SWEDEN

Helsingborg is your best introduction to Skåne, Sweden’s much-loved southern region, where wealthy urbanites from Stockholm and Gothenburg have built summer homes to spend time enjoying the pleasant climate, fish-filled lakes and the countryside dotted with medieval castles and picturesque villages. A stroll through Helsingborg reveals two contrasting sides of the city. The imposing neo-Gothic city hall, well-preserved fortress and brick churches highlight the city's rich history, while the curved roof of the Dunkers Cultural Center is the modern centerpiece of the northern harbor redevelopment. Helsingborg is also a great base from which to explore the nearby medieval city of Lund and the spectacular Sofiero Castle and Gardens.

More laid-back than Stockholm, Sweden's second city boasts neoclassical architecture, canals and plenty of open spaces to enjoy. The extensive tram network makes getting around the city a breeze. Water plays a major role in the lives of locals. Gothenburg's pride and joy are the twenty idyllic islands of the archipelago that hugs the coastline, while the city's port is the largest in the Nordic countries. The local municipality's River City redevelopment plan aims to convert former industrial areas into attractive waterfront residential and commercial districts. To delve further into the city's relationship with water, simply hop on one of the many boat trips and see for yourself.

With a photogenic castle, a rebuilt 17th-century old town, a labyrinth of cobblestoned alleys and an imposing Baroque cathedral, Kalmar may seem like a port city whose prime time was in the past, but it seamlessly merged medieval history with late-19th-century industrialism and now modern technology. For a modestly sized port city, Kalmar has a major institution of higher learning—Linnaeus University—and hosts a research facility for Nordic telecommunications giant TeliaSonera. The city is also a model of sustainability and green living, and actively promotes biking culture, has an eco-friendly electric car-charging station and plans to supply all its energy needs with biogas by 2030.