Join us, be our eyes and ears and share your holiday experiences of Sweden. This is not only great fun but also provides a valuable insight to those looking to travel to Sweden.

13 Jan 2010
** NEW HOLIDAY ** Simply Sweden is pleased to announce a new winter holiday. Our mountain escape holiday at Fjällnäs Reserve in central Sweden close to the Norwegian border offers a place to relax and absorb wonderful mountain surroundings. Just 3hr30 from Trondheim in Norway Sweden's oldest mountain hotel has a modern streak in a landscape carved out by the ice age thousands of years ago. Nature features heavily on the menu and with over 60 mountain peaks in the area there is no shortage of wilderness to explore. Over 300km of skiing tracks have been prepared so you'll never cover the same ground twice.

The Mio Gullo Spa offers a range of facials and massages in a relaxing environment in what the New York Times has listed as one of the most interesting places to visit in 2009. Once a retreat for the Swedish Royal Family this 1700acre area is now a wise choice for those looking for space, relaxation, clear clean skies and above all an escape from the big city environment.

Book your winter holiday / break to Fjällnäs with Simply Sweden.

18 Dec 2009
Simply Sweden announces their Christmas and New Year opening hours. Just click here to see when you can book your holiday to Sweden over the festive period. Wishing you all a Happy Christmas and New Year.

17 Dec 2009
A beautiful layer of white snow now covers almost the whole of Sweden, stretching from Kalmar in the south, past Stockholm, covering our log cabins in Orsa and Fulufjällsbyn, our winter hotels (Fryksås Hotel) and all the way north to Lapland. Don't delay in booking your last minute winter holiday to Sweden and Lapland. Book now!

14 Dec 2009
Apologies for the lack of recent updates. We have been extremely busy with winter & Lapland bookings for this season and even some summer bookings, especially along the West Coast of Sweden.

Between 8th and 12th of December we have been in Lapland, making sure your holiday in Lapland lives up to and exceeds your expectations. We travelled to Swedish Lapland on the overnight train from Stockholm. A simple, comfortable and environmentally friendly way to cross the Arctic Circle and into Lapland. The train takes approx. 16 hours and is an increasing popular way to travel. We arrived at Kiruna Train Station at 9,45 on the morning of December 9th where our hire car was waiting for us. Our tour of Lapland was intense as we wanted to experience as much as possible to enable us to answer as many of your questions as possible. We started at one of Lapland's leading hotels, Hotel Arctic Eden, located in Kiruna Centre in a renovated old school, designed with a heavy Sami influence. The rooms here are spacious and there is a new indoor swimming pool & sauna in the relaxation area. Inga, Erik and Paul will make you feel extremely welcome. The Thai restaurant next door is a great place to eat lunch! Here is a full list of winter activities available at Hotel Arctic Eden.

That afternoon we wrapped up warm and took to the snowmobiles, travelling across frozen lakes and rivers, through ancient forests and gasped in amazement at the awesome scenery surrounding the Torne River Valley. We visited many of the wilderness log cabins you will stay in on your overnight husky and snowmobile tours. The husky holidays are very much back to basics, offering a wilderness experience in natural surroundings. The husky's themselves offer a hands on tour where you drive your own team of 3 or 4 huskies. You may prefer to travel 2 per sled and take it turns to drive! The wilderness log cabin used primarily for the overnight husky tours is basic yet comfortable. There is no running water or electricity and water is sourced from the nearby lake. The cabin is heated by a log burning stove and there is a wood fired sauna to relax in prior to or after supper. If you are looking for a genuine wilderness holiday then the overnight husky excursion is for you!

We stayed at the Wilderness Camp (also home to the Wilderness Suites) used mainly for the overnight snowmobile holidays. Supper was served around an open fire in a traditional sami tent as we sat on insulating reindeer skins. You won't be surprised to hear that reindeer meat was on the menu! We stayed in the Wilderness Suites, private rooms with private sauna and shower. Sit back, relax and enjoy the Lapland scenery sitting on the sofa with crackle and spark of an open fire. We tested the wood fired sauna, with space for 6 people. The sauna looks across the night sky and over the Torne River. If the Northern Lights dance for you could see them whilst sitting in a hot sauna! We also did a very Swedish thing of having a sauna, rolling in the snow and very quickly jumping back in the sauna to warm up. The Swedes describe it as a full body massage - I'm not so sure! This wilderness location means that these wilderness log cabins offer great chances to see the Northern Lights. During our stay the skies were a touch cloudy and unfortunately there were no bright colourful ribbons of light in the night sky for us.

Our guide, Gunnar, met us after a traditional Swedish breakfast of bread, cheese, ham and yoghurt. At this time of year the days are short and the sun skims below the horizon casting a blue light across the morning sky.

We headed to Aurora Retreat Guest House for lunch in the village of Junosuando 90mins from Kiruna. Aurora Retreat is exactly what it say's it is - a retreat tucked away in a quiet corner of Swedish Lapland way off the tourist trail, with great chances of catching the Northern Lights. Mobile phones and laptops are against the ethos of Aurora Retreat! Maya and Mikael have worked hard to create a warm and welcoming atmosphere in what is the old vicarage and bakery in the village of Junosuando. Lunch (a fantastic pumpkin soup with spinach samosas) was served in the dinning room, where you will find a constant supply of tea, coffee and fruit. After lunch we met Stefan, a warm and welcoming native Sami and local reindeer herder. Reindeer herding has been in his family for generations and during the Sami experience you will have a chance to lasso and feed the reindeer. The reindeer are key to the culture and lifestyle of the Sami. Stefan is also likely to be your snowmobile guide during your snowmobile tours and to your guide to the overnight northern lights wilderness log cabin. The Wilderness Log Cabin is cosy and built in a traditional style on the shores of a small lake. A wood fire sauna sits at the edge of the lake just a few meters from main log cabin. With no electricity or running water this really is a fabulous wilderness retreat. With no light pollution there are great chances of seeing evening weak Northern Lights. Your guide will prepare your evening meal before leaving your to appreciate the true size of nature, natures silence and each others company. We also visited the husky kennels from where the husky's excursions depart. The 80 huskies all eager to pull your sled it can get quite loud! Once you step on to the husky sled and head out into the wilderness the huskies turn their attention to pulling and the barking ceases. All you can hear is the gentle crunching of snow under the sled runners as you glide effortlessly through Lapland.

