Off-season motorhome travel in Sweden
Off-season motorhome travel in Sweden
Natural wonderland awaits
Enjoy outdoors in a fresh autumn air amidst sounds of a nature. Explore Sweden with us.
Alexey Turenkov, Unsplash
Sweden is a culture-rich country which has been inhabited since the Stone Age and its history all the way to the present day includes many essential eras… starting from one of the indigenous people group of the world, the Samis in the North; and the brutal but also master craft skilled expedition traders, Vikings, as well as the Hanseatic League, the medieval commercial confederation of merchants with its dominant trading; and Kalmar Union which brought the kingdoms of Norway, Sweden, and Denmark together under a single monarch for about 120 year; not to forget Sweden's Empire era with power domination over Baltic Sea when Finland and current Baltic states were also part of Sweden; all the way to the modern political formation of parliamentary monarchy and present day with its dynamic diverse economy and strengths in many professional fields such as in sports, music, innovations and global trade. To read more about Sweden, please visit sweden.se.
Geographically, Sweden is divided into three major land parts: Götaland in south with its 10 provinces where almost half of the Sweds lives; Svealand in South central Sweden which represents country’s historical core; and Norrland in the north which cover almost 60% of total land area in Sweden but is the least populated compared to the other two regions.
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But where is Lapland located?
Lapland is the Northernmost region in Scandinavia located largely within the Arctic Circle in Finland, Sweden, and Norway. This mountainous region is not just a winter wonderland or a paradise for skiers. This pure natural wonderland offers adventures and relaxation for outdoor enthusiasts all-year round.
In summertime, you can enjoy a beauty, purity, and silence of this rugged northern nature but also sense an unreal feeling a midnight sun causes in your body. You can go hiking, biking, paddling, or fishing at any time of the day you just wish because sun never sets down during summer months in Northern Europe. However, the brightest midnight (Polar Day) can be experienced best in Lapland, on Arctic Circle areas.
Already starting from September, another nature wonder, Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), those colorful dancing waves of light can be spotted on a clear dark sky in a slightly chilly weather while enjoying your autumn road trip far away from city lights, urban noise, and crowded places. There are many Aurora Borealis alert sites available online which provides short-term forecasts where to spot this natural phenomena caused by a solar wind and solar flares as a geomagnetic disturbance in our atmosphere. Please try e.g. Space weather Prediction center.
Did you know that opposite to Lapland's midnight brightness in summer, there will be also a darkness period on wintertime? This phenomenon is called Polar Night. The longest darkness period can be experienced in the Northernmost part of Finland, Sweden and Norway where sun will remain below horizon already from the end of November, and sun will rise again after 52 days. This soft 24/7 darkness constitutes one element of experiencing a magical winter wonderland and natural relaxation, possible naturally only in the Nordic countries - including Iceland.
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Deep dive into a winter wonderland and Polar Night feelings only Nordic countries would offer....
....Imagine the setting for a natural relaxation you can experience on your holiday ....
Dim indirect light flares reflecting off a white snow.....Adventurous outdoor activities and safaris while warmly dressed and properly geared...picnic by the campfire when all you can only hear is some crackles of a fire, a little breath of a wind and a crunch of a snow under your shoes...as well as to widen up your senses, you can smell a fresh, dry frosty air spiced with nuances of a fire, a soot and your delicious drink and fresh grilled picnic dish you are just about to enjoy by the campfire... and in the evening a romantic occasion by a candlelight ...relaxing and bathing in a hot sauna...no schedules nor worries.....
After all those experiences, no wonder your body naturally calms down in the evening and settles gradually yourself for a good, deep and restorative sleep to enjoy another adventurous sense-rich day on your relaxing holiday in the Nordics.
If you want to read more about Lapland, please visit: www.swedishlapland.com and www.lapland.fi.
Alexandre Van Thuan, Unsplash
What to do in Sweden on a motorhome holiday?
