Sweden Travel Guide

“Spending time in Sweden on loan was one of the best things I ever did.”
Peter Crouch

Top Five Destinations In Sweden

Good to Know Before You Go/Essential Info

Top Five Destinations In Sweden

Stockholm is Sweden’s picturesque capital city, home to the Nobel Prize, and often referred to as Scandinavia’s most beautiful capital. In the 13th century, this medieval city spanned 14 islands and rocky islets connected by old and modern bridges that take you on a memorable, intriguing adventure. Discover the Old Town, magnificent churches, incredible architecture, world-class museums, charming cobblestone streets, and thriving cosmopolitan culture.
Malmo and its environs A medieval city with a strong modern pulse. It has a rich history and is a multicultural melting pot. It has something for everyone: a lovely old town, fantastic squares full of Swedes enjoying life, the Malmohus Castle, and a young vibe. Malmo links to Denmark via the fascinating Oresund Bridge. Outside the city, there is this lovely countryside dotted with castles and inviting towns.
Gothenburg Is a lovely port city on Sweden’s west coast known for its green spaces. It is a city that lies on the Gota River, where you will find the city center full of Dutch-inspired channels and fascinating neighborhoods dotted with colorful wooden houses amid a city that is the gateway to archipelagoes and charming fishing villages. Gothenburg also has the region’s largest film festival and numerous yearly music festivals.
Ystad is a southern coastal town known for its sandy beaches and impressive examples of Gothic architecture, such as Greyfriars Abbey, one of Sweden’s best-preserved medieval monasteries, and the Medieval Church of the Virgin Mary. Wander the alluring cobblestone streets that lead to unique pastel-colored half-timbered structures. Near Ystad, there is the famous megalithic monument of Ales Stenar, which consists of 59 boulders forming a stone ship.
Gotland is the largest island in Sweden, surrounded by the Baltic Sea. It draws many visitors and is a favored destination. The city of Visby is a beautiful walled Hanseatic town that has preserved most of its original design and historic buildings. The island has close to 100 medieval churches and too many prehistoric sites to count.

Did you know?

Country Stats

Population: 10.2 million
Capital City: Stockholm
Currency: Swedish kronor (SEK)
Government type: Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy
Monarch: Carl XVI Gustaf
Prime Minister: Stefan Lofven
Ethnic groups: Swedish 80.9%, other 19.1%
Languages: Swedish (official)
Religions: Church of Sweden (Lutheran) 60.2%, other (includes Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish, and Buddhist) 8.5%, none or unspecified 31.3%
U.S. State Department Risk Level: 2 due to terrorism
Terrorist groups: Islamic State of Iraq and ash-Sham (ISIS) (2019)
GDP $563, 882 billion
The Svear people gave Sweden its name over 2,000 years ago.
The Swedish monarchy is one of the oldest in the world.
National Anthem: “Du Gamla, Du Fria” (“Thou Ancient, Thou Free”)
The land area of Sweden is the 4th largest in Europe (174,000 square miles).
The tallest mountain in Sweden is Kebnekaise is 7000 feet.
Sweden has 30 national parks.
Over one-half of Sweden is covered by forest.
85% of Swedes live in cities.
The National Animal of Sweden is the Moose.
The Silver birch is the National tree.
IKEA, Spotify, Ericsson, Volvo, and H&M are Swedish companies.
Inventions originating from Sweden include a pacemaker, blow torch, zippers, Tungsten, ship propeller, plumber wrench, ball bearing, modern refrigerator, three-point safety belt, Minecraft, dynamite, modern telecommunications, and milk separator.
Sweden’s major industries are music, agriculture, manufacturing, machinery, tourism, trade and finance, biomedical, food, metals, automobiles, refined petroleum, and plastics.
Life expectancy is 82.5 years old. They have one of the longest in the world.
The literacy rate is 99%.

Fun Facts

.The Nobel Prize ceremonies are conducted in Stockholm, Sweden, each year. (Nobel Peace Prize is in Norway)
Swedes are reputed to love paying taxes, some of the highest in the world. They believe it is their civic responsibility to espouse the benefits. All Swedes benefit from a well-respected socialized medical system, free medical, dental, and optical care up to the age of 21, both parents getting 480 days of parental leave, subsidized daycare, five weeks of paid vacation per year, and there is no need to file taxes as taxes are based on income.
The 8-10th century Vikings of Sweden were a formidable group, highly skilled at warfare; they conquered and dominated much of Northern and Eastern Europe.
The spectacular northern lights, or aurora borealis, appear above the Arctic Circle and are visible from late September to March. This phenomenon draws visitors from all over the world.
Sweden excels at recycling because it has run out of garbage and imports 80,000 tons annually from Norway.
Sweden has the most number of McDonald’s outlets per capita than the rest of Europe.
Moose (over 300,000), reindeer (over 260,000), lynx, bears, and wolves can be found in the wild throughout Sweden. Most of the indigenous animals are thriving and even expanding.
Sweden and Norway formed the United Kingdom from 1814 to 1905.
During both World Wars, Sweden managed to remain neutral.
Sweden Is the World’s Third Largest Exporter of Music.
Sweden leads the world in foreign aid providing over 1% of its gross national income, focusing on promoting the welfare and economic development of nations needing aid.
Low unemployment, a low birth rate, and a strong welfare system contribute to Sweden’s high standard of living.
It was the first country to ban spanking by parents in 1979.
Sweden was the first country in Europe to establish national parks.