After a comfortable evening relaxing in the lounge in front of the open fire and a good nights rest we headed to Ripan for a very nice lunch, a hotel located in Kiruna, close to the centre, but more importantly on the edge of the snow white wilderness. The rooms are located in individual log cabins and if you are looking for a room with a small hob and microwave make sure we book you into a family cabin. New for 2009/10 is the Jacuzzi and for 2010/11 there are plans for a 'winter park'! This hotel is perfect for those looking for a full range of activities, staying in a hotel, with a log cabin environment.

During our trip of course we visited ICE HOTEL! No holiday to Lapland is complete without a visit to this annual masterpiece in ICE. Wonders will never cease as the magical hotel takes shape on the banks of the Torne River every year. Although delayed slightly by the warm weather in November, ICEHOTEL was once again looking in great shape. We started with a tour of the magnificent ARTsuites. A 'SPOONING' room of ICE and a some 'REST IN THE NEST' were the highlights of the completed ARTsuites. We were able to have a short chat with the artist of the Deluxe Suite who was hoping to complete his incredible work by Monday 14 Dec. All overnight guests receive a guided tour of ICE HOTEL. After a couple of drinks in the new lounge bar we walked across the road to ICEHOTEL restaurant. Wonderful service, attentive waiters and waitresses and mouth watering food, some of which was served on a plate of ICE. We were even lucky enough to have an ICEsculpture, made of ICE and SNICE (Snow and ICE mixed together) grace our table for a short period towards the end of our meal. After ICE HOTEL restaurant we noticed the skies were perfectly clear and keeping our fingers crossed (or holding our thumbs as the Swedish say) we headed for the darkness of the frozen Torne River. Staring at the night sky made us appreciate just how much of the natural environment we miss out on in large towns and cities. The sky was scattered with stars complete invisible from the UK. The Great Bear was as close as I have ever seen it and quite low in the night sky. Orion was perfectly clear towards the South. Shooting stars darted across the blackness at regular intervals and once again the northern lights were not visible. We did find out that they were visible just 2km away. After a comfortable nights sleep in a Nordic Chalet we took our time over a large breakfast buffet before heading to the airport for our SAS flight back to Stockholm.

Yet again another memorable journey to Lapland. We took a deeper and more intense look at the hotels and activities you will enjoy on your holiday and have come away with a much wider knowledge of the surroundings, intricate details and personalities of the people who who take great care of you. If you have already booked your holiday to Lapland we wish you a great holiday and if you have not yet booked your holiday to Lapland and ICEHOTEL - what are you waiting for?

21 Oct 2009
As Winter draws closer and snow begins to fall over Northern Sweden, temperatures are already below zero and preparations are being made for ICE HOTEL 2010, Simply Sweden continues to lead the way as one of Swedish Laplands travel experts. We have recently added an overnight snowmobile tour in the shadow of Sweden's tallest mountain, Kebnekaise. Standing at over 2100m above sea level, Kebnekaise is deep in Swedish Lapland close to the Norwegian border. The transfer from your hotel in Kiruna, or ICEHOTEL, is a little longer (1hr30) than usual, but we think the extra effort is worth it. Not only does this overnight snowmobile tour offer superb mountain views, there is also the chance of catching the Northern Lights dance across the night sky and shed some magical colours on the snow covered mountain sides. Find out more about this new overnight snowmobile tour here.

13 Oct 2009
Simply Sweden announces a new Christmas Shopping Holiday for November and December 2009. This new tour is a version of our 3 Cities + 2 tour but with a shopping theme. Malmö (& Copenhagen), Gothenburg and Stockholm (& Uppsala) offer some of the best Christmas shopping in Europe. Sweden and Scandinavia are famous for their design, furnishings and Christmas markets. This tour offers offers all this and more.

During the winter months, when Sweden is famous for being cold & dark, there is this immense warm and light feeling. Candles welcome you into cosy cafes and festive shops, Christmas lights decorate houses, shops, city centre squares and tall Christmas trees. Indulge yourself in the Swedish Christmas spirit. Restaurants serve a traditional Julbord (Christmas table) with a range of cold meats, fish and cheese. Cafes serve warming hot chocolates with traditional Christmas Pepparkakor biscuits.

Shopping highlights include the combined cosmopolitan region of Malmö and Copenhagen, Liseberg Christmas market and the large shopping centres in Gothenburg, department stores, Skansen Christmas Market and Gamla Stan Christmas market are just some of the attractions in Stockholm.

1 Oct 2009
Simply Sweden continues to grow and expand and is still the only ATOL bonded Sweden specialist. The number of bookings for the last financial year has increased by 13% and the turnover has increased by 16%. Simply Sweden is the only Sweden specialist who can tailor make your holiday to Sweden with a huge amount of flexibilty, including flights. We have travelled extensively within Sweden, including Lapland, West Sweden, Gothenburg, Stockholm, Skåne, Malmö, Dalarna ...... We are here to offer our specialist advice and expertise when you are considering your holiday in Sweden.

10 Sep 2009
The Koster Islands were officially inaugurated as a Marine Nature Reserve yesterday in a shower of publicity by King Carl Gustav, the monarch of Sweden. 450sqkm are now protected in the area that contains the most diverse and intense amount of marine life in Sweden's coastal waters. The location is close to the Norwegian border and is easily accessible by train from Gothenburg, the gateway to West Sweden. The Koster area is home to many fisher men who initially felt threatened by the creation of the national park, fearing their livelihoods were under threat. Through excellent communication with the Swedish authorities a sustainable fishing program along with a preserve, protect and develop attitude has enabled the professionals to continue in the same careful way as they had been fishing previously.

Here at Simply Sweden we have been keeping a careful eye on the developments surrounding tourism. The creation of this national park has led to an increase in tourism opportunism. We believe that the Koster Islands are now more accessible than ever and the tourism industry is being carefully monitored to ensure maximum exposure whilst protected this incredible natural environment from unnecessary damage. Following our visit to the Koster Islands in June the local tourism board, hotels and operators are much more aware of the English speaking market and are opening their doors to you.

