Popular Tourist Attractions in Sweden

Stockholm is, without doubt, one of the most beautiful national capitals in the world. The Old Town in summer is particularly spectacular, and walking around the city's waterways and parks is a glorious way to spend a week-long stretch of European summer.

Visitors and residents alike enjoy strolling along the streets and lanes in the medieval section of Gamla Stan, or exploring its many museums.

The city is compact and easily explored on foot, although its watery nature, and many islands and archipelagos, may have you looking around for a boat.

Sweden's second city, Gothenburg - situated on the country's west coast - has a magnificent harbour and a brilliant showpiece boulevard.

The most popular attraction in Sweden, Liseberg is one of the world's best amusement parks. The prime attraction is Spaceport Liseberg, which dominates the park at a height of 150m (492ft).

After Liseberg the collected museums are the strongest attractions. The central museum Ostindiska huset has archaeological, local and historical collections.

Konstmuseet has impressive collections of European masters and is notable for paintings by Rubens, Van Gogh and Rembrandt. The main museum of maritime history is Sjöfartshistoriska museet.

Gothenburg is easily accessible by air, bus, train and boat and, once you're there, a bunch of spanking new hostels in the city centre awaits your weary head.

The walled and cobbled medieval port of Visby is a living relic: more than 40 proud towers and the ruins of great churches attest to Visby's former Hanseatic glories.

The contemporary ruins of Drotten, St Nicolai, St Lars and St Carin are all within the town walls and contrast with the old but sound cathedral of St Maria. Gotlands Fornsal is the historical museum with a fine collection of the Gotland picture stones of the pre-Viking period.

During the second week of August, costumes and re-enactments commemorate medieval week. Visby is on the island of Gotland, which is serviced by flights from Stockholm and ferries from a number of mainland cities.