In December, Sweden is alive with the joyous anticipation of Christmas. Damp and light rain are no obstacle to the fun, as an unstoppable extravaganza of carnival festivities, holiday sales and craft fairs spills out onto the town squares. Exclusive souvenirs and handmade gifts sell out like hotcakes at throwaway prices. The most colorful fairs take place in Gothenburg and in Stockholm in the historic Gamla Stan district.
The cream of society prefers to entertain in its own way. The Nobel Prize ceremony, with its gala concert and ball at City Hall, is the centerpiece of the kingdom's social life and the secret Christmas dream of modern-day Cinderellas.
With the onset of winter, ancient customs awaken, giving street celebrations a vibrant national flavor. A well-organized tour to Sweden in December replaces volumes of scholarly ethnography, allowing you to experience the spicy flavor of folk beliefs first-hand.
Few countries in Western Europe have kept the tradition of celebrating St. Lucy's Day, when angelic-looking girls and boys in sparkling white outfits girded with red silk ribbons take to the streets of Swedish cities, treating passersby to cinnamon buns.
The festivities culminate in a Lutheran-themed beauty pageant to elect the country's best Lucia at the Skansen Ethnographic Museum in Stockholm. Accompanied by a lavish entourage, the winner, crowned with a crown and five candles, parades through the city, symbolizing the triumph of light over darkness.
Hardened travelers will have a lot of fun at the Festival of 1000 Ice Lanterns in the Sami town of Vuollerim. Ice rings with flaming candles inside are considered the strongest good luck charms. By taking part in an ice carving master class, each tourist will become a blacksmith of his or her own good fortune!
If you're traveling with a child, be sure to include a trip to Tomteland to visit Sweden's Santa Claus - Tomte the fairy tale man from Lapland.
The Feast of St. Lucia marks the beginning of the winter vacation. From then on, ski vacations in Sweden in December enter the high season, which has an immediate impact on prices. Average December temperatures in the popular resorts of Ore, Sälen, Idre, and Kläppen hover around a reassuring -8°C, but crowded pistes, hordes of noisy kids, and long lines at the elevators are a bit of a worry.
For reasons of economy, it is better to plan a vacation to Sweden in December in the first decade, when the Christmas spirit has already taken flesh and prices have not yet had time to rise. At the beginning of the month, the average prices for tours to Sweden for two people with a flight and accommodation in a three-star hotel are 1050 - 1300 EUR. In addition, there is an opportunity to save money on shopping: Christmas sales are in full swing in the country's boutiques, malls, and outlet stores.
From the second decade of the month, prices for a December vacation to Sweden soar to 1500-1600 EUR, but some people manage to find a hot trip from Santa Claus for 700 EUR or even less.
Want to stay up to date with the latest offers from tour operators and airlines? Search for bargain tours to Sweden winter on tripmydream and give it a go.
