Home to 192 of the 250 species that breed in Sweden, Skåne is a birdwatchers’ mecca.

With its frosty mornings, Christmas lights and genuine, festive atmosphere, where better to spend the run-up to Christmas than in south Sweden and Skåne? With something for everyone, and some of Europe’s best Christmas markets, you can buy hand-made goods, drink mulled wine, talk to a Scandinavian Santa, eat gingerbread and buy those mittens you’ve been looking for.

Equestrians from all over the world come to Skåne in southern Sweden to enjoy the beauty of the scenery and the region’s dramatic natural variety. This guide helps you plan your equestrian adventures and gives you tips on where to stay if you travel with your own horse or want to rent one.

Swedes call it 'fika', but you can call it that time of day you relax for a few minutes, put your feet up and enjoy great drinks served up in cool cafés and cosy gardens.

This mystical early iron-age monument consists of 59 massive boulders arranged in a 67 metre-long outline with a magnificent view over Österlen’s hilly landscape and the Baltic Sea. No one knows who erected this megalithic monument around 1,400 years ago, or why.

Enjoy the great outdoors in central Skåne. Stroll in beech forests, visit castles, fish, swim or canoe in the lakes. And see Scandinavian animals like brown bears, elk and wolves at Skåne’s Animal Park. There’s lots to see and do.

No stay in Skåne is complete without visiting some of the towns and cities that add culture, pulse and vibrancy to this fascinating area. Here are five towns you should add to your itinerary.

Söderåsen and Söderåsen national park is an area of virgin forests, soaring cliffs and precipices that plunge into rocky ravines that create dramatic scenery.

Måkläppen wildlife sanctuary opens for visitors for 12 weeks every year. Take the opportunity to get close to unique birds and wild seals on the uttermost part of the Falsterbo peninsula.

Famous for its white beaches, crystal clear waters and quaint seaside villages along the coast, Southwest Skåne features open landscapes and views that stretch for miles. Add a reconstructed Viking settlement, thirteen golf courses within a short drive and you’re in for a great holiday.