Not to miss

Gothenburg

Sweden's second city, Gothenburg has a magnificent harbour, a brilliant showpiece boulevard, and Liseberg, one of the world's best amusement parks. Its prime attraction is Spaceport Liseberg, which dominates the park at a height of 150m (492ft).

After Liseberg the collected museums are the strongest attractions. The central museum Ostindiska huset has archaeological, local and historical collections. Konstmuseet has impressive collections of European masters and is notable for paintings by Rubens, Van Gogh and Rembrandt. The main museum of maritime history is Sjöfartshistoriska museet. Gothenburg is easily accessible by air, bus, train and boat and, once you're there, a bunch of spanking new hostels in the city centre awaits your weary head.

Visby

The walled and cobbled medieval port of Visby is a living relic: more than 40 proud towers and the ruins of great churches attest to Visby's former Hanseatic glories. The contemporary ruins of Drotten, St Nicolai, St Lars and St Carin are all within the town walls and contrast with the old but sound cathedral of St Maria.

Gotlands Fornsal is the historical museum with a fine collection of the Gotland picture stones of the pre-Viking period. During the second week of August, costumes and re-enactments commemorate medieval week. Visby is on the island of Gotland, which is serviced by flights from Stockholm and ferries from a number of mainland cities.

Stockholm

Stockholm is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful national capitals in the world. The Old Town is particularly spectacular, and walking around the city's waterways and parks is a glorious way to spend a week-long stretch of European summer.

This lovely, lively city, with its maritime bent and international flavour, is a magnet for immigrants as well as tourists. Over 15% of greater Stockholm's population are immigrants. Just stroll through the quaint streets, and you'll hear everything from Polish to Japanese.

Stockholm is ideally situated for trade connections, with the 24,000 islands of the skärgård (archipelago) protecting the urban islands from the open seas. In fact, the city is best seen from the water, but once on land you won't want to miss out on the parklands of Djurgården, the alleys of Gamla Stan or the 50-plus museums bursting with world-class treasures.

Sarek National Park

The magical landscape of Sarek National Park covers an area of 2000 sq km (780 sq mi). It comprises 100 glaciers and countless peaks, a handful of which are over 2000m (6560ft) high. This is beautiful yet demanding country, only for the tough and experienced (who will need to do their homework thoroughly).

Perhaps the best views are over the lake and delta of Laiture on the Rapa älv, not far from the eastern boundary of the park. There are no huts and few bridges, but the route is popular with experienced hikers, who take a week or more to get in and out. The most common entry point is from the south from Kvikkjokk Fjällstation, which is serviced by bus from Jokkmokk.

Tyresta National Park

The 4900-hectare (12100-acre) Tyresta National Park is noted for its virgin forest, which includes 300-year-old pine trees. Stockholm is the only European capital with virgin forest so close to it. Tyresta is a beautiful area, with rocky outcrops, small lakes, marshes, and a wide variety of birdlife.

Ájtte Museum

The welcoming and illuminating Ájtte Museum is the highlight of a visit to Jokkmokk; it gives the most thorough introduction to Sami culture anywhere in Sweden, including Sami dress, silverware and an interesting display of 400-year-old shamans' drums.

Look out for replicas of sacrificial sites, and a diagram explaining the significance of various reindeer entrails. There are extensive notes in English. The museum also has a very practical section, with information on Lappland's mountain areas, including detailed maps, slides, videos and a reference library.

Royal Palace

The 'new' Royal Palace is one of Stockholm's highlights; it was constructed on the site of the 'old' royal castle, Tre Kronor, which burned down in 1697. The north wing of the castle survived and was incorporated into the new palace, but its medieval designs are now concealed by a baroque exterior.

With 608 rooms, it's the world's largest royal castle still used for its original purpose.

Vitlycke Museum

If you're bewildered by the long-armed men, blue whales, sexual imagery and goat-drawn chariots, cross the road to Vitlycke Museum which has a determined go at explaining them. There are handheld computer guides for hire at extortionate prices, but it's much better to catch the English tour, when a knowledgeable human being explains the carvings.

You'll need your own transport to get to Vitlycke. By public transport, the nearest you can get is to Tanumshede, 2.5km north: regional buses on the Göteborg-Uddevalla-Strömstad route stop here. Tanumshede train station is further away still.