15-day family road trip in Sweden, our itinerary and budget

Wondering what to see and do on your road trip in Sweden? Having criss-crossed southern Europe in a motorhome, we were keen to explore the Scandinavian countries (Sweden, Norway and Denmark). VisitingNorthern Europe in a converted vehicle (van, camper van, motorhome…) or by car is ideal, as these countries are huge and can drastically reduce your budget.

Below, we detail our 15-day family itinerary in south-west Sweden. It combines picturesque fishing villages with colorful houses, incredibly beautiful national parks and charming small towns.

You’ll also find all our best free bivouacs, our tips for sightseeing, our budget, our best addresses and all the tips you need to make the most of your stay!

What to see and do in southern Sweden?

Scania is an incredibly flat coastal region, with more sunshine than the rest of Sweden. It’s a bit like the Swedish Côte d’Azur, without the concrete!

• The Bohuslän +++ coast in south-west Sweden is renowned for its natural beauty, seascapes and traditional fishing villages. The coastline is dotted with islands and islets, forming a picturesque archipelago. The coastline is characterized by impressive granite cliffs and rock formations, often polished by millennia of erosion.
  
• Tree-lined towns where cycling is king: during your road trip, we recommend visiting Malmö, Lund and Gothenburg. It’s a real pleasure to visit Swedish cities on foot or by bike.
  
• Sweden’snature parks offer an incredible diversity of natural landscapes, from vast forests and lakes to rocky archipelagos and sandy beaches on the south coast. They are sanctuaries for a wide variety of flora and fauna. There’s usually a small, free, interactive naturum (museum) with lots of explanations about the park.
  
• Rock engravings dating back to the Bronze Age, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

We also fell in love with the Swedish way of life, which is very different from ours: more organized, more respectful, the love of beauty is omnipresent.

In short, the Swedes have adopted an art of living that focuses on well-being and happiness in all its simplicity, and that has left a lasting impression on us. And there are numerous nature parks all over Sweden. This clearly made us want to move to Sweden. We were surprised by the sheer number of things to see and do in this part of Sweden.

Itinerary of our Road Trip in Sweden + map

If you are not in a converted vehicle, we advise you to sleep :

• 1 night in Malmo at the Clarion Hotel Malmö
• 4 nights in Göteborg at Hotel Flora in the city center
• 5 nights on the Bohuslan coast at Smogen in Smogen Gasthem, or Fjallbacka to enjoy the villages in the evening
• 2 or 3 nights in Oslo or Stockholm at theHotel Birger Jarl

Malmö, Lund and Hovs Hallar nature reserve

J1. Malmö and Lund

First wake-up call in Sweden, after an 8-hour boat trip (we’ll tell you more about how to get to Sweden below) which we spent in the playground, we enjoyed our first night in Sweden.

First impression, everything’s cute, it’s nice and warm at 9pm, we slept really well. We immediately fall under the spell of the cute red-painted wooden houses dotted around the Swedish countryside. The gardens are superbly manicured, with a pretty glass roof that doubles as a winter garden, and we could really see ourselves having a Fika (coffee break + pastry)!

We headed for Malmö. Our first visit was sunny and windless – we weren’t expecting weather like that at the beginning of May! We visited the pleasant historic center and the famous Turning Torso tower.

We then headed for the small town of Lund, just 15 minutes from Malmö. We really fell in love with this city. We visited the old town with its small brick houses and colorful doors. The botanical garden is magnificent, well-tended and the tulips are out in full force.

Everything about this city reminds me of my Erasmus year in the Netherlands in 2009. I’m not getting any younger, but I caught the travel bug that year, so I like to revive those memories from time to time (Floriane).

We have devoted a detailed article to visiting Malmo and Lund, which you can read here.

We end the evening at a Park4night bivouac (#140892) on the banks of a river with a small pontoon.

J2. Hovs Hallar Nature

We headed for Hovs Hallar Nature, a nature reserve with spectacular cliffs and a pink granite coastline, this getaway reminded us of our trip to Brittany. You can choose one of the well-marked hiking trails to explore this little corner of paradise.

Then we found a dream spot to spend the night, complete with beach and private pontoon (#76474). I shouldn’t have read all the detective novels by Camilla Lackberg (a Swedish author), I wasn’t always reassured in the middle of this beautiful, dense, dark forest.

Gothenburg and its archipelago

Days 3, 4 and 5: Gothenburg, the Swedish city not to be missed

Göteborg is Sweden’s 2nd largest city, yet it’s disconcertingly quiet. The reason is simple: there are virtually no cars in the city, and a toll system has been put in place to limit traffic in the center – what an efficiency!

