Treat yourself to a dose of boredom in Sweden

The festive season can be anything but restful. Presents to wrap, meals to prepare, traditions to uphold – all while you’re sweating in your winter coat, trying to capture that perfect moment for Instagram.

Then comes New Year’s Eve. Perhaps you’re hosting or heading to a party, reflecting on the year gone by and making plans for the one ahead – a year that’s meant to be even more memorable, more fulfilling, more everything.

But what if you did the opposite? What if you made space to do... not very much at all?

As Swedish author Astrid Lindgren wrote in her diary on New Year’s Eve, 1964: “And then one must also have moments just to sit and gaze.”

We need boredom. According to American author and Harvard professor Arthur Brooks, it allows the brain to rest and recharge – sparking creativity and clarity. Think about it: how often do your best ideas appear while sorting laundry, standing in the shower or driving down a long, empty road?

When you give yourself a dose of boredom, you create space to reflect on what truly matters and let curiosity take the lead.

Why Sweden is the perfect place to be bored

In Sweden, the ‘lagom’ mindset encourages a balanced lifestyle, and that includes making space for boredom. As one of the most sparsely populated countries in Europe, with vast forests and thousands of lakes, Sweden offers ample space to slow down and breathe.

Nature here is easily accessible and ideal for exploring at your own pace. Add natural darkness, crisp air and deep quiet, and you’ve got the perfect setting for sleep, reflection and doing, if not nothing, then at least a little less. And enjoying it. Here, boredom isn’t a flaw in your itinerary. It’s a feature.

Get your dose of boredom in Sweden this winter, and it might just be the best thing you’ve done all year.

Here are our best bets for being bored in Sweden this winter:

Swedish cabin life – the new ‘no inclusive’

No TV. No Wi-Fi. No endless buffet. Just you, a comfy chair and the quiet joy of having nothing to do. Life in a Swedish off-grid cabin may be unplugged, but it’s not uncomfortable. Think sleek Scandinavian interiors, wood-burning stoves and big windows made for staring out at snow-covered trees while pretending to write a novel. Bring a book, or don’t. Nature is right outside your door.

Two nights is the minimum recommended dose.

Where to check in:

• Hop Farm Beach, Hälsingland – Digital detox cabin where forest meets shore, two hours north of Stockholm Arlanda Airport.
• Landet Stay, Sörmland – Architect-designed cabins surrounded by archipelago nature, less than an hour south of Stockholm.
• Hyssna Forest Resort, West Sweden – Choose between treetop, cliffside or creekside cabins, all with a private outdoor spa. Less than an hour from Gothenburg.
• Trakt Forest Hotel, Småland – Elevated forest suites by Swedish architect Gert Wingårdh, deep in the southern forests.

The polar night – surprisingly brilliant

A whole month without sunlight might sound like something to endure, not enjoy. But far above the Arctic Circle, something strange happens: the less the sun shows up, the more beautiful everything gets.

From mid-December to mid-January, the sun doesn’t rise at all – but that doesn’t mean it’s pitch black. The polar night in Sweden glows with days of soft, velvety shades. Look north and a deep navy hue lingers across the sky; look south and you might catch a pink blush from the sun just below the horizon.

It’s a dream for photographers, creative souls and anyone ready to slow down and gaze at the sky. And if you’re lucky, you might be rewarded with the Northern Lights – especially vivid this winter.

Best places in Swedish Lapland to enjoy it:

• Kiruna – Sweden’s northernmost city, with over 25 days of polar night, makes a great backdrop and basecamp for sky-gazing.
• Jukkasjärvi – Home to the world’s first Icehotel, this village with 800 locals and 1,000 dogs offers plenty of frozen charm.
• Abisko – Nestled between mountains and right by a national park, it’s known as one of the world’s best spots to see the Northern Lights.

Snowshoe hiking, going nowhere

Step. Crunch. Breathe. Repeat. Snowshoe hiking isn’t about getting somewhere fast. It’s about wandering through silence, watching frost settle on tree branches and following animal tracks that might lead to a moose, or nothing at all. Which is sort of the point.

