Crisp and clean, the tranquil Scandinavian country of Sweden offers a variety of experiences within its elegant and sophisticated cities, its picturesque medieval villages, coastal island archipelagos, peaceful lakes and forests and the icy tundra of northern Lapland.

The capital city, Stockholm, encompasses 14 islands on the shores of the Baltic Sea. It is a high-tech city with a small-town feel, filled with top class restaurants, pulsating nightclubs, cosy pubs and a full array of performing arts. Best of all, nearly everyone you meet is fluent in English. Few visitors to Stockholm can resist an excursion to discover the offshore islands: the Stockholm archipelago offers some of the most beautiful coastal scenery in Europe, and can be enjoyed from the city on a day cruise.

The west coast and its fishing villages is the place for gourmets, especially seafood lovers, while those digging for history will be fascinated with Uppsala, the ancient Viking city where the newest buildings date from the 18th century. A really novel excursion is a visit up north to the Ice Hotel, sculpted from ice every winter in Lapland where the Sami people enjoy showing visitors their way of life, centred on their reindeer herds. Meanwhile, way down south Smaland (literally meaning ) has been christened 'the Crystal Kingdom' in honour of the famous glassworks that exist there in places like Orrefors and Kosta.

Sweden is an enchanting country, not as cold as one might imagine situated as it is in the high latitudes, and is well worth exploring whether along the meticulously maintained roads or on the extensive high-speed train system.

Gamla Uppsala

Address: Uppsala

Admission: Museum: SEK 50 Museum: daily 11am-5pm May to August; Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 12-3pm September to April. Church: daily 9am-6pm April to September; 9am-4pm October to March.

Telephone: (0)18 23 93 00

Royal Djurgården

Address: A 10-minute walk from the city centre across the Djurgarden bridge Stockholm

Royal Palace and Gamla Stan

Address: Slottsbacken 1, Gamla Stan Stockholm

Admission: Combined ticket for the whole palace: SEK 140 adults, SEK 70 children. Open daily 10am-5pm (14 May to 25 September), Tuesday to Sunday 12-4pm (26 September to 13 May). Royal Apartments may close fully or partly in conjunction with official receptions of His Majesty The King.

Telephone: (0)8 402 6000

Stockholm City Hall

Address: Hantverkargatan 1 Stockholm

Admission: SEK 60 adults, SEK 20 children age 12-17 through March and in November and December 2011. SEK 90 adults, SEK 40 children April through October 2011. Tours depart every 30 minutes in June, July and August between 9:30am and 4pm. The tower is open daily in summer from 10am to 4:15pm.

Telephone: (0)8 5082 9058

Museum of National Antiquities

Address: Narvavagen 13–17 Stockholm

Admission: SEK 80 (adults), children are free. Daily 10am-5pm (May to September), Tuesday to Sunday 11am-5pm with late closing at 8pm on Thursdays (October to April).

Telephone: (0)8 5195 5600

Stockholm Archipelago

Address: Archipelago tour information is available from the Tourist Centre, Sweden House, Hamnagatan 27 Stockholm

Telephone: (0)8 789 2415

Göteborg Botanical Garden

Address: Carl Skottsbergs Gata 22A Gothenburg

Admission: Voluntary admission to the garden is SEK 20. A fee of SEK 20 is charged for entry to the greenhouse. Daily 9am to sunset.

Telephone: (0)31 741 1100

Liseberg Amusement Park

Address: Gothenburg

Admission: SEK 195 (free for children under 7) for annual pass. Ride coupons are SEAK 15 each. A variety of discount passes are also available. Open between April and October, as well as for the festive season in November and December; hours vary.

Telephone: (0)31 400 100

Elfsborg Fortress

Address: Byggnad 29 Gothenburg

Admission: Boat tours: SEK 160 (adults), SEK 80 (children 6-11)

Telephone: (0)31 158 151

Göta Canal

Address: Gothenburg

Telephone: (0)11 15 50 00

Gothenburg Archipelago

Address: Gothenburg

Admission: SEK 220

Skansen

Address: Djurgarden Stockholm

Admission: June to August: SEK 120 (adults), SEK 50 (children 6-15); admission is reduced the rest of the year, but varies according to season. Separate fees for aquarium and funicular railway. Daily 10am-10pm (20 June to August), 10am-8pm (May to 19 June and September), 10am-4pm (March, April and October); the rest of the year 10am-3pm (until 4pm on weekends). Market days 11am-5pm on weekends.

Telephone: (0)8 442 8000

Icehotel

Address: Jukkasjärvi Kiruna

Admission: Free for daytime visitors Open to day visitors daily from 10am to 6pm (December to April). Guided tours from 10am-2pm (Swedish) and 12pm-4pm (English).

Telephone: +46 (0) 980 66 800 (Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm)

Babybio

Address: 41 Birger Jarlsgatan, Östermalm Stockholm

Admission: SEK 100 Every second Friday from 11am; closed July and August

Telephone: 08 5629 4880

Gröna Lund

Address: Allmänna Gränd, Djurgården Stockholm

Admission: SEK 90 (adults), free under-4s. One-day bracelet (all rides) SEK 319.

Junibacken

Address: Galärvarvsvägen, Djurgården Stockholm

Admission: SEK 125 adults and SEK 110 children 3-15 through June 2011 and September 1 through December 23. SEK 145 adults and SEK 125 children August 2011. June and August 10am-5pm, daily; July 9am-6pm, daily; September to May 10am-5pm, Tuesday to Sunday.

Uppsala Cathedral

Address: Domkyrkoplan 2, Uppsala Uppsala

Admission: Museum: SEK 30 Church: daily 8am-6pm. Museum: daily 10am-5pm April to August, 12-3pm September to March.

Telephone: (0)18 18 72 01

Linnaeus Garden and Museum

Address: Svartbäcksgatan 27 Uppsala

Admission: SEK 60 (garden and museum); admission to the garden is free from 5-8pm. Tuesday to Sunday 11am-5pm

Telephone: 18 471 25 76

Gotland

Address: Stockholm

Sala Silver Mine

Address: Stockholm

Royal Warship Vasa

Address: Djurgården Stockholm

Admission: SEK 95 adults, SEK 50 students. Free for children under 18. September through May Thursday to Tuesday 10am-5pm; June through August Thursday to Tuesday 8:30am-6pm, Wednesday 10am-8pm.

Telephone: (08) 519-548-00

Sturehof

Address: Stureplan 2 Stockholm

Food Type: Local

Operakällaren

Address: Karl den XII's Torg Stockholm

Kaffegillet

Address: Trångsund 4, Gamla Stan Stockholm

Food Type: Local

Erik's Gondolen

Address: Stadsgården 6 Stockholm

Food Type: French

F12

Address: Fredsgatan 12 Stockholm

Food Type: Modern Eclectic

Ulla Winbladh

Address: Rosendalsvägen 8 Stockholm

Food Type: Local

Linguini

Address: Frejgatan 48 Stockholm

Food Type: Italian

Ostermalms Saluhall

Address: Ostermalmstorg Stockholm

Food Type: Local