Interest in outdoor experiences has grown significantly in recent years, which is something we welcome. At the same time, more and more people are visiting the same well-known destinations. This can put pressure on nature and change the experience itself as trails become busier and popular places attract larger crowds.

We believe in curiosity, exploration, and the joy of discovering something new. With Unvisited Sweden, we want to inspire more people to explore different parts of the country and show that there are incredible nature experiences beyond Sweden's most visited destinations. 

When large numbers of people visit the same area, the impact on nature increases. In some places, this has led to littering and the need to protect or temporarily restrict access to sensitive environments. High visitor numbers can also affect wildlife and create challenges for other activities that depend on nature. 

At the same time, the experience of being in nature changes when more and more people gather in the same places. 

To find some of Sweden's least visited natural areas, we combined several different sources of data. The project was primarily based on anonymized and aggregated mobile data analysed by experts at Telia to identify areas with very low levels of human presence. 

These locations were then cross-checked using historical satellite imagery and digital footprints from popular outdoor and mapping services. 

By combining mobile data, satellite imagery, and digital footprints, we have identified areas that, according to our analysis, are among the least visited in the country. 

Exploring nature responsibly starts with respecting Allemansrätten, Sweden's Right of Public Access. It gives everyone the freedom to enjoy nature, but also the responsibility to protect it. 

Follow the Leave No Trace principles: carry out what you bring in, respect wildlife, stay on durable surfaces where possible, and leave nature as you found it. Some areas may also have local guidelines or restrictions, so always check what applies before heading out. 

We hope Unvisited Sweden sparks curiosity and inspires people to explore more of Sweden's natural landscapes. Many of the country's most memorable outdoor experiences can be found far beyond its best-known destinations. 

If the project encourages people to venture beyond the most familiar trails, discover new favourite places, and explore a wider range of natural areas, then we have achieved our goal. 

Our ambition is not to create new tourist hotspots that everyone rushes to visit. The purpose of the project is to inspire people to discover new parts of nature and rekindle a sense of exploration. 

The guide features many different locations, and several of them are situated in remote areas that require planning, preparation, and a willingness to explore independently.  

The purpose of our guide is not to guarantee that no human has ever set foot in these locations. Our goal has been to identify some of the least visited natural areas in Sweden, in contrast to the country's best-known outdoor destinations. 

By combining mobile data, satellite imagery, and digital footprints, we have identified areas that, according to our analysis, are among the least visited in the country. Because the analysis is based on multiple datasets, the boundaries shown on the map should be viewed as an approximation rather than an exact measurement down to a specific point on the ground. Likewise, the names used for each location are intended as geographic reference points rather than precise definitions of the area itself. As a result, someone may well have visited a specific location within one of these areas before. 

At the same time, many of these areas are so remote that there are likely still places within them where no one has set foot in modern times, or perhaps ever.  

The following sources were used in the analysis to identify Sweden's least visited places: 

• Aggregated and anonymized mobile data from Telia 
• Satellite imagery from Copernicus Sentinel-2 
• Statistics from Statistics Sweden (SCB) 
• Geographic data from the Swedish Forest Agency 
• Digital footprints from Google Street View, Google Photos, Strava, AllTrails, and Wikiloc 

Satellite imagery featured in the project was sourced through Google Earth. No images have been manipulated or AI-generated.