Winters in Sweden are cold and extremely harsh. However this is the best time to see the winter attractions of Sweden and take part in the winter activities. One can go cross country skiing, take part in Swedish Christmas celebrations, admire the Northern Lights or undertake snowmobile safaris during the winter in Sweden while backpacking Europe.

Few Sweden travel tips before you plan your journey. Christmas is celebrated in a big way in the Scandinavian countries and Sweden is no exception. It is basically a family celebration but most hotels offer special packages for Christmas for visitors who want to savor traditional Swedish hospitality and food and the flavors of the holiday season.

The Kiruna Snow Festival is a major annual event being organized for the past twenty five years. It celebrates snow season and has various events centered on the theme of snow and ice. Some of the events include snow sculpting and reindeer races. As Kiruna is located above the Arctic Circle for months together the sun does not rise above the horizon.

The Ice Hotel at Jukkasjärvi is a unique hotel as it is made completely of ice. Even the beds here are made of ice. There are reindeer skins and mattresses to keep the occupants warm. The temperature is maintained between -5 °C to -8 °C irrespective of the surrounding temperature.

In the south of Sweden, during winters the days are extremely short and the nights long. However in the northern parts, the sun does not rise at all for months together. This plunges the countryside into darkness for prolonged periods of time. This time is also ideal to witness the Aurora Borealis or the northern lights, an electromagnetic light effect witnessed in he night sky. The Abisko mountain range is one of the best places to see this phenomenon.

Popular winter activities in Sweden include snow mobile safaris, reindeer safaris and dog sledding through the Swedish Lapland. One can experience the beauty of this unchartered icy territory. One can book these through hotels or travel agents or follow the marked snowmobile safari trails.

Some Swedish resorts open in December itself providing visitors an opportunity to enjoy skiing as well as witness the Christmas celebrations. The ideal time for skiing in Sweden is during February when there is guaranteed snow and all holiday resorts are open. During February and March the weather is also better for skiing. The mountains receive fair bit of sunshine during this time. There are many ski resorts in Sweden for both alpine and cross country skiing. Once the skiing equipment is purchased or rented, cross country skiing is free. There are well marked ski trails in Sweden. Along the routes there are cabins and mountain stations for skiers.