Travel in Sweden

This year more folks are prioritizing travel and newfangled experiences. We’re inspired by beloved television shows à la Emily in Paris to reexamine cities we’ve previously visited. Scoring tickets to see our favorite musical artists, like Taylor Swift, fortuitously opens up the prospect of flying to a different country. A rising wellness and longevity movement encourages travelers to seek alcohol-free vacations. Slower and more intentional travel—quality over quantity—is important and sustainability and eco-minded experiences are at the forefront.

In the EU, all employees are entitled to a minimum of four weeks’ paid holiday per year.

For Andrea Kleinloog, an interiors whiz and the cofounder of Hesse Kleinloog Studio in South Africa, designing a sustainable hotel starts with the site. At the new Molori Mashuma in Zimbabwe, the walls are made with thatch and textile cladding; the decks are built of local wood; and the couch cushions are fashioned from waste fabric and embroidered as part of a community initiative in South Africa. Sustainability, Kleinloog says, requires a holistic approach that varies by location. “There is no blanket solution.”

“ A death toll of 1.19 million is way too high a price to pay for our mobility… we need to do more. The rates of deaths in the United States are seven times higher than in Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.” — Dr. Etienne Krug

Despite Norway’s dominance at the Winter Olympics, Scandinavia isn’t the first place you might think of for a skiing vacation in Europe. Iconic destinations such as the Alps in France, Switzerland, and Austria often overshadow the Nordic countries when it comes to winter sport getaways.

I’ve always been obsessed with the food around festivities. I adore breaking ‘rules’ set around cooking, but there is something so lovely about the simplicity of celebrating with a certain dish to link you to a culture. Food around Scottish festivities is not a widely known tradition; the most habitual celebratory food we would eat would be a steamy tower of haggis, neeps, and tatties on Burns Night, surrounded by poetry and whisky. But I can’t really think of many others off the top of my head.

Imagine taking off for a vacation, and having no idea exactly where you are going.  Scandinavian Airlines, a Sweden-based carrier, commonly known as SAS Airlines, offered just that, by recently introducing a special mystery flight called “Destination Unknown.”  SAS sold tickets for the flight exclusively to members of the airline’s frequent flyer loyalty program, EuroBonus. Instead of money, travelers needed to redeem 30,000 miles for a seat. The trip will depart from Copenhagen on April 5 and return back to Copenhagen on April 8. Travelers are only provided a clue that the flight will last “a few hours”, and the exact location of the destination will be revealed at some point during the flight through an announcement.  “The prospect of embarking on an adventurous and mysterious journey with fellow enthusiasts, finding new connections and friendships along the way, is truly exciting,” SAS’s Chief Commercial Officer and Executive Vice President Paul Verhagen said in the news release.  Over 1,000 people submitted interest in joining the flight, and the airline is no longer accepting reservations, a spokesperson shared with Travel + Leisure. Due to the limited quantity of seats on the plane, tickets for the April trip will be distributed randomly to the travelers who signed up. SAS operates flights around the world to 125 destinations, and currently has flights from the US (Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, San Francisco, and Washington) to destinations in Scandinavia and across Europe.  The concept of “surprise” travel has taken off as travelers seek new experiences. Lufthansa, a German airline, offers a program called ‘Lufthansa Surprise’ where travelers select their home airport, and a general theme of what type of vacation they want (such as arts, outdoors, or shopping). Once the trip is paid and ticketed, the airline reveals the destination to the traveler. The surprise bookings cannot be changed or canceled, and the 24-hour flexible booking policy also does not apply. 

The city that never sleeps is no match for The Langham, a hotel that delivers one of the best slumbers in the Big Apple. Set along iconic Fifth Avenue in the heart of New York City, The Langham, Fifth Avenue delivers a singular stay. Even among stiff competition in a city that is known for its ultra-luxe accommodations, it distinguishes itself with its impeccable elegance, solicitous service and finely-honed attention to detail. Throw in a spectacular Club lounge and some of the biggest hotel rooms in Manhattan and you’d be hard pressed to find a more restful repose in the city.

The Michelin Guide recently announced 19 new restaurant additions in South Florida, spread across Miami, Orlando and Tampa— now totaling 137 restaurants in the region.

On a blustery December morning, I made my way through the small Swedish town of Torsby near the Norwegian border. I had arrived well past midnight that same morning into a shadowy -13C winter wonderland. Now, snow crystals crunched under my feet as I ventured outside. I didn't so much walk as pulsa, the Swedish word for laboriously plodding through snow. 

There’s always a buzz at Casa Bonay: its chic bars, reasonably priced rooms and restaurants – just a stone’s throw from the city’s imposing Arc de Triomf – are a draw for both visitors and locals. With mosaic-tiled floors, statement sliding doors and floods of natural light, sleeping quarters here are an oasis of cool and calm, complete with Mubi streaming and yoga mats. The rooftop is split between a seasonal dining space and guest-only urban garden, while downstairs there’s a restaurant, coffee shop and bustling cocktail bar serving into the early hours. Plus, bikes to explore the city are free of charge. Rooms from £117, casabonay.com

Last week was a busy time for travel tech funding, and this one is a bit slower. The startups featured join a group of competitors that have raised money in previous months: Next-generation aircrafts and AI-powered trip planners. 

If you are an English speaker planning to move to Europe in 2024, you might want to find a country where you’re likely to be understood from the get-go.

After a sleepy holiday season, it was the biggest week in a while for startup funding in travel. 

Are you seeking a fresh start? If you’re considering a career change, adopting a different lifestyle, or you’re chasing a lifelong dream, relocation to Northern Europe is a path worth exploring. The region's rich history, approach to lifestyle, and innovative working environments provide a fertile ground for those looking to reinvent themselves.

Many travelers have experienced the warming pleasures of a steamy soak at a Japanese onsen (hot spring) or a heated Turkish hammam. But they may not have jumped into the world of contrast bathing—the practice of alternating between intense heat (hot tubs, saunas) and intense cold (polar bear-style plunges or ice baths).

Berlin-based Myne, a platform for fractional co-ownership of vacation properties in Europe, is expanding to include vacation homes in Sweden. 

It’s been more than two weeks since Northern Europe plunged into a deep freeze, with temperatures below zero. The result is magic for skiers and boarders: The most popular ski resorts are finally enjoying great snow in what’s already considered one of the best ski seasons in years.

Steeped in history from the Viking Age to the Age of Reason, Uppsala is packed with historical landmarks. Yet one of the biggest historic landmarks, its University, provides an injection of youthful vibrancy to this intellectual city.

This week sees the launch of Sustainable Journeys, a new UK tour operator dedicated to helping people take steps to travel more sustainably by providing itineraries and unforgettable travel experiences which enable individual travellers to explore, whilst taking into consideration environmental conservation, social inclusivity, and economic benefits to local communities.

The passport you hold is a powerful tool when it comes to effortlessly visiting countries around the world.And some passports provide far more access than others, according to the Henley Passport Index.The just-released 2024 index shows that for the first time in 19 years of producing the ranking, six countries are tied for the top spot of having the most powerful passports.The countries leading the ranking are France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain—meaning citizens from all of these countries are able to visit 194 destinations around the world either visa-free or by obtaining a visa-on-arrival.The Henley Passport Index is the only ranking of its kind and is developed based on exclusive data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA). The index compares 199 different passports and 227 different travel destinations.While Japan and Singapore have made it into the number one slot for the past five years running, according to CNN, the European countries that are now also ranked number one on the list is a new development.