All Sweden

The Atlas Obscura Guide To Sweden

424 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Sweden

Updated October 16, 2026
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Cities

Top Cities
All Cities
  1. älvdalen N
  2. älvdalen S
  3. Avesta
  4. Borås
  5. Eskilstuna
  6. Falun
  7. Gävle
  8. Gothenburg
  9. Helsingborg
  10. Hökåsen Badelunda
  11. Hörby
  12. Kiruna
  13. Kungsbacka
  14. Lärbro
  15. Linköping
  16. Luleå
  17. Lund
  18. Malmö
  19. Nacka
  20. Osby
  21. Sala
  22. Sigtuna
  23. Simrishamn
  24. Skellefteå
  25. Smygehuk
  26. Stockholm
  27. Täby Kyrkby
  28. Tanumshede
  29. Uppsala
  30. Varberg
  31. Västerås
  32. Visby

Atlas Obscura Itineraries

The Wilder Side of the Nordics

Sponsored by The Nordics

The Nordic countries are famous for dramatic scenery, from Norway’s fjords and Sweden’s forests to Denmark’s coastlines and Finland’s lakes. But you don’t have to chase the most photographed viewpoints to experience The Nordics’ wild side. Venture off the well-trodden paths and you’ll find boulders that defy gravity, a railway that plunges down a mountainside, and a forest tower that spirals above the treetops. This itinerary pulls together some of the region’s more unusual experiences in nature, architecture, and the outdoors. Hike to a boulder suspended above a fjord, peer into the blue ice of a glacier, walk where two seas collide, and sleep among the pines in an architect-designed treehouse. This route favors places where the landscape itself is the attraction, and where exploring it can mean hiking, riding a ferry, or simply slowing down long enough to notice what’s around you.

View Itinerary

Unusual Attractions in Sweden

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See All 424 Things To Do in Sweden

Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Sweden

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Unforgettable Experiences Nearby

Explore Sweden

History & Culture 43
Museums 40
Art 36
Architecture 35
History 28
Statues 27
Architectural Oddities 26
Sculptures 26

Sweden Leaderboard

Recent Sweden Activity

Stories About Sweden

Author Gary He poses in front of a McDonald’s in Taupō, New Zealand, located in a retired DC-3 aircraft.

‘McAtlas’ Explores the World’s Most Unique McDonald’s Locations—and Dishes

This global guide to McDonald’s covers everything from Thailand’s corn pie à la mode to Sweden’s ski-thru window on the side of a mountain.
by The Podcast Team, Atlas Obscura
A 1914 illustration by John Bauer from the Swedish fairy-tale collection Bland Tomtar och Troll, meaning “Among Gnomes and Trolls.”

The Real-Life Origins of Taboo Fairy Romance

Long before <em>A Court of Thorns and Roses,</em> 17th-century Swedish courts investigated supernatural love.
by Andrew Coletti, Atlas Obscura
This 1882 engraving of Ragnarok, the Viking doomsday, shows Odin mounted on a horse and fighting the wolf Fenrir.

7 Stories That Show Just How Metal the Nordics Are

From Viking werewolves to snacking on pickled ram's testicles, Europe's northernmost countries are badass.
by Roxanne Hoorn, Atlas Obscura
Häxan sets featured a mash-up of iconographies, from Satanism to classical death motifs.

Behold the Weird Glory of Häxan, A Wild 1922 Film About Witchcraft

The ground-breaking documentary blended academic research with salacious scenes of torture and nudity. Censors weren't having it.
by Gavia Baker-Whitelaw, Atlas Obscura

The Viking Women With Intentionally Reshaped Skulls

Scientists posit how and why the ladies achieved the cone-head look.
by Meg St-Esprit, Atlas Obscura
Using teeth as tools likely led to early tooth decay.

Ancient Gum Reveals Stone-Age Teens Chewed on Bones and Made Poison

And had some pretty bad oral health.
by Olivia Young, Atlas Obscura
An illustration of the ritual cremation of a 9th-century Viking leader.

Eat Like a Viking With This Bread Recipe

Cremated archaeological finds can tell us a lot about Early Medieval baking habits.
by Paula Marcoux, Atlas Obscura
The Globe, also known as the Avicii Arena, inspired the Sweden Solar System.

There’s an Entire Solar System Hiding In Sweden

Get ready for the most peculiar road trip that will help you understand the vastness and emptiness of the solar system—and Sweden.
by Frank Jacobs, Atlas Obscura

Lists Featuring Sweden

A standard photo op involves thrusting your candy into the snow.

Ski or Hike Your Way to These 6 Adventurous Treats

Dry martinis are best served in the middle of a snowy forest.

6

Including Ski-Slope Tree Martinis, Bilberry Soup, and Flämmli

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
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