Sweden Map

Good to know before you go

In Sweden, tourists do not need to worry about tipping. The general rule is that Swedes are paid higher wages, so no tip is expected or required. Tipping has never been a part of Swedish culture.
Credit cards are accepted everywhere.
Overall, the clothing is stylish. Swedes wear subdued clothes and prefer dark and muted colors. They dress casually but with class. The jeans are worn but are in good condition. Swedes prefer natural fabrics. The weather is cold much of the year and can even get cold in the summer. Layers are always a good idea. With so many cobblestone streets, comfy flat shoes are suggested. Rain is common year-round, so prepare accordingly in the winter; pack winter gear, thermal underwear, and boots.
Driving in Sweden is quite good but, of course, can be challenging in the winter months. Highways are some of the best in Europe and are well-maintained along with secondary roads. Roads and bridges are tolled, with bridges being quite expensive. Speed cameras are used on secondary roads. Some of the most spectacular parts of Sweden are only seen by car. Traffic is minimal outside of the cities, but beware of wildlife. They do have an excellent public transportation system. Please keep in mind this is a country with an enormous amount of cyclists, be very careful as they have the right of way. Headlights must always be on.
In Sweden, self-sufficiency and autonomy are all. Any debt, be it emotional, a favor, or cash, is to be avoided at all costs. The Swedes don’t even like to owe a round of drinks.
Sweden is a humanitarian-based culture. Quality of life and environmental issues are highly valued.
The Swedes are proud, hardworking, and honest people. They are generous by nature.
When arriving and leaving, greetings are usually a firm and quick handshake. Eye contact is brief, and smiling is not typical. Other than that, you will not see much physical contact, even among close friends. PDA is frowned upon.
Swedes like their personal space. It is best to stand a bit further apart during interactions and keep your body language and hand gestures to a minimum. Keep your emotions cool and calm. Swedes are quiet by nature, so speak in a subdued tone. They don’t like flashiness or people who brag.
Swedes avoid arguing over sensitive topics such as politics and religion, especially with visitors. If a discussion of this kind begins, a Swede may quickly end the conversation.
It is important to be prompt in Sweden. Being late reflects disrespect or lack of concern for others other than oneself.
Swedish dishes include meat, seafood, dairy products, bread, vegetables, and fruits. They love their coffee and dairy.
Swedish meatballs are a traditional dish in Sweden. They are served with gravy, boiled potatoes, and lingonberry jam.
You don’t take food home from restaurants in Sweden.
If you are lucky enough to be invited to someone’s home, it is expected to come bearing a gift. Flowers, liquor, wine, cake, or chocolates are appropriate gifts. You may also bring candy for the children.
Swedes adore their chocolates and sweets. Known for its sweet tooth, the country ranks globally as the fifth largest consumer of chocolates. The average Swede reportedly eats almost 15 pounds of chocolate yearly. Considering their one of the longest life expectancies, it doesn’t seem to do much harm.
Table manners are Continental — the fork is in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating. Use a knife and fork to eat all food, including sandwiches and pizza.
In restaurants, you draw the attention of your server with eye contact.
Music is central to Swedish culture. Seek out local musical events. Traditional fold instruments include accordion, fiddle, harmonicas, and clarinet.
Alcohol is costly because of taxes; about 60% go to the state. You won’t find many paying the rounds of drinks.
89% of Swedes speak English; excellent English is spoken everywhere.
It is a very safe country.

Sweden Essential Info

U.S. Consular Emergency
The 24-hour number from a U.S. Phone is 1-888-407-4747
Outside of U.S. 011-202-501-4444

U.S. Embassy Stockholm
Dag Hammarskjölds Väg 31,
SE-115 89 Stockholm, Sweden
Telephone: +(46) (8) 783-5300
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(46) (8) 783-5300
Fax: +(46) (8) 783-5480
Email: stkacsinfo@state.gov

Emergency Numbers
GENERAL 112

Country Code
+46

Time Zone
UTC+1

Driving
Right side

Adaptors
“Standard” Euro plug
Type C or F

Tourism Office
visitsweden.com

When to go to Sweden

Sweden is primarily temperate, even with its northern latitude. While Stockholm is warmer and milder, the mountains in the north are sub-Arctic. The north has a long, harsh winter lasting more than seven months, while the south has winter weather for only two months and summer for more than four months. It does rain, but not exceptionally so, but preparation is prudent.

