Ice hockey, the great popular sport
This is a sport in which the Swedes have excelled for ages, and without doubt the most popular sport in the country. The failure in the final of the 2004 World Cup in the Czech Republic against Canada was experienced as a national tragedy. The Tre Kronor (Three Crowns) team has made up for it by winning the Olympic/World Championship double in 2006 and more recently by winning the world title in 2013, 2017 and 2018. At the 2022 Beijing Olympics, the Swedes finished4th in the men's tournament, and 8th in the women's tournament. The most successful clubs in Swedish field hockey are Djurgården and IK Göta in Stockholm, Brynäs in Gävle, and Färjestads in Karlstad. But if there's one place to go to see a game, it's the Globen ("the globe") in Stockholm, a huge venue that usually hosts the national team's games.
Bandy - Innebandy. These are local variations of field hockey, very popular in Sweden, played with light balls as pucks, on a field almost as big as a soccer field. The former is played outdoors on skates and the latter indoors on foot. Sweden regularly hosts the world's best bandy championship where games are played day and night. Innebandy is very popular with girls, who can even play in semi-professional clubs.
The legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Sweden is not a great soccer nation, but its national team has the merit of always honoring its status as a solid and difficult team to play. However, the national team has had some memorable epics in major international competitions. Finalist of the 1958 World Cup on home soil and beaten by Pele's Brazil, it made a comeback in 1992 when it reached the semi-finals of the Euro and in 1994 when it lost in the semi-finals of the World Cup to Brazil. If the results have been much more discreet since then, Sweden has in its ranks the legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic, worthy successor of Henrik Larsson, the former Swedish player of Barça.
A great handball nation
Sweden is a great handball country and has won four Olympic (1992, 1996, 2000, 2012) and world titles (last World Championship won in 1999). For several years, however, their performances have been much weaker than in the past, as evidenced by their elimination from the preliminary round of the men's tournament at the Rio Olympics in 2016, finishing last in their pool. But the tide is turning, and the Swedes made it to the second step of the podium at the last World Championships in 2021. One of the greatest Swedish players in history is Magnus Wislander, who has been named the world's best player several times.
Small yellow ball and small white ball
Tennis. Legends such as Björn Borg, Mats Wilander or Stefan Edberg have collected titles and marked a whole generation. They and their compatriots brought the Davis Cup to Stockholm seven times. Then it was the turn of Thomas Enqvist, Magnus Gustafsson, Nicklas Kulti, Thomas Johansson or Magnus Norman to shine. Closer to us, it is Robin Söderling who made the news by being the first tennis player to defeat Rafael Nadal at Roland Garros (2009). Then it was not until 2019 with Mikael Ymer that a Swedish player entered the top 100 again.
Table Tennis. Sweden is famous for having had some excellent table tennis players. Its greatest champions are Jörgen Persson, several times world champion, and Jan-Ove Waldner (nicknamed the extra-terrestrial), world star of this sport, world champion in 1989 and 1997, Olympic champion in 1992, finalist in 2000, and several times European champion in singles and doubles..
A passion for motor sports
The Swedes have often excelled in motor racing, especially in rallies. Sweden has its own rally, which is a stage in the World Championship, and is held in Karlstad in the centre of the country. Motorcycle racing is also quite popular, especially in Gotland and Dalarna.
For activities, we take advantage of nature
Hiking. Sweden is a great destination for hiking. There are 29 national parks and many nature reserves throughout the country. There is plenty to do! The most famous route is the Royal Way (Kungsleden), which can be hiked in summer or skied in winter. A 500 km long hiking trail, in the heart of the Scandinavian Alps and beyond the Arctic Circle, which is reputed to be one of the most beautiful in the world, between sections of mountains, meadows, plateaus or forests. Whether under the midnight sun or under the ballet of the northern lights, unforgettable memories are in store! There are also the Sarek National Park, the Sörmlandsleden Trail, the Skåne Trail, the forests of Österlen, the Kullaleden Trail and the Emigrant Trail in Småland. But these are only a few examples, as there are so many possibilities.
