Last year, after a prolonged period of stress and illness, I was desperate for a change of scenery. A particularly awful swipe of fortune meant that I’d first been caring for my husband after a freak accident left him immobile for months. Then, a tick-borne illness followed by a severe bout of Covid kept me housebound for longer than I’d ever been. As someone who loves the outdoors and travels often, my mental and physical health were at an ebb. So, I went to Sweden.
This wasn’t the first time I’d sought refuge in the Nordic nation. Several years prior, during a time of major change and uncertainty, I’d lived in Stockholm while transitioning from one life (over 15 years in New York City) to a drastically different one (dwelling in a small mountain village in the Scottish Highlands). But I’d been cultivating friendships and working with creative colleagues from across the country for at least a decade before that.
One month spent wandering the coasts and green spaces of Stockholm’s archipelago was the perfect medicine: with wild swimming and regular sauna sessions, public art and open-air museums, live music, beautiful architecture, the best coffee, plus time with great friends. I came back inspired.
Not long after, the country’s official tourism board, Visit Sweden, announced The Swedish Prescription: a doctor-supported, science-backed initiative that recommends prescribing travel to Sweden for its health benefits.
And while the campaign is somewhat tongue-in-cheek, suggesting that, among other side effects, “visitors have reported disorientation upon entering functioning public transportation,” and warning that “if you find yourself developing a taste for herring and minimalism, [you should] consult your travel agent immediately,” its offerings are sound.
Curated in partnership with clinical psychiatrist, Yvonne Forsell, a professor at Stockholm’s leading medical university Karolinska Institutet, the programme outlines the core health benefits of the Swedish way of life, offering nature, culture, and social experiences proven to benefit health, like saunas known to improve sleep and cold plunges for better circulation, foraging for antioxidant-rich berries, forest bathing, and of course, fika, the daily tradition of breaking for coffee and conversation.
Patients simply have to download a medical referral form and take it to their GP, who can advise on time in Sweden and things like “a good night’s sleep under the stars,” or listening to Swedish music to boost mood. According to a related survey by YouGov, seven out of ten medical professionals in the UK said they would be willing to prescribe travel to Sweden if asked. Visit Sweden has also identified select doctors from around the world who will.
