Guide to Sweden

Sweden (Swedish: Sverige) is the largest of the Nordic countries by area and population. Visitors can experience deep forests and many lakes, the heritage from the Viking Age and the 17th-century Swedish Empire, the glamour of the Nobel Prize, and the country's successful pop music scene. Sweden has 270,000 islands with many open to visit through the right to roam.

The three traditional lands of Sweden, Götaland, Svealand and Norrland, are further divided into 25 provinces (landskap), which largely define Swedish people's cultural identity.

The provinces mostly coincide with the 21 counties (län), the mid-level political entities. The 290 municipalities (kommun), are the bottom-level political entities, typically consisting of a town or a city, and the surrounding countryside, including small villages. Some municipalities used to hold city (stad) privileges, and still style themselves as such, though there is no legal distinction. Most municipalities have their own visitor centre.

• Stockholm is Sweden's capital and largest city, spread out over several islands.
• Gothenburg (Swedish: Göteborg) is Sweden's largest port and industrial centre, second in population.
• Karlskrona is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as the base for Sweden's navy since the 17th century.
• Linköping has a large university, and is the birthplace of Sweden's aviation industry.
• Lund is a lively pretty university city with a Viking Age heritage.
• Malmö, with a quarter million inhabitants, is connected to the Danish capital Copenhagen by the Öresund Bridge.
• Umeå is the largest city in Norrland, known for its silver birches and university.
• Uppsala, once the centre of Viking era Sweden, is home to the largest cathedral and oldest university in the Nordic countries.
• Visby is the only city on the Gotland island, a Hanseatic League centre of commerce with an impressive city wall.

• Bergslagen is the traditional heartland of Swedish metallurgy and mining.
• Ekerö is a freshwater archipelago with the Royal family's residence Drottningholm, and Viking Age settlement Birka.
• High Coast (Swedish: Höga kusten) is the most scenic area along the Norrland coast.
• Kiruna Municipality (Sami: Giron) at Sweden's northernmost edge is known for a large mine, a space flight centre, the Jukkasjärvi ice hotel and Abisko national park.
• Laponia is Western Europe's largest wilderness, in the Arctic.
• Siljansbygden is an archetype of Swedish folk culture in central Dalarna.
• Stockholm archipelago (Swedish: Stockholms skärgård) consists of islands all shapes and sizes.
• Åre is one of Sweden's largest ski resorts, with 44 lifts.
• Öland is Sweden's second largest island, with long beaches.

The "Nordic model" of economics and social policy was largely developed by Swedish social democrats and liberals during the early 20th century. The foundation is a strong welfare state, combined with market economics. Swedish society, as it has become through this policy, is often described as "folkhemmet", comparing solidarity in the society with that in a family:

The Home's foundation is community and unity. The good Home knows no privileged or expelled ones, no favourites or step-children. There, no one looks down on one another. There, no one tries to get an advantage at another's cost, the strong does not oppress or plunder the weak.

Per Albin Hansson, Social Democratic Prime Minister 1932—1946.

History

In ancient times, Sweden was inhabited by the Suiones (svear) in Svealand and the Geats (götar) in Götaland. Some of these participated in Viking expeditions (see Vikings and the Old Norse), and are said to have founded the first kingdoms in Russia. Written sources from the Viking Age are few and short.

Around AD 1000, Christianity replaced Norse paganism, Suiones and Geats united under one king (probably Olof Skötkonung), and the first cities were founded; among them Sigtuna, Uppsala and Skara. With Christianity came written chronicles and stone architecture, which have provided the afterworld with better historical detail than earlier remnants. Swedish kings Christianized and annexed Finland. During the 14th and 15th century, Sweden was a subject of the Kalmar Union with Norway and Denmark. Gustav Vasa liberated Sweden from Danish rule, was elected king in 1523, and is regarded the founder of modern Sweden. He also reformed the church to Lutheran-Protestant. Today, the monarch is still constitutionally required to be a Lutheran, though contemporary Swedish society is largely secular, with only a minority of Swedes going to church regularly.