If you are looking for a short break to the Koster Islands we recommend the Syd Koster Hotel. Located on the southern island and just 45mins from Strömstad by ferry, the hotel offers unrivalled views across the Koster Fjord and easy access to the entire national park. Cycling is the easiest way to see the islands and local activities include seal safaris, boat tours, diving and guided walks. The peak summer season is from mid-June to mid August and we also recommend a holiday here from the beginning of May to late September. It may be off-season but this only means your stay will be a much more genuine Swedish experience.

Speak to one of our expert travel consultants for further information.

28 Aug 2009
Simply Sweden is open 8am to 5pm on Bank Holiday Monday. Looking to book a holiday to Sweden - don't delay!

21 Aug 2009
Simply Sweden announces yet another new tour for this winter - Hot Tubs & Northern Lights in Lapland. This holiday offers a huge amount of flexibility to your holiday in Lapland. You choose which hotel you stay in. Choose from Ripan, ICE HOTEL or Arctic Eden Hotel and the length of your stay. You may choose to stay in Stockholm on your way to or from Lapland. The hot tub has been built this summer so we don't have any glorious winter pictures yet! Located at a wilderness camp on the banks of the Torne River there are 2 wilderness suites, 1 riverside suite and the main building accommodating a maximum of approx 10 people. The riverside suite, as the name suggests, is located by the river, it is slightly smaller than the wilderness suites (below). It has electricity but no running water. Don't be put off - there is plenty of water around! You also have a private toilet and sauna. The 2 wilderness suites have a double bed, a sofa bed and a small dining area. They also have a private shower, toilet and sauna. Your meals will be prepared in the main building, however you decide whether to eat in the main building or privately in your cabin. The main building consists of 1 double room, 1 twin room and 1 room with bunk beds. The dining area is heated by a wood burning stove and there is running water and electricity. The hot tub has space for approx. 7 people and looks out across the Torne River. It will be kept warm for up to 3 hours. As you relax in the hot tub look to the night skies for an impressive array of stars or the magical Northern Lights. You will find little or no light pollution here to distort your view!

Some Hot Tub myths! Hot tubs are not as common as many may think and it is extremely rare to find them at a private log cabin as they are relatively expensive to install and maintain. They are large pools with space for 7 or more people, commonly heated by a wood fire. The locations where Simply Sweden can arrange hot tubs are at the impressive Fryksås Hotel, 4hrs north of Stockholm, in Lapland on many of our overnight wilderness tours and at ICEHOTEL (groups only). For more advice and information about our holidays that include hot tubs do not hesitate to contact one of our consultants on 0845 8900 300

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5 Aug 2009
Simply Sweden begins a new ICE HOTEL winter tour for those travelling on a budget. ICEHOTEL is an extremely popular winter destination. At Simply Sweden we appreciate that some people are looking to stay at ICE HOTEL on a restricted budget. From Dec 10th 2009 you will be able to spend 1 night in comfortable cold accommodation at ICEHOTEL. This room is called a SNOWroom and is a room of ICE and snow. The bed has a thick comfortable mattress lined with a reindeer skin and you will be perfectly warm in your special ICE HOTEL sleeping bag. To keep the cost of this holiday to a minimum we are using an alternative hotel for warm accommodation. Hotel Ripan is just 30mins from ICEHOTEL and has spacious modern hotel standard log cabins. At ICE HOTEL and Ripan you will be accommodated on a bed and breakfast basis. Both have excellent restaurants and there are a full range of winter activities including huskies, snowmobiles and sami / reindeer experiences at both location. We do recommend you book your activities before you travel!

Looking for cheap holidays to ICE HOTEL - look no further!


29July 2009
Visit Sweden (Sweden's tourist organisation) has recently gathered the thoughts of some 15,000 potential visitors to Sweden across several countries to establish exactly what foreigners think of this wonderful country. The question was "What is your first thought when you think about Sweden as a tourist destination?" The majority of the responses were cold, snow, blondes, nature, friendly people, food and a clean environment. Visit Sweden wants to update this classical image of Sweden to one of modern and progressive lifestyle. They (along with Simply Sweden) want to show you that you can enjoy an exotic array of awesome experiences in the vast amounts of beautiful nature and visit the historically and culturally important large cosmopolitan cities of Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. The Danes come to Sweden as they believe they get more for their money. The British have a belief that Sweden is expensive (we'll deal with that myth below)! British holiday makers first 5 thoughts about Sweden are 1) Snow 2) Cold 3) Expensive 4) Skiing 5) Blondes / ABBA / Clean / Friendly People.

Here at Simply Sweden we thought we'd confirm / destroy some of the myths for you!
Snow & Cold
Yes there is plenty of snow in the winter. Head 1hr north of Stockholm from mid-December to mid-March and there is a good chance you will have plenty of snow to build a snowman. There is likely to be snow from November to May is Lapland and here there is enough snow to build a hotel - ICEHOTEL. It goes without saying that if there is snow it is going to be cold!
It is not all about the snow and ice. Sweden is also a great summer destination with long summer days, the midnight sun and excellent summer holidays including log cabin rentals, the Inland Railway, the Göta Kanal and West Sweden. During the wonderful long summer days expect temperatures to head to 25C and over.
Expensive
Depends on your point of view - let me explain! Summer & winter log cabins are some of the most popular and cost effective ways to experience the real Swedish culture.
Skiing
There is plenty of local small scale downhill skiing and there are larger Ski resorts in Åre (recently hosted the world championships), Sälen and Idre. Orsa also offers some downhill skiing which is excellent for young families, beginner and intermediate skiers. X-country skiing is a much bigger sport and Mora in central Sweden plays host to the worlds largest x-country ski race every February. Exploring the countryside is made easy by x-country skiing (or snowshoes) and many of our Lapland Holidays give you the chance to use x-country skis.
Blondes / ABBA / Clean / Friendly People
There aren't many myths here! Yes there are blondes. The Swede's are not as mad about ABBA as the British. The environment is certainly clean and you find the locals are embarrassingly good English speakers. They are also very keen to practice their English skills.

Come and see whether these myths and true or false during your holiday in Sweden.

23 July 2009
Simply Sweden confirms that the current special offer will not be extended beyond the 31st July 2009. From the beginning of August we will begin to look forward to a spectacular winter season with a range of new holidays, including our recent program of Northern Lights Holidays across the North of Sweden and Lapland.

