Gothenburg is Sweden's second city, with a suburban population creeping above one million, it crams a lot into a small space. Also known as lilla London, due to its climate, and historic connection to London it is the home of Volvo, a hub for music and a city edged on one side by the water and islands of the archipelago and on the other by the forests of Bohus.

Known for generations for its leather, Malung is still the place to go for leatherwork in the middle of Sweden. More stores are a little outside of the town, but it's easy to find them, just follow the main road north.

This charming spot, home to a close-knit community of around 727 inhabitants, offers a tranquil escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Don't let its size fool you, though. Glanshammar may be small, but it's brimming with a unique character that's sure to leave a lasting impression. As you wander through the locality, you'll be captivated by the serene atmosphere and the friendly locals who call this place home.

It's a place where the past and present coexist, where the legacy of the arms manufacturer Bofors still resonates, and where the spirit of Alfred Nobel lives on in the Björkborn Manor.

Known as the "Sun City" of Sweden, Karlstad is a place where the sun seems to shine a little brighter, and the smiles seem a little warmer. The city is situated on the delta where the Klarälven river meets Lake Vänern, the largest lake in Sweden, providing a picturesque backdrop for your adventures.

The seventh-largest city in Sweden and the seat of Örebro Municipality. The city is beautifully situated on the banks of the Svartån River, offering picturesque views and a tranquil environment. The city's most iconic landmark is the Örebro Castle, a medieval fortification that has stood guard over the city for over 800 years.

Sat on the southern tip of Vattern, Sweden's second-largest lake, the city of Jönköping has a population just shy of 100,000 people. The common suffix in Swedish towns of Köping means a trading centre, and Jön is from a nearby creek. For over a hundred years, Jönköping was known for its matchstick industry, producing the first safety matches as early as 1845, and the legacy lives on in its museum and craftwork area.

With under 20,000 people, it is surprising how far Ystad goes back. Founded in the 11th century as a herring fishing village it remains a popular tourist spot and a busy ferry port, as well as the site of Kurt Mankell's books about Kurt Wallander.

On the coast, facing the bridge across to Copenhagen, Skanör is a popular destination for tourists in good weather, offering white sand beaches, reasonable waves and nice weather. The area has a history that stretches back to the Middle Ages. It was home to herring fishing in the local area markets which caused Skanör to become a thriving trading place during the 13th century.

Lund was founded around the year 990 by a Danish king, probably Sven Tveskägg.

The second-largest Ski resort in Sweden, beaten only by Åre in the north. Sälen has four separate areas, all included in the same ski-pass. The area around Sälen does have one or two other privately run ski resorts, so it's worth double checking any bookings you make for accommodation or rental that they are near one of the four Ski Star Sälen locations.

Not really a town so much as a shopping mall with a collection of accommodation and ski options, Hemavan sits on Bluvågen and acts as either the start or end of the trail.

Ammarnäs, a village tucked away in Sweden's Västerbotten County, is a gateway to the wild. It's a place where the Vindelfjällen Nature Reserve, one of Europe's largest protected areas, is just a stone's throw away.

Adolfström is a small village, but one focused on fishing and hiking and has a few options for staying overnight and a small store.

A small village in the middle of the King's Trail, Jäkkvik has a supermarket, a hostel, a Chapel, and a few modern new build homes and in winter access to a small ski slope.

On the King's Trail, a silver mining town, Kvikkjokk is your first contact with civilization since starting the trail in Abisko. A Mountain Station, Church and a few homes are all Kvikkkokk offers other than its setting's beauty.

Öland has been inhabited since 8,000 BCE by Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers, who crossed the ice that sometimes forms on the Kalmar Straight. As a result, it feels old but tamed in a way much of Sweden does not. Its smaller landmass and heavily farmed spaces make it feel a little like the English countryside. Still, then occasionally you travel past standing stones in a farmers field, giving you a brief glimpse into its uniquely Scandinavian history.

Kalmar gets its name from the word "kalm", a collection of stones, something found in large quantities on both the land and waters around Kalmar. It is first mentioned in writings from the beginning of the 13th century. However, archaeological evidence of a city wall, monastery, Church and courthouse from the 12th Century show it was a thriving community.

A small island, a short distance off the southern tip of Karlskrona, Aspö is part of the archipelago and home to under five hundred, though this population swells in the summer months. With an hourly car ferry from the mainland, Aspö is well served. A single ICA sits on the island offering basic necessities year-round with a few cafes, a restaurant in the Fortress and many artist's galleries opening in the summer months.

Hidden in a field behind a shopping outlet, Lyckå Slottsruin is a small but impressive reminder of a Danish border castle. The ruin was renovated in 2014 to prevent further decay, although the renovations are somewhat obnoxiously modern.