Capital: Stockholm … 9,995,000 People … 450,295 km² 
The Country
IKEA, ABBA, and Meatballs; what more is there to say? Sweden is a nation that highlights the importance of nature, having 2/3 of the country’s land area covered in forest and containing over 97,500 lakes. Although filled with wilderness, Sweden is a country that focuses on innovation and discovery. The creation of the Nobel Prizes, which include awards for peace, literature, physics, medicine, chemistry, and economic sciences, were introduced by Swedish businessman Alfred Nobel. With a positive and inclusive outlook on nature and culture, Sweden is undoubtedly a unique and intriguing place to visit.
Fun Facts:
99% of waste is recycled in Sweden, and they import 1.3 million tonnes of trash annually due to their waste management efficiency.
Sweden has “freedom to roam”, meaning you can go anywhere to camp, pick berries, and swim (with some limitations).
Sweden has a tradition called the Flogsta Scream, where university students will yell out their windows every night at 10pm.
My Experience
I arrived into Stockholm early in the morning, and only had a few hours before I had to continue on to Estonia. I decided to take the limited time I had to try and immerse myself in the city. The first place I visited was the neighbourhood of Hornstull before crossing Västerbron bridge and heading towards the centre of the city. We also briefly stopped by Stadshuset, Stockholm City Hall (the venue for the Nobel Prize banquet).
After visiting a few scenic viewpoints of the city and doing some general exploring of Stockholm, we decided to visit The Ericsson Globe, the largest hemispherical building in the world. There is an elevator to go to the top of the dome, which provides an incredible view of Stockholm to the North, and the flat lowlands of the south. Before I knew it, it was time to leave. I didn’t even get the chance to enjoy Swedish meatballs! I did realize though that carbonated water was quite common (unfortunately). Although visiting Stockholm was a great experience, I have plans to return to Sweden soon to truly explore this great Scandinavian country.
Photos of Sweden