Explore Sweden’s Breathtaking National Parks
Sweden was the first country in Europe to establish national parks, setting aside nine remarkable landscapes in 1909. Today, the country boasts 30 national parks that protect a variety of environments, including remote Arctic regions, ancient forests, wildflower meadows, and unique underwater habitats.
While some parks are remote and require considerable effort and experience to navigate, others are easily accessible from major urban areas. Here’s a guide, from north to south, to some of the best national parks that showcase Sweden’s diverse and stunning natural beauty.
Abisko National Park
Situated well above the Arctic Circle, Abisko attracts visitors throughout the year with its scenic mountains framing a glacier-sculpted valley along the southern shore of Torneträsk, Scandinavia’s largest alpine lake. During summer, the midnight sun offers nearly endless daylight for hiking, birdwatching, and enjoying the vibrant alpine meadows.
As autumn approaches, the landscape transforms into a stunning display of red and gold. Winter brings a fresh layer of snow, creating opportunities for backcountry skiing and ice skating on Torneträsk. Thanks to frequent clear skies and minimal light pollution, Abisko is renowned for being one of the best places in the world to witness the Northern Lights.
Sarek National Park
Recognized as one of Sweden’s wildest parks, Sarek features untamed rivers flowing through deep U-shaped valleys, bordered by towering peaks housing many of Sweden’s highest summits along with nearly 100 glaciers. The park presents a striking contrast between lush mountain birches, flowering meadows, and stark rock faces with little vegetation.
Wildlife enthusiasts can spot golden eagles, buzzards, and kestrels soaring overhead while bears, lynxes, wolverines, and large moose roam the valleys below. Proper gear and wilderness hiking experience are essential for navigating Sarek, as it boasts few marked trails and limited infrastructure.
Stora Sjöfallet National Park
Adjoining Sarek and Padjelanta, Stora Sjöfallet was established to safeguard a magnificent waterfall flowing into Langas Lake. Although development for hydropower diminished the cascade, the park remains stunning, featuring deep valleys, birch and pine forests, high plateaus, moors, and the impressive 2015m-high mass of Áhkká.
Unlike its neighboring parks, Stora Sjöfallet offers a road, visitor center, and accommodation options, granting convenient access to hiking trails and breathtaking panoramic views.
Muddus National Park
Muddus is often referred to as Sweden’s quietest place. This remarkable park consists of ancient forests, broad moors, steep ravines, and towering waterfalls. Trails meander through old-growth forests and across ridges, leading to ten deep gorges that descend to the Stora Luleälven river.
Along with alpine parks like Sarek and Padjelanta, Muddus is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Laponia. These parks reflect the dual influences of nature and the ancient practices of the reindeer-herding Sámi people.
Skuleskogen National Park
Located in Sweden’s Höga Kusten (High Coast) region, Skuleskogen showcases a unique blend of coastal and forest landscapes, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its dramatic glacial rebound. The Ice Age coastline has risen significantly, creating a distinctive landscape where mountains and coastlines converge.
The forest composition varies from sparse, shrubby pines to tall firs overlapping rivers and valleys. Hiking trails unveil remarkable geological features, including the dramatic Slåttdalsskrevan, a long crevice only 7 meters wide.
Sonfjället National Park
Sonfjället, part of Sweden’s southernmost mountain range, boasts a distinctive profile visible from many miles away. The park’s terrain is rich with lichens, mosses, lingonberries, and heather, while mountain birch, spruce, and cloudberries thrive in more hospitable areas. Wildlife including a notable population of moose and the densest concentration of bears in Sweden can be spotted throughout the park.
Fulufjället National Park
Nestled in northwestern Dalarna, Fulufjället features a flat-topped mountain rising dramatically from the wooded landscape. This park is home to abundant wildlife, traversed by hiking trails leading to Njupeskär, one of Sweden’s highest waterfalls, and Old Tjikko, the world’s oldest known tree system, surviving through cloning for over 9,550 years.
Färnebofjärden National Park
Färnebofjärden, situated along Sweden’s second-longest river, Dalälven, serves as a biological transition zone encouraging an exceptional diversity of flora and fauna. The park is especially famous for birdwatching, with over 205 species documented.
A viewing tower at Skekarbo, combined with various winding trails, enhances the birdwatching experience. Other local wildlife includes moose, bears, deer, foxes, and over 20 different fish species. However, summertime can bring a surge in mosquito activity.
Ängsö National Park
Ängsö is an island national park reflecting centuries of agricultural activities that have sculpted its landscape into a vibrant mix of meadows, pastures, and deciduous forests. These human influences have resulted in ideal growing conditions for a breathtaking array of wildflowers, especially thousands of orchids that bloom in late May.
Ängsö also attracts numerous bird species, such as woodpeckers and white-tailed eagles. Seasonal passenger boat services are available to and from the island from Stockholm.
Tyresta National Park
Just 20 km south of Stockholm, Tyresta National Park feels like a remote wilderness. The park offers ancient trees, secluded lakes, and a tranquility that provides an escape from city life. Visitors can observe a diverse ecological tapestry featuring more than 800 species of moss and lichen, along with thriving wildlife such as wild boars, beavers, and various bird species.
Kosterhavet National Park
Kosterhavet is Sweden’s first marine national park, preserving a unique underwater ecosystem with a deep subsurface canyon and the country’s only coral reef. The waters are home to approximately 6,000 marine species, including more than 200 that can be found nowhere else in Sweden. Snorkeling trails guide exploration beneath the waves, while kayaking and hiking are popular activities along the shoreline.
Tiveden National Park
Located between Sweden’s two largest lakes, Vättern and Vänern, Tiveden is recognized for its rich biodiversity. Over centuries, the forest has experienced multiple fires due to both natural causes and human activity, allowing for the natural restoration of landscapes resembling those from over 400 years ago.
This remarkable park enchants visitors with its mossy hills, hidden lakes, and giant boulders that evoke a sense of magic, making it a must-visit location for nature lovers.
Store Mosse National Park
The Store Mosse National Park is home to the largest bog in Southern Sweden, spanning 78 square kilometers. Characteristic of environments found more commonly in the far north, it features marshes, lakes, and tree-covered dunes. In spring and summer, the landscape bursts with vibrant wildflowers.
Wildlife includes moose and various bird species, with Kävlasjön regarded as a prime spot for birdwatching, featuring a dedicated viewing tower. Visitors may also spot bats hunting around Södra Svanö on warm summer evenings.
Söderåsen National Park
Söderåsen is located approximately 40 km east of Helsingborg and boasts one of northern Europe’s largest expanses of deciduous forest. The dramatic Skäralid rift valley, formed by tectonic plate movements, enriches the park’s landscape. A network of over 50 km of trails offer accessible routes through breathtaking terrains, around serene lakes, and up to scenic overlooks revealing deep valleys and lush forests.
Stenshuvud National Park
As Sweden’s southernmost national park, Stenshuvud features a mountain with three distinct peaks. The northern peak rises to 97 meters, offering visitors panoramic views over Hanö Bay, with the island of Bornholm visible on clear days. The park is celebrated for its stunning white sand beach, sandy heaths, and blooming meadows during summer.
With a bit of luck, park-goers may spot deer, foxes, badgers, or martens amidst its diverse wildlife.