It’s a soft winter activity that requires no experience – just warm clothes and a fondness for moving at the pace of a sloth. Go solo or join a guided tour. Either way, you’ll likely end up right back where you started. Happily.

Guided trails to try:

• Björkliden, Swedish Lapland – A small ski resort with grand surroundings. Join a daytime hike up the mountain or a Northern Lights tour to a traditional lavvu.
• Åre, Jämtland – Skip the ski crowds and join a guided gastronomy walk with local flavours, or hike above the treeline to an igloo for lunch.
• Särna, Dalarna – Join a guided snowshoe hike to Njupeskär, one of Sweden’s tallest waterfalls, and meet Old Tjikko – a 9,500-year-old spruce who’s truly mastered the art of standing still.

Slow cross-country skiing

Cross-country skiing in Sweden isn’t about speed or selfies. It’s about rhythm. The glide. The slow burn in your legs. The way your breath syncs with each movement until it feels like a natural form of meditation.

Out here, the chaos of town feels like a different planet: no last-minute shopping crowds, no overheated queues. Just you, your skis and thousands of snow-covered trees quietly cheering you on.

Top spots:

• Gällivare, Swedish Lapland – A hidden gem with world-class trails and guaranteed snow around the Dundret ski resort. The long, well-maintained system suits everyone – from total beginners to elite skiers. Honestly, no one gets away.
• Funäsfjällen, Jämtland Härjedalen – With over 300 kilometres of groomed tracks and a season from October to May, you can keep going forever and ever. Resistance is futile.
• Orsa Grönklitt, Dalarna – An official Vasaloppet centre offering lit trails, ski schools, waxing services and even dog-friendly tracks. There are no excuses here. None.

Never-ending road trips

No traffic lights. No traffic jams. Sometimes, not even a radio signal. Just you, the road, and an overwhelming number of trees. Northern Sweden’s roads stretch through vast, empty landscapes where not much seems to happen – except everything, if you’re paying attention. Silent forests. Frozen lakes. The occasional moose. It’s the kind of drive where the journey really is the destination.

Pull over when you feel like it. Breathe in the pine-scented stillness. And enjoy the rare thrill of not needing to be anywhere else.

Recommended routes:

• The Wilderness Road (Vildmarksvägen) – Sweden’s highest paved road, forming a remote circular route through forest, mountains and reindeer territory. Part of the loop closes in winter due to heavy snow, so you may need to turn around and drive it all again. Which, frankly, isn’t the worst thing.
• The Blue Highway (E12, Blå vägen) – Winds from Norway to Finland through snowy, mountainous terrain. Named after the water-rich landscape it crosses. Be prepared to stop for reindeer crossings – they move at their own pace and don't care about your schedule.
• The Northern Lights Road (Route 99) – Follows the Torne River from Haparanda to Karesuando, far away from city lights, stimulation and anything resembling a rush. Said to be a dream road for aurora hunters, and anyone in need of a mental reset.

Ice fishing – a masterclass in doing nothing

Ice fishing is mostly waiting. Sometimes for hours. And that’s the point. You sit. You stare. You sip something warm. Maybe the sun comes out. Maybe you lose sense of time. Maybe you enjoy the sound of absolutely nothing happening.

But when something does tug on the line, it’s suddenly the most exciting thing in the world. And with over 100,000 lakes in Sweden, there’s no shortage of places to sit around and find out.

Two places to try:

• Lake Storsjön, Östersund – A local favourite for those heading out on their own. Perch, trout and whitefish hide beneath the ice, and local fishing shops can help you gear up with equipment and advice. Just watch out for the legendary great lake monster. Catch that, and your peaceful day on the ice might get a bit too eventful.
• Sälen, Dalarna – Join a guided tour to learn the basics, drill your own hole, and cook your catch over open fire. You might hook char, trout, rainbow or perch. Fika and plenty of time to reflect on life are included.

A slow-cooked taste of Sweden

Forget fast food. This is slow food in the most delicious sense of the word – cooked over open flames, served deep in the forest, and best enjoyed without looking at the time.

