Hop across islands and relax on a stretch of sand, before heading north to enjoy a glistening and snowy wonderland.

Sweden offers an icy cool atmosphere with refined cities, dramatic topography and Arctic wilderness. Its beaches are a pleasant surprise and a contrast from the country’s urban gems and northern regions. Get to know friendly locals in modern, progressive towns.

Few cities combine quaint historic attractions with a progressive mindset as well as Sweden’s capital of Stockholm. Wander through the Gamla Stan Old Town on Stadsholmen island for its charming architecture. Stroll along quaint cobbled alleys and people-watch in cafés and shops.

Visit the Royal Palace to watch the daily Changing of the Guard observance. Explore the palace for a look at its majestic chambers and museum displays. The city’s island of Djurgården contains fascinating sights, including the Skansen open-air museum that sheds light on the country through historic buildings. Gaze up at the imposing battleship from the 1600s in the Vasa Museum.

Continue your cultural pursuits in the country’s second-largest city, Gothenburg. Learn about the town’s history and style at the Gothenburg Museum of Art, the Museum of World Culture and the Maritime Museum. The latter chronicles the city’s shipbuilding past and contains an aquarium.

For a change of scenery, take a boat along the canals of Malmö and look around the 15th-century Malmöhus Castle. Enjoy the warm summers in southern Sweden with a swim in the ocean at Varberg’s Kallbadhuset, which contains traditional Swedish nude saunas. The western coast has many resorts for sunbathing and relaxing.

Northern Sweden is cold and snowy in winter. Enjoy the serene atmosphere in unspoiled Lapland above the Arctic Circle. Drive a snowmobile and travel by husky-led sled dog.

Find Sweden between Norway and Finland in the heart of Northern Europe’s region of Scandinavia. Its eastern coast overlooks the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia, while the western side meets the North Sea. Fly to Stockholm Arlanda Airport and get around by ferry, train, bus or car.

Sweden’s snow-and-sauna culture in the north complements the sophisticated cities of the south.