Imagine an infinite landscape of islands and islets scattered in a calm sea, sometimes separated by just a few metres, where wildflowers grow, and you'll find thick forests and wooden shacks. Well this is what's waiting for you in the Stockholm Archipelago, one of the most extraordinary places in Europe and the second largest archipelago in the region, after the one off the coast of Turku, Finland.
I went there in the summer, and the place is absolutely magical and unforgettable. You can go from one island to another in this sea that's spotted like a leopard's fur from islands that are sometimes no more than a piece of rock. This is a popular tourist destination, but it isn't hard to get away to some calm and total isolation, whereas the islands are home to many campsites, youth hostels and even excellent restaurants.