Sweden

Overview

Sweden's scenery has a gentler charm than that of neighbouring Norway's rugged coast. Much of Sweden is swathed in forest, and there are thousands of lakes, notably large stretches of water between Gothenburg and the capital, Stockholm. The land, as well as its people, has an air of reserved calm, and while best known for its automotive and musical exports - Volvo and Abba are pretty much household names - a strong historical undertone bubbles close beneath the surface. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Stockholm, where dozens of museums deal with all imaginable aspects of the past, and large mediaeval and Baroque buildings housing boutiques and cafes overlook the attractive harbour.