5/19/2023 0 Comments Midsummer in smallandOnce you’ve gorged on Gothenburg’s delights, take your solstice celebrations cue from locals, who escape the city for midsummer fun, typically heading to their family summer house on one of the islands, or renting a lakeside cottage. For an unforgettable accommodation experience in Gothenburg, check-out Barken Viking, a characterful hotel on a grand, four-masted 1906 sailing ship that’s moored by the Opera House. Exploring historic Haga - one of Gothenburg’s oldest neighbourhoods - in the company of an expert Swedish tourist guide provides charm and fascinating facts aplenty. For an informed overview of the area, you could take an island-hopping boat trip, like this expert-guided archipelago cruise that covers the southern islands and Älvsborg Fortress, one of Sweden’s best-preserved forts.Ī great way to explore the city is to take this walking tour of the old town. Bohuslän coastĪnother top spot to celebrate midsummer in Sweden is around Gothenburg and the Bohuslän coast, an archipelago of 3000 or so midnight-sun islands. Located on the edge of a forest, guests stay in comfortable, cosy log cabins, with access to the on-site sauna, hot tub and outdoor pool. Talking of charm, Leksand’s Hottell Moskogen makes a lovely change from kipping in impersonal hotel rooms. While here, it’s worth taking a cruise on Lake Siljan aboard the charming old steamship M/S Gustaf Wasa, which was built in Stockholm in 1876. Located about 50km northwest of Falun, Leksand itself is perhaps the most traditional of Dalarna’s villages. The procession continues for ten days at different locations around the lake, reaching Leksand on the first Saturday in July. ![]() To get there, take the (roughly) hourly bus #84 from Leksand. The races - a waterborne procession of wooden longboats once used by locals to row to church on Sundays - start on Midsummer’s Day in Siljansnäs. Smögen, a Swedish harbour town on the Bohuslän coast (see below) that comes alive in summer © shutterstockĭuring midsummer, Dalarna erupts into a frenzy of celebration culminating in the church boat ( kyrkbåtar) races held on Lake Siljan. Dating back to 1862, its rooms are smartly chic, plus it boasts a generously sized pool, spa and gym. Located in the centre of Falun, it features exhibits on regional folk art, dress and music. If you’re staying in town and fancy some swank, the First Hotel Grand Falun should fit the bill. While in the region, the Dalarnas Museum is well worth a visit. While outsiders might read their uniformity as a measure of conformity, this is more about tradition and practicality - the red paint (known as Falu rödfärg) contains a special copper preservative that protects the wood against the elements. While here, you’ll be struck by the sight of red cottages trimmed with white door and window frames. As seen in their handicrafts, inhabitants uphold a cultural heritage that stretches back to the Middle Ages. Think sweeping green hills, flower meadows and log cabins - that’s Dalarna in a nutshell. ![]() Centred around Lake Siljan, Dalarna is an incredibly picturesque (and touristy) region. Sweden’s most famous midsummer celebrations are held in Dalarna. Swedish smorgasbord © shutterstock Where should I celebrate midsummer in Sweden? Dalarna Like we said at the start, the Swedes sure know how to party. The party extends long into the (light) night, with much merry-making, dancing and drinking accompanied by accordions and fiddles. White-clothed trestle tables buckle and creak under the weight of immense feasts - herring, potatoes and akvavit (a grain or potato-based liqueur seasoned with herbs) are in plentiful supply. Maypoles are erected in gardens and parks as gigantic fertility symbols. There’s a mass exodus from towns and cities as everyone heads to the countryside and coasts for gatherings with family and friends. And, when it comes to festivals, celebrating the summer solstice is top of the Swedish tree - it’s a fact that no one does midsummer quite like the Swedes.Ĭelebrated annually across the weekend closest to 24th June, Sweden’s midsummer celebrations are a big deal for the entire country. The Swedes know how to party in inimitable style, especially when it comes to national festivals (see our full festivals in Sweden travel guide for detail), most of which are centred around the changing seasons.
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