Swedish Tour #2
The tour in 2026 will begin Tuesday, June 23 in Uppland, and finish back in Uppland on Thursday, July 9.
You will be picked up at the Arlanda airport, and begin the tour on Tuesday, June 23.
This will be the approximate itinerary:
Tuesday, June 23
Tim will pick you up at the airport. Depending on what time your flight arrives, there will be sightseeing in the area, dinner, and settling in to a convenient hotel.
Wednesday, June 24
A short walk to the train station, and we will ride the train to Stockholm. There we can see the Nordic Museum, the Wasa museum (one of the finest in the world), and can stroll through the “old town” by the Royal Castle.
We will lunch and dine on traditional Swedish foods.
Thursday, June 25.
Today we have a long drive to the province of Dalarna, where we will find lodging at a hotel near the musical city of Leksand.
On the way, we may visit one or two unique museums.
Friday, June 26.
Today we experience MUSIC! In the city of Falun this weekend the National Fiddle Festival is held. We will participate in activities as well as attend a fiddle concert.
Saturday, June 27.
We attend the festival today, playing music, eating traditional fare, making friends, and listening to some of the best traditional musicians in Sweden.
Sunday, June 28.
A day to explore the Falun area. The world-famous copper mine is a UNESCO World Heritae Site. We will also visit the home of Sweden’s most beloved artist, Carl Larsson.
Monday, June 29.
Today we drive north to the town of Mora, where we will see the museum and home of Anders Zorn, one of Sweden’s greatest painters. After lunch, we will head for Nusnäs, where the famous wooden horses of Sweden are made by hand.
We can then visit the town of Rättvik for shopping and experiencing the old culture of the area.
Tuesday, June 30.
We now have a day to explore the rich culture of southern Siljan. Music and traditional handcrafts will be high points in our visit to Rättvik, Leksand, Insjön, and other small towns.
Wednesday, July 1.
Today we attend Sweden’s largest fiddle festival, in the village of Bingsjö. Thousands of musicians attend. Local musicians provide traditional dance music on 5 dance floors.
Thursday, July 2
Today we head northeast to the province of Hälsingland. We will stay in a hotel built in the 1890’s just a short walk from the Baltic Sea.
Friday, July 3.
Exploring Hälsingland, we may see a “fäbod”, a summer pasture where livestock was traditional taken during the summer. We may visit an axe factory and museum, seeing an important small industry from centuries ago. We might visit “Troll Land”, where enthusiastic actors teach about the folk beliefs of former days.
Saturday, July 4.
We can attend music, singing, and dance workshops in the town of Delsbo.
Sunday, July5.
Sweden’s oldest continuing fiddle festival is held today. It begins with a 3-hour ride on a traditional churchboat across beautiful Lake Dellen. If you like, you may join the 20 or so other rowers to get to the church in time for the 12:00 opening church service, which features traditional musicians and dancers.
A march of scores of fiddlers leads the crowd from the church to the festival grounds, where music is played all day and into the night.
Monday, July 7.
Today we drive back to Uppland, the town of Österbybruk. We’ll be staying on the grounds of the fabulous manor house. We will have a chance to see the environment where the nyckelharpa developed.
Tuesday, July 9.
Today we go south to the great University city of Uppsala. Among the sights there are the magnificent cathedral, the home and gardens of Carl Linnaeus, the famous botanist, and a museum of the Vikings in “Old Uppsala”
Wednesday, July 8
We see the sights of Roslagen, where eastern Uppland meets the Baltic Sea. See the famous Cahman organ, considered one of the most beautiful in the world. The home and museum of Albert Engström, a unique artist, and contemporary of both Zorn and Carlsson.
Thursday, July 9.
Today we say our goodbyes, and part ways for home again. An early morning drive will get us in time to catch our flights.