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Tour skating on ice (in Swedish "långfärdsskridskoåkning") is now a popular sport in Sweden. Maybe the best conditions in the world are those found around Stockholm with a considerable number of both large and small lakes plus the extensive nearby archipelago in the Baltic Sea. The smallest lakes may freeze normally in November, although the main season usually starts in December and lasts until March or April. Snow is not a major problem in this part of Sweden because in cold periods there are often areas of unfrozen water that can still freeze, and in mild periods the snow melts down to slush in the daytime and freezes to ice during the night.

The Baltic around Stockholm does not freeze every year, but when it does skating there is a very special experience. The lakes also offer outstanding conditions for great tours. On the large Lake Mälaren it is very popular to skate between the many towns situated along the shores and experienced skaters may skate 100 kilometers or more in a day. Most medium-sized and small lakes are located in very beautiful forest landscapes, giving skating there a special character.