We really enjoyed wandering around the historic center and the various parks. A pleasant town to live in, quiet and wooded, with a great cycling network. We recommend Am Thuc Viet Restaurang, a good Vietnamese restaurant at a reasonable price (a rarity in Sweden).

We’ve devoted an article to a detailed tour of Gothenburg and its archipelago on the blog.

We stayed at the Liseberg campsite in Gothenburg, just a few kilometers by bike from the city center, which was very clean and quiet. The shared kitchen is equipped with a dishwasher, a great luxury when traveling in a motorhome. Remember to book in advance in high season (approx. €30 per night).

Bohuslän coast: Visit Smögen and Fjällbacka

J6. Klädesholmen and Mollösund, small villages off the beaten track

After a few days in the city, we headed for the magnificent Bohuslän coast, which stretches from north of Göteborg to Norway (south-west of Sweden).

It’s an archipelago of thousands of islands , each with its own cute fishing village. We fell in love with this super-photogenic region, which is calm and sunny at this time of year.

It should be noted, however, that this is one of Sweden’s most touristic areas, and the number of small villages is impressive. We did take the time to explore the popular villages of Smögen and Fjällbacka, and it’s easy to see why they attract so many people.

We also scoured a number of blogs to find small, authentic villages off the beaten track, and our choice fell on the villages of Klädesholmen and Mollösund, which we had almost to ourselves!

On this first day, we strolled through the not-at-all-touristy village of Klädesholmen, which is beautiful, flowery and peaceful.

What’s special about this coast is that most of the houses on the seafront are painted red – a guaranteed change of scenery. We recommend reaching the viewpoint at Klädesholmens Kyrka church, for a nice view of the village and its harbor.

We recommend a stop at the Lottas Bak&Form bakery on Surdegsbageri to try out their bread and, above all, their famous Kanelbullar cinnamon buns. Then, to round off the day, we also visited the village of Mollösund, also very pretty.

We slept on a small spot by the road (not very busy at night) and above all by the sea Park4night #280054

J7-8. Smögen, the village not to be missed

Smögen is the most photogenic place in southern Sweden. When we arrived in the late afternoon, the sky was gray, then a few hours later we had bright sunshine and a magnificent sunset, the magic of Swedish weather.

Our daughter was already in her pyjamas, so we all got out of the camper van and took 1,000 photos. We had the pontoon all to ourselves, and nobody fell overboard.

The hiking trails in the Kleven nature reserve around the village are well developed. We did 2 short walks (between 2 and 3 km) on the pink granite rocks, with lots of ladders and footbridges and breathtaking views. The first trail is located at Vallevik Badplats and the second at Friluftsled Kleven on Google maps.

Our daughter loved climbing rocks, taking ladders and crossing bridges in her hiking boots, just like the grown-ups. It’s a great way to motivate children to walk.

There was even a pretty beach, a little out of the way, where young Swedes came to fish for crabs, Vallevik Badplats.

We slept in the village parking lot, next to the huts and hiking trails. Park4night #68673

D-9 Fjällbacka and its viewpoint

Fjällbacka is the best-known village on the Bohuslän coast, and is the setting for Swedish crime writer Camilla Lackberg ‘s first novel. Fjällbacka was our picture of a small Swedish fishing village.

We strolled along the harbor and through the colorful, flower-filled village. The best thing to do in Fjällbacka is to climb the 200 steps up to the Vetteberget viewpoint for a breathtaking view of the archipelago’s rocky islets (the start of the hike is at the playground next to the harbour). A moment that will live long in our memories.

Tanum rock engravings

J10. Sites around Tanum

We ended our exploration of the coast at the Tanum Bronze Age rock engravings, a UNESCO World Heritage site. We began by visiting the Litsleby Rock Carvings site, with adjoining parking lot. The red paint is not original; it’s there to make the engravings stand out to visitors.

Then we ended our visit with a visit to the sites around the Vitlycke museum and the very well-done free museum. The sites are open-air, with landscaped walkways, and the walks are pleasant, as always in Sweden.

We domi on the museum parking lot is a Park4night spot.

Oslo in Norway or Stockholm in Sweden?

For our part, we headed forOslo in Norway, just 2 hours north of the Tanum rock engravings. You can then take a ferry to the port of Frederikshavn in northern Denmark.

If you have your own vehicle, we think this is the best option, so you don’t have to make too many return trips. You can compare the prices of different companies on the website Direct Ferries .

Another option is to stay in Sweden, crossing the country from west to east to reach Stockholm, the Swedish capital (approx. 6h drive).It’s one of our favorite European capitals.

