SWEDEN Central/Southern loop

A journey across Holland, Germany and Denmark to visit Southern and Central parts of Sweden. Including visits to the cities of Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo, the stunning coastline of Western Sweden, and the historic towns of Kalmar, Lund and Karlskrona. Plenty to enjoy on the way there and back too, particularly the Danish capital Copenhagen!

Photo shows: FISKEBACKSKIL

 HOW TO GET THERE

We started on our journey to Sweden from the ferry terminal at the Hook of Holland, because we were travelling with our caravan*  (towed) from the UK. The main loop of the trip inside Sweden could just as easily start anywhere within it, and you could do it in a car staying in hotels or other accommodation. However, it would be a shame to miss out on Copenhagen and the trip across 'The Bridge' to Sweden, so you may want to start there as an alternative. If you're not intending to travel across Holland, Germany & Denmark please see the Route 2. map below and then jump forward in the itinerary to the section on the Sweden loop starting at MALMO.

If you do the whole trip this will take you about 6 weeks, with 3 weeks just for the loop inside Sweden including the visit to Copenhagen.

Before you leave home allow time to order an electronic bridge pass which will give you discounts on the tolls across the Denmark islands and into Sweden. This also works with Denmark ferry crossings.

* please see notes on travelling with a caravan or motorhome underneath the header 'Caravanning' next to 'Home' above.

ROUTE 1. The trip across to SWEDEN & back again

ROUTE 2 SWEDEN - Central/Southern loop

ROUTE 1. The trip across to SWEDEN 

JOURNEY OUT

HOOK OF HOLLAND(NL) - LEIDEN(NL)

Headed away from the ferry you'll reach Leiden in about 45 minutes. Set up at your campsite there and you'll have plenty of time to begin your exploration of the area. If you're lucky enough to arrive in early spring you'll be able to see the spectacular display of floral colour at the nearby Bollenstreek tulip bulb fields. There are buses into the city from outside the campsite.

Leiden is a pretty city with lots of history, and second only to Amsterdam in retaining more of its 17th century core buildings than anywhere else in Holland. The star attraction is the Hortus Botanicus botanical gardens attached to the University which is close to the town walk, which taken together will probably occupy you for most of a day. This is also Rembrandt's home town.

LEIDEN- Rembrandt’s Schoolhouse 

LEADEN (NL) -GRONINGEN (NL)

It'll take the best part of three hours to get up to your campsite near Groningen. The city is the provincial capital and has some very interesting features in its central market square, including the large Gothic Martinkerk church, which has an ornate organ we were fortunate to hear playing. The town walks include a trail around the ancient almshouses which used to provide accommodation to the poorest citizens and are now immaculately maintained as private homes.

GRONINGEN - Alms houses

GRONINGEN (NL) -BREMEN (D)

It's a 1.5 hour journey across to your campsite near Bremen so you'll have time for an afternoon's stroll round the centre - the Altstadt - which has some impressive buildings in the massive central square. A short walk from here down to the river and the surrounding streets will reveal some beautifully preserved old houses, shops and commercial buildings. The "Musicians of Bremen" from the Grimm Brothers tale make regular appearances in the merchandising and in statues in the main square.

BREMEN - Altstadt: Main Square

BREMEN (D) -BROAGER (DK)

You're now headed for the German border, and it'll take you about 3.5 hours to get to your campsite just inside Denmark. This is on the Baltic coast, and is a lovely spot. You can enjoy a nice walk along the sea front and up into the small hills behind the campsite.

BROAGER (DK) -TARUP (DK)

You can get to your next campsite by following the motorways across the islands leading towards Copenhagen, or alternatively you can take a ferry on the first part of the journey, a very pleasant way to travel, quick and not expensive. Leaving Broadger you go first to Fynshav, a half hour drive followed by a 45 minute ferry crossing to Bojden. It is then a further hour's drive across to Tarup. Your campsite is on the coast south of the Storebaelt bridge. There is some nice walking from the campsite on the cliffs above the coast from which you can see the large Storebaelt bridge.

TARUP (DK) -COPENHAGEN (DK)

You'll cross the Storebaelt bridge on your way towards Copenhagen, which you will bypass now and visit on your return from Sweden.  The journey onwards to Hoor in Sweden will take about 3 hours from your departure at Tarup. You'll be crossing the 5 mile long Oresund Bridge on the way into  Sweden(THE Bridge from the Swedish TV drama)

ORESUND BRIDGE - view from coast at Malmo, Sweden

SWEDEN - main trip
ROUTE 2 SWEDEN - Central/Southern loop

MALMO (Hoor)

Your campsite at Hoor is well placed to visit the cities of Lund and Malmo, with trains leaving from Hoor's own station. In Lund there is an open air museum Kulturen which has resited and preserved traditional buildings containing exhibits and demonstrations of craft and culture of the indigenous Sami people.

