Is it safe to walk alone in Sweden?: Sweden is the perfect destination for solo travelers. Its vibrant cities, progressive culture and serene landscapes, as well as its friendly people, make it a great place to visit.
Sweden has it all, whether you want to experience the vibrant urban lifestyle, explore rich cultural experiences or enjoy the countryside’s natural beauty.
Solo travel is becoming more popular, especially after the pandemic. Solo travel allows you to focus on your needs, love and growth without adjusting your schedule to fit in with someone else’s plans. You are the focus. Sweden is an excellent destination for solo travelers. Here’s why.
Sweden’s efficient and well-developed transportation system makes it easy to explore the country independently.
Traveling throughout Sweden is easy thanks to the extensive network of buses, trains and well-maintained highways.
Public transportation in Sweden is comprehensive, reliable and easy to use. Whether you want to explore the lively cities or the peaceful countryside, it’s easy to travel around Sweden on your own. [Is it safe to walk alone in Sweden?]
7 beautiful places are best to walk alone in Sweden
- Djurgården, Stockholm
- Gamla Stan, Stockholm
- Lund Botanical Garden, Lund
- Kungsleden (The King’s Trail)
- Höga Kusten (High Coast)
- Tiveden National Park
- Marstrand Island
1. Djurgården, Stockholm
Spritmuseum & Absolut Art Collection relocated from their former inner-city address to Djurgarden’s current seaside location. A year later, the ABBA Museum opened just around the corner.
VRAK-Museum of Wrecks are two of the most recent additions to Djurgarden’s exciting collection of museums. You’ll find two other art museums on the island’s south coast: Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde and Thiel Gallery.
It is also known for its family-friendly attractions. In addition to the Skansen Amusement Park (which has a Nordic Zoo and two Aquariums), you can also find Grona-Lund’s Amusement Park and the playful Junibacken.
Djurgarden, part of the National City Park and has vast open spaces, is the greenest of all the islands. [Is it safe to walk alone in Sweden?]
2. Gamla Stan, Stockholm
Gamla Stan sits at the intersection of the past and future. You’ll also find innovative restaurants and unique boutiques in its historic buildings.
Gamla Stan, or Old Town, was founded in the 13th century. You’ll also find some of Stockholm’s oldest establishments on the streets around the Royal Palace.
Gamla Stan is a place of contrasts. Stockholm’s oldest settlement has many historical attractions and buildings. It’s also a place known for its gastronomic innovations and unique shopping.
Gamla Stan, or Old Town, is Stockholm’s oldest neighborhood. The first settlement in Stockholm dates back to the Middle Ages.
It is located on an island right in the center of the city. The majority of buildings date from the 16th or 17th century.
Gamla Stan’s uniqueness is attributed to the narrow, winding streets with cobblestones and buildings of different colors. Gamla Stan is often referred to by locals as a “living museum.” [Is it safe to walk alone in Sweden?]
Read Also: Is it reasonable to travel once a year?
3. Lund Botanical Garden, Lund
Since 1690, a university garden in Lund has been located where the current university building is. Eyewitnesses said it was overgrown, neglected and vandalized. It also served as a swampy shelter for the free-roaming wild swine of Lund.
Carl Harleman’s plan to create a new botanical park with an orangery was approved in 1746. Eric Lidbeck was the administrator, but he is best known for planting more than 50,000 mulberry and silk trees.
The botanical garden has been in operation for over 110 years. The university had grown, and the orangery was used as a lecture room for anatomy and a prison for students.
The university’s plans to build a chemistry lab in the same building made it clear that the botanical gardens would have to be relocated.
This was in the “Stenalyckan,”” which was at the time on the edge of Lund. [Is it safe to walk alone in Sweden?]
4. Kungsleden (The King’s Trail)
The King’s Trail is a 400-kilometre hiking trail that runs through Sweden’s most stunning mountain scenery. It offers a great adventure to both the novice hiker and the experienced mountain veteran.
Kungsleden was originally a trail that went from A to A. From Abisko or Ammarnas. The trail was only extended in 1975 to include the Lake Tarnation fishing spot of the Sorsele Municipality and the Hemavan.