D11 and 12 Oslo, the Norwegian capital

We spent 2 days exploring the Norwegian capital. We really liked the area around theOpera House, with its lovely views over Oslo Bay and floating saunas, the quayside to the Museum of Modern Art and the colorful Grunerlokka district. Leaving Oslo, we went to see the impressive ski jumping track – even our daughter is still talking about it.

We slept at spot #138515 30 minutes south of Oslo, then parked for the day at Park4night #212733, then reached Oslo after a 30-minute train ride.

Days 11, 12 and 13: Stockholm, the Swedish capital

It’s an option worth considering. If, for example, you arrived by plane and rented a car on the spot, you can return it at Stockholm airport, visit the Swedish capital and fly back to France.

Stockholm is one of our favorite European capitals, which we’ve visited twice, and we’ve devoted a number of articles to helping you organize your stay there: visit Stockholm in 3 days.

How do I get to southern Sweden from France?

By road

This is the option we chose, and it takes 2 days from central France to reach southern Sweden. We looked at various options, and here is the one we selected:

We crossed part of France, Luxembourg and then Germany to reach the port of Travemünde (north of Hamburg in Germany).

We then recommend that you compare ferry prices on the following website Direct Ferries to find the one that best suits your schedule. We travelled with TT Lines for 138€ for a motorhome and 3 passengers. Depending on the company, you will arrive either at the port of Malmö in Sweden or at Trelleborg (located a few kilometers south of Malmö). The ferry was new and even had a sauna. Finnlines offers an arrival in Malmö, for a similar fare. We took the company that suited us best in terms of crossing times.

Note that freeways in Germany are free of charge, and diesel is generally cheaper in Luxembourg. As you’ll be crossing several countries in a short space of time, remember to compare fuel prices.

By plane

You can reach Malmö or Göteborg airports by plane from France. Then rent a car in Sweden for your road trip. You can pick it up at Malmö or Göteborg airport and return it to Stockholm, for example. It’s always cheaper to rent a car at the airport.

Train travel

For travelers who have the time or are looking for an alternative to planes and cars, here’s some information on how to get to Sweden by train. Of course, if you choose this option, we advise you to stop off at the various towns you’ll be passing through.

From Paris’s Gare de Lyon station, you can reach Basel (Switzerland) by direct TGV (approx. 3-hour journey). Then Basel to Hamburg (northern Germany), by direct train, allow 6h30 for the journey.

Then you can connect Hamburg – Copenhagen by train, about 3 trains a day, including 1 night train (about a 14h journey, which is a bit long). Then Copenhagen – Malmö, over the Öresund bridge, by train, approx. 45-minute journey.

Car rental in Sweden

👉 To compare offers and find the best value for money, after testing several today, we use the price comparator Discover Carsa reliable and easy-to-use car rental service.

💡 Another important point: the comprehensive insurance offered via DiscoverCars is often much cheaper than that added directly at the rental company’s counter, while offering broader coverage. A real time-saver, and above all a way of avoiding unpleasant surprises when picking up or returning the vehicle.

🚗 To give you an idea of the rate, we found a car for €40 per day through Alamo to pick up atGoteborg airport.

🎟️ Compare Goteborg airport deals on Discover Cars

🎟️ Compare Stockholm Arlanda Airport deals on Discover Cars

Rent a van or motorhome in Sweden

To find a vehicle in Sweden, you can compare prices on professional rental sites such as Skanditrip. We found the prices really high, which can certainly be explained by the fact that the cost of living is already more expensive than in France, and it’s worth noting that the Swedes love van and camping car life! To this, you need to add the plane tickets.

Another option, which we think is more cost-effective, is to rent a vehicle in France and then travel to Sweden in it. We’ll leave you with your calculators!

Once you’ve found what you’re looking for in your vehicle, don’t forget to equip yourself to travel with peace of mind. We’ve put together a list of our must-have motorhome accessories, some of which may surprise you!

Driving in Sweden

Driving in Sweden is a real pleasure, as Swedes are respectful and considerate of other drivers. The roads are well maintained. The speed limit is always respected: 50km/h in town, 70km/h on trunk roads, and 110km/h on freeways. Good news: the freeways are free.

Note that in the Swedish cities of Stockholm and Göteborg only, a tax applies for driving in the city center. To limit vehicle traffic in the city center. The cost varies according to peak traffic times, but is usually just a few euros. The amount to be paid is displayed on a digital screen along the route.