LUND - Kulturen Heritage Park

The Domkyrka (main church) has an incredible 15th century astronomical clock showing time, date and sun/moon phases. If you get there at midday you can experience the chiming, and the parade of the figures beneath the main clock face.

LUND - Domkrykan Astronomical Clock

Malmo has an attractive medieval core with cobbled, pedestrianised streets. When you've had a walk round the main sights head down to the coast where you'll get a great view of the enormous Oresund Bridge that carried you over from Denmark . There is nice walking in the seaside park down here.

MALMO - Apoteke exterior

MALMO - Apoteke interior

 GOTHENBURG 

Headed on up to a spot just to the south of Gothenburg in order to visit the city, this will take you just less than three hours driving. The camping ground is set on the edge of a large area of forest and a short walk from some large lakes. It is also close by the Liseberg amusement park.

GOTHENBURG, Lake Nr. Liseberg campsite

Gothenburg is a large port and the second largest city in Sweden with a large historic center. Amongst several museums the Stadsmuseum (City Museum) is the largest, set in the former headquarters of the Swedish East India Company, an imposing structure dating from the heyday of Swedish trading with China in the early part of the eighteenth century.

GOTHENBURG - Stadsmuseum(18thc. East India Company HQ)

MARSTRAND

The onward journey north heads up to a campsite near to the coastal town of Marstrand, about an hour's drive. From the town you can take a trip to a separate island also called Marstrand - a short ferry ride away with excellent walking trails. There are also some short trails from the campsite circling the nearby countryside and coast. This is the beginning of some spectacular, uniquely Swedish coastline with many coves and inlets.

MARSTRAND - View of mainland coast from island trail 

 ELLOS

A further hour's drive up the coast to Ellos takes you past more beautiful coastal scenery. The campsite is in an area of coastal moorland, with easy walking from the site. The star attraction in the area is the very scenic fishing village of Fiskebackskil, a 45 minute drive away - again through some beautiful coastal areas.

FISKEBACKSKIL

KARLSTAD

Now you’re headed across the country on about a 3 hour journey to Karlstad, which sits on the Vanern lake, the largest in Western Europe. This is a handy half way stop on your journey across the full width of Sweden to Stockholm, which takes you through large areas of forest and farmland. Your campsite is right on the lake with a large beach frontage.

Karlstad is an interesting small city that sits at the confluence of the lake and the largest river in Sweden.  Unfortunately the city has suffered major fire damage throughout its history, but the restoration and rebuilding has been done with sympathy to its heritage. In the centre there are a culture museum and a gallery focused on local artists. In the summer months boat buses tour the river mouth and lakeside near the city.

STOCKHOLM

You have another drive of around 3 hours to get across to your campsite just outside Stockholm.  This is located on the network of rivers/lakes surrounding Stockholm, a beautiful location with woods leading down to the waterfront.

STOCKHOLM - Waterfront down from Bredang campsite. 

It is just a 700m walk from the campsite to catch the Metro going into Stockholm.

There is so much to see and do in Stockholm. Like the Danish capital Copenhagen this is a destination in its own right and you could organise a complete holiday or mini break based here with so many options to explore within the city. 

It is a good idea to start with a walking tour to familiarise yourself with the main highlights of what the city has to offer. A boat tour round the main harbour area will give you great views of the city. 

STOCKHOLM - from harbour boat tour

After these overview experiences you need to dig into the details at for instance: the fantastic Vasa ship wreck museum, showcasing the unbelievably well preserved 69 metre ship 

STOCKHOLM- Vasa: carved stern- wreck was on seabed for 300yrs

;the folklore and reconstructed buildings on show at the Skansen park on Sodermalm island; and the Nobel Prize Museum.

NORRKOPING

The journey to Norrkoping will take about 1.5 hours. This is a former industrial town that considered itself to be be the Manchester(England's major industrial city) of Sweden in its day. The town has done well in preserving its architecture and it is well worth visiting the Arbetets industrial museum which tells the story of the old cotton mill through the life of one of its workers. The campsite is on the outskirts and allows a very scenic trail through parkland and along the river into the town.

NORRKOPING - Former cotton mills - now Arbetets Industrial Museum

KALMAR

Kalmar is a further 3 hours travelling south. This has an outstanding Castle set on its own island and surrounded by lovely landscaping.

