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Workation at Bergaliv Loft House
Workation at Bergaliv Loft House
Enjoy a stay high above the treetops in one of four houses located on the mountain slope of Åsberget.
Photo credit: Tina Stafrén/Visit Sweden

Workation in Sweden – a natural thing

Everyone could use a change of scenery now and then, and here in Sweden, you are guaranteed to find it. No matter if you’re longing for the rich smell of an enchanting forest, sweaty hikes through magnificent mountain tops or the calming view of the sea through your bedroom window – Swedish nature has got your back. Here you find a few suggestions on accommodations (with good wi-fi!) located all over the Swedish landscape, where you can stay and recharge your batteries. Or why not bring your laptop for an inspiring workation?

Niehku Mountain Villa
Niehku Mountain Villa
At Niehku Mountain Villa in northern Sweden, you can go skiing under the midnight sun during the spring months.
Photo: Philipp Herfort Photography/Niehku

Niehku Mountain Villa, Swedish Lapland

Niehku Mountain Villa has received a UNESCO Prix Versaille for best hotel interior, and the outdoor setting is just as impressive. Located in Riksgränsen, above the Arctic Circle, the hotel offers ski tours under the midnight sun as well as hiking tours in areas rarely visited by people. You can also go mountain biking, fishing and kayaking. Or – if you’re really into challenging yourself – why not end your workation by climbing Sweden’s highest mountain, Kebnekaise.

A beautiful autumn view of a hotel by a lake in the mountains. The trees are orange and there is a fog over the mountain on the other side of the lake.
View of Fjällnäs
View of Fjällnäs mountain hotel situated next to lake Malmagen in Tänndalen.
Photo: Peter Rutherhagen

Fjällnäs, Härjedalen

Sweden’s oldest mountain hotel Fjällnäs is located in Tänndalen and consists of several 19th century wooden houses with vast areas of unspoiled nature right on their doorstep. In this area, nature is divided into no less than eight seasons – all with their own draw. Hike through the colourful autumn landscape, listen to the silence of the frosty winter, or stay up all night in the summer and watch the sun do the same.

Bergaliv, Orbaden
Bergaliv, Orbaden
Enjoy the panoramic view overlooking the surrounding nature while staying at Bergaliv Loft House.
Photo: Tina Stafrén/Visit Sweden

Bergaliv, Hälsingland

Bergaliv is the place to visit to really unwind from the outside world. The minimalistic cabin, located in the dense forests of Hälsingland, is built over two floors. The first floor is where you’ll find your sleeping accommodation while the upper floor is an open terrace with panoramic views stretching along the Ljusnan River Valley. The perfect place to meditate after a day’s remote work.

Stand up paddleboard at Siggesta Gård
Stand up paddleboard at Siggesta Gård
Stand up paddleboard at the beach at the farm Siggesta Gård in Värmdö.
Photo: Lina Eidenberg Adamo/Siggesta Gård

Siggesta Gård, Stockholm archipelago

The functioning farm of Siggesta Gård is located in the Stockholm archipelago, a mere 50-minute bus ride from the city centre. The elegantly renovated rooms are surrounded by nature offering mountain biking, trail walking, themed mini-golf and SUP-rental. The farm, which is home to alpacas, chickens, goats and horses, is an animal lover's dream and you might even get the opportunity to join a feeding session.

The Nest at Downtown Camper by Scandic, Stockholm
The Nest at Downtown Camper by Scandic, Stockholm
Relax in the sauna or in the outdoor pool while enjoying the views of Stockholm at The Nest Spa. The spa is part of the hotel Downtown Camper by Scandic and is located in heart of Stockholm.
Photo: Erik Nissen Johansen/Stylt Trampoli

Downtown Camper by Scandic, Stockholm

If you’re more of an urban explorer, Downtown Camper in central Stockholm is the ideal base. The lush hotel lobby is a popular spot for remote workers and holidaymakers alike. Hotel guests are offered bikes, kayaks and skateboards for loan. Also, don’t miss the wellness area on the top floor – complete with a sauna shaped like a bird’s nest and an outside pool offering a bird’s eye view of Stockholm’s rooftops.

Swedish Country Living, Dalsland
Swedish Country Living, Dalsland
At Swedish Country Living you will enjoy your meals in nature before canoeing or hiking in the surrounding forests and lakes.
Photo: Swedish Country Living

Swedish Country Living, West Sweden

Swedish Country Living in Dalsland is precisely what it sounds like. The accommodation ranges from larger farmhouses with free wifi to smaller cabins free from electricity and running water, for a more sustainable way to get close to nature. Here, you’ll be surrounded by pristine forest, many lakes and grazing sheep. Possible activities include hiking, kayaking and fishing.

Salt & Sill, West Sweden
Salt & Sill, West Sweden
The floating hotel and restaurant Salt & Sill at Klädesholmen.
Photo: Tony Meyer/Westsweden.com

Salt & Sill, West Sweden

Salt & Sill is Sweden’s first floating hotel and is located on the islet Klädesholmen in the pristine archipelago of the west coast. All rooms have their own entrance, wifi and access to an outdoor seating area – some rooms even have their own sea ladder right outside the door. The hotel offers water-themed activities like boat tours and shellfish fishing. At Salt & Sill, you can rest assure the sound of gentle lapping waves will rock you to sleep.

