berries in their
forest. It works on the understanding that
visitors are only passing through.
Sweden has roughly the same population as
Greater London living in a country more than
twice the size of the UK. So there’s no need
to squabble over a particular patch of turf
and you never have far to go to enjoy total,
blissful isolation.
FINE DINING -
Swedes love a feast, which is probably why
they invented the Smörgåsbord. Dining out is
expensive, but always fabulous. Evidence of
their resistance to average food is that despite
worldwide ubiquity, KFC had to wait until
this year before opening its first franchise in
Stockholm.
ADVENTURE SPORTS -
Whether river rafting in the Jämtland mountains,
going for a late night swim in one of the
country’s 97,500 lakes or camping on a deserted
island, Sweden is all about the outdoors. Come
rain, come shine, come wintery blizzard, there
is an activity to match that will get your heart
pumping.
ONE FOR THE ROAD -
The cost of a drink in Sweden is legendary – a
bottle of house red can set you back in excess
of £60 at a Stockholm restaurant. This is driven
by the state-owned alcohol monopoly. Stocking
up on drink for your BBQ takes military planning
and a visit to one of the 400 government liquor
stores.
