Stockholm, is Sweden’s capital and without doubt, one of the most beautiful cities in the world. No longer just recognised as the home of Abba, it has become quite a cosmopolitan city, popular with people who are interested in fashion, design, arts and cuisine to name a few.

It’s actually built on 14 islands so it’s well worth your time to get a Tour Boat, which weaves its way in the canals between islands and shows you much of the scenic paths outside the city centre. The city has a charming medieval city centre called the ‘Gamla Stan’ which is situated on an island. It’s here you’ll find the cathedral and the Royal Palace (Kungliga Slottet). The city also has a large number of museums include the Vasa Museum (Vasamuseet), The Nordic Museum (Nordiska Museet) and The Swedish Museum of Natural History (Naturhistoriska riksmuseet).

Arlanda Airport is the main international airport in Sweden and is located about 40km outside the city. (You can pick your car hire up here).

The city of Uppsala is located 70km north of Stockholm. This is a university city, so it has a vibrant nightlife scene. The city also has a number of museums, gardens and other interesting sights worth visiting plus lots of outdoor activities to enjoy.

Sweden Car Hire Tip: Drive on the right and overtake Trams on the right as well. Seatbelts are mandatory.

Heading out of Stockholm and to the south on the E4 you can find the city of Linkoping. One of the top attractions in the town is the Linköping Cathedral, which on occasion can host organ concertos. Here you’ll see the famous ‘Tree of Life’ and the ‘High Altar’. Other sights in the city include the Linköping Castle, the City Hall and a number of museums including the Swedish Air Force Museum.

Exit Linkoping on the E4 and continue south west on a scenic drive for about 130km until you come to the beautiful city of Jonkoping. This city has a stunning location at the end of Lake Vattern – the 2nd largest lake in Sweden and it also has a superb sandy beach.

If you continue on the main E4 for about another 240km southwest you’ll reach the city of Helsingborg, which is the closest point to Denmark. This city offers a nice blend of historic houses as well as more modern buildings all together in the city centre. It has a fantastic waterfront, beaches, pedestrianised shopping streets and some exquisite gourmet restaurants. While here you might visit the ruins of Helsingborg Castle, the Sancta Maria kyrka or the Dunkers Kulturhus.

Sweden Car Hire Tip: The Police can breathalyse you at any time and the limit is low, at about 0.2.

Just a little further north you can find the city of Halmstad. This is a popular tourist destination during the summer as people from all over Sweden flock to the 7km beach at Tylösand.