sweden

Travel Guides:

General Info:

Entry Requirements: Sweden is part of the Schengen Agreement, so travelers from Schengen countries do not need a visa for short stays. Travelers coming from outside of Schengen should check the entry requirements based on nationality.

Fika: Our religion. You won't find a Swede that doesn't swear by fika. It's what we do every day, sometimes multiple times a day. Fika is referred to a social coffee break with some cookies or cake. You must try it when in Sweden and also implement it in your daily life!

Currency: The official currency is Swedish Krona(SEK). Cards are widely accepted. Many places don't take cash, so it is rarely used. I don't even know how our currency looks like.

Language: Swedish is the official language but English is widely spoken.

Safety: Sweden is a safe country, despite what media might tell you. Trust me, I am a local!

Climate: We, Swedes, love talking about the weather! That is why this will be the longest section:

The weather varies depending on the location. Northern Sweden tends to be cooler, reaching minus degrees every winter. No surprise as the Arctic Circle passes through Sweden. To compensate, we have the Northern Lights. And the Midnight Sun! 24 hours of daylight during summer, and 24 hours of darkness during winter. How cool is that?

Southern Sweden tends to be warmer, but the West Coast can be a bit gloomy and wetter. And we rarely get the Northern Lights in the South.

Best time to visit is the summer, as "summer is the best day of the year!". The Northern Lights season lasts from September to April, strongest activity tends to be in September/October - March. I recommend March as there will be a lot of snow which makes the whole experience much more magical. Worried about the cold? In Sweden we say "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing". So don't dress to impress, dress in layers.

Tap Water: Our water is the best! That is why all bottled water in the supermarket is just sparking water. Because the tap water is the best you can drink!

Transportation: Sweden is a very long country and while there is public transport to most places and you don't need a car in the cities, to get anywhere a bit more remote, you'll need a car. We do have somewhat working trains(often delayed between Stockholm and Gothenburg...). Keep in mind that our train prices are not fixed and they vary the same way an airfare varies!

Alcohol - Alcohol is strictly regulated by government monopoly and alcohol stronger than 3,5% can only be bought in the state-owned shops called Systembolaget. These shops have limited working hours and are closed on Sundays or public holidays. The beer found in supermarket is light beer up to 3,5%. The age limit of buying from Systembolaget is 20 years. Drunk-driving is not tolerated as the allowed percentage is 0,02%.