20 July 2009
Karlskrona is located on the South Coast of Sweden and is becoming more accessible to visitors from the UK. Regular flights from several UK airports to Copenhagen and the Öresund bridge make Malmö more accessible than an ever. Malmö is effectively the gateway to southern Sweden and with the new electrified south coast train line, Karlskrona is just 3hrs from Malmö. We look forward to including Karlskrona in our summer program for 2010 as we will be introducing a South Sweden tour featuring Skåne, Karlskrona and the Kosta Boda Art Hotel. For more information about the Kosta Boda Art Hotel and Karlskrona please see our blog entry on 4 April 2009.

Book your holiday to Sweden here!

14 July 2009
Simply Sweden designs a new holiday featuring honeymoons in Stockholm, Lapland and ICEHOTEL. The all new 5 night romantic break features the Nordic Light Hotel, ICE HOTEL and an overnight snowmobile tour staying under the stars in a romantic wilderness log cabin. The Nordic Light Hotel is a member of design hotels and is perfectly located in the heart of Stockholm, close to Gamla Stan (Old Town) and all of Stockholm's major attractions. Stockholm is commonly called the Venice of the North, and it is easy to see why. This city of water has 14 islands in the city centre alone and some 20,000 islands in greater Stockholm. The excellent Stockholm Card is included so you do not have to worry about public transport or entrance to the major attractions - they are all included!

Upon arrival at Kiruna Airport your husky guide will introduce you to your eager team of huskies who will provide your transport to ICEHOTEL. Sit back and relax as you cuddle up on the husky sled. Enjoy the pristine white wilderness as you glide effortlessly across the River Torne, through the forests of Lapland and onto ICE HOTEL. There really is no better way to arrive. At ICEHOTEL you will stay in an ARTsuite; stunning rooms of ICE elaborately decorated with amazing works of art and enjoy a 7 course evening meal served on plates of ICE.

During the afternoon you will depart on your overnight snowmobile excursion. You can choose to share a snowmobile or drive your own. You will need to be in possession of a driving licence. You will be guided through the wilderness across fields of snow and over frozen lakes. When you reach your log cabin you will have the opportunity to have a sauna, your guide will prepare your evening meal and then leave you to enjoy your night alone. Appreciate the silence, the vast expanse of nature and if you look to the skies the mesmerising northern lights may provide you with a romantic display of beautiful colours. Your guide will return the following morning to guide you back to ICE HOTEL!

During your honeymoon you will tick all the Lapland boxes! Huskies, cultural experiences, snowmobiles, northern lights, ICE HOTEL and traditional wilderness log cabins. This really is a complete holiday! Speak to one of specialist advisors on 0845 8900 300 as we tailor make all our holidays.

1 July 2009 ** SPECIAL OFFER **
Simply Sweden announces an extension of the popular summer special offer. We will continue to offer a 5% discount on all summer package holidays booked directly with Simply Sweden before the end of July for departure dates up to and including 30 September 2009.

9 June 2009
On 23 & 24 June we enjoyed a spectacular visit to the Koster Islands, Sweden's most westerly populated islands, close to the Norwegian border. We spent 2 days exploring this magnificent location as West Sweden and the local tourism offices prepare for the inauguration of the Marine National Park in September, the natural increase in media attention and an increase in tourism numbers as they strive to make the area more accessible to tourism yet protect this vast area of natural beauty.

Our tour started at the gateway to the Koster Islands in the picturesque town of Strömstad, which is easily accessible by car or train. The tourism office is perfectly located at the waters edge close to the Koster ferry terminal. This is the perfect location to obtain information about beaches, bathing locations, activities, excursions, cycle rental, canoe rental, diving, high speed RIB tours, cafes and attractions.

After catching a high speed water taxi from Strömstad to the Koster Islands we enjoyed a guided cycle tour of the southern island, featuring spectacular views across the Koster Islands, ancient oyster beds and fika (sandwich and coffee) by the sea. Our guide was a local biologist, Stefan von Bothmer who has an awesome amount of local knowledge and a passion for sustainable tourism. He is also the owner of Kosters Trädgårdar (Koster Gardens), ecological home grown produce that is then used to create a delicious array of sandwiches and classic dishes served in his cafe and restaurant.

The Sydkoster Hotel is perfectly located on the shores of the South Koster Island and just 100m from the Koster ferry terminal, where you will also find cycle rental. Many of the rooms have balconies with views across the Koster fjord towards the main land and all the suits and flats have unrivalled coastal views. The outside bar and restaurant are the perfect place to relax and enjoy a drink, snack or meal as you absorb the beautiful surroundings. Reception are able to assist with booking activities, excursions and offer advice on the best swimming locations. Your Simply Sweden travel advisor will also be able to help!

The following morning was filled with a Norwegian Lobster (or cray fishing) trip. With the help of a local fisherman, Nicklas, we hauled up lobster pots in scenes similar to those commonly seen on the TV series Deadliest Catch, only on a much smaller scale and in calmer conditions! After emptying our catch and re-baiting the pots they were cast back into the ocean for another day. Back in harbour the catch was cooked in a boiling vat of water and taken to the nearby restaurant, owned by Nicklas' sister, where it was prepared by the chef for lunch. A thoroughly enjoyable hands on experience with the satisfaction of enjoying the result at the end.

An alternative hotel for those looking to stay in Strömstad is the Laholmen Hotel, 400m from the train station, 50m from the Koster ferry terminal and 50m from the very centre of Strömstad and the tourist office. Some of the rooms offer a sea view and the restaurant bar has an open terrace overlooking the Southern Harbour.

Book your holiday to West Sweden and the Koster Islands with Simply Sweden here.

9 June 2009 ** SPECIAL OFFER **
The British Pound (GBP) hits a 3 month high against the Swedish Krona (SEK), exceeding 12.5 SEK to each GBP. Simply Sweden is offering a 5% discount on all summer holiday packages booked with Simply Sweden until the end of June. Bookings must be made by 30 June 2009 for departure dates up to 30 September 2009.

Book your holiday to Sweden with Simply Sweden here.

