There’s a new kind of travel trend that doesn’t involve ticking off landmarks or chasing dopamine. It’s called sleep tourism—and while that might sound like another throwaway buzzword, it’s really just a response to how tired most people feel right now. The kind of tired that doesn’t go away with a podcast, a glass of wine, or a weekend spa. It’s deeper than that. It needs stillness. Distance. Forest air. And the kind of place that lets you be completely, unapologetically off.

That’s where Sweden comes in. This isn’t the country of loud attractions or over-curated experiences. It’s where people go when they need space to breathe—quiet cabins in the woods, off-grid getaways, and minimalist hotels designed to help you rest. You won’t find luxury slogans or scheduled group meditations here. Just the real stuff: clean air, soft light, lakes that mirror the sky, and rooms that don’t interrupt your rhythm.

If you’ve been searching for peaceful places to stay in Sweden, or wondering where you can actually sleep well on holiday—not just “crash”—these spots are a very good place to start. They're not marketed as sleep retreats, but that's exactly what they are. Quiet by design. Remote enough to reset. And full of the kind of soft details that make real rest possible.

Burned out? Overstimulated? Or just craving restful travel in 2025? Here are five Swedish stays where the sleep is better, deeper, and entirely the point.

1. Arthotel Tornedalen, Swedish Lapland

Where sleep meets stillness in Sweden’s far north

Arthotel Tornedalen isn’t a hotel in the traditional sense—it’s a cluster of restored wooden houses scattered through the forest near the Torne River. Each one is slightly different, but they all share the same feeling: calm, thoughtful, and deeply quiet. There’s no reception desk, no minibar, and no expectation that you’ll do anything except exist—comfortably and without interruption.

The homes are filled with Nordic contemporary art and handcrafted pieces that feel lived-in rather than curated. The beds are generous, the linens natural, and the light—especially in summer—soft and endless. Some houses are more remote, tucked among birch trees where you won’t hear another voice for hours. Others are closer to the main farmhouse, where meals are served if you want them. Either way, you’re left alone in the best way.

In winter, snow muffles everything, and it’s just you, a crackling fire, and a good book. You sleep better here not because it’s quiet, but because nothing feels rushed or loud—not even your own thoughts. In summer, the light stretches past midnight, and you fall asleep slowly, full of forest air and local berries. Meals are slow, seasonal, and often foraged, with a focus on the land and what's growing right now.

What makes Arthotel Tornedalen special isn’t the architecture (though it’s beautiful) or the scenery (though it’s vast). It’s the way the place doesn’t demand anything from you. And that’s rare. It’s one of the few places in the north where sleep becomes the destination itself, not just a necessity between adventures.

Where: Vitsaniemi, Swedish Lapland
Getting there: Fly to Luleå, then 2.5-hour scenic drive north through forests and wide open spaces

Want your next trip to feel good and do good? Check out our guide to 7 Sustainable Eco-Resorts in Europe Worth Booking in 2025 - no greenwashing, just genuinely thoughtful places where rest and responsibility go hand in hand.

2. Kolarbyn Eco-Lodge, Skinnskatteberg

Sweden’s “most primitive hotel”—and that’s the whole point

Kolarbyn isn’t trying to impress you—and that’s why it works. Tucked into the forest near a quiet lake in central Sweden, it calls itself “the country’s most primitive hotel.” No electricity, no Wi-Fi, no plumbing. Just twelve charcoal huts with moss-covered roofs, handmade beds, and a tiny fireplace to keep the chill out. And somehow, sleep here comes easier than almost anywhere else.

The huts are candlelit, insulated by thick wood and silence. You chop your own firewood, fetch water from the spring, and cook simple meals over an open fire. There’s a floating sauna on the lake if you want to warm up before bed, and a forest full of birdsong instead of background noise. In the absence of tech, time shifts—and your body follows. Evenings stretch longer, and mornings feel softer.

This place attracts hikers, solo travelers, and overworked city people who don’t want a curated wellness experience—they just want out. Out of the algorithm, out of expectations, out of the loop. Kolarbyn offers that, quietly. You’re alone, but not lonely. Surrounded, but not watched. And when night falls, there’s only the soft sound of wind in the trees and your own breath slowing down.

It’s not for everyone, and that’s the point. But if you’ve ever wished you could turn the world down a bit, this is where to do it.

Where: Skinnskatteberg, Västmanland
Getting there: 2 h from Stockholm by train + taxi

Need sea air instead of forest silence?
If your idea of rest comes with salty breezes and ferry rides, don’t miss our slow travel guide to Ærø—Denmark’s most peaceful island escape. No pressure, no traffic, just soft light, pastel harbors, and a digital detox that actually feels natural.

3. Treehotel, Harads

Sleep above the trees in a design-forward cocoon

If you want something a little more architectural—but still built for rest—Treehotel delivers. Perched in the boreal forest of Swedish Lapland, each of its treehouses is designed by a different Scandinavian architect. There’s one shaped like a bird’s nest, one mirrored like a UFO, and one with floor-to-ceiling views over the pine canopy.

But Treehotel isn’t just about clever design—it’s about how design can make you feel quieter inside. Despite the bold exteriors, the interiors are calm: pale wood, wool blankets, blackout curtains, and soft lighting that winds you down naturally. There are no TVs, no phones ringing at reception, and no pressure to be anywhere at any time.

The 7th Room is especially designed for deep rest. Suspended 10 meters above the ground, it has panoramic windows facing the Lule River valley and a net terrace where you can lie under the open sky—blanket-wrapped, half-dreaming, and completely undisturbed. In winter, you might spot the aurora without leaving the bed. In summer, it’s all endless light and birdsong.