At first, if you stay in Stockholm before or after your road trip with us, we have recommended some airport hotels for you which are only 20 minutes away from city center, easily reachable by an express train. From those hotels you are entitled to get a free transport to our local rental station on a pickup and a drop off day. For more information, please visit county page.
Do you want to head your steering wheel into South (Götaland) or in the Middle of Sweden (Svealand)? Then take a look at our pre-defined road trip option.
Route: in Southern & Middle Sweden
If want to head for Norrland, how about a hiking & biking holiday on a ski resort?
Caravan and camping services a can be found in all ski resort areas throughout a year in Sweden, such as in neighboring country, Finland. Ski resorts are actually all year-round activity areas.
In Norrland you can head your way to Åre which offers diverse range of mind-blowing hiking routes. If you want to explore these mountain surroundings with a wider approach, rent a mountain bike from one of local bike rental companies and choose the trail which suits you the best. More details on local activities, please visit aresweden.com.
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How to reach Åre from Stockholm?
Åre is located about a 7-hour drive from Touring Cars Stockholm rental station. When you consider a route, one option is to choose a coastal route and visit few pit stops like Gävle, Söderhamn, Hudiskvall, Sundsvall and Östersund on your way to the final destination, Åre.
After a full orientation at our TC station, turn a steering wheel from Arlandastad towards road E4. After driving 1,5h from our rental station, we recommend stopping in Gävle which is the oldest city in Norrland. Park your motorhome and take a walking tour around it.
Then your next stop could be Söderhamn which is just 1h drive from Gävle. There you can see a nice historical landmark, Oscarsborg Tower. We suggest you contact them before visiting as their opening hours might change a bit.
Only 45 minutes’ drive from Söderhamn is located vivid Hudiksvall on a beautiful coastline. We recommend enjoying its archipelago area and idyllic fishing villages.
Then after 1,5h drive from Hudiksvall is located a historical but also currently important industrial hub, Sundsvall, but then turn your wheels towards E14 and to Östersund. After 2,5h drive you will arrive to this active town which is located at the shores of Sweden’s fifth largest lake, Storsjön. Please check their offering for off-season travellers: visitostersund.se/en.
Whenever you want to park and stay a night, you can find a nearest campsite from online platforms:
www.camping.se/en or /www.eurocampings.co.uk.
Alternatively, find a suitable parking spot or place for basic caravan services by using Park4night mobile application (App Store & Google Play).
From Östersund there is only 1,5h drive to Åre, all year-round activity area. You can camp there on Åre Camping site. Please visit their site and book your stay in advance.
After a relaxing stay in the surroundings of Åre resort, try another route, via E45 while heading back to Stockholm. Along this route, you can visit many small villages. If you want to enjoy incredible nature once more, please visit Sonfjälle national park before heading down to Stockholm.
Wasa Crispbread, Unsplash
Enjoy Good Feelings holiday with us
Would you like to enjoy a road trip in Sweden? Please visit our vehicle categories pages to read and see more about TC motorhomes to choose the best setting for your travel group. Basic guidelines for a vehicle booking can be found on our general rental info pages.
Whether you need any additional guidance, please do not hesitate to contact our international sales office (service in English) by phone or email or through online chat.
MOTORHOME RENTAL IN EUROPE - Touring Cars International Sales Office
tel. +358 9 849 4050 info@touringcars.eu
Inspirations to travel in Sweden
Please visit Visit Sweden
Eager for more motorhome travel inspirations?
And don’t forget to get inspirations or share your own holiday experiences with the TC community on our social media platforms by using
#touringcarsholiday, #keytofreedom, #goodfeelings. See the link for our social media profiles from the footer element below
To check live vehicle availability and rental station specific pricing for each motorhome category for each travel season, please go the main page to test the booking engine. Please note, that motorhome booking is valid only after your payment, so feel free to try the platform to plan your holiday and to clarify the budget for your next dream holiday.
Read more inspirational articles e.g. to travel in Finland