5 June 2009

Sweden National Day will be celebrated across Sweden on Saturday 6 June 2009, with the focal point being the capital city, Stockholm. 6 June has only been a bank holiday in Sweden since 2005. As Sweden has not participated in any of the major wars they have been quite guarded about celebrating a national day. Proud of being Swedish and proud of Sweden, Sweden National Day has existed since 1983 and 6 June marks the day when in 1809 when a new constitution was adopted.

Local towns and villages celebrate national day with a festivities in main squares and parade streets. The main celebrations take place in Stockholm at the worlds first open air museum, Skansen, where the king and queen lead the festivities. The distinctive blue and yellow flag will fly high on flag poles across Sweden, locals will dress up in traditional costumes and Sweden will play Denmark in a Scandinavian World Cup Qualifying football match at the national football stadium in Stockholm. Kungsträdgården, in the centre of Stockholm will be a hive of activity with music, entertainment and an excellent food festival.

3 June 2009
Simply Sweden announces a new program of Northern Lights Holidays to Lapland in Northern Sweden. The holidays concentrate on seeing the northern lights in the stunning beauty of the winter white wilderness. Light pollution, such as street lighting, and even the light created by a full moon dilute the effect of the mesmerizing Northern Lights. If you are travelling to Lapland with the specific hope of catching the Northern Lights dance across the night sky we recommend travelling either side of a new moon. The New Moon dates for 2009 & 2010 are 16Nov, 16Dec, 15Jan, 14Feb & 15Mar.

The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, occur in many forms. Curtains of colour, ribbons of green, a scattering of pink arcs of violet and rays of yellow light up the night sky as electrically charged particles from the sun collide with the earths atmosphere creating a dazzling show of light, which can last from just a few seconds to many minutes. The most common colours, green and yellow, are produced by low altitude oxygen in the atmosphere. The rare red and blue / purple aurora are caused by high altitude oxygen and nitrogen respectively.

Our recommended northern lights holidays include Lapland, Husky & Snowmobile tours and Aurora Retreat.

5 May 2009
100yrs of National Parks in Sweden. Sweden's National Parks are now 100yrs old. In May 1909 the Swedish government in Stockholm voted for a proposal that would change Sweden & Europe forever. This revolutionary step was the first of its kind in Europe creating 9 protected areas across Sweden. Now there are 28 National Parks (29 if you count the Koster Islands in West Sweden) and 14 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sweden. Sweden is extremely proud to boast that 99% of all Swedes live less than 20km from a National Park or Nature Reserve.

Visitors to Sweden and native Swedes have a 'Right of Public Access' and this is deeply entrenched within the Swedish culture and is the basis for outdoor recreation from Lapland in the north and the mountains in the west to the archipelagoes of eastern & southern Sweden. Here is our take on the 'Right of Public Access':
"You may walk, cycle, horse ride, ski, and stay temporarily in country areas providing you do not damage crops, forestation areas or other sensitive areas of land. You must respect the privacy of the home by not passing through or staying on private plots of land. Do not disturb and do not destroy, is the main principle of the Swedish Right of Public Access. You are allowed to camp for one night on land not used for agriculture that is located away from the dwelling-house. Ask the landowner for permission if you want to camp as a group. You may light a fire providing it is safe to do so, however, never on bare rocks as this might cause permanent damage due to cracking. When the lighting of fires is prohibited, this applies to all open fires, and is often the case in National parks and conservation areas. You may pick flowers, berries and mushrooms in the countryside, but certain plants, such as all orchids, are protected species and special regulations prescribed by law may apply to what you are allowed to pick in the countryside. Be sure not to leave any litter. Leave no trace."

You can visit National Parks in Sweden during your holiday in Sweden. The holiday log cabins at Fulufjällsbyn are located in the Fulufjället National Park (recognised in 2002 with Sweden's largest waterfall, bare mountains covered with 'reindeer moss', ancient forests and steep rocky canyons), in the Swedish mountains close to the Norwegian border. The Marine Reserve surrounding the Syd Koster Islands in West Sweden will be inaugurated in September 2009 (noted for their bio-diversity on land and in the sea), and there are also a huge variety of nature reserves across West Sweden. Stay in Stockholm with easy access to Tyresta National Park (from 1993 famed for 300 year old giant pine tress and deep ravines with rocky outcrops abraded by ice) and Ängsö National Park in the Stockholm Archipelago (one of the original 9 national parks from 1909 with fragile fauna and abundance of bird life).

 

18 May 2009
The World's largest Polar Bear Park (Polar World) opens today at Orsa Bear Park in Central Sweden. The bears have a dedicated area of 41,000 sqm, which include deep pools, fishing areas and snow canons as the park builds an arctic environment. The park also has all the facilities to welcome tourists, visitors and scientist from around the world as international interest in the new Polar World has been intense.

The 2 polar bears that have been introduced to this state of the art breeding centre in the hope of building a strong platform for reintroductions and regeneration (should it become necessary) are Ewa and Wilbär. Ewa was born in 2006 and weighs 180kg. She has come from Rotterdam zoo. Wilbär has come from Stuttgart and was born in 2007. He weighs just 60kg but is growing quickly! With roots in Scandinavia (his mother was born in Copenhagen) he is almost coming home! Both are coming to a more natural environment than their previous locations with a much longer winter period and plenty of natural snow.

Simply Sweden hopes to have some excellent winter log cabin holidays available in Orsa (walking distance to the bear park) very shortly. As Polar Bears do not hibernate this will be an excellent opportunity to see these magnificent animals enjoying winter.

8 May 2009
The World's Fastest Floating Sauna! The Salt & Sill Hotel in West Sweden is launching a floating sauna capable of 15 knots, to match the success of the Salt & Sill floating hotel and will be ready to launch on 1 June 2009. The sauna will be built over 2 floors on a catamaran. The top floor will be used as a relaxation area, wedding suite or exhibition hall. The lower floor will be the sauna. Simply Sweden can now offer you memorable experiences on board the floating sauna with overnight stays in a secluded bay where guests can relax in the Jacuzzi in peaceful isolation.

Book you holiday or wedding in West Sweden here.

21 Apr 2009
Aurora Retreat Guest House in Lapland announces a new snowmobile activity for the 2009/10 winter holiday programme. This exciting 2hr excursion complements a full program of small scale traditional winter activities already available which include husky sleds, sami experiences and wilderness log cabins. Simply Sweden will tailor make your holiday at Aurora Retreat and we can include Stockholm, ICE HOTEL and other adventures.

