Celebrating Swedish Midsummer

Welcome to Sweden! You are met at the airport for your transfer to your centrally-located hotel. Sweden’s capital, Stockholm, is situated on 14 islands, so you are never far from the water. You may even see kayaks in the city’s waterways, or someone fishing from the shore!

Overnight in Stockholm.

After a delicious Swedish buffet breakfast, meet your local guide for a walking tour of Gamla Stan. Stockholm’s old town is a network of cobblestone streets, and beautifully preserved buildings, cafes, restaurants, and shops. The rest of your day is free to explore on your own or join a tour or activity. Stockholm has a variety of museums ranging from art, history, culture and music, something for everyone. The Vasa ship museum houses the preserved 17th-century warship which sank in the harbor on its maiden voyage. It’s a magnificent exhibition, and should not be missed! Skansen’s open-air museum is a collection of buildings from around Sweden, taking visitors back decades to witness the way life was in Sweden centuries ago. Fans of the musical group ABBA can sing and dance through an interactive experience at ABBA The Museum which features the fabulous costumes, music and memorabilia that made ABBA one of Sweden’s most famous exports.

Highlights (included): Private guided tour of Gamla Stan, Use the Stockholm pass for museum entrances.

Overnight in Stockholm.
(Breakfast included)

Stockholm is a wonderful city for outdoor activities! Take a guided bike tour, or kayak through the many waterways in the center of the city. Go island hopping in the famous archipelago, stroll through the many parks in the city, or join a guided hike in the surrounding nature areas.

This evening, embark on an archipelago cruise. The idyllic archipelago consists of 30,000 islands, and you’ll enjoy dinner as your boat passes by several of them. 

Highlight (included): Use the Stockholm pass for museum entrances, Archipelago dinner cruise.

Overnight in Stockholm.
(Breakfast and dinner included)

Enjoy your train trip through the Swedish countryside to the city of Falun, where you’ll  pick up your rental car. The Dalarna region offers a variety of outdoor activities, museums, and cultures for all ages. Dalarna is also home to two of Sweden’s most famous painters, Carl Larsson and Anders Zorn, and both of their homes are open to visitors. The stunning landscape of rolling hills, dotted with red barns and traditionally built fences, was the inspiration for their works. Meander along the country roads, passing by villages and lush farmland, with the varied landscape a playground for activities all year round. 

An important site not to be missed is the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Falun copper mine. Discover a thousand years of history of Sweden and Europe in the Mine Museum, then adventure down the mine, through parts that date back to the 17th century. 

Continue to your hotel and settle in. 

Highlights (included): Guided tour of Falun mine.

Overnight in Dalarna.
(Breakfast included)

After breakfast, you may be interested in a visit to Holens Gammelgård, the former home and studio of Swedish artist Gustaf Ankarcrona. It is a timber farm with buildings from the 1600-the 1800s, situated high up with breathtaking views of Lake Siljan.

This afternoon, you can join in the preparations for the Midsummer celebration! The Maypole must be decorated with leafy greens and flower garlands the day before the event, so you’ll have an opportunity to meet the locals in the community to sort leaves, tie them on the pole, talk, and laugh, and partake in this centuries-old tradition. 

Highlight (optional): Visit artist Gustaf Ankarcrona’s former home and join the preparations for the Midsummer celebration.

Overnight in Dalarna
(Breakfast included)

Your day is at leisure until this afternoon. The parade will make its way through town with horses, flags, garlands, folk musicians and decorated wagons. The celebration continues with the raising of the maypole, folk music with fiddles, speeches, and finally the most important of all, dancing and games around the pole. The day isn’t complete without refreshments including coffee, sandwiches, ice cream and hot dogs.

Everything takes place outdoors, regardless of the weather, but hopefully, it will be a beautiful summer evening.

Highlight (included): Midsummer celebrations.

Overnight in Dalarna.
(Breakfast included)

The symbol of the Dalarna region is the famous orange Dala horse, so you’ll definitely want to take some time for a visit to a local workshop where these special horses are still painted by hand. 

This afternoon, take a guided tour of Anders Zorn’s House, one of the most well-known artist homes in Sweden. In the garden is the artist’s studio, housed in a medieval house with visible timber walls and wooden ceilings that date to 1290. Artistic craftwork from Dalarna mixed boldly with items of great value acquired from abroad: woven tapestries, silver pieces, antique sculptures, and paintings by old masters.

Highlight (included): Entrance and guided tour of Zorn House.

Highlight (optional): Visit a workshop where the orange Dala horses are made.

Overnight in Dalarna.
(Breakfast included)

Enjoy breakfast and your last day in the Dalarna region. This afternoon, tour artist Carl Larsson’s home! He is known for painting the idyllic life of his family, and his home in Sundborn is an icon in Swedish interior design and family life. Lilla Hyttnäs has remained in the Larsson family for generations and is now managed by the Carl and Karin Larsson Family Association. The family association works to preserve the homestead as a home and keep Carl and Karin’s work alive. 

Drop your rental car, then take the train to Arlanda airport. 

Highlight (included): Entrance and guided tour of Carl Larsson’s home.

Overnight at an airport hotel.
(Breakfast included)

Your journey ends after breakfast, or extend your stay in Sweden or elsewhere!