Family Autumn Wild Camping Trip in Southern Sweden

Why Sweden?

Scandinavia has always been very close to my heart. As a teenager I went on a camping road trip with my family all the way up to the northernmost point of Europe, and later I visited different Scandinavian cities during weekend trips. In 2016 I discovered the charms of winter in Finland with my then 4-year-old son, and in 2019 my partner and I treated ourselves to a 6-week road trip through the Scandinavian and Baltic countries. I also love Denmark, which I visited several times during the ten years I lived in northern Germany. Of all the northern countries, I knew Sweden the least, so this time we decided to get to know it a little better. We travelled in October 2021, when some measures were still in place during the pandemic, but Sweden never really closed its borders, so entry was fairly easy. In addition, wild camping which we have been practicing with pleasure for several years, is allowed and quite popular in the Scandinavian countries. Being in such close contact with nature every day is something invaluable to us, and Sweden did not disappoint us in this sense.

How did we travel?

We set off on this journey in our Land Rover Defender camper, from our home near Hanover, Germany. We slept in a rooftop tent and had all sorts of accessories and equipment that significantly contributed to our self-sufficiency. For example, our solar panel, additional car battery, a small fridge, water tanks and other features. We mostly wild camped, but we also slept in hotels in larger cities a few times and rented one of those cute Swedish red wooden houses on the Baltic coast once.

Wild camping, as mentioned, is allowed in Sweden under certain conditions. We always check local regulations and information boards before setting up camp, and above all, we do not forget to respect nature. We leave no trace behind, we conscientiously pick up our rubbish and do not camp on fragile surfaces where we can damage the ecosystem. We must be especially careful when making a campfire, as this may not be allowed in all seasons. During these trips we try to travel as sustainably and responsibly as possible. We buy local organic food at markets and small shops, when we eat out we choose smaller family-run restaurants, we visit exhibitions of local artists and so on. With all this, we directly support the local community. Instead of buying plastic bottles, we have special water jerrycans which we fill with water at gas stations. We use biodegradable cosmetics, and we also avoid buying single-use products.

What did we see during our trip?

From Rostock, Germany, we took a six-hour-long ferry to Trelleborg in Sweden. Over the next few days, we drove past Lund, Malmö and Helsingborg up to Gothenburg, Sweden's second largest city with the largest Scandinavian port. Then we visited Sweden's sixth largest island, Tjörn, which greeted us with wonderful weather and spectacular landscapes. That is what we came here for! Observing majestic cliffs, hearing the wild sea, smelling fragrant forests, walking between the colourful three-hundred-year-old fishing huts in sleepy villages filled our hearts with joy. Afterwards we drove past countless lakes and visited a couple of popular tourist resorts, Smögen and Fjällbacka, which impressed us with their typical Swedish architecture and relaxed atmosphere. We also spent some time in the unique Kosterhavets National Park, located near the border with Norway. Sweden's first marine national park offers a whole range of interesting activities, which are mostly tied to the summer season. Popular activities include kayaking or supping, panoramic boat rides, and special marine safaris, where visitors collect mussels or catch lobsters, go diving, hiking and much more.

At this point we turned southeast and stopped at many lakes on our way to the eastern Baltic coast. The Swedish landscape is strongly characterised by its countless lakes, as there are over 100,000 of them in the entire country. In the mornings we woke up to the view of forests dressed in vibrant autumn colours, the silhouettes of which were reflected in the calm water surfaces of the lakes, and that very special magical silence filled us with inner peace. The following days we made a few stops in the smaller towns of Jönköping, Kalmar and Karlskrona, and visited Stenshuvuds National Park, the popular summer coastal resort of Sandhammaren, the mystical sanctuary of Ales Stenar, Marsvinsholm Castle and the city of Ystad on this last section of our circular route. We concluded the circle in Trelleborg, from where a morning ferry took us back to Germany. The entire journey took about two weeks, and in Sweden, we covered about 1,500 kilometres.

Who do I recommend this trip to?

A trip to southern Sweden is ideal for all nature lovers and those who like to visit less well-known parts of Europe. You may not find many major sights here, but the numerous lakes, forests, the beautiful coastline and its archipelagos, picturesque fishing villages and modern large cities, which also offer excellent culinary experiences, can positively surprise you. Sweden is also a great family destination as well as an excellent choice for anyone who likes (wild) camping.

You can read more about our wild camping family trip to southern Sweden on my blog.