KALMAR - Castle

 The interior of the castle has beautifully decorated and furnished regal suites. The cobbled streets nearby have many well preserved traditional wooden houses with nice gardens. The campsite is close to the beach, and a short walk from the town along the picturesque coast road and parkland.

KALMAR - Traditional wooden housing

KARLSKRONA

Continuing on your journey to the bottom of the southern Swedish peninsula for about 1.5 hours you will come to Karlskrona. The campsite here is nicely situated on its own island, close to the town. Karlskrona has a long history as Sweden's naval base and has UNESCO world heritage status. The Naval Museum is a big attraction with a great display of antique ships figureheads, a submarine hall and a variety of ships to explore.

KARLSKRONA - Naval Museum

This is a nice town to walk around with a well preserved wooden church amongst a lot of classic baroque architecture. You're now completing the main trip round Sweden with a 2.5 hour drive back to Malmo or the Oresund Bridge to take you back into Denmark.

COPENHAGEN

Although not part of the Sweden loop, being so near you will not want to miss out on the delights of Denmark's capital just across the bridge. Some suggestions: take a canal boat tour from the picturesque Nyhavn quay,

COPENHAGEN - Nyhavn quay

and get sight of the 'Little Mermaid' from the water, avoiding the press of selfie takers on the shore; view the splendour of the Christansborg palace and Rosenborg Castle;

COPENHAGEN - Christanborg Palace tapestries

walk round the Tivoli gardens and grab some great food at one of the cafes/restaurants. Not far outside the city is the Viking Ship Museum at Roskilde, with craftsmen working on replica vessels and short boat trips.

JOURNEY BACK

ROUTE 1. The trip back from Sweden

COPENHAGEN(DK)-KOLDING(DK)

To break the journey heading back into Germany , a stop at somewhere like Gronninghoved Strand near Kolding is suggested. This is 2.5 hours out from Copenhagen, a campsite close to the beach. A nice relaxing stop.

KOLDING(DK)-LUBECK(D)

Taking the opportunity to see some different places on the return journey we’re headed to the medieval Hanseatic merchants' port of Lubeck In Germany. It’s city centre is Germany’s most extensive UNESCO world heritage site. The campsite is 2 miles outside the city. In the fairly compact old part of the town there's lots of different aspects to admire: the huge gated entrances

LUBECK - Holsten Gate

; merchant warehouses; narrow alleys with old almshouses; ornately decorated churches. We also took a trip out to the nearby Baltic coast resort of Ostsee Timmendorfer Strand - with an impressive promenade and a very popular beach.

LUBECK(D)-ROSTOCK(D)

1.5 hours further along the Baltic coast the campsite near Rostock has a large forest footprint close to the beach. Rostock is another medieval Hanseatic League city with a similarly attractive centre. The main square Nuer Markt has a large baroque Town Hall and 15th century gable houses alongside some rebuilt after damage in the Second World War. 

ROSTOCK - Neur Markt

ROSTOCK(D)-STOVE(D)

Starting the journey back across Germany towards the ferry home, a campsite at Stover Strand south of Hamburg is a convenient stop, sitting on the side of the Elbe river with very pleasant walking available directly from the site, and opportunities for watching the working boats on the river. This is about a 2-3 hour drive from Rostock depending on whether you  stick to the motorway or prefer a slightly longer, but more leisurely and scenic journey across country and avoiding getting too close to Hamburg.

STOVE(D)-WIESMOOR(D)

Continuing westerly across Germany the campsite at Wiesmoor is sited on a lake, a very pleasant location. The journey across from Stover Strand will take about 3 hours. Your stop here will allow you sufficient time to drive round the very scenic old port towns on the coast east of Norden - Bonsiel, Neuharlingersiel, Carolinensiel and Greetsiel.

NEUHARLINGERSIEL - port

WIESMOOR(D)-DELFT(NL)

You're heading out of Germany into Holland for your last stop before the ferry, a journey of  about 3.5 hours. The campsite is on the edge of Delft, and it is possible to walk into this very pleasant town from here. Walking in the other direction takes you into lovely park countryside along canal towpaths. Delft itself has typical  dutch architecture with very attractive canalside shops, cafes and restaurants.

DELFT - Canalside shops & restaurants

 The town museum has a large collection of classic Delft blue & white patterned porcelain pottery. A little further afield is the city of The Hague which has a similarly attractive centre. Here you will find the Mauritshuis art gallery where you can see Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring" and other priceless works of art. The Peace Palace and International Court of Justice are also situated on the outskirts of the city.

THE HAGUE - Peace Palace

DELFT(NL)-HOOK OF HOLLAND(NL)

Its just a half hour drive to the ferry at Hook of Holland.

Have a Safe journey home!