A Cinematic Adventure to Sweden

Swedish cinema saw a remarkable boom in the latter half of the silent era, entering its Golden Age in the postwar years. This period was defined by poetic storytelling, experimental special effects and sweeping on-location shots that captured the raw beauty of Sweden’s landscapes. Our editors have curated a guide to some of the best moments in Swedish film history, offering the perfect inspiration for exploring the country through a cinematic lens.

The Seventh Seal (1957)

Ingmar Bergman’s masterpiece is a cornerstone of Swedish cinema and a defining work of fantasy-horror. Set in medieval Sweden during the Black Death, it follows a knight (Max von Sydow) who challenges Death to a game of chess. Shot in black and white on location across Sweden, the film is compellingly apocalyptic, communicating a world gripped with superstition. The opening scene was filmed at Hovs Hallar, a beautifully remote nature reserve known for its dramatic cliffs and rare seabirds. Additional scenes were shot in Skytteholm, Sola, distinguished by prominent high-rise buildings, visible in the background, and at the Råsunda studios.

STOCKHOLM, WHERE BERGMAN SHOT MANY OF HIS FILMS

The Square (2018)

Swedish director Ruben Östlund’s The Square is a razor-sharp satire of middle-class values and art world pretensions. Claes Bang stars as a museum curator in Stockholm preparing a cutting-edge exhibition at a gallery when a robbery upends his life. It was shot across Sweden - from Gothenburg, where the robbery is staged, to Stockholm, where the gallery is inspired by Sweden’s Royal Palace. The Square is a sharply executed dark comedy that showcases the gritty, urban sides of Sweden.

RUBEN ÖSTLUND WINNING THE PALME D'OR FOR THE SQUARE

Midsommar (2019)

Ari Aster’s Midsommar transforms a seemingly bucolic Swedish summer festival into a hallucinatory descent into folk horror. Borrowing narrative threads from The Wicker Man (1973), the film follows Florence Pugh and Jack Reynor through a horrific bacchanalia set in an incongruently stunning Swedish meadow. With the Midsummer festival set to take place in Sweden on the longest day of the year, June 21, this unsettling yet beautifully polished film is worth a watch.

Other Swedish must-sees include Ingmar Bergman’s Wild Strawberries and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, both shot in Stockholm, as well as the Scandi-noir series The Bridge, filmed in Malmö and on Øresund Bridge.

ØRESUND BRIDGE CONNECTING SWEDEN AND DENMARK

To round off your cinematic journey, we recommend staying at the Grand Hôtel in Stockholm, offering 300 luxury rooms, Michelin-star dining and views over the harbour. Alternatively, the Hôtel Reisen, also on the waterfront, is within walking distance of the iconic Royal Palace.

Of course, you can book these curated Swedish hotels and more on ASMALLWORLD Collection.