A hand holding a waffle cone with two scoops of ice cream, strawberry and cookie dough with chocolate chunks, on a sunny city street. The softly blurred background shows buildings and pedestrians, highlighting the ice cream as the focal point. — Bosses Glassbar in Linköping

Ice cream is one of the highlights of Swedish summer. When the days get longer and the temperature gets warmer, everyone lines up to enjoy a few scoops of their favorite flavors. In this guide, we'll explore some of the best ice cream destinations in Sweden, organized by region to help you discover great stops for your next vacation, weekend getaway, or summer road trip.

A white shallow bowl with thin decorative rainbow lines on the rim containing two scoops of pistachio ice cream topped with chopped nuts and a drizzle of chocolate sauce.

The best ice cream in southern Sweden

Helsingborgs Glassfabrik

Helsingborgs Glassfabrik, founded in 2005, is the place to go for local handmade gelato. They have two locations: Glassbussen, where ice cream is sold out of an old school bus on the waterfront, and a kiosk at Matpark Gröningen, an area with different food trucks a little further north. Popular flavors include vanilla, salted licorice, coconut, sea salt caramel, and chocolate.

A chocolate smoothie bowl served in a dark bowl on a blue table. The bowl is neatly arranged with toppings including sliced bananas, a dollop of creamy peanut butter, whole and pieces of cashew nuts, and dark cacao nibs.

Exploring Helsingborg

Located on Sweden's southwest coast, Helsingborg is one of the country's oldest cities. Visitors can stroll along the waterfront promenade, climb the medieval Kärnan tower for panoramic views, or explore the beautiful gardens of Sofiero Palace. In the summer, the city's beaches and outdoor cafés make it an excellent destination for a relaxing day by the sea.

A white bowl filled with vanilla ice cream on a grey wooden table. The ice cream is topped with caramel sauce, banana slices, strawberry pieces, rainbow sprinkles, and colorful candy-coated chocolates.

SIA Glassbutik

SIA Glassbutik in the small village of Slöinge in Halland is operated by SIA Glass, one of Sweden's best-known ice cream brands. In addition to a large ice cream bar with all of their flavors, they sell discounted packaged ice cream to take home. It’s a great place to stop when traveling along the west coast. Unlike most Swedish ice cream shops, SIA Glassbutik is open all year, with extended hours in July.

A tall ice cream sundae in a glass on a white table, layered with chocolate syrup, vanilla and chocolate ice cream, and whipped cream.

Exploring Halland

This region is known for its sandy beaches and picturesque countryside. Falkenberg is nearby and is a great place for swimming and cycling. A stop at SIA Glassbutik could be part of a summer road trip through Halland.

A hand holding a large scoop of light brown ice cream with dark flecks in a waffle cone wrapped in a yellow paper sleeve. The background is a blurry outdoor patio with green trees and red umbrellas.

Glassbåten i Åhus

Glassbåten, located on the waterfront in Åhus, is a favorite stop for locals and for summer visitors exploring the beaches of Skåne. As the name suggests, this is an ice cream shop on a boat. They have over 40 different flavors of ice cream with a variety of toppings.

Exploring Åhus on the Skåne coast

Åhus is known for its long sandy beaches and relaxed summer atmosphere. The town's cobblestone streets are lined with cafés, restaurants, and small shops, making it easy to spend a full day exploring the area.

A metal dessert bowl on a dark table filled with vanilla ice cream, potato chips, a drizzle of caramel sauce, and small chocolate crispy pearls, served with a metal spoon.

Glassiären

Glassiären in Karlskrona has over 30 flavors to choose from. It’s a local favorite known for its large scoops of ice cream. It’s common to see a long line here on sunny days.

An elaborate ice cream sundae in a purple-stemmed glass, topped with whipped cream, caramel, and a decorative red masquerade mask. — Smultronstället in Söderköping

Exploring Karlskrona

Founded in 1680 as Sweden's naval base, Karlskrona is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its maritime history and beautiful archipelago setting. Visitors can explore the city's historic squares, waterfront promenades, and museums. Boat tours offer opportunities to discover the surrounding islands, while the city center provides plenty of cafés and restaurants.

A small white ceramic bowl with two scoops of vanilla ice cream generously drizzled with a thick chocolate fudge sauce, with a metal spoon resting inside the bowl.

The best ice cream in Östergötland

This region is also great for a summer road trip. Historic cities, picturesque countryside, and the famous Göta Canal provide plenty of opportunities to combine sightseeing with an ice cream stop.

