Contrary to popular belief, Sweden is not a vast, frozen wasteland overrun with vikings, nor is it exclusively populated with IKEAs. Sweden’s heavily forested landscape serves as a beautiful contrast to its equally gorgeous cities. While northern Sweden can be quite cold in the winter, the southern part of the country is quite mild. In Sweden, you can enjoy the best of every season in any city!

Stockholm. It is no question that Stockholm is Sweden’s most well-known city, and therefore a great choice for gap year programs in Sweden! Not only is it a popular tourist destination, but it is also the capital of the country and has the highest population. Stockholm is modern and trendy, and just all around cool. There are plenty of aesthetically-pleasing places to eat, drink, shop, and explore. The city is spread across 14 islands, but don’t worry, it is still quite compact and easy to navigate. Beyond being straight up gorgeous, Stockholm is also the political, economic, and cultural capital, so it is a great place to start your search if you are looking for internships or jobs in Sweden!

Gothenburg. Gothenburg is second in population, but just as cool as Stockholm. An industrial city port turned tourist destination, Gothenburg is a hipster city. It is more relaxed than Stockholm; it is modernized but still maintains a traditional charm with its cobbled streets and industrial-chic neighbourhoods. Gothenburg is best known for producing Volvos. Volvo was founded in this city in 1927, and there is even a museum dedicated to the carmaker. Gothenburg is cheaper than Stockholm, so it might be more appealing for a budget-conscious gap year in Sweden. Since there are two large universities in the city, it is also home to many students. There are definitely many opportunities to mingle and practice your Swedish in Gothenburg—maybe you can even take a class or two!