Restless Pursuits

Helping adventurous families with older kids and teens explore beautiful destinations while avoiding the crowds

Fall In Sweden: 6 Must-Visit Destinations For Autumn Leaves

Fall in Sweden is one of the most beautiful times to visit Sweden. With 70% of the land covered in trees, autumn foliage is abundant. Autumn in Sweden is normally September through November each year. We visited Sweden in mid-to-late October during our kids’ fall break. South Sweden’s leaves were starting to change but weren’t super vibrant; however, the middle of Sweden near Lake Vättern was in full color. For us, we had such a fun time exploring the country while enjoying the scenic autumn colors. Here are our top spots for seeing the leaves change during fall in Sweden. 

This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. I only recommend brands that I use and trust! Please see full disclosure here.

Röttle

Waterfall with a red house at the top and autumn leaves on the trees surrounding it - fall in Sweden

One of the prettiest little towns we visited was Röttle. This small town located next to Lake Vättern is like a fairy tale. There isn’t much in the town besides a few red houses and a couple of old mills, but the highlight is the spectacular waterfall. The waterfall is right in the center of town, so it is a quick walk down the path to get there. Wandering the village won’t take long, but it is an absolutely beautiful location for pictures and seeing the leaves change. 

Gränna

Gränna, Sweden, or the home of candy cane, is a touristy town that turns sleepy in the fall and bursts with colorful foliage. There are few wonderful areas to see the colors here.

Our favorite area in Gränna was to hike up to Grännaberget. This hiking area is located in the heart of Gränna. After climbing up some stairs you reach a beautiful lookout point to take in views of Gränna from above. We saw many different trails on the hill where you can wander. We even found a small little lake surrounded by yellow trees that had a trail to hike around. 

Another trail that is worth the walk is Tegner Tower. From the parking lot it is only about a 1.5 kilometer hike to reach the green tower. AllTrails says that it is about 5.1 miles long, but that is not true, or we didn’t take that exact trail anyway. I accidentally looked it up right before the hike because my son asked how long it was. I told him the distance it said, but also mentioned that I thought I had read it was much shorter. He didn’t believe me and had a tantrum all the way up to the tower. It wasn’t fun at the moment, but now we like to retell the story as a joke.  

The hike to Tenger Tower  is through a mossy forest which is magical in itself. What is truly special about this hike, though, is when you get to the tower. You can climb the stairs all the way to the top and you get spectacular views of the trees and can even see all the way to Lake Vättern. It is definitely worth it for that view. 

Alingsås

Alingsås is considered the capital of fika. If you don’t know what fika is, it is essentially Swedish for taking a coffee break. There is more to it than that though. From my understanding, it is a time to slow down, pause your busy life, have a coffee and a snack and socialize with friends. I love this.

Alingsås is filled with many cafes and a cute little downtown that is fun to explore. We did a couple of hikes when we visited, but the one we liked the most and where we saw the best autumn leaves was to walk around the lake right in town called Gärdsken. It was an easy hike for the kids, and we even stopped at a playground that we saw along the way. 

If you are in Alingsås from October 4th to November 3rd, this year, you can experience Lights in Alingsås. Various art installations are set up around the town all following a theme. This year’s theme is “The Magical World Of Mythology”. We stayed for the light show last year and while it was nice to walk around and see the lights, honestly some of the installations were pretty basic. So keep your expectations a little lower if you go. 

Alnarp Manor and Parks

Alnarp Manor with the vines turning color

Located just outside of Malmo is a beautiful manor house or it is sometimes referred to as a castle that sits on a 26 hectare park. The Alnarp castle itself is covered with vines. On one side the vines change into different colors and on the other side it is just green. Both are pretty. Along with the color changing vines, the park has about 2500 different tree and shrub species for you to encounter while you walk the trails. Perfect combination for fall in Sweden. 

Lund University Library

In the town of Lund, you need to stop by Lund University to check out their library. It is one of the most beautiful libraries I have ever seen with its color changing vines growing all along the front of it. I think the pictures speak for themselves. 

Lund University Library in Sweden - Autumn

One thing to be aware of is that it isn’t easy to find parking near the university, so looking for a spot a little farther away and walking in would be easier.

Malmö – Kungsparken

We really loved the city of Malmö for a visit. Malmö has a lot of different parks which make it a beautiful place to visit, especially in the fall. Our recommendation for the best place to see the leaves in Malmö is Kungsparken. This large park right in the center of the city is beautiful in the autumn with its many trees and a river running through it. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

What to wear during fall in Sweden?

With the weather turning brisk, it will be sweater weather during fall in Sweden. Don’t forget to pack gloves, hats, and warm jackets as well. If the sun is out you might be able to go without the jacket, but the evenings will be chilly. 

When is fall in Sweden?

Fall in Sweden is normally from September to November with the colors really setting in in October. The leaves will be at their peak at different times each year and will also depend on where in Sweden you visit. Sweden is a very large country, so the further North you go the earlier the leaves will change. 

What is the weather like in Sweden in the fall?

The weather when we were visiting Sweden in October was quite chilly. I remember using our hats and gloves and winter jackets frequently. When the sun came out, it felt nice with just a sweater on. Average temperatures in the middle of Sweden will be in the 40s (4-10 C) for highs and southern Sweden will be in on average in the 50s (10-15 C) for highs. 

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

WordPress Cookie Plugin by Real Cookie Banner