A bowl of ice cream with chocolate sauce on a dark table next to a can of Spike Brewery Aurora beer and two stemmed glasses filled with dark stout.

Halvars Glass

Halvars Glass has been a summer favorite in Norrköping since the 1940s. They have over 30 flavors to choose from, some of which are lactose-free and/or vegan. They also have soft-serve ice cream, sundaes, and lots of toppings.

An overflowing chocolate freakshake in a mason jar with a striped straw topped with whipped cream and a large chocolate cookie.

Exploring Norrköping

The beautifully restored industrial are, where old textile factories line the Motala Ström river, is one of the city's most distinctive attractions. Visitors can also enjoy riverside walks, museums, shopping, and numerous cafés and restaurants.

A large ice cream sundae served in a glass dessert bowl with two scoops of ice cream, a brownie, whipped cream, and cherry sauce, alongside a cappuccino. The dessert is served at an outdoor café with people dining in the background. — Smultronstället in Söderköping

Smultronstället

Few ice cream shops in Sweden are as iconic as Smultronstället in Söderköping. Since opening in the 1980s, it has become one of the country's most famous summer destinations, attracting visitors from near and far with its spectacular ice cream creations and scenic location on the Göta Canal.

Smultronstället is best known for its extravagant sundaes, many of which are large enough to share. The menu features dozens of imaginative creations, each with its own unique combination of flavors and presentation.

It's not unusual to see long queues stretching outside the restaurant, especially on sunny afternoons. For many Swedes, a visit to Smultronstället is a summer tradition.

A pear ice cream sundae in a clear stemmed glass topped with sliced fruit, whipped cream, yellow syrup, and a fan wafer cookie. — Smultronstället in Söderköping

Exploring Söderköping

Söderköping is a charming small town along the Göta Canal known for its well-preserved wooden buildings and cobbled streets. The canal comes alive in the summer with boats passing through its locks, creating a lively atmosphere along the waterfront.

A hand holding a waffle cone with two scoops of ice cream, chocolate and cherry, inside an ice cream shop. — Bosses Glassbar in Linköping

Bosses Glassbar

Bosses Glassbar is a summer favorite in Linköping and has been serving ice cream to locals and visitors since 1979. They focus on high-quality ice cream served in classic cones, cups, and sundaes. It’s worth choosing two or three scoops to sample a mix of classics and seasonal specialties.

A hand holding a waffle cone with two scoops of ice cream, chocolate-pistachio Dubai chocolate and pink and white polka, set against a sunny, blurred city street background. — Bosses Glassbar in Linköping

Exploring Linköping

The city's old town, Gamla Linköping, is an open-air museum where visitors can wander among historic buildings, artisan workshops, and cafés. History enthusiasts may also enjoy visiting Domkyrkan, one of Sweden's best-preserved medieval cathedrals.

Families often make time for the nearby Air Force Museum, and there are lots of parks, restaurants, and places to shop in the city center where Bosses Glassbar is located.

A tall glass filled with a layered purple blueberry milkshake, heavily topped with whipped cream and graham cracker crumbs. A clear straw is inserted into the shake.

The best ice cream in Stockholm

In addition to lots of traditional ice cream kiosks, there are a growing number of artisan gelaterias in Stockholm that draw inspiration from Italian craftsmanship while incorporating local Swedish ingredients.

Two scoops of ice cream with chocolate sauce served next to a can and glass of Poppels Pistachio Brown Ale on a wooden table.

Gräddnos Gelateria

Gräddnos Gelateria in Vasastan serves authentic Italian-style gelato made with ingredients from Italy and Sweden. Gelato contains less air than regular ice cream, resulting in a denser, smoother texture and more intense flavor, and this is a great place to try it.

Pistachio ice cream scoops over cooked rhubarb stalks in a pink syrup, garnished with mint leaves in a white bowl.

Kennys Gelato

Kennys Gelato is another local favorite for authentic Italian-style gelato in Stockholm. Their flagship shop is in Norrmalm, and they also have locations in Kungsholmen, Djurgården, Södermalm, Nacka, and Saltsjö-boo. Some of their most popular flavors include hazelnut crunch, pistachio, salted caramel, lemon pie, smultron and procecco sorbet, brown butter, and Kinder egg.

A waffle cone with two scoops of light-colored ice cream and Nutella drizzle, held up against a blurry city street background. — Bosses Glassbar in Linköping

Stikki Nikki

Stikki Nikki is one of Stockholm's best-known artisan ice cream brands. They have several locations, one in Norrmalm, one in Vasastan and two in Södermalm. One of the Södermalm locations is completely vegan, while vegan options are available in the other locations. The menu frequently features fun experimental flavors in addition to the classics.

