Weather
Although days are short, mostly cloudy and cold in January, the sun begins to make a gradual return after the dark days of December as the month progresses. Temperatures in Stockholm and South Sweden average 29°F (-2°C), while up in the Arctic, the mean is a chilly 11°F (-12°C). Mainly because of the chill, January is Sweden's joint driest month (it is too cold in most places for precipitation to fall). The major exception is Gothenburg and the far southern coast, where rainfall is high.
One major bonus of the January climate is the northern lights, which are at their colorful best now.
Crowds & Costs
It's a quiet period after the festivities of Christmas and New Year in almost all aspects of tourism, except for snow sports. North of Stockholm, big ski resorts like Åre, Sälen, and in the far north, Riksgränsen are getting busier after post-New Year lulls but have not yet reached the February high season, making this a great time to find deals. In cities like Stockholm and Gothenburg, there is very little tourism this month, though hotels often fill with business travelers, so bargains on accommodation are hard to find.
Chat with a local specialist who can help organize your trip.
Where to Go
This month, the liveliest of Sweden's more prominent cities is Gothenburg, where Scandinavia's biggest film festival brightens the wintry streets. Stockholm is also worth a visit in January for its frozen canals, which take on a fairy-tale prettiness, and its museums, which make for a welcome refuge from the cold. This month, other particularly tempting destinations in icy Sweden are the traditional spa resorts such as Sätra Brunn near Stockholm.
However, in January, the best places to go in Sweden are the big ski centers north of Stockholm, where world-class skiing and snow sports await at Central Sweden's Åre and Sälen resorts. If you want to view the northern lights, anywhere north of the Arctic Circle can yield sightings, but one of the places with the best reputation for consistent aurora action is the village of Abisko. Kiruna, also in the Arctic, should feature on your itinerary this month because of its Snow Festival.
What to Do
Brighten the (mostly) dark, wintry days this month by attending festivals like those in Gothenburg or Kiruna. You could also get a fix of Sweden's culture at a museum in Stockholm: try the Nordic Museum, where you can learn more about the Swedish way of life, the Skansen Museum, Europe's oldest open-air museum, and the Vasa Museum, featuring the Vasa 17th-century warship, one of the most fully intact vessels from the period ever salvaged.
Alternatively, the athletically inclined will want to partake in snow sports now that the snow is approaching its thickest and most picturesque in January. Consider venturing to a big resort to test your piste skills, with Åre offering the country's largest downhill skiing area and snowmobiling and snowboarding. The Stockholm area also offers skating at Sweden's largest ice-skating park, Scandinavian Ice Adventure, and when conditions are right on frozen lakes, head to the city lake, Trekanten. Meanwhile, this month, you can stay at the world's first and largest hotel made only from ice and snow, Ice Hotel Jukkasjärvi near Kiruna.
Events in January
St Knut's Day, nationwide. This is when Christmas trees are traditionally taken down, accompanied by eating sweet treats hung on the tree and dancing. It's especially popular with the kids and happens on January 13.
Kiruna Snow Festival, Kiruna. Snowy frivolity comes to Arctic Kiruna in late January with snow-sculpting competitions, dog sledding, figure skating, and live music.
Gothenburg Film Festival, Gothenburg. Sweden's second city is enlivened by the biggest film festival in the Nordic nations at the end of January and the beginning of February.
More Helpful Information
Sweden in December
Sweden in February
Best Time of Year to Visit Sweden
How Many Days to Spend in Sweden