Book your holiday to Lapland here.

17 Apr 2009
Simply Sweden announces a trial use of Skype in order to make us more accessible by our valued customers. We can now be contacted free by other Skype users by calling 'simplysweden'. We believe this will be especially useful for our customers travelling from outside the UK (and those within the UK) who have access to Skype.

14 Apr 2009
Over the Easter Weekend I visited the naval city of Karlskrona and the all new Kosta Boda Art Hotel in the heart of The Kingdom of Crystal (Glasriket) in South Sweden.

I visited the Kosta Boda Art Hotel on Thursday 9 April 2009 and received a guided tour from Johan, who will be the bar & restaurant manager when it opens on 27 June 2009. The hotel is almost complete and the finishing touches to this glistening glass hotel are being put in place. The Kosta Boda Art Hotel will have 104 uniquely decorated rooms & suites, a luxury spa, indoor pool, outdoor pool and a cobalt blue glass bar all decorated with glass sculptures and glass art by world famous glass artists from the Kosta region. The indoor pool is decorated with glass tiles and a glass exhibition at the bottom. Feel free to borrow a pair of goggles to have a closer look! The restaurant has been designed by Ulrica Hydman-Vallien. During your meal you will be entertained by the expert glass blowers from Kosta Boda as they blow and sculpt glass on a stage in the restaurant.

This really is a remarkable art / boutique hotel in a fascinating part of Sweden and makes Småland and The Kingdom of Crystal so much more accessible to tourists. Kosta Boda is the oldest glassworks in Sweden and Kosta now features a top class art hotel and a retail village. In the Kingdom of Crystal area you will find around 10 other glassworks, each with their individual character, and many of which have become collectable items within Sweden and beyond. Whether your taste is crystal clear simplicity or a complicated structure of colour and design The Kingdom of Crystal will not disappoint! Here is just a taster :-

Just 1hr south of Kosta is the coastal & naval city of Karlskrona which is a great summer escape. Karlskrona is on the UNESCO World Heritage list as an outstanding example of a 17th Century planned naval city. Ship building, architecture and town planning have attracted international attention since the 18th century and Karlskrona is proud to be one of Sweden's most popular summer destinations. The naval base and ship yard are still in use today and Karlskrona is home to Sweden's naval fleet.

A myriad of beaches and bathing spots are located in the city centre and scattered across the 1,650 or so islands of the Karlskrona Archipelago, which is well served during the summer by boats departing from the city centre harbour. Other activities & attractions include the Marine Museum and The Admiralty Church (Sweden's largest wooden church). If you travel to Sweden with young children Vämöparken has a small range of farm animals, an excellent playground and a maze to negotiate. You will also find 'over-sized' chess and ludo to keep the big child in you entertained!

Simply Sweden recommends a visit to one of the best ice cream shops in Sweden (our opinion!). The shop is located on Stortorget (The Big Square - one of the largest in Europe) close to the tourist office. Do not be put off by the queue. It is always extremely long. It does move quickly and it is well worth it! We also recommend lunch at Nya Skafferiet, Rådhusgatan 9 just off Stortorget. This is an Italian style delicatessen / cafe with an excellent buffet lunch.

Book your holiday to The Kingdom of Crystal, Karlskrona and Sweden here!


8 Apr 2009
Norwegian Airlines reports that the Swedish arm on its business is performing well, with an increase in passenger numbers of 34% compared to last year. Simply Sweden teamed up with Norwegian several monrths ago as they are expanding the amount of domestic flights within Sweden increasing the travel opportunites within Sweden for our guests. They are seriously considering direct flights from London Gatwick to Sweden and we would be interested to hear your view. Norwegian are considering direct schedule flights from Gatwick to Swedish Lapland and the northern city of Luleå and they have our full support. This would dramatically cut the flying time from London to Lapland, which is currently an indirect flight through Stockholm Arlanda. A full range of our winter holidays would be available if this flight did take off. We will of course keep you posted but please leave your comments regarding this here.

2 April 2009
Update to entry on 31 March 2009. The number of cranes at Lake Hornborga in West Sweden has now exceeded 18,500. The third year in a row that the number has increased.

31 March 2009
Every year between mid-March and mid-April an astonishing 10,000 cranes descend on the nature reserve around Lake Hornborga (Hornborgasjön) near Skara in West Sweden at this time of year to perform their annual mating ritual of exuberate bowing, hopping & flapping. Last year saw a new record of 15,300 cranes arrive at Lake Hornborga, reaching its peak on 3 April 2008. On the evening of Sunday 29 March 2009 there were already 12,900 cranes with many more on the way after migrating from the continent. For Sweden this is one of the first signs of spring as the snow melts, the flowers begin to bloom and the long sunny days of the summer become reality. This annual event is a must see for many bird watchers and nature lovers. Here at Simply Sweden we can arrange all your travel to Sweden from the UK if you wish to witness one of natures greatest spectacles.

24 March 2009
** Royal Wedding ** Crown Princess Victoria & her partner Daniel Westling have announced the date for their wedding. The royal wedding will take place in Storkyrkan (Stockholm Cathedral) on Saturday 19 June 2010. This has already sparked huge media interest nationally and internationally, leading to an expected increase in tourism to Stockholm next summer. Dates for your diary in June 2010 already include:

• Sweden Day on 6 June 2010
  Celebrating Sweden's national identity across Sweden annually on 6 June. Swede's are certainly proud of their national identity, but as Sweden has not been involved in any wars of the modern era this date was not a public holiday. 6 June was made a public holiday in 2005 and there are now orgainised celebrations across Sweden. We recommend our 3 cities + 2 tour or a city break over this period.
• Royal Wedding on 19 June 2010
  We recommend you book your hotel in Stockholm has soon as possible!
• Mid-summer weekend 25-27 June 2010
  Local celebrations across Sweden with festivals in small towns & villages with traditional songs and dancing around a midsommarstång (similar to a maypole). This is a great time to rent a log cabin.
  