Parking lots around towns and cities are usually paid for via apps like Easypark, which is very practical. On the Bohuslän coast, in Smögen and Fjällbacka, certain restrictions apply to recreational vehicles between June and August, with paid parking and a night-time parking ban. You can find all the information you need on the Park4night application.

What’s it like to travel with a 3-year-old in Sweden?

This is obviously a recurring question: what tips do you have for traveling with a small child? In fact, we’ve already answered this question in our article on our Tour of Europe. We traveled for 10 months with our daughter, who was 1? years old at the start of our previous trip.

So here, we’re going to focus on the differences, as she was 3 years old at the time of our Scandinavian trip and had 10 months of motorhome experience. All in all, this departure has been much easier for her, and for the whole family too. She already had her bearings, knew the motorhome and our way of travelling by heart.

This is an age when children have strong demands for autonomy, so we’ve rearranged our interior so that she can do things for herself. We’ve set up her bunk with her games so she can access them easily, and a space with her clothes so she can get into her pyjamas on her own, for example.

The 2 points on which we were vigilant are the following:

• Journey times: we crossed France and Germany in 4 days, with an engine breakdown in the garage on our second day of the trip. She made it clear that we drove too much and didn’t spend enough time in the playground. By the age of 3, a child can clearly express his or her needs in a simple and effective way. As we wanted to have a good trip, once we arrived in Sweden, we quickly rectified the situation! We limited the daily driving time to nap time.

• Planning the trip: she’s not yet actively involved, but she knows the day’s program and that there will always be a moment for her. That means a moment at the beach, in a swimming area, or a moment in a playground, where she can play while we prepare the meal, or the next day.

Our advice and budget for your road trip

• Don’t forget to stock up on groceries if you’re leaving from France, as we managed to go 2 weeks without shopping.

• Identity papers: Sweden and Norway are in theEuropean Union, so you can enter with your valid identity card. We were only checked for the boat.
  
• Vehicle insurance: If you’re bringing your own vehicle, check that your vehicle insurance covers you in these 2 countries.
  
• Ferries: We recommend that you compare ferry prices on the following website Direct Ferries . The site offers all connections and suggests nearby ports.

• Safety: Sweden and Norway are among the safest countries in Europe, and we’ve met locals who don’t lock their houses when they go on vacation! We always felt safe in the towns and on the bivouacs.
  
• Where to sleep : in Sweden, the freedom to stay and camp anywhere in nature is a right that applies to everyone (Swedish Allemansrätten). However, there are a few rules to be observed, such as keeping a certain distance from private dwellings, and wild camping is prohibited in national parks. We used the Park4night app to find our bivouacs.
  
• Budget : traveling by camper van, we spent around €75 per day for three people. This budget includes the crossing, 3 meals out, bakery snacks and 3 nights camping in Gothenburg. Fuel is the main expense, accounting for around 50% of the budget. We advise you to fill up your car before arriving in Sweden, as diesel is very expensive. It’s cheaper in Germany and Norway.
  
  If you want to eat more cheaply in Sweden, we recommend you opt for the buffet options available at lunchtime in most restaurants, or eat at Max, the Swedish burger chain, which offers some twenty vegetarian options. We’re not big fans of fast food, but we still found the veggie burgers not too bad.

Travel health insurance

For us, leaving with a good health insurance for our trip was an obvious choice. We wanted to be covered in case of a problem or the slightest doubt, we wanted to be able to go to the doctor without hesitation (which is what we did).

We decided to go with Chapka:

• Vacations or trips of less than 3 months: Cap Assistance 24h/24, assistance and repatriation insurance (5% discount by clicking on the link).
• Over 3 months: Cap Aventure package

In our opinion, this is the most interesting offer on the market. It offers a good ratio/guarantees/price.

We wrote an article about our opinion and feedback with Chapka, detailing when we had to use our insurance and whether or not we were covered.

Find our guide to exploring Sweden by motorhome or van here. For our part, we’re continuing our journey in Norway, a country we’ve crossed for 7 weeks. We’ll be detailing all our steps here shortly.

We’ve had a lot of fun writing about this road trip, which we really enjoyed. We hope you enjoy this itinerary. We haven’t visited every corner of Sweden’s west coast. So if you have any other suggestions for us, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment below.

If you’re looking for other ideas for itineraries in Sweden, we’ve put together an article with our 20 must-see places, some of them unusual, to see in Sweden!

Don’t hesitate to leave us a note or 5 stars below, to let us know if you’re planning this trip, to ask any questions you may have, below we’ll answer you with great pleasure. You can check out our Instagram stories from our trip to Sweden, to give you a taste of what’s in store!