The waterways of Lake Malaren and the vast archipelago extending to the Baltic both divide and unite the provinces of Uppland, Sodermanland, and Vastmanland. This is a land of verdant island and glittering bays, splendid castles and little wooden towns, and a cultural heritage that predates the Vikings. With Stockholm at the centre, the region is home to one-third of Sweden’s population.

This area was the cradle of ancient Svea, as can be seen in the rock carvings, burial mounds and standing stones in the shapes of ships that dot the landscape. It was from the town of Birka on Lake Malaren and from Roslagen in Uppland that the Vikings headed east on plundering raids and trading missions around Europe and beyond.

The extensive archipelago straddles the coasts of Uppand and Sodermanland, and Lake Malaren itself is so full of islands that the archipelago appears to continue uninterrupted. All the architectural sights and natural attractions of Eastern Svealand are best enjoyed at a slow pace by bicycle or boat, or on foot.