Climbing. The Stockholm area is home to a number of good climbing areas (Runsa, Häggsta, Tyresö, etc.).
Cycling - Mountain biking. There are many bicycle paths in the cities. In the rest of the country, cyclists can enjoy themselves around the Skåne lakes or on the islands of Öland and Gotland. There are also many mountain bike trails throughout the country.
Golf. Golf is a very popular sport in Sweden and there are more than three hundred courses throughout the country. Golfers in Skåne usually take advantage of the warmer season, which begins in April. As the warmer weather arrives, golfers from other parts of the country will find themselves on their courses in late May.
Make way for the coastline and waterways
Swimming. Sweden is also a bathing destination! You have a wide choice of sandy or rocky beaches all along the Swedish coast. In the east, on the Baltic, the water is colder and less salty than on the west coast. In Stockholm, you can even enjoy a swim on one of the downtown islands.
Sailing. With some 7,700 km of coastline, Sweden offers many anchorages in charming, quiet, sheltered bays. Yachting is one of the best ways to enjoy the beautiful island walks. The best season is between July and September.
Canoeing. Värmland is a paradise for canoeing enthusiasts as there are many lakes, rivers and streams. In Lapland, the Swedish coastline stretches for more than 1,500 kilometers and includes about 4,000 islands, all of which have their own particular flora and fauna to discover, especially during canoe trips. Finally, Sweden's west coast with its picturesque fishing villages is also ideal for this type of activity.
Diving. There are diving clubs in all parts of Sweden and the best spots are on the east coast.
A fishing paradise
Sweden is an eldorado for fishermen. Although the fishing season varies from region to region, anglers are sure to find something to their liking in the rivers, lakes and sea, which are full of fish. As the Baltic Sea is not very salty, freshwater and saltwater species coexist harmoniously. Before fishing, it is advisable to check with the tourist offices, as not all waters are free and it is often necessary to buy a fishing permit.
In Stockholm, in the city center, fishing is free. The docks on the island of Skeppholmen offer a beautiful view. Feel free to sit on one of the pontoons with your tackle. The area around the Royal Palace is also very popular with local fishermen. You can also go fishing elsewhere in the archipelago, by taking a boat that will leave you on one of the countless islands.
In Lapland, the Pärlälven River near Jokkmokk and the fishing camps of Tjunajokk and Rostojaure, near Kiruna, are examples. The salmon rivers along the northern coast are also famous: Indalsävlen (near Sundsvall) or Ångermanälven (Härnösand) are the most famous among Swedish fishermen. Finally, lakes Mälar and Vänern are ideal destinations. In winter, you can even fish a hole in the ice in the Gulf of Bothnia! Never catch more fish than you need to satisfy your appetite and respect the size limit of certain species.
Long live winter sports!
Skiing. Winter sports are widely practiced in Sweden, and there are many different places to practice them. The stars of the different disciplines are at least as popular as footballers or field hockey players. All styles of skiing (alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, ski touring, snowboarding, monoskiing, snowblades...)
Sweden has about 200 ski resorts, usually open from December to Easter. The main ones are the very popular Åre and Duved, the family resorts Sälen and Stöten, the Lapland resorts Hemavan and Tärnaby, the resorts next to Vemdalen or Tänndalen.
The Vasaloppet. In Sweden, many people train, even in summer with roller skis, for the Vasaloppet race, which takes place on the first Sunday in March and attracts over 15,000 participants. The Vasaloppet is the oldest race in the history of cross-country skiing and certainly the most popular. It is also the largest in the world in terms of distance covered and number of participants. It takes place every year since 1922 on thefirst Sunday of March in memory of King Gustav Vasa's flight to Norway in 1521. During the week before the race, many other shorter races are organized. An unmissable event for the amateurs!
