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With its breathtaking lakes, mountains and forests, Sweden has long since attracted lovers of the great outdoors. And if you’re a fishing fan, or perhaps want a holiday with plenty of gentle, relaxed moments, then the country is perfect for serious anglers and casual fish fans alike.
Fishing holidays in Sweden have the advantage of offering a huge amount of choice, with over 90,000 lakes and 37 species of game fish. Stretching across 2,000 km the country has such a myriad of climates and weather seasons that you don’t have to wait for a particular season to go fishing; if you pick the right area, you can go whenever suits you best.
As a rule, the milder south is better for year-round fishing as the weather rarely becomes extreme and there is an abundance of different species and variations of fish. As for the north of the country, it’s important to remember that Sweden extends into the Arctic Circle, meaning that extreme conditions and harsh weather are a possibility. Avoid the north in winter, and if you’re unused to such specialised fishing conditions, consider hiring a guide to help you find the perfect spot.
In terms of where to fish, it really all depends on your preference. If you’re looking to combine fishing with other activities, somewhere busy and buzzing like Stockholm is ideal where you can spend your days on the water and your nights out having fun.
Forget Venice, when it comes to a city built on water, look no further than the Swedish capital. Situated on 14 islands on the banks of the archipelago where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea, water is fundamental to city life, so much so that the metropolis’s geographical centre is in the middle of Riddarfjärden Bay.
The city’s waterways account for over 30 per cent of the city, so it’s commonplace to see people fishing throughout Stockholm, even outside the Royal Palace. The city is known in particular for its salmon fishing; indeed, the record for a salmon caught in downtown Stockholm is said to be 48 lbs!
For coastal fishing, Göteborg’s (Gothenburg’s) stretch of coastline offers the chance to meet some of the country’s salt-water species, including cod, mackerel and catfish. With a great fishing culture made up of professional fisherman and those enjoying long fishing weekends at the seaside, Göteborg is a paradise for all those who are passionate about the sport. Consider hiring a boat to take you a little further out to sea for the biggest catches and the best views.
For a quieter experience, the endless countryside in central Sweden offers plenty of chances to sit back and relax. Lake Värnen, a 5,600 km area of natural beauty with around 20,000 islands and its own micro-climate, is ideal for enjoying some time to yourself.
The sheer size of the lake means you can pick where you want to go depending on the sort of catch you’re after, with zander and perch in the south and pike and carp in the north. There are plenty of campsites to stay in, or alternatively you could pitch your tent on the shores of the lake and really get back to basics; the mild summer nights in Sweden are perfect for camping.
For the biggest catches, river fishing is your best bet for breathtaking views and some huge fish. The River Dalaven at the centre of the country is legendary for its huge catches, with pike and zander being particularly common: in fact, the biggest sweet-water zander ever caught came from this river, and locals have many tales of enormous fish and heroic battles. For salmon and sea trout, head a little further south to the River Mörrumsån, one of a dozen rivers in the Blekinge area that offer some of the biggest salmon in the country.
Wherever you choose to spend your holiday in Sweden, it’s undoubtedly one of the best in the world for fishing breaks and countryside pursuits. Whether competing with friends for the biggest catch in Stockholm or snatching a few quiet hours of contemplation in the heart of the countryside, you’re sure to find something to suit you. All that you have to do is decide where to go, and dig out your best fishing equipment of course! 
– Travel Feeder, your ultimate photo travel guide to Europe
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To wrap up my travel stories in Italy, I’d like to recommend wholeheartedly the top 5 cities of Italy that I head over heels in love with. Italy is always the Europe country that had given me lots of great memories and travel dreams, ever since my first visit to Italy 13 years ago. When it comes to planning for an Italy holiday, there are overwhelming tourist destinations that could easily spoil you right at your first sight! So, picking the right destinations for your period of travel and purpose of travel would always be a matter of the utmost importance.
I traveled to Italy last year for the second time. To explore Italy to its fullest within a very limited period, I had to plan an itinerary that could cover 5 best Italian cities while still involving the least intercity traveling. I had a lot of funs and memories from the trip eventually that I could call it a successful holiday. For those who are planning for a same trip with similar time constraint, here are the top 5 Italian cities in my itinerary that could be your choice either:
1) Venice – One of the city that I love most in Italy is definitely Venice. Venice is an island compo consisting of 118 small islands separating each other by canals. It is sited along Adriatic Sea in Northeast Italy. Not unexpectedly, it is also the most valuable island in Italy, as researches has revealed that Venice is sinking by 5mm each year and by the Year 2050, most parts of Venice would be underwater!
2) Florence – A frugal but relaxing weekend destination in Europe that I would recommend would definitely be Florence in the Tuscany region of Italy. Tuscany is the capital of arts, culture and romance of central Italian region. If you are spending your weekend in its regional capital of Florence, you are about to explore one of the best art, culture and architecture city in Europe, or maybe the world.
3) Greve In Chianti – If you are a wine lover and don’t quite like the ever crowded city environment in Florence and Pisa, Chianti region is where you must visit for at least a day in Tuscany. Chianti is the wine region in Italy producing the famous Chianti Classico wine bearing the authentic Gallo Nero (black rooster) label.
4) Pisa – Apart from Florence, sienna and the highland wine region of Chianti, the next place I love to visit is Pisa. It is the capital city of Pisa Province located on the mouth of the famous River Arno before joining to the Ligurian Sea in western coast of Italy. The main attraction of Pisa is definitely the world famous Leaning Tower. However, a slow walk around the city centre had really surprised me with many other architectural and artistic marvels of this beautiful city.
5) Rome – Rome is a huge city with many districts. However, most of the attractions are located within the small historic centre of Rome, which includes the Old Rome and Colosseo Districts, and is one of the UNESCO World Heritage Site in Rome. With uncountable immensity of its archaeological and artistic treasures, include many beautiful palaces, millenium-old churches and basilicas, Roman ruins, obelisks structures, remarkable statues and fountains design, Rome is Europe’s 3rd most visited city.
Don’t get me wrong. These 5 destinations were the best options for what the combination of time and money that I had on my last visit to Italy. There are many more exciting cities that certainly worth any traveler’s visit. Verona, Milan, Naples, Sienna, Amalfi Coast, Southern Italy, to name a few, are equally great! You can read some of them in my Italy travel section. If you are planning a trip to Italy and Europe, check out my planning guide first on how to plan it perfectly. – Travel Feeder, your ultimate photo travel guide to Italy
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Happy New Year 2012! Towards the end of year 2011, it would be great for me to recap some of my exciting travel experiences that happened during the year. This year is a fantastic year for me, not only was I able to realise my 2 travel plans set early this year to visit Europe [...]
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