Two vibrant cups of soft-serve ice cream side-by-side on a white table. The cup on the left has a tall swirl of purple ice cream and a wooden spoon. The cup on the right has a tall, leaning swirl of bright blue ice cream. — Omnipollos Flora in Stockholm

Omnipollos Flora

Omnipollos Flora in Humlegården park in Östermalm is mainly an outdoor craft beer bar created by the team behind renowned Swedish craft brewery Omnipollo, but it’s worth a mention here because they also have soft-serve ice cream. Rather than offering a long list of standard flavors, they regularly which ones are available, encouraging visitors to try something new with every visit. They also serve food.

An over-the-top ice cream milkshake in a tall glass, capped with a whole glazed donut, whipped cream, caramel sauce, and a wafer stick.

Exploring Stockholm

There is plenty to do in Stockholm including shopping, museums, waterfront walks, boat tours, and parks.

A white plastic tub of GB Glace "BigPack Tresmak" ice cream with its lid on, next to two stacked pink and grey serving bowls.

The best ice cream in the Stockholm archipelago

Väddö Gårdsmejeri

At Väddö Gårdsmejeri in Roslagen north of Stockholm, the focus is on farm-to-table craftsmanship, with ice cream made using fresh milk from the dairy's own cows. The menu includes a variety of creative sundaes with different flavor combinations and toppings.

The farm also sells ice cream and cheese to take home and has a café and two restaurants.

An elaborate chocolate and caramel ice cream sundae served in a purple-stemmed glass goblet on an outdoor cafe table. — Smultronstället in Söderköping

Exploring Roslagen

Roslagen is known for its red cottages, rocky shores, and peaceful countryside. Väddö is excellent base for exploring the northern Stockholm archipelago for a scenic drive, cycling, or a ferry trip to one of the nearby islands.

A hand holding a waffle cone with two large scoops of ice cream. The bottom scoop is dark chocolate, and the top scoop is a light brown coffee caramel flavor with a visible swirl. — Bosses Glassbar in Linköping

The best ice cream in central Sweden

Gotlunda Glass

Gotlunda Glass outside of Arboga serves 29 flavors of premium ice cream every day, 16 of which are always on the menu while the others vary. Flavors that are always available include classics like chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, blueberry, and salted caramel.

An overflowing chocolate freakshake in a mason jar topped with whipped cream, a chocolate cookie, and a Sthlm Brunch Club flag.

Exploring Arboga

Arboga is one of Sweden's oldest towns with narrow streets and medieval buildings including Sweden’s oldest documented town hall. The surrounding countryside also offers opportunities for hiking, cycling, and exploring the agricultural landscapes of Västmanland.

A waffle cone with a scoop of mint chocolate and a scoop of cookie dough ice cream held up in front of a shop window. — Bosses Glassbar in Linköping

Slagsta Glass

Slagsta Glass in Eskilstuna has been serving ice cream for four generations, since 1938. They serve a large variety of sundaes in waffle cone cups, which they call snäckor, plus soft serve ice cream, milkshakes, and more.

A smiling man in a yellow t-shirt and black cap sitting behind two giant, over-the-top milkshakes at a restaurant.

Exploring Eskilstuna

Eskilstuna is an industrial city that’s known for its sustainability initiatives, for example the ReTuna Återbruksgallerian, an all-secondhand store shopping center. The nearby Parken Zoo is a popular attraction for families, and there are plenty of walking and cycling trails around the city.

An elaborate chocolate and caramel ice cream sundae topped with a miniature woven sombrero alongside an iced latte on an outdoor restaurant table. — Smultronstället in Söderköping

NoraGlass

NoraGlass, which has been around since 1923, serves only three flavors, made fresh every day during ice cream season. These are vanilla, hazelnut, and a rotating flavor of the day. They also have a variety of toppings to choose from.

An over-the-top chocolate milkshake served in a glass mug on a light-blue saucer. The rim of the glass is coated in chocolate and crushed nuts, supporting a large sugar-dusted donut balanced on top.

Exploring Nora

Nora is famous for its well-preserved wooden buildings, cobblestone streets, and beautiful lakeside location. History enthusiasts can learn about the region's mining heritage, while nature lovers can enjoy walks around Lake Norasjön or explore the surrounding countryside.

