Days filled with seemingly endless sunlight, tables piled high with fresh seafood and fleetingly in-season strawberries, cozy lakeside cottages… there’s a lot to love about a Scandinavian summer. It all hits its stride in June, with the Swedish celebration of Midsummer, but the long stretches of sunlight continue well into the season. Experience it up close is by booking an Airbnb; whether it’s an apartment on the outskirts of Stockholm or a quiet escape that’s significantly more remote, a home of your own is the best way to truly get a feel for this special time of year.
Vogue’s Guide to the Best Airbnbs in Sweden:
- For a Seaside Stay: Österlen House, from $157 per night
- For the History Buff: Gamla Kassan, from $185 per night
- For True Seclusion: Aurora Isle, from $183 per night
- For Proximity to Stockholm: House with a Fantastic View, from $334 per night
- For Design Inspiration: Blombergsgården, from $164 per night
Location: Österlen
This two-bedroom home is waterfront living at its finest. Designed by an architecture, it sits on the contemporary side with brutalist-like concrete walls and floor-to-ceiling windows. Rent a car to explore the archipelago—you’ll be near both Stockholm and the beaches for day trips. Though when you want to stay in, there’s a swimming pool for cooling off and an outdoor dining table for aperitivo hour.
Rooms: 2 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Amenities: Washer, TV, grill, outdoor dining, pool, free parking
Location: Nacka
The coastal town of Landskrona has a lot to offer, not least of all this unique property. Part-historic landmark, part-vacation rental, this 18th-century “Fortification House” is deceptively large (it can actually sleep six people) and full of charm. Antique furnishings and high ceilings give it a stately feel, with plenty of decor ideas to bookmark—starting with the lace canopy curtains in the bedroom. Want to bring back a piece of your holiday? All the furniture in the apartment is actually for sale; inquire within to purchase.
Rooms: 2 bedrooms, half-bath
Amenities: Washer/dryer, TV, sound system, fire pit, outdoor space, grill, shared boat slip, shared outdoor pool available seasonally, housekeeping available at a cost
Location: Landskrona
Vacation amongst the locals in this summer house on Lidingö, an affluent island on the Stockholm archipelago. The house itself is bright and well-equipped, with architectural details like stained glass and barrel-vaulted wood ceilings to take note of. The biggest draw, however, is its location: You’ll be steps from the beach, and a wood-fired sauna and tennis courts are both within walking distance.
Rooms: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Amenities: Washer/dryer, outdoor dining, free parking
Location: Lidingö
You get city and country all wrapped up in one with this circa-1910s home, which is just outside of the center of Stockholm. It has seven beds and a sunny garden, with several family-friendly amenities like a travel crib that’s available upon request and a large outdoor dining table for meals at home. Inside, cozy details put you instantly at ease. From the plant-lined windowsills to the roomy clawfoot tub in the bathroom, you’ll feel like you’re staying at your stylish friends’ house.
Rooms: 5 bedrooms, 1.5 bathrooms
Amenities: Washer, HDTV, piano, Bluetooth sound system, indoor fireplace, outdoor furniture, pets allowed
Location: Stockholm
It’s not every day you get the chance to stay in a renovated chapel. This house, located on the island of Gotland, offers you the opportunity: Originally a 1912 Baptist church, it’s now a well-decorated vacation rental that’s a great size for a large group. It sleeps up to eight, with a main house and a guest house on the property, and there’s even a pool. When you’re feeling stir-crazy, the nearest beach is a quick two-kilometer bike ride away.
Rooms: 5 bedrooms
Amenities: Washer, TV, ping pong table, indoor fireplace, backyard, grill, private pool
Location: Gotland
For a lakeside vacation, book this home. It’s right near Siljan, one of the country’s largest lakes, and sleeps five with use of the large sofa in the living room. Inside, Scandinavian design elements steal the show. Expect colorful gingham bedding, paper lanterns, and even a traditional Swedish fireplace—you may just leave scheming to redesign your own home.
Rooms: 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Amenities: TV, high chair, outdoor dining
Location: Vikarbyn
For an outlandishly extravagant holiday, go all out and book your very own island. (Which isn’t actually as extravagant as it sounds: This cabin goes for less than $200 a night.) Welcome to Aurora Isle, a tiny island in northern Sweden’s Västerbotten where this sweet cottage is the only thing around—except for a wood-fired sauna, of course. This spot is ideal for the couple willing to get a bit adventurous: There’s no electricity or running water here (the lamps are solar-powered), so you get to fully lean in to an off-the-grid experience. Get around with the property’s small boat, cook all your meals outside, and spend evenings stargazing—depending on the season, you can even see the Northern Lights.
Rooms: 1 bedroom, half-bathroom
Amenities: Outdoor shower, firepit, grill, pet-friendly
Location: Kussjö
Situate yourself in Nyköping, the capital of the castle-riddled region of Sörmland in southeastern Sweden, in this cozy cottage. It’s from the 18th century but has been beautifully restored: Mauve toile wallpaper, two wood-burning fireplaces, and a gorgeous, fully equipped kitchen (which even comes with a bread maker) are among its highlights. Step outside to the private garden in the morning to take your coffee in the fresh air.
Rooms: 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom
Amenities: Washer, Bluetooth sound system, wood-burning fireplace, backyard, outdoor furniture, grill, pet-friendly
Location: Nyköping