While Sweden has so many wonders to offer visitors any time of year, the best time to visit is May through September, especially if you prefer warm weather. In these months, the days are longer, and its natural beauty is at its peak. Various outdoor events and activities include swimming at some of Sweden’s fantastic beaches. This includes many clothing-optional beaches if you are into that. The high season, summer, can be pretty expensive. If you hope to extend your travel dollar, aim for the shoulder season, April/May, and September/October. If you like winter sports, skiing, and dogsledding are highly attractive. Some are searching for those mind-blowing Northern lights.

Summer 45-82 °F (7-28 °C)
Spring 25-70 °F (4-21 °C)
5Fall 35-60 °F (2-16 °C)
Winter 8-42 °F (-13-6 °C)

Our Favorite Sweden Resources

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Travel Books/Guides

Sweden was part of our seven countries’ two-week trip. Sweden was a day trip from Denmark, so we did not even begin to give this amazing country justice. We have every intention to return as the little we did see tapped our thirst to explore more. In preparation for this trip only looked at two travel guides and only one map that included Denmark. We note these below.

Lonely Planet’s Sweden (Country Guide) by Lonely Planet

A passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice that all Sweden has to offer and what hidden discoveries await you. Visit the beautiful, stylish capital of Stockholm, the seaside cities of Sweden, or the Arctic wasteland. Let this beautifully illustrated guide be your travel partner. Great photography and lots of details to aid in planning. Discover this travel guide here.

Rick Steves Scandanavia by Rick Steves

We are huge Rick Steve fans; it will be rare not to recommend one of his wonderful guides. There is a guide dedicated to just Sweden, but you will still find a wealth of info on Sweden in this Scandinavian guide. We love his travel style and perspective. His off-the-beaten-path approach and his independent travel philosophy match well with how we travel. The guides never disappoint. This book made it into our suitcase and was a fantastic resource. Find this must-have guide here.

Our favorite Sweden websites

1. Sweden tourism site

2. U.S. Department of State: Bureau of Consular Affairs Sweden Country Info

We cannot encourage you enough to visit this website as you plan and prepare for your trip. This is the U.S. Federal Government addressing the safety, security, travel risk, entry, exit, visa documents mandates, emergency U.S. and Embassy contacts, health, local laws, special circumstances, threats, traveler vulnerabilities, government warnings, and transportation in Sweden. This is your best and most reliable resource for all this important info. Check back often before you go, as things can change quickly. Being prepared is essential in all travel, but especially internationally.

Sweden International Travel Information (state.gov)

3. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Travelers Health Resource

This CDC travel resource provides essential health info for your specific destination. Using their tool, you can determine which vaccines, medications, and health advice recommendations are needed for Sweden.

CDC’s Travelers Health Page for Sweden

Our favorite maps

Michelin Sweden Map 753

Renowned for over 100 years for their clear, accurate, and easy-to-read mapping. Michelin gives travelers an overall picture of their route, practical road and travel information, and city maps containing extensive street indexes. Major sites and landmarks are well-marked. Though we default to Google Maps, this came in handy when service was poor or during construction detours. Find this essential map here.

Our favorite apps

Google Maps Enter any address, landmark, or city in the app will instantly display all your travel options, and booking info, along with accommodation providers and things to do. It is especially fantastic when used for public transportation options, it is spot on. Find it on your local app store.

Rome2rio: Trip Planner Trip and Holiday Organizer Enter any address, landmark, or city; the app will instantly display all your travel options, booking info, accommodation providers, and things to do. Find it on your local app store.

Rick Steve’s Audio Europe This app includes a vast library of Rick Steve’s audio content. Get cultural and travel info. Includes self-guided tours of top attractions and historic walks. A must-have. Find it on your local app store.

Duolingo-Language Lesson Audio lessons that help improve your listening and speaking skills. Find it on your local app store.

Google Translate We often use this to practice the proper pronunciation of Swedish words. As we always encourage, learning the basics of greeting and thanking people in the local language is essential. Google Translate was an easy app to use. If needed, you can enter text in English, and it will speak back in Swedish to aid in communicating with locals. Furthermore, it came in very handy to translate text into images instantly.

Do you have a favorite Sweden travel resource? Share your favorites in the comments section at the bottom of this page or

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