The Swedish Tourist Association began work on the King’s Trail at the turn of the century. The STAFF’s 1900 yearbook has a map that shows the King’s Road in the Lapland mountains. It was ready for 75 years, and the trail was added to the state mountain trails system in 1977.
STF did not create a new trail, but old hiking trails were combined to form a ‘royal artery’ through the mountains.
Indigenous people and other people walked on this trail for thousands of years before anyone thought of creating a marked trail. [Is it safe to walk alone in Sweden?]
Read Also: Why do you travel with your family?
5. Höga Kusten (High Coast)
The High Coast Trail is 140 km long and runs through the World Heritage Site of the same name. It begins in Hornoberget, in the south, and ends in Ornskoldsvik, in the north.
The High Coast Trail is divided into seven sections, each with a unique combination of forest and coast. There are also exciting areas along the trail that are rich in flora.
You can enjoy various activities, side paths and unique natural experiences: deep forests and high mountains with till-capped peaks, rocky coastlines, mountaintop views, cobble fields, sandy beaches and nature preserves.
You can sometimes find yourself as high as 250 meters above sea level. You can hike to these heights in Sweden but nowhere else!
There are sections of the High Coast Trail that will suit both beginners and experienced hikers. Enjoy the High Coast Trail.
You are about to see some of the most spectacular highlights of the World Heritage SitesSites’. [Is it safe to walk alone in Sweden?]
6. Tiveden National Park
It is located between two large Swedish lakes, Vattern and Vanern, on the border between Vastra Gotaland and Orebro. The park is near the more minor, still, huge Unden Lake, known for its clear water.
Signposts will be visible from the highway. Prepare to drive a considerable distance on gravel roads (but you will be used to them if you’ve been driving in Sweden for some time).
The park is not accessible by public transport. If you don’t have a vehicle, your only options are to use a bicycle or detour from the nearby long-distance trail Bergslagsleden.
The National Park website has a detailed trail description on its official trail map. The time needed for each trail on the map is greatly overestimated.
It seems odd that the Stenkallerundan requires 2 hours to cover the 2,2km. You can quickly reduce the time by half at a moderate speed. [Is it safe to walk alone in Sweden?]
7. Marstrand Island
You can get to Marstrand by car from Gothenburg. You will see beautiful views of the Swedish countryside, and you may even spot some summer bathers basking in the sun on the giant rocks that protrude from the water.
Have no car? No problem. Marstrand is only a two-bus ride away from Gothenburg. The first bus departs from Nils Ericson Terminal, Gothenburg.
It takes 30 minutes for the bus to reach Ytterby Station. The following bus, called MarsEx, departs Ytterby Station 30 minutes later and takes you to Marstrand Ferry Terminal. The Vasttrafik app can be used to plan and pay for this journey.
Marstrand is an island off the west coast of Sweden that I tried to discourage my wife from visiting, thinking it would be overrun by tourists in August.
Travel websites made the island look stunning with its massive harbor and dominating fortress. It turned out that I was wrong. I had thought it would be “just another tourist trap.” [Is it safe to walk alone in Sweden?]
Conclusion:
Sweden is very safe for solo walking, in the city or out in nature. Solo walkers will feel secure in Sweden because of the low crime rate, well-maintained spaces and reliable emergency services.
Walking alone in Sweden can be enjoyable and safe if you follow basic safety precautions, such as being aware of your surroundings and staying away from poorly lit areas. [Is it safe to walk alone in Sweden?]
Is it safe to walk alone in Sweden?: FAQ
1. Is it safe to walk alone in Sweden?
Ans: Sweden is one of the safest places in the world. Walking alone at night is also generally safe. The crime rate is low in both urban and rural areas.
2. Are cities in Sweden safe for solo walking?
Ans: It is safe to walk alone in cities such as Stockholm and Malmo. The streets are well-lit, the public spaces are organized, and there is a strong police force. It’s best to be cautious, particularly at night, in less crowded and unfamiliar areas.
3. Are there any areas in Sweden where walking alone is unsafe?
Ans: In Sweden, no areas are considered dangerous for walking alone. In larger cities, it is wise to exercise caution in areas with more petty crimes (such as pickpocketing), especially near tourist hotspots or transport hubs.