Across Sweden, you’ll find meals that aren’t just eaten, but experienced. There’s no rush, no pressure. Just the gentle pace of ingredients doing their thing, and you doing very little at all. A rare luxury, really.

Here are three delicious ways to let time (and flavour) simmer:

• Tastes and tales of Sápmi – A lunch that lasts all day? At Huuva Hideaway in Swedish Lapland, there’s no such thing as rush. Start with a welcome drink and a try at kicksledding or snowshoeing, before settling in for a three-course Sámi lunch paired with stories, fika and stillness.
• Traditional whitefish grilling – At Kukkolaforsen, right on the border with Finland, you’ll indulge in the simple pleasure of good food and timeless stories. Freshly caught whitefish is grilled over an open fire in a rustic smoke hut, while local fishermen share tales of river life. Pair it with a sauna session, and you’ve got the recipe for a perfectly unhurried day.
• Slow dinner by the river – Knystaforsen in Halland may have a Michelin star, but there’s no rush or frills here. Over four unhurried hours, guests are served a tasting menu based on nature’s pantry – both inside the old sawmill and outside by the campfire. The team has a proper kitchen, but prefers cooking over embers. It’s smoky, sensuous and a little impractical. In the best possible way.

The timeless ritual of cold bathing

Time moves differently in a sauna. Especially when you're trying to stay just one more minute. You sit. You sweat. You watch the sand trickle through the little hourglass on the wall. It’s a slow kind of boredom – maybe the best kind?

Then comes the dash outside and a plunge into icy water. Suddenly, you’re wide awake, wildly alive and wondering why you don’t do this every day.

Cold bath houses have lined Sweden’s coasts for centuries. Here, cold bathing isn’t a trend; it’s a tradition.

Places to take the plunge:

• Arctic Bath, Swedish Lapland – A spa hotel floating on the Lule River, designed to honour the region’s logging history. The circular open-air ice bath is the centrepiece, surrounded by three saunas – making you take the plunge in style (even if your scream says otherwise).
• Kallbadhuset Varberg, Halland – An iconic wooden cold bath house dating back to the 1800s, perched above the Kattegat with sweeping sea views. Swimwear is optional (as in: not worn), which only adds to the invigorating sense of freedom.
• Helsingborg, Skåne – Possibly Sweden’s most dedicated cold bathing city, with three bath houses and an annual Cold Bath Week (which actually lasts 12 days) to celebrate the joy of freezing – sorry, bathing. The 2026 theme? The Nordic pause by the sea. Perfect for a healthy dose of boredom.

Stare at the sky – the perfect end to a boring day

Forget Netflix and chill. Try darkness and stargaze instead. Spend the night in a cosy cabin with a glass roof and front-row seats to the northern sky. After a day of slow skiing, snowshoe hiking or eventless ice fishing, this is where you land – under the stars, with nothing to scroll and nowhere else to be.

No screens, no distractions – just a ceiling full of stars. Maybe even a flicker of the Northern Lights, if you're lucky. But honestly, the stillness is the main event. Lie back. Watch the sky do its thing. And wonder when you stopped doing this kind of nothing.

Skywatching stays up north:

• Peace and Quiet Hotel, Jokkmokk – A floating glass room on the river, reached by snowmobile and with the option to book a private chef for a dinner on the ice. There’s no traditional shower – instead, embrace cryotherapy in the snowy outdoors for a brisk and unforgettable start to your day.
• Ice & Light Village, Luleå – Step inside your own snow globe at this village of igloo-shaped cabins. Nestled between coast and forest, your neighbours include sea eagles, moose and foxes. Snowshoe hiking and ice fishing are on offer – and the sky views come as standard.
• Aurora Tepee Hut Camp, Vindeln – These heated tepees may not have running water, a WC or a restaurant nearby – just you and a million stars. If you’re lucky, you might spot the ISS or a satellite drifting by. In the morning, a breakfast basket is delivered to your door.

Treat yourself to a dose of boredom in Sweden and rediscover what truly matters.