Locals will tell you the best time to come is just before or after the snow melts—late March or early October—when the forest is silent and the light shifts slowly throughout the day. A short forest path leads you to a riverside sauna and outdoor hot tub, often missed in quick overviews. Ask quietly, and staff may tip you off to trails where you can walk for an hour without seeing another person.

Treehotel isn’t just an Instagrammable stay—it’s a rare mix of innovation and peace. Come for the design, stay because your whole nervous system finally lets go.

Where: Harads, near the Lule River
Getting there: Fly to Luleå, then 1-hour transfer

4. Inforest Cabins, near Hjo

Minimalist design, forest air, and nothing but stillness

If you’re craving real peace—but want something more comfortable than a tent—Inforest delivers. These solar-powered, off-grid cabins are tucked deep into the woods near Hjo, a quiet lakeside town in southern Sweden that feels like it’s standing still on purpose. Each cabin blends modern Scandinavian design with off-grid simplicity: large glass fronts, timber interiors, and silence that hums more than it echoes.

There’s no Wi-Fi, no television, and no curated playlist. Instead, you fall asleep to the soft rustle of trees and the occasional owl, and wake up to filtered morning light through pine needles. Each unit is powered by solar energy and fitted with eco-toilets and a minimalist kitchenette stocked with Swedish essentials—local coffee, crispbread, berry jam. Everything is designed to help you slow down without thinking too much about it.

A detail many visitors miss: the walking trails behind the cabins lead to small, wild meadows and forgotten forest roads where you’re unlikely to meet another soul. You can bring your own food or request a breakfast basket filled with local produce—fresh eggs, yogurt, homemade granola—and take it out onto the deck with a wool blanket wrapped around your shoulders. It’s that kind of stay.

If you need a short reentry into society, Hjo itself is nearby with cozy cafés and calm lakefront views. But you might find yourself skipping the town altogether just to stay where the air feels clearer and time slows down. Inforest isn’t flashy. It’s not trying to impress you. It’s just what you need when you want to feel rested in your bones.

Where: Near Hjo, Västra Götaland
Getting there: 2.5 hours from Gothenburg or 3.5 from Stockholm

Tempted? Read this blog post: Digital Detox & Deep Rest: 5 getaways in Europe to Unplug and Recharge

5. Island Lodge, Stockholm Archipelago

Luxury tented sleep with sea air and silence

Just a short boat ride from Stockholm, Island Lodge feels like an escape into another rhythm entirely. The island itself is car-free, crowd-free, and tuned to the sound of the sea. There are only seven luxury canvas tents, each spaced out for privacy and perched just meters from the shoreline. Inside: soft beds, linen sheets, lantern light, and the kind of silence you can’t find in cities.

You fall asleep to the sound of waves brushing the rocks and wake up to the scent of sea air drifting in through the canvas. Each tent is styled with Nordic restraint—calming tones, natural textures, and no clutter. There’s a wood-fired sauna tucked among the pines, and an outdoor shower that makes you feel like you’re rinsing off the noise of daily life. Meals are seasonal, simple, and locally sourced—often enjoyed at a communal table or alone on a sun-warmed boulder.

What most guests don’t realize is how much there is to do by doing very little. You can spend a full day watching the light change across the water, exploring the rocky shoreline barefoot, or taking a kayak out just far enough to feel small in the best way. This is not glamping with photo ops—it’s a thoughtfully run sanctuary that encourages you to unplug, get salty, and sleep deeply.

The lodge only operates between late spring and early autumn, and spots fill fast. But if you can book it, this is the kind of stay that resets something quiet inside you—and reminds you that not every getaway needs to be full of activity to be meaningful.

Where: Bergholmen Island, near Vaxholm
Getting there: 45 min boat transfer from Stockholm

Sleepy yet?

You don’t have to book a wellness retreat or go on a digital detox to feel rested. Sometimes, it’s just about where you sleep—and how that space makes you feel. The places on this list aren’t shouting about rest, but they offer it in the most honest way: through quiet, slowness, and simplicity.

So if you’re feeling the kind of tired that’s hard to name, let Sweden hold that for you for a while.

FAQ: Sleep-Focused Travel in Sweden

What is sleep tourism and why is it trending in Sweden?
Sleep tourism is all about choosing your destination based on how well you can rest there—think quiet nature, minimalist design, and no pressure to do or be anything. Sweden naturally lends itself to this trend thanks to its forests, lakes, calm pace of life, and thoughtful, clutter-free accommodation options.

Where can I find peaceful places to stay in Sweden?
Some of the most restful accommodations in Sweden aren’t in major cities—they’re tucked away in places like Lapland, the Göta Canal region, and the Stockholm Archipelago. Look for eco-lodges, off-grid cabins, and small guesthouses that focus on silence, design, and connection to nature.

Is it easy to get to these remote places without a car?
Yes—many of Sweden’s most peaceful stays are reachable by train and a short local taxi or transfer. Places like Kolarbyn and Treehotel are designed to be accessible, even if you’re not driving. Sweden’s public transport system makes slow travel easier than you’d expect.

What should I pack for a sleep-focused trip?
Bring natural layers, good walking shoes, and something to read. Most places provide bedding, towels, and essentials. You won’t need much—but a journal, earplugs, and a warm sweater always come in handy.

When is the best time to visit Sweden for a quiet escape?
May to early July offers long light-filled days and fewer crowds. September and October are beautiful for autumn colors and crisp air. For deep winter calm, January to March can be magical—just expect snow and absolute stillness.

Want more quiet, cozy travel ideas like this?
Join the newsletter and get our favorite peaceful places sent straight to your inbox.

The Best Sleep-Focused Stays in Sweden (for When You’re Tired of Everything)