In a world where everything moves so fast, all we need is to allow our brains to rest and recharge. All we need is to be bored! In Sweden, where the “lagom” mentality prevails, based on the philosophy of “not too much, not too little, just right,” that applies to every aspect of life, boredom isn’t a flaw, but an added value, even to your trip.
Boredom in Sweden means forests, lakes, nature, and silence. The perfect environment for sleeping, reflecting, observing, feeling, listening, marveling, and breathing. Winter isn’t a season, but a way of life. Sami people (a semi-nomadic people living in Lapland, a region that geographically encompasses three countries: Sweden, Norway, and Finland) use over 200 words for snow and ice!
5 ways to get “bored” in Sweden in winter!
Escape to a Swedish cabin: the new “no-inclusive”
No TV. No Wi-Fi. Just a good book, a wood-burning stove, and a glass-roofed cabin or ice igloo with large windows through which to admire the snow-covered trees or the Northern Lights in the polar night. And as the miracle of the dancing, colorful lights of the North seems to envelop you, you’ll think that stargazing is truly the new luxury!
The polar night means spending an entire month without sunlight! From mid-December to mid-January, the sun never rises, but the darkness isn’t always so dark. At certain times of the day, the sky takes on iridescent shades of blue, offering a surreal and magical atmosphere! Kiruna, Sweden’s northernmost city, with over 25 days of polar night, is a perfect destination for stargazing and hunting for the Northern Lights. As is Abisko, known for being one of the best spots in the world to admire this phenomenon.
Snowshoeing into the unknown
A peaceful winter activity that requires no experience, just observation skills. The tracks, the frost, and the trees are the real stars, with their funny shapes resembling gnomes’ hats! Some tips for snowshoeing in a group:
- in Björkliden in Swedish Lapland, a small ski resort, you can join a mountain hike to admire the Northern Lights while sleeping in a lavvu. A lavvu is a traditional conical tent used by the Sami people, originally as a temporary dwelling for herding reindeer. In the past, it was made from wooden poles or reindeer bone and covered with reindeer hides, with a floor made of branches and hides;
- in Särna, you snowshoe towards Njupeskär, one of the highest waterfalls in Sweden, and encounter Old Tjikko, a 9,500-year-old spruce!
Ice fishing: a lesson in doing nothing
Ice fishing is, above all, a matter of waiting. Lake Storsjön is a local favorite, but beware! A local folklore legend written by vicar Morgens Pedersen in 1635 says a monster lives here!
In Sälen, you can take a lesson to learn the basics of “Arctic” fishing. You need to use an auger to drill a hole in the ice, use a suitable line, and make sure the ice is thick enough to ensure safety. The main species caught in winter are char, rainbow trout, and perch.
Slow food cooked and served in the heart of the forest
After kicksledding (the famous sled you push with your foot!), sit down for lunch with the Sámi and listen to their traditional stories! A typical dish is whitefish, grilled over an open fire, but you can also try smoked and salted reindeer, thinly sliced and served with mushrooms and Arctic lingonberries. Blodpalt, Sámi dumplings made with reindeer blood and flour, served in a soup. Smoked elk meat (älgskav). The culinary experiences are connected to nature and Sámi culture, with a particular focus on sustainability.
The Cold Bath (“Kallbad”) in Sweden
What happens when, once you enter the sauna, the hourglass gradually ticks until all the sand is gone?! You run outside and dive into the icy water! The first time, this experience, which is a tradition in Sweden, can be truly shocking! But little by little, you get used to it and begin to feel the benefits! Across the country, there is a wide range of cold saunas, both new and historic. The former emerged in the last quarter of the 19th century, the latter as early as 1850.
Regular cold baths have proven health benefits. Cold baths improve memory, reduce tension, and increase energy thanks to the temporary alteration of blood circulation. They are suitable for everyone, provided you do not suffer from heart or circulatory problems. Here a couple of “kallbadhus” worth visiting:
- Kallbadhuset Varberg, west coast. Built on stilts in 1903, it is an icon. Housed in an oriental-style building with decorative domes, it is open year-round and features a café with a splendid sea view;
- Karlshamns Kallbadhus, east coast. A “flying saucer” on stilts with floor-to-ceiling windows offering views of the archipelago.
Have we convinced you that boredom can be a wonderful vacation?!