Sweden's first Viking city is also the site of thousands of burial mounds.

This small museum nestled inside a souvenir shop is dedicated to Sweden's most well-known toy.

The first thermometer made with the almost-universal temperature scale is backwards.

Legend says this fabled well held part of a mythical Norse tree.

A Swedish phone box converted into an informal village library.

A tiny town hall—in Sweden's one-time capital—might be the smallest in Europe.

An 11th-century runestone decorates the halls of Terminal 2 of this Scandinavian travel hub.

Sweden's oldest street has not changed for nearly a millennium.

This small figurine of a bear tells us a lot about the value of jewels and funerary practices in Roman Britannia.

A rare surviving Victorian greenhouse designed specifically to house giant water lilies.

A favorite with sightseers and locals alike, this Norwegian funicular provides easy access to a stunning view of Bergen and its environs.

One man's exploration of the human form, including the bizarre and delightful "Man Attacked by Babies."

Tens of thousands of tiny bottles stuffed with various items.

A microbiologist-chef is slinging noodles with hyperlocal Nordic ingredients.

This handsomely carved wooden church is more than 800 years old.

Housing the famous Norwegian ice-defying 19th century polar exploration ship.

Ancient burial grounds of the wealthy.

The official meeting point for the oddly named governing assembly of ancient Sweden.

This mysterious runestone embedded in a church wall is linked to the medieval cult of Saint Erik.

A rare rune stone dedicated to a woman.

A large collection of ancient runestones decorates this university courtyard.

The second oldest anatomical theater is housed in a museum of curiosities.

Stockholm's deepest subway station is also a stunning ecological wonder.

Absolutely no saxophones in the library.