A new travel spot has just popped up in Sweden, and it's probably one of the most unusual destinations I've heard about.
No! It's not a new theme park, scenic hiking trail, or luxury resort.
It's a single square metre of land!
More specifically, it's what IKEA has identified as Sweden's sunniest square metre!
After analysing 20 years of solar data together with the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI), IKEA has identified the exact location estimated to have received the most sunshine in the country. To mark the occasion, the company has installed a permanent monument on the island of Gotland, allowing visitors to experience the sunny spot for themselves; and I'm loving how wonderfully random this sounds.
A Landmark Dedicated to Sunshine
The monument is located on southern Gotland, (an island off Sweden's east coast, just southwest of the town of Burgsvik) and features two stone armchairs inspired by IKEA's SKARPÖ outdoor chair designed by Magnus Elebäck.
While most tourist attractions are built around spectacular views, historical significance, or iconic architecture, this one celebrates something much simpler: sunshine.
For a country known for its long, dark winters, that actually makes perfect sense and according to IKEA Sweden, the project was inspired by the idea of helping people make the most of life outdoors when the warmer months finally arrive.
"As the seasons change, so do the ways we live. When the sunlight and warmth return after winter, people across Sweden move outdoors," explains Linda Vikström, Communications Manager at IKEA Sweden.
The result... a destination dedicated to one of Sweden's most cherished natural resources.
How Do You Find the Sunniest Square Metre in a Country?
Working alongside meteorological experts from SMHI, IKEA analysed data from SARAH-3, a satellite-based climate database that tracks solar radiation across Sweden. The study examined sunshine patterns between January 2005 and December 2025, identifying the area estimated to have accumulated the highest number of sunshine hours over the past two decades.
The winning location averaged an impressive 2,137 sunshine hours per year.
That's nearly six hours of sunshine every single day across an entire year.
But IKEA didn't stop there.
Once the sunniest area had been identified, architect and topographic advisor Erik Gardell helped analyse factors such as elevation, slope, exposure, and shadowing to pinpoint the exact square metre where sunlight historically had the greatest opportunity to reach the ground.
That's quite a load of work just to find the perfect sunny seat. Phew~
Would You Visit?
At first glance, the idea sounds a little absurd.
But the more I think about it, the more charming it becomes.
In a world where destinations compete to be bigger, louder, and more extravagant, there's something refreshing about creating a landmark around a simple human pleasure: sitting in the sunshine.
Would I fly all the way to Sweden just for this?
Probably not.
But if I ever find myself exploring Gotland, I can absolutely see myself making a detour to sit in those stone chairs and enjoy Sweden's statistically sunniest spot.
After all, how often do you get to tell people you've visited an attraction that was identified using 20 years of sunshine data?
That's definitely a travel story worth bringing home!
Sweden’s sunniest m²
(Sveriges soligaste m²)
