There are many great destinations for a budget weekend break in Sweden, whether you're looking for a cultural weekend in a big city or an escape to nature. Discover the West Coast and the Baltic Sea. Explore the wonders of Swedish nature. Enjoy great value or completely free exhibitions of art and culture in the cities. Visit beautiful castles and idyllic towns. Learn how local specialities are made and discover the places where Swedish cultural icons such as painter John Bauer and children's author Astrid Lindgren found their inspiration. Pack a picnic and skip the restaurants to keep costs down.
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Gotland
Enjoy great beaches, forests and historic sights
- Bajet
- Keluarga
Summers and Gotland go hand in hand with the island's magnificent nature and ample bathing spots making it the perfect option for a budget-friendly summer trip. Take your car on the ferry from Nynäshamn or Oskarshamn on the mainland for easy access to all the best spots the island has to offer.
Soak up some sun on the sandy and shoaling beach of Sandviken or take a free ferry trip over to the island of Fårö where you'll find the immensely popular and well-equipped beach of Sudersand. Pack a little picnic and enjoy a relaxed lunch or coffee break on the beach to save some money. Discover Gotland's enchanting rauks (column-like rock formations) and gorgeous coastline from the saddle of your bike or visit the historic centre of Visby for a stroll along its charming streets, through the church ruins and along its medieval city wall.
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Umeå
Delve into both culture and nature
- Bajet
- Keluarga
Umeå is a lively and cultured city surrounded by gorgeous forests and ample opportunity to find cheap activities. This cosy northern city in the Gulf of Bothnia is easily reached by car, train or plane. Discover the many exciting and wallet-friendly cultural experiences it has to offer.
Stay in the city and enjoy free exhibitions at the Museum of Women's History (Kvinnohistoriskt Museum), where you can learn more about voting rights and equality, or take the car on a 200 mile long art gallery experience along the Seven River Art Route (Sju Älvar). Take a short but intensive walk with the whole family at the Nydala Adventure Trail (Äventyrsstig Nydala) or discover the gorgeous nature reserves that lie nearby. Watch the fog dance in the early morning light at the boggy Torsmyran Nature Reserve or pack a picnic and enjoy the barbecue facilities at Grössjön Lake after a walk along the marked trails.
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Helsingborg
Enjoy cultural and family-friendly excursions in north-west Scania
- Bajet
- Sejarah
The charming city of Helsingborg offers both cultural and family-friendly excursions that are great for any budget. Helsingborg's location on the west coast of southern Sweden makes it ideal for day trips both within the Scania region and across to Denmark by ferry.
Visit the old Danish tower of Kärnan – an important symbol for Sweden's conquest of the Scania province. Take a revitalising dip at one of the region's traditional open air baths. Cycle along the coastline. Or buy a Culture Card if you want to pack in as many day trips as you can. This will grant you access to Sofiero Palace and its magnificent gardens, the Dunkers Culture House museum and art centre and much, much more.
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Blekinge
Discover a world heritage site and a southern archipelago
- Bajet
- Sejarah
Blekinge boasts a fantastic archipelago, charming environments and a rich cultural heritage. The city also offers heaps of day-trip options that make it one of the best destinations for a budget weekend break in Sweden. The region's fantastic location on Sweden's south-eastern Baltic shore makes it the perfect destination for open-air swimming and island hopping.
Visit the picturesque island of Tjärö and take a dip by the shimmering rocks. Enjoy a coffee on the central square in the city of Karlskrona or set off and explore some of the other architectural wonders nearby, such as the historic Drottningskär Citadel (Drottningskär Kastell). Stop by the Blekinge Museum and learn more about the region's local history, completely free of charge. Weather permitting, seize your chance to enjoy a romantic stroll through the baroque gardens at Count Wachtmeister's Palace, or Grevagården as it's known to the locals.
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Malmö
Big city life on a small budget in western Scania
- Bajet
- Keluarga
Malmö, as the third largest city in Sweden, has no shortage of adventures and activities to offer. Take a selfie outside the impressive Turning Torso skyscraper before enjoying a dip at the Western Harbour (Västra Hamnen) which you'll find in the immediate vicinity. Or for a more complete beach experience, take the city bus out to a favourite bathing spot among Malmöites – Ribersborg Beach.
