This is part of a larger voyage across Denmark, Sweden, Estonia, Monaco, and the South of France. Each country brought its own rhythm — a harmony of contrasts. You can read each travel journal separately or link them into one extended escape.
📍 Denmark Journal | 📍 Estonia Journal(Upcoming) | 📍 Monaco Journal(Upcoming) | 📍 South of France Journal(Upcoming)
Why Sweden?
What drew me to Sweden was a mix of contrasts and charm—ingenious minds that gave the world timeless innovations, a deep-rooted culture nestled among cobblestone streets, and a sense of quiet that feels almost sacred. I was fascinated by the country’s love for movement and fitness, equally matched by its still, poetic skies. The landscapes stretch wide and wild, dotted with castles and palaces that echo stories of a regal past. With so much to offer in such a vast land, I followed Rick Steves’ advice and chose to explore Kalmar and Stockholm—two places that capture Sweden’s soul in very different, yet equally compelling ways.
🌍 Before We Begin: Travel Tips & Thoughts
SIM or Roaming? We activated international roaming — seamless and hassle-free. You can also opt for a local Swedish SIM, available at airports or local stores.
Where to Stay? We stayed in the Old Towns of both Kalmar and Stockholm — charming, walkable, and full of character. Choose a stay that mirrors your own pace.
Getting Around:
- Copenhagen to Kalmar via DSB Train – smooth and scenic.
- Kalmar to Stockholm via Bus4You – restful, picturesque ride.
- Local travel was all by walk and taxi on day of arrival and departure from Sweden.
🌸 The Best Time to Visit: April to September. We visited in June
The skies stretch long into the evening, painting gold across rooftops and lakes. The sun lingers like a lover not ready to leave.
🕰️ Day 1: Kalmar — A Town Where Time Takes a Breath
Kalmar welcomes you gently. No rush, no noise — just cobbled paths and skies too vast to ignore.
We explored the Old Town, visited the Cathedral, and wandered like we belonged to no schedule. Dinner was a delightful surprise at Mocca Deli, where Italian cuisine met Swedish calm.
🏰 Day 2: Kalmar Castle & A Historic Arrival in Stockholm
The morning was reserved for Kalmar Castle — a breathtaking fortress standing proud by the water. It’s hard to describe the feeling, but when I saw a bird fly across the castle’s outline, it felt like the soul of Kalmar took flight with it.
We then boarded a Bus4You coach to Stockholm — a journey I won’t forget. I leaned into the window, letting landscapes blur like passing thoughts. Not driving, not steering, just trusting the road — and realizing that sometimes life is best felt when you stop needing to control it.
🏡 Where We Stayed: A Home That Held Time
When we reached Stockholm, we checked into the oldest residential house in the city, located on Prästgatan 50, right in the heart of Gamla Stan. This can be booked from Airbnb or Agoda/Booking.com
You could feel the centuries in its timbered walls. It was steps away from the Nobel Prize Museum, and felt like sleeping inside a storybook.
🌊 Day 3: Stockholm — A City That Floats on Thought
Armed with our GoCity Pass (that gets to entry to 1 attractions and also Hop On Hop off bus & boat), we began by gliding across Stockholm’s waters on a City Highlights Boat Tour. Every bridge, island, and waterfront felt like a whisper of history.
Then came the Nobel Prize Museum — a humbling space. We walked through a hall of human excellence, where silence carries the weight of dreams and discoveries. Goosebumps. Gratitude. Reverence.
Later, we explored the Royal Palace, Stockholm Cathedral, and strolled through Gamla Stan, soaking in the medieval magic. We ended our day with waffles for dinner — whimsical and oddly perfect.
🎶 Day 4: Museums of the Mind and Heart
A boat ride brought us to Djurgården, home to some of Sweden’s most iconic museums:
Skansen – A breathing archive of Swedish life. Time here is curated but alive.
ABBA Museum – More than music. A tribute to joy, nostalgia, and resilience wrapped in glitter.
Vasa Museum – A 17th-century warship resurrected. A haunting reminder that even failure can be remembered with reverence.
Fotografiska – A cathedral of visual storytelling. Every photo was a question. Every frame, a confession. Also a moment I thought if my pictures can find a place here.
Here, I felt that museums in Sweden are places to learn and places to feel.
🚌 Day 5: Stockholm’s Parting Embrace
We spent the final day aboard the Hop On Hop Off bus, letting the city wave goodbye from every corner. From Östermalm to Södermalm, every district had its own pulse.
We ended the journey at Drottninggatan and Kungsgatan, Stockholm’s shopping heart — bustling, bright, and full of local color.
🌅 Closing Thoughts: Sweden Isn’t a Place. It’s a Feeling.
When I think of Sweden now, I think of air that thinks, of buildings that breathe, of a nation that balances ambition and grace. Where even a five-day trip can stretch across the soul like an endless summer sky.
Sweden taught me that the journey matters more than the itinerary. That trust — in the road, in people, in time — is its own kind of arrival.
So if you’re ready to go somewhere that moves slowly yet surely — where science is soulful, and kindness is culture — then let Sweden call you in.
Next Chapter: Estonia
But if you wish, linger here longer. The skies above Stockholm still remember you.