Looking for a natural mood-lifter? Sweden might just be the place. From tranquil forest retreats to immersive art spaces and extraordinary music settings, this northern haven is full of experiences that naturally lift the spirit.
Whether you're hiking across an island, relaxing in a sauna by the rapids, contemplating light inside an art installation, or wandering a sculpture park in silence, these experiences offer more than just beauty – they might help you feel a little better.
Sweden is particularly well-suited to a wellbeing-focused break. Its peaceful landscapes, vibrant cultural life, and national habit of slowing down make it a great place to explore experiences known to support serotonin – the chemical closely linked to happiness, calm, and emotional balance.
Certain activities are scientifically shown to support serotonin production – a chemical closely linked to happiness, calm and emotional balance. These include:
The 11 handpicked places in this guide each excel at one or more of these elements – and many combine several in uniquely Swedish ways.
Hidden inside one of Stockholm’s busiest underground stations, Andetag is a contemplative art experience designed to offer a moment of stillness. Created by textile artist Malin Tadaa, the installation gently lights up in time with a recording of her meditative breathing. It’s a mesmerising space that invites visitors to pause, sit down and be present – a quiet reminder to reconnect with your breath, even in the middle of the city.
The stone valley, or Geargevággi as it’s known in Sámi, is a little-known natural wonder outside Kiruna in Swedish Lapland. Thousands of enormous boulders, left behind by retreating glaciers, form a surreal and dramatic landscape. From here, a hiking trail leads to another striking natural site: Rissajaure, or Troll Lake – reputed to be Sweden’s clearest. A refreshing dip is the perfect reward after a day of movement, mountain light and awe-inspiring scenery.
Set along the banks of the Torne River in northern Sweden, Kukkolaforsen is a sauna village steeped in Finnish-Swedish bathing tradition. With 16 different saunas, opportunities for cold dips and wood-fired hot tubs, it’s a place where heat, steam, tranquillity and flowing water form a ritual of renewal. The experience is both sensory and social – a slow, quiet gathering point that leaves you feeling refreshed and rebalanced.
Once a psychiatric hospital, this leafy park in Umeå is now home to one of Europe’s most respected collections of contemporary outdoor sculpture. Over 40 works by prominent international artists are displayed in the open air and accessible year-round, around the clock, encouraging visitors to wander, pause and reflect. The interplay between art, nature and history creates a quietly powerful atmosphere of contemplation and calm.
Hand over your phone and step into a floating, off-grid lodge in the forests of northern Dalarna. Raven offers minimalist comfort in deep seclusion with a rooftop sauna and panoramic views. Guests row across the water, cook outdoors and fall asleep under the stars. Without digital distractions and surrounded by silence, this retreat invites profound rest and reconnection with nature.
Live music has been linked to increased wellbeing, and Dalhalla may be one of the most spectacular places to experience it. Set in a former limestone quarry in Rättvik and surrounded by forest, this open-air amphitheatre offers exceptional acoustics and a dramatic natural stage. Whether you're attending a symphony, opera or pop concert, the setting amplifies every note – creating an unforgettable blend of sound, sky and scenery.
Stretching across 270 kilometres and 20 islands, this coastal hiking route offers shifting landscapes of pine forests, rocky outcrops and sea views. Easily accessed by public transport and boats, the trail invites island-hopping at your own pace. Physical activity, solitude and salty air provide a serotonin-friendly combination. Named one of the world’s top destinations for 2025 by National Geographic.
Sit inside a white dome with a circular opening to the sky and experience sunrise or sunset in a whole new way. This is the northernmost Skyspace in the world – and the only one with a wooden façade. Created by American light artist James Turrell, the installation uses subtle light sequences to enhance the shifting colours of dawn and dusk. A meditative work of slow art that encourages stillness, awareness and a deep sense of presence.
Discover Sweden’s storytelling tradition through folk tales, mythical creatures and enchanted landscapes. Visit the Museum of Legends, join guided storytelling walks or explore saga-marked sites scattered throughout the countryside. This region celebrates imagination and cultural heritage as a source of joy and connection – stimulating curiosity and wonder, regardless of age.
Try a day of silence at Tofta Retreat near the sea on Sweden’s west coast. Here, you’ll hand over your phone and participate in guided yoga and meditation sessions designed to explore stillness and conscious rest. Enjoy the lush natural surroundings between sessions, relax in a hammock or unwind in a sauna. This place is a sanctuary for those looking to disconnect and gently rebalance.
Art meets nature at Wanås Konst, a sculpture park that has evolved over nearly 40 years. Set in a beech forest on the grounds of a medieval estate, it features around 80 permanent artworks and a changing programme of temporary exhibitions. The forest setting heightens the experience, making space for curiosity, movement and moments of reflection – where creativity and nature coexist in playful and thoughtful ways.
Ready to explore? Whether you're drawn to quiet woods, shimmering coastlines or immersive cultural spaces, Sweden offers more than a change of scene. It's an invitation to slow down, tune in and discover what makes you feel good in body, mind and mood.
