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There will inevitably be many hours of darkness to contend with in December in Sweden. Picking children up from school in the dark is just normal, with light fading sharply after 2 p.m. So it makes sense to plan your day to maximise the light during December in Sweden. Getting outside in the morning is a key part of this.
It is easier at the weekend than on a working day, but a good dose of sunlight will make you feel entirely different.

Exercise

Walking or running will make you feel bouncier and once the snow arrives, cross-country skiing is a superb tonic which sends all your senses into overdrive (and can leave you feeling more exhausted than you would believe possible). You will notice that Swedes continue to exercise whatever the weather and are totally devoted throughout the whole winter in December in Sweden. They know a thing or two about living this far north, so follow their example.

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Art

Find places that give you a virtual bear hug. This may be more challenging, given Covid-related restrictions.
However, Waldemarsudde on Djurgården is the most stunning spot for art lovers.
Once you have soaked up wonderful art, you can retreat to the Prince’s Kitchen café upstairs for restorative goulash and wickedly delicious chocolate truffles or cakes.

Or if music is your thing, indulge in one of the opera house’s stunning lunchtime concerts.
These take place in the sumptuous surroundings of the Golden Foyer – real escapism!

Shopping

For the shoppers among you, now is the time to make the most of Sweden’s shopping malls.
The ice will simply melt off your tyres in the heated car park while you shop to your heart’s content. Try Täby Centrum for a fantastic choice of shops.
If you are in town, Sturegallerian off Östermalm’s Birger Jarlsgatan has a gorgeous array of boutiques to tempt. Or simply indulge in gloriously scented cinnamon buns.
Enjoy hot chocolate with lashings of cream in your favourite café.

Vitamin D

This is a time of year to be kind to yourself.
Your body will need some care and attention too. The lack of sunlight may make your hair go on strike, so if it’s thinner than usual don’t despair – your pharmacy will have plenty of solutions. If you’re feeling incredibly tired, this may be owing to a deficit of vitamin D and again, many supplements are available, so don’t suffer in silence. If your skin feels really dry and in need of some love, don’t worry.
There are a multitude of skin products and moisturisers to choose from.

Museum

If seemingly endless hours in the dark with small children seems daunting in December in Sweden, do not forget this.
Stockholm has an incredible array of museums. These are perfectly tailored to pep up smaller people on a winter’s day. Where to start?

Museums for children

Junibacken takes you into a simply magical world.
Scenes from Sweden’s most famous children’s classics are brought to life in astonishing detail, probably unrivalled anywhere else. It is like the very best doll’s house or pirate ship you can imagine.
It is all for children to explore and enjoy.
Don’t miss the amazing train ride, but be prepared for Mr. Rat to pop up.

Or the ABBA Museum will whisk you into an electric world of singing and dancing to ABBA’s greatest hits and revelling in their fabulous costumes. For the smallest, the Post Museum in Gamla Stan is utterly charming.
Your little ones can while away happy hours pretending to drive the post van, sorting the post in the beautifully detailed post room or delivering letters to the enchanting imaginary Stockholm streets. 

And when it’s all over, you can venture along the street.
There you can see Sweden’s signature red and white candy canes being made at the Polkagris Kokeri.

when you get home, start dancing to ABBA all over again, with the disco ball you’ve cleverly bought lighting up the room!

“We drove up fabulous Strandvägen, the most majestic and iconic of Stockholm’s streets…” grandiose boulevard with sensational views over the water and to the Royal hunting ground and extensive island, Djurgården, which gives Stockholmers endless acres in which to walk, run, cycle, boat; admire the excellent paintings of Prinz Eugen at the Waldemarsudde with its 270-degree views over the water; sing, dance and ogle at sensational gold boots at the ABBA Museum; skate across the water back to Strandvägen in really cold winter weather; wonder at the fated ambition and pomp of the Vasa, Sweden’s grandest ship which sank on its maiden voyage in 1628……or plump for the delights of Junibacken. We would enjoy each of these in turn, but this was our destination today and a sort of homage to Astrid Lindgren, Sweden’s most revered children’s author. A world of delight and our first introduction to the Swedish ability to build the minutiae of children’s books into life-sized edifices to extraordinary effect”.

(excerpt from So Sweden – Living Differently by Alison Allfrey)

Further reading

• Work in Sweden guides
• Learn Swedish