Take the kids and meet the animals at the People's Park (Folkets Park). Or if you're in the mood for a spot of culture, enjoy a free visit to the Modern Museum (Moderna Museet) or the Malmö Art Hall (Malmö Konsthall) which often puts on free exhibitions. Provided you can trust yourself not to blow your budget in their tantalising shop, you can even visit a chocolate museum. And if you're looking for some music and atmosphere, plan your trip to coincide with the Malmö Festival to enjoy several days of free concerts and events.
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Linköping
Stroll through a historic city and take in the sights
- Bajet
- Keluarga
The cosy yet lively city of Linköping boasts a charming historic centre and a wide range of family-friendly day trip options. Stroll through Linköping's romantic old centre and be sure to visit its imposing cathedral. Stop off at the tourism office and ask for a map of the city's public art installations for a private walking tour in the sun.
If you're travelling with kids then set your sights on Valla where you'll find both a playground and a small zoo. Then stop by the Swedish Air Force Museum where you can get up close and personal with a JAS 39 Gripen fighter aircraft. Kids enter free of charge.
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Borås
Visit museums and farms in a beautiful town
- Bajet
- Keluarga
Borås is well known for its art and textiles and offers both at rock bottom prices, as well as family fun and gorgeous nature. Borås' location at the heart of the Västergötland region makes it easy to reach by public transport both from Gothenburg and Göteborg Landvetter Airport.
Got the children in tow? Then be sure to visit the Odenslund 4H Farm and say hello to the ponies, goats, rabbits and many other animals as well. For a more cultural excursion, head to the Borås Museum which is free to visit and a great place to learn some local history.
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Uppsala
Amble past imposing architecture and exciting museums
- Bajet
- Sejarah
The stylish cultural hotspot of Uppsala has plenty to offer for budgets of all sizes, so a weekend in the big city certainly doesn't have to turn expensive. Uppsala's central location close to Stockholm and its many transport connections means you can choose between a number of different travel options in different price brackets.
Take a free tour of the Uppsala Art Museum (Uppsala Konstmuseum) and seize your chance to snap a shot of the majestic Uppsala Castle. If you appreciate fine architecture then be sure not to miss out on a visit to the Uppsala Cathedral which even offers free concerts every Saturday. The kids will love the exciting and enriching Biotopia Museum which is also completely free to visit.
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Småland
Enjoy family-friendly excursions in enchanted forests
- Bajet
- Keluarga
Småland is well known for an awful lot, from glassworks to sewing machines and from Astrid Lindgren to polkagris (traditional Swedish candy cane), but the region's forests also hide a trove of budget-friendly experiences. Delve into nature and enjoy enchanted environments along the John Bauer Trail, named after the famous artist who is best known for his illustrations of Swedish folklore and fairy tales. Explore picturesque villages from the books of Astrid Lindgren, the Swedish writer best known for creating Pippi Longstocking. Visit the real life towns and villages that served as inspiration for her cherished tales of childhood adventure.
Be sure to also visit the locality of Gränna and see for yourself how traditional Swedish candy canes are made. If you're visiting during the summer, then it's well worth packing your swimming trunks as you'll find no shortage of inviting beaches along the Baltic coast as well as some beautiful lakes inland that are just perfect for a dip.
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The West Coast
Swim and explore Swedish history on the West Coast
- Bajet
- Keluarga
The Swedish West Coast is a wind-swept oasis brimming with gorgeous beaches and old-world maritime charm. Sailing boats, sunny islands and renowned harbour pubs give the area a touch of luxury, but the West Coast also offers plenty to do for travellers on a budget.
Swimming is often free and if you bring along a picnic, you'll be sure to enjoy a cheap and cheerful day at one of the best destinations for a budget weekend break in Sweden. Discover popular beaches such as Haverdal Beach and the shoaling, child-friendly Ugglarp Beach. Visit the castles and fortresses that once towered over the coast – even if most of them charge an entrance fee, it rarely costs a penny to explore the exteriors and take photos from outside.
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