The red exterior storefront of Bosses Glassbar ice cream shop in Linköping, featuring retro yellow signage and a cartoon clown window display. — Bosses Glassbar in Linköping

Moster Elins Glass

Moster Elins Glass on Lake Vättern in Hjo serves over 40 flavors of ice cream, with a few lactose-free options and a few vegan options. They also have a variety of imaginative sundaes on the menu. It’s the perfect afternoon break by the lake.

A smiling woman with long brown hair, grey-streaked roots, and dark tortoiseshell sunglasses holding a double-scoop ice cream cone. — Bosses Glassbar in Linköping

Exploring Hjo and Lake Vättern

Hjo is known for its colorful wooden buildings, cafés, and a scenic harbor that comes alive in the summer. The lakeside promenade is perfect for a leisurely stroll, while nearby beaches invite visitors to cool off with a swim This is also also a popular stop for road trips around Lake Vättern.

A white styrofoam cup filled with vibrant orange mango ice cream, sprinkled with chili powder seasoning and served with a white plastic spoon on a white table.

The best ice cream on Gotland

Sweden's largest island is one of the country's most popular summer destinations, attracting visitors with its medieval ruins, sandy beaches, and laid-back atmosphere.

A man with long blonde-brown hair smiling behind an elaborate, oversized ice cream sundae served in a large stemmed goblet. — Smultronstället in Söderköping

Glassmagasinet

A stop at Glassmagasinet in Visby is a summer tradition for visitors to Gotland. A visit to this iconic ice cream café with over 350 flavors of gelato is a unique experience where choosing your flavor or flavors can be a very difficult decision. There could be a long line when you visit, but most visitors agree that the wait is worth it.

A queue of customers looking up at a large, vibrant red menu board inside an ice cream shop. — Bosses Glassbar in Linköping

Exploring Visby and Gotland

Visby, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is surrounded by an impressive medieval city wall. Its cobblestone streets, historic churches, colorful rose-covered cottages, and lively cafés make it one of Sweden’s most beautiful towns to explore on foot. Beyond Visby, Gotland offers dramatic limestone formations along the coast, sandy beaches, and scenic cycling routes.

A sugar-dusted donut centered on a dark rimmed plate, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, a drizzle of maple syrup, and chopped hazelnuts.

Frequently asked questions about ice cream in Sweden

What’s the most famous ice cream shop in Sweden?

Smultronstället in Söderköping is often considered the most famous due to its elaborate sundaes. Glassmagasinet in Visby also stands out for its enormous selection of flavors. In Stockholm, Stikki Nikki and Kennys Gelato are probably the most well-known.

An elegant ice cream sundae served in a large, clear-stemmed glass bowl on a white outdoor table. — Smultronstället in Söderköping

Where can you find the biggest ice cream sundaes in Sweden?

If you're looking for size, Smultronstället in Söderköping is known for its oversized sundaes. Glassiären in Karlskrona is known for its oversized scoops.

An over-the-top strawberry freakshake served in a glass mason jar on a grey saucer, overflowing with vibrant red strawberry and yellow passion fruit syrups dripping down the sides.

What’s the best gelato in Stockholm?

Gräddnos Gelateria focuses on traditional Italian-style gelato, Stikki Nikki has the best vegan options and fun experimental flavors, and Kennys Gelato is recognized for its authentic craftsmanship and classic Italian flavors.

Which ice cream shops in Sweden make their own ice cream?

Most of the destinations in this guide produce their own ice cream on-site or in local dairies with local ingredients and small-batch production methods.

When is the best time to visit Sweden for ice cream?

The Swedish ice cream season typically peaks between late May and early September, with July and August being the busiest months. This is when most shops are fully open and have the most flavors available. Warm weather also makes it ideal for enjoying outdoor seating.

Most ice cream shops are not open all year and vary when they open and close for the season based on weather, so check the social media of the shop you’re interested in visiting ahead of time to avoid disappointment.

Is ice cream popular in Sweden?

Yes, ice cream is extremely popular in Sweden, especially in the summer. Swedes are among the highest ice cream consumers per capita in Europe, and eating ice cream is a common part of everyday life when the weather is warm and sunny. There are ice cream kiosks, cafés, and gelaterias throughout the country, in cities and in small towns.

A dark wood table featuring a bowl of white and pink ice cream topped with caramel sauce, an open bottle of Dugges Choco Chip Imperial Stout, and a stemless glass of dark beer.

Ice cream is a big part of Swedish summer culture. These shops will be busiest in July and early August, when most Swedes take their vacations, so expect lines, especially in the more famous locations and especially on warm and sunny days. Consider visiting right when the shop opens for the day for the best chance at avoiding a long line!