Benjamin Castle

Sweden Travel Guide

From the skyline of Stockholm to the majestic Northern Lights, Sweden offers an abundance of things to see and experience. The home of the Nobel Prize has a rich culture and beautiful countryside for those seeking adventure or serenity, or even a little mix of both. It was the first European nation to create national parks, and the Right of Public Access allows people to explore the countryside at their leisure. This means people are free to hike, pick wildflowers and berries, and even camp out wherever they want, free of charge, so long as they respect the land. Sweden also respects its people, as it was the first to guarantee freedom of the press and continues to support equal rights for all citizens. Given the practice of lagom, loosely meaning "just the right amount," it's no wonder that Sweden is consistently ranked one of the happiest countries in the world. The country takes its name from some of its early inhabitants, the Svear or Suiones, who traded with the Romans. Eventually, they began exploring the sea while trading along the coasts of northern Europe and Russia, joining the other Vikings of Scandinavia. Although the first Christian missionary arrived in the 9th-century, the religion was not fully adopted until the 11th century. Several 13th-century churches, along with other medieval buildings, can still be visited today. Although it remained an agrarian society, Sweden did become a major power in northern Europe. The country even established the colony of Delaware in the United States. Although it was slower to embrace the industrial revolution, Sweden quickly became a leading industrial center. It was able to maintain its status and maintained neutrality through both World Wars.