23 March 2009
Summer is nearly here! The Djurgården tram in Stockholm has started to run with more services than in previous years. Described as a 'museum on wheels' these historic trams run approx. every 12 mins from Norrmalmstorg in Stockholm City Centre, along the harbour front, to the island of Djurgården, home to the Vasa Museum, Skasan and many other attractions. The island of Djurgården is the traditional hunting ground for the Swedish Royal Family, and is renowned for it's large open green spaces and many tourist attractions.

You can travel on the Djurgården tram for free with your Stockholm Card. The tram is in operation every day from 1 June 2009 to 30 August 2009. Outside these dates the tram runs on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays, but is not operational after 20 December 2009. The Djurgården tram, along with other organisations such as the Lennakatten museum railway, referred to in our entry on 23 February 2009, are run and maintained by volunteers. If it was not for their hard work and dedication such successful and entertaining projects would not exist.

17 March 2009
If you are looking for an excellent day out during your winter holiday to Stockholm, or the surrounding area, then you can do a lot worse than travel to the Romme Alpin Ski area / resort north of Stockholm. Chris Carrington explains all!

10 March 2009
The British & Swedish press report that a male chimpanzee at a zoo north of Stockholm and Uppsala planned several stone throwing attacks on visitors, as he displayed his dominance to visitors. The first collection of hidden stones were found in 1997. Since this time the stones have been regularly removed to protect the public, but this behaviour has become a major research program for scientists. The zoo is called Furuvik and is under 2hrs from Stockholm or approx 1hr15 from Uppsala and just 10km from Gävle. It is easy to travel to Furuvik by public transport as the zoo has its own train station. Furuvik is located on the coast and offers a great day out when staying in Stockholm, Uppsala or a log cabin nearby. Some of the 60 species include native reindeer and more exotic kangaroos, snakes, orangutans, chimpanzees, lemur and much more. There is a 'touch & feel' area where young children can stroke and mingle with native sheep & goats. You will also find a small amusement park and adventure pool, along with stunning coastline to keep you busy for the whole day. Furuvik is open daily between 30th May & 16th August.

You can visit Furuvik from Stockholm or a nearby log cabin during your holiday in Sweden.

9 March 2009
Simply Sweden features in the Waitrose Food & Drink magasine. You can stay on the West Coast of Sweden this year and enjoy some of the most exquisit sea food in Scandinavia and Europe. West Sweden is renowned for the quality of the local restaurants and is often over looked for the more famous destinations of Italy & France. Almost of the hotels we feature in West Sweden are in the 'Taste of West Sweden' guide. Oysters and Lobsters are local specialities. Although summer offers the warmest weather, you will find that Lobster season starts in the Autumn as the local fisher men go in search of the 'black gold'.

Book your holiday to West Sweden here.

9 March 2009
Malmö announces an all new tourism website - www.malmotown.com. Since the completion of the impressive Öresund Bridge, in July 2000, Malmö and Copenhagen (the capital of Denmark) are often talked about in the same breath. They are practically the same location, commonly referred to as the Öresund region. Many Swedes live in Malmö but work in Denmark and vice versa. The Öresund bridge connects Sweden and Denmark by road and rail. Malmö & Copenhagen are just 40mins apart, with Copenhagen International Airport, Kastrup, sandwiched in the middle! Although Malmö has its own international airport, many holiday makers bound for southern Sweden fly into Copenhagen.

In the centre of Malmö Simply Sweden recommends a visit to Lilla Torget (The Small Square) lined with small restaurants & bars, and Möllevågen with colourful market stalls and charming shops. The 54 storey high Turning Torso is Sweden's tallest building standing at 190 meters tall. With offices, cafe's & apartments this architectural masterpiece has become an extremely popular place to live & work in the Western Harbour area of Malmö. The Western Harbour is an award winning ecological residential area with beaches, parks and lovely coastal walks.

If you are looking to do something traditionally Swedish Simply Sweden recommends a visit to Kallbadhuset (The Cold Bath House) at any time of year, at the sandy Ribersborg Beach. Kallbadhuset is open all year round and consists of a warm sauna and a soothing dip in the ocean. Going during the winter months is a little more extreme but the Swedes describe the experience as an all over body massage! During the long sunny days of the summer months you will find the shallow coastal waters around Skåne are warm and relaxing, suitable for the whole family.

Book your holiday to Malmö, Skåne & southern Sweden here.

9 March 2009
Sweden ranks #7 in the World for Travel & Tourism Competitiveness in 2009 (produced by the World Economic Forum), rising from eight place in 2008. This years report is titled 'Managing in a Time of Turbulence' and reflects the current difficulties facing the tourism industry and a country's ability to ensure strong tourism growth in the future. Factors taken into consideration include the price of oil, price comparability and travel intensity. Sweden's Scandinavian competitors came well on a global scale but did not reach the top 10! Denmark reached 14th, Finland 15th and Norway came in at 19th.

5 March 2009
Spring has arrived! SMHI (Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute) reports that the southern tip of Sweden, on the west coast of Skåne, close to Malmö, is now officially in Spring. The definition used by SMHI is that average daytime temperatures must average 0 to 10C for 7 days. This is great news for holidays to Sweden as summer is just around the corner with long sunny days and warm lakes to swim in!

By definition: winter is arrives when the average daytime temperature is below 0C. Summer arrives when the average daytime temperature is 10C or higher for 5 days.

Don't worry if you are still planning a late winter holiday to Sweden. Sweden is approx. 2000km long and an average spring arrives in Stockholm on 25 March, in Kiruna (home of ICE HOTEL) on 25 April and high in the mountains on 1 May.

5 March 2009
Even better news for holidays to Sweden. Update to the item on 3 March 2009 regarding exchange rates - The British Pound breaks through the 13 SEK barrier!!

3 March 2009
Good news for holidays to Sweden! Sweden is outside the Euro Zone & the British Pound hits a 12 month high against the Swedish kronor making Sweden a cheaper place to travel. Just now the exchange rate is a little under 13 Swedish kronor to the pound. Book your holiday to Sweden now to take advantage of these excellent exchange rates!

23 February 2009
** A Royal Wedding ** Crown Princess Victoria has announced her engagement to her partner Daniel Westling. Many tourists are drawn to the Royal Palace in Stockholm's Old Town, with glorious views over Stockholm Harbour. The main royal residence of the Swedish Royal Family is at Drottningholms Palace just a few kilometers away in the rural Ekerö Kommun. Daniel Westling officially moved into a wing of the Royal Residence in the summer of 2008. Rumours of a Royal wedding have been circulating since late 2007. The wedding is likely to take place in the summer of 2010. Looking for a holiday to Sweden / Stockholm at the time of the wedding - we'll keep you posted!