Ästad vineyard
Ästad vineyard
Ästad Vingård is a beautifully situated vineyard in Åkulla beech forests natural reserve.
Photo: Kristian Sahlberg

Ästad Vingård, Halland

Ever dreamt of living on a vineyard? Ästad Vingård, tucked away in a beech forest on a nature reserve in Halland, is one of Sweden’s largest vineyards. When you’re done working for the day you can either cool down with a cold bath or warm up in the underwater sauna at ‘Sinnenas Spa’ (Spa of the Senses). You can also learn more about the organic grapes on a guided vineyard tour, or set off on a hike along any of the trails that are scattered around the vineyard.

Dining area at Nature Shelter Hotel Åsljungagården, Skåne
Dining area at Nature Shelter Hotel Åsljungagården, Skåne
Nature Shelter Hotel is an urban hotel located in the middle of nature. The restaurant features local ingredients sourced from the surrounding area in Skåne that you can enjoy in the dining area or as a picnic in the forest.
Photo: Nature Shelter Hotel - Åsljungagården

Nature Shelter Hotel, Skåne

Nature Shelter Hotel is a newly opened urban hotel right by Skåneleden Trail in the southern part of Sweden. The surrounding forest and many lakes offer a variety of possible adventures, such as hiking, biking, fishing and kayaking. During autumn, the number of berries and mushrooms make the place a forager’s dream. Nature Shelter Hotel is a part of STF – the Swedish Tourist Association.

Eriksberg Hotel & Nature Reserve
Eriksberg Hotel & Nature Reserve
The spectacular 'Synvillan' (The Illusion Villa) is an architectural accommodation that lets you get close to the animals in the park.
Photo: Angelica Zander

Eriksberg Hotel & Nature Reserve, Blekinge

Eriksberg Hotel & Nature Reserve is the Nordic region’s largest game reserve and one of Blekinge’s biggest draws. European bison, deer, wild boar and moufflon roam freely and a guided walking safari allows you to literally follow in these mighty creatures’ footsteps. Eriksberg offers a variety of accommodation, where the newly built ‘SynVillan’ – The Illusion Villa – gives you a chance to watch the animals eat through a glass slab in the floor.

A workation can increase your well-being

A new case study was performed to illustrate the previous scientific findings from both Swedish and international research that has shown that exposure to the natural environment is beneficial in many ways for our health. The study was conducted in co-operation with researchers from Sweden’s single largest centre of medical academic research and one of the world’s foremost medical universities, Karolinska Institutet.

The case study was conducted for two weeks, between 30 May until 13 June, and included five participants. The participants were between 20 to 35 years and had a job that allowed them to work remotely at the time of the case study. The case study used a combination of quantitative methods in order to investigate the participant’s health, sleeping patterns and physical activity. The study participants wore specific equipment in form of MotionWatch8 (CamNtech Ltd, UK), which recorded their movements every 15 seconds and also collected sleep parameters. Participants, by themselves, measured blood pressure every morning and evening by using an automatic blood pressure monitor. On two occasions the participants also filled in several short forms of different self-assessment tests where the status of their current well-being was examined.

These are the main findings

The results indicated several positive effects of the close-to-nature sojourn.

Physical activity

  • Participants spent more time on moderate physical activity during the experimental period than during a normal workweek. The increase was about 20%. It is possible that the close-to-nature environment encouraged more frequent spontaneous movements.

Sleep

  • Sleep efficiency is a measure of the actual sleep time expressed as a percentage of time in bed and was on average 6 percentage points higher during the close-to-nature period than during a regular workweek.
  • Sleep latency - the time between going to bed and falling asleep – was on average 32 minutes (51%) shorter during the nature week than during a regular week.
  • The average length of sleep bouts (a contiguous period categorised as sleep in the epoch-by-epoch wake/sleep categorisation) was 23 % longer during the nature week than during a regular week.

Mental Health

  • The mental health and wellbeing survey estimates social and mental well-being, as well as emotions related to anxiety, depression and functional limitations. The results of the test were 22% higher during the close-to-nature period.
  • The vitality survey estimated self-perceived public health and the result of it during the close-to-nature sojourn was 27% higher than during a regular workweek. The included questions indicated that the study participants above all felt more “full of pep” (a 55% increase) and had “lots of energy” (a 36% increase).
  • The surveys addressing symptoms of anxiety and depression and showed a 77% decrease in the anxiety symptoms and a 44% decrease in the depression symptoms during the nature week compared to the regular workweek.
  • Perceived Stress Scale estimates how often the respondent experiences that their lives are unpredictable, uncontrollable or that they feel overworked. The results indicated a 48% decrease in perceived stress during the nature week compared to the regular workweek.
  • Cognitive stress was assessed by using questions that focused on difficulties with concentration, memory, decision making, and the ability to think clearly. Our results showed a 50% decrease in the estimate of cognitive stress during the close-to-nature period than during a regular workweek.