Our holiday in Sweden

Earlier in the year my husband turned 40 so I surprised him with a holiday – a holiday in Sweden.

Most people’s reaction when they learnt about our destination was either “cold” or “expensive”. Well, we got a pretty nice tan and hardly wore our warm clothes, and it’s certainly not more expensive than London!

We first spent a few days in Stockholm, then took the ferry to the island of Gotland. This was our first holiday with our 19-month-old daughter that didn’t involve any relatives at all. It was exciting and full of surprises.

Sweden is beautiful

Nature, architecture, fashion, people… Sweden has given us IKEA, ABBA, Pippi Longstockings and other tales by Astrid Lindgren, an innate sense that nature and our surroundings are an integral part of life, and generally a sense that life is good. When we were there, we breathed all this in our everyday lives.

This is an all-round beautiful country that will stimulate your desire for aesthetically pleasing surroundings and make you feel at peace with… everything.

Sweden is a very non-commercial place compared to London. You will not find a lot of advertising around (though I cringe at the amount of gaming ads on TV). I find this a peaceful break from reality, appropriate for a holiday. Nobody tempting you with stuff a couple in their early 40s doesn’t need. This means there is more place for beauty (and play grounds) and less for Starbucks and Pizza Hut and what not. Check out this image from Gotland – a manicured park in Visby, Gotland where a public library and a large play ground are also situated in the same town centre, i.e. in prime real estate.

Is Sweden really expensive?

Sure, we used our miles to get a cheaper flight and flew over off-season. But we also stayed in good aparthotel (apartment / hotel with kitchen) in Stockholm and in a great hotel on Gotland, both in a good location. 

This holiday wasn’t cheap – but it didn’t break the bank either. Here is why:

1. We hardly shopped. As parents know, we are very weak when it comes to buying pretty things for our little ones. This time I went through our daughter’s closet before our holiday, and realised she has plenty of stuff. So we only bought her some socks. OK… and a blouse for me! ?
2. We stayed in in the evenings. It can be complicated to get a baby sitter in a new place, and if the toddler wakes and doesn’t know this new face… it can mean trouble. In Stockholm we had a kitchen so we bought beer and yummy food to cook at home, which actually wasn’t very cheap – but probably less expensive than dining out. On Gotland we opted for pizza due to the lack of a kitchen – not glamorous but we were all happy.

As always, it’s down to how you approach and enjoy life, as the two old man below show.

There are plenty of amazing play grounds

A family holiday must include a bid for all people involved.

Sweden is exceptionally child friendly. I have never seen so many play grounds, so large, so well maintained and in such beautiful locations. And if play grounds were not enough Stockholm hosts the most amazing zoo and city farm in Skansen, a few minutes from the city centre.

Check out the pictures below.

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