23 February 2009
Only 1 hour north of Stockholm, and just outside Sweden's fourth largest city (Uppsala) lies the nature & recreational area of Fjällnora, managed and maintained by Uppsala Kommun (Council). This is the perfect location for all ages to enjoy a traditional Swedish atmosphere by a lake. In the winter the lake is frozen and is currently several centimetres thick. You would struggle to break through the ice with an axe! The ice is so thick that a tractor has ploughed several ice skating tracks into the ice, up to 12km long. You will also find approx. 6km of prepared cross country skiing tracks through the forest. Don't have your own ice skates or cross country skis? Don't worry, these are available to rent from the lakeside cafe, or you can simply enjoy the nature on several marked walking tracks. During the winter you can reach Fjällnora by bus (809 from Uppsala centre) and it is approx. 2km walk from the nearest bus stop (Fjällnora Vägskäl). You will also find several lakeside camp fire locations. The perfect opportunity to eat hot dogs by an open fire in the snow covered forest, next to a beautiful frozen lake. Fire wood is provided and you will need to bring the rest - sausages, bread, ketchup, matches and paper to start the fire!

During the summer months Fjällnora is more accessible, and just as beautiful. Wonderful opportunities to swim in warm lakes, rent canoes, have a BBQ & once again enjoy the wonderful nature on offer. A 40min train journey from Stockholm takes you to Uppsala central station, just a short walk from the steam train. Take the famous Lennakatten steam train from Uppsala city to Fjällnora (short connecting bus from the station to Fjällnora). The steam trains run during the summer months only so please check the train timetable before travelling! More information on about the steam train can be found here. 32kms of narrow gauge railway run from the very heart of Uppsala, through the Uppland countryside to Färinge. All the railway staff, drivers, guards and stations officers are volunteers & dress in traditional uniforms and are extremely helpful. Like most Swedes, they do speak English! During the long summer days this is a great escape from the big city.

You can visit Stockholm, Uppsala & Fjällnora on our 3 cities + 2 tour.

23 February 2009
Stockholm will be Europe's first ever Green Capital in 2010. Stockholm has the ambition to be fossil fuel free by the year 2050. With 10% of the city area covered by water and many recreational areas centred at the waters edge, Stockholm has some of the cleanest waters around. An initiative set up in 2006 aims to ensure all the water in and around Stockholm meets the EU water directives by 2015. 95% of the population of Stockholm live just 300m from 'green areas' including lakes, beaches, parks and other recreational areas. This environmental award will no doubt lead to an increase in holidays to Stockholm / Sweden between now, 2010 and beyond. Stockholm beat Scandinavian rivals Copenhagen & Oslo to the title of Europe's first ever Green Capital. Visit Stockholm with Simply Sweden.

19 February 2009
Sweden Brochure - Download the latest Visit Sweden brochure here.

Vasaloppet - The world famous Vasaloppet week starts tomorrow (20 February 2009) with activities and attractions for the whole family. The Vasaloppet week is open to all with various different races to suit all abilities. There are junior races, half distance races, short races, a women's race, open tracks (with no competition!) and this all culminates in the oldest, longest & largest cross country ski race in the world on 1 March 2009. The main race takes place between Sälen and Mora (Central Sweden) and is 90km long. Vasaloppet takes place on the first Sunday in March annually with around 14,000 eager competitors. The course record is 3:38:57 and has stood since 1998. You can enjoy a holiday in Dalarna and Mora with Simply Sweden. We have some excellent self catering log cabin holidays at Fulufjällsbyn and the highly recommended Fryksås Hotel just outside Mora.

Sami Culture - The indigenous people of Sweden are called Sami. They are the only indigenous people of Europe and have a population of just 75,000 covering northern Sweden, Norway, Finland and Russia. Just 20,000 live in Sweden of which 2,000 are traditional reindeer herders. There is evidence suggesting Sami settlements were around as long as 9,600 years ago and the Sami were traditionally hunters and fishermen. Large scale reindeer herding began in the 16th and 17th centuries with Sami following their herds into the mountains during the summer and returning to the shelter of forests for the cold winters. Many cultural traditions remain today. Many herders still follow their reindeer to the mountains each summer, living in basic log cabins on the mountain side. Modernisation has also been integrated into this very traditional way of life with herders using helicopters, snowmobiles & four wheel drives to gather their reindeer for the winter migration. The other Sami traditions are arts & craft plus traditional folk singing or locally called 'yoik'. There are 2 main Sami locations in Sweden. The first is in Jokkmokk where there is a Sami museum and Sami college. Jokkmokk also hosts an annual winter market every February with a large presence of Sami culture. This market has a growing international reputation and if you wish to book for 2010 we suggest you get in touch to book now! The other centre is Kiruna, the capital of Swedish Lapland. Here is the Swedish Sami Parliament.

Simply Sweden recommends you get in touch for a tailor made holiday to Sweden if you wish to visit the Winter Market in Jokkmokk next February. We are also hoping to launch a holiday which includes spending time with the Sami high in the Swedish mountains as they follow their reindeer through the Swedish wilderness. If this is of interest please let us know so we have an idea of the level of interest & can let you know when we launch this reindeer spectacle. To experience the Sami culture during summer we recommend out Soul Of Lapland Tour on the Inland Railway, or enjoy a winter break in Lapland with a Sami excursion.

13 February 2009
West Sweden is lucky to promote the opening of 2 new amazing hotels along the stunning Bohuslän Coastline. The Salt & Sil Hotel opened to guests in September 2008. The aclaimed restaurant, accreditted by Taste of West Sweden, unsurprisingly specialises in seafood delicacies. At Salt & Sil you can indulge in various activities, including boat trips, kayaking, fishing & cooking courses. The Vann SPA Hotel will open in March 2009 and has received a complete makeover and is located within a nature reserve over looking Gullmar Fjord on the West Coast. Located just 1hr from Gothenburg with 6 SPA pools ranging from a toastie 42C to a rather chilly 10C!