Summer like a Swede: Discover Sweden's cultural highlights by train

Local Sweden

16-06-2025

Sweden's long summer days allow you to pack in plenty, making it the perfect time to explore your adopted home and dive deeper into Sweden's culture.
But what exactly is Swedishness? It's a question the government set out to answer this year, inviting suggestions from the Swedish public for a 'cultural canon ': a list of activities, sights, and concepts that all contribute to what it means to be 'Swedish'.
Train company SJ has matched these ideas to the destinations where you can try them out, so we've picked some of the best spots across the country – all accessible by train – to help you plan your summer.
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Thank you for the music As everyone's favourite foursome asked, without a song or dance, who are we? And as much as we love ABBA, the country has much more to offer when it comes to music.
Each summer, the capital Stockholm plays host to one of Europe's most unique concert series. Theme park Gröna Lund , an institution in its own right, sets the stage for Sweden's 'longest festival' with different artists playing between May and September. In 2025, alongside global names such as Alanis Morisette and Manic Street Preachers, you'll find the likes of Miriam Bryant, Veronica Maggio and Victor Leksell who sing primarily in Swedish – this has to be the most fun way to fit in language practice over the summer. From central Stockholm, you can arrive by commuter boat or by tram, and spend the day trying out the rides before finding your spot in the crowd. Gröna Lund, the home to Sweden's 'longest festival'
Another festival with a distinctly Swedish flavour is Gothenburg's Way Out West (August 7-9). With Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, and Swedish band Kite headlining, the international line-up covers a range of genres, and the multi-day tickets allow you to leave and re-enter the festival area, allowing you to explore Sweden's second largest city between your favourite acts.
The event wears its eco-friendly credentials proudly, with an all-vegetarian food offering and a policy of using secondhand clothing for staff uniforms and upcycled merch. If you're travelling from Stockholm, consider booking the official festival train to get the party started en route! DJ keeping the vibes going at Way Out West.
Looking for something at the more traditional end of the spectrum? Swedish folk dance and music is an entry on the cultural canon that you can experience in Hälsingland, central eastern Sweden.
It's a custom with a dark legend attached. The story goes that in one village, Hårga, a local dance was interrupted by a mysterious visitor playing mesmerising tunes on the fiddle. Spoiler alert: he was the devil in disguise. Once people started dancing to his tune, they found they couldn't stop, and danced until all that was left were their skeletons..
Visitors will easily understand how Hälsingland sparked storytellers' imaginations: this off-the-beaten-path region boasts more forest than anywhere else in the country, and you'll find fairytale-esque landscapes around the Ljusnan River and its surrounding beaches, and when walking through the rolling hills – including Hårgaberget, site of the mythical devil's dance. Swedish folk dance
Today, the legend has inspired an all-day dancing event, the Hälsingehambo, which starts in Hårga itself and moves through local villages. This year, it marks its 60th anniversary. There are other events in the region devoted to folk dance and music, including the two-day Delsbostämman festival in early July which features a range of performances.
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Add Swedish flavour to your summer
Sometimes the simplest delicacies are the finest, and so it is with the humble hot dog or grillkorv . While these can be sampled at street-side stalls and corner shops the length and breadth of the country, why not elevate the experience? To truly experience Swedish culture, you need to grill the sausage yourself over an open fire, and do it while surrounded by breathtaking natural scenery.
Take the train to Abisko to experience some of the most stunning views possible from a train window. There are a wide range of scenic walking routes that feature barbecue spots (do check that you're using one of the designated areas; lighting a fire is only allowed in certain spots). One recommendation: the mountain hut at Lake Abiskojaure, which you can reach by following a moderate trail along the Abiskojåkka River.
Another classic food is tunnbröd or Swedish flatbread. It's particularly popular in the central region of Dalarna, where you can work up an appetite with a day of walking along trails where you'll see waterfalls and can stop for a swim in the lakes. Round off the day with a hearty meal highlighting local ingredients, including tunnbröd baked in a wood-fired oven. It can be eaten with savoury fillings like salmon, or something sweeter like berry-filled jams. Tunnbröd and Falafel are popular food options in Sweden
These days, Swedish culinary culture also reflects the growing diversity of the population, and is all the better for it. Malmö can probably lay claim to the title of the top spot in the Nordics for falafel , with the highest concentration of restaurants and stalls around Möllevångstorget.
Try Jalla Jalla, which featured in classic Scandi crime series The Bridge and is near the police station also recognisable from the show. Like the grillkorv, falafel is best enjoyed with a view – Jalla Jalla is just a short walk from Sweden's oldest public park, Folkets Park.
Whatever the final destination, you can begin your culinary journey on the train itself, with SJ's bistro serving up classics like shrimp sandwiches and cinnamon buns. Experience Sweden by train this summer
Embrace the outdoor lifestyle
The long summer days beg to be spent out in nature, and one entry to the cultural canon is simply, 'a forest walk with a thermos and cheese sandwich'. More than two thirds of Sweden is forested, so you're spoilt for choice with locations. To take on a classic Swedish hiking route, consider a section of the Kinnekulle trail (start from Råbäck station, near Lidköping), or part of island-hopping hike Kuststigen (the Coastal Path) beginning from Hönö in Gothenburg's archipelago.
For Swedes, outdoor swimming can be a year-round pastime, best combined with a quick dash to the sauna. For the uninitiated, summer is the time to dip your toe, then your whole body, in this crucial part of Scandi culture. Try out the kallbadshus (literally 'cold bath house') where you dash between open-air pools and saunas. Two of the most historic spots in the country can be found in Varberg, southwestern Sweden, and Ribersborg in Malmö, both just a short walk from the train station. Friluftsliv and kobingo are a unique ways to enjoy a summer in Sweden
Our final suggestion for your summer bucket list is perhaps the quirkiest of the list: kobingo (cow bingo). Hosted at farms around the country, it's a rural tradition where fields are divided into a numbered grid, cows are released, and the square where the first cow poops is the winner. Take a look to see if any of the farms in your local area might be hosting it. Sweden's farms are an amazing day out for the family (don't forget to take advantage of SJ's family discounts for your train journey), with farm shops and restaurants, and chances to meet the animals.
So there you have it: a selection of perfectly Swedish ways to fill those long summer days – and connect a little more deeply with the country in the process.
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