During the 17th century Sweden rose as a Great Power, through several successful wars (such as the Thirty Years' War), where kings such as Gustavus Adolphus and Charles X annexed Scania, Halland and Bohuslän from Denmark, as well as temporary possessions in the Baltic countries and northern Germany. In the early 18th century, an alliance of Denmark, Poland and the Russian Empire defeated Swedish king Charles XII, marking the end of the Swedish Empire. In 1809, Sweden was again defeated by Russia, which annexed Finland. During the 19th century, more than 1 million Swedish people emigrated to North America. Sweden is a monarchy by constitution, but King Carl XVI Gustaf has no executive power.

Sweden is a developed post-industrial society with an advanced welfare state. The standard of living and life expectancy rank among the highest in the world. Sweden joined the European Union in 1995, but decided by a referendum in 2003 not to commit to the European Monetary Union and the euro currency. Sweden has a strong tradition of being an open, yet discreet country. Citizens sometimes appear to be quite reserved at first, but once they get to know who they are dealing with, they'll be as warm and friendly as you'd wish. Privacy is regarded as a key item and many visitors, for example mega-stars in various lines of trade, have many times realized that they can mostly walk the streets of the cities virtually undisturbed.

Sweden houses the Nobel Prize committee for all the prizes except the peace prize, which is hosted in Oslo, a memento of the Swedish-Norwegian union that was dissolved in 1905.

In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Sweden abandoned its longstanding policy of neutrality and joined NATO in 2024.

The year in Sweden

Swedish summer is the most beautiful day of the year.

Swedish joke

The weather in Sweden is typically cool or cold from October to April, but in the summer (late May to early September) temperatures lie around 20 °C. If you like snow, go to Norrland or Dalarna in January to April. In Sweden there are no earthquakes or volcanoes to be worried about. There are seasonal storms though, mostly in the early spring and in the autumn. Occasional heavy rainfall makes the many rivers swell and in some cases causes flooding. During dry summers counties may issue warnings or even bans on the use of open fire.

Daylight varies greatly during the year. In Stockholm, the sun sets at 15:00 in December. In June and July, however, summer nights exist only in the form of prolonged twilight. North of the Arctic Circle one can experience the midnight sun around Midsummer and the Arctic night in midwinter.

The major holidays are Easter (påsk), National Day of Sweden or Swedish Flag Day (nationaldagen or svenska flaggans dag, June 6), Midsummer (midsommar, celebrated from the eve of the Friday between June 19–25), Christmas (jul, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day are all considered holidays). Christmas lasts at least until Epiphany (Trettondedag jul - Thirteenth day after Christmas) on January 6, which is an official holiday. Most celebration happens on the day before the holiday proper: Midsummer's Eve, Christmas Eve, etc. Expect everything to be closed in the countryside during the National Day and Midsummer.

There are three periods of the year when Swedes traditionally have their vacations. To avoid fully booked venues, heavy traffic and crowded tourist resorts in the summer, you should either book in time or stay clear of July and the first two weeks of August. These six weeks are weather-wise usually the most enjoyable for a summer vacation in all of Sweden. Winter vacation (sportlov) is usually a week in February or March depending on when kids have time off from school. This time of year is high season for tourism in all of Lappland, Dalarna and some winter resorts in Southern Sweden. Autumn vacation (höstlov) is a week around the end of October and the beginning of November. This period has become a time of reading and reflection, so people tend to stay at home getting used to the dark winter evenings.

Electricity and utilities

Sweden uses 230 V 50 Hz electricity with the F/Schuko outlets (compatible with the euro plug). Supply is reliable, though the countryside might have blackouts during severe storms. Electricity is available everywhere except at the most remote cabins.

Tourist information

Swedish (svenska) is the national language of Sweden. It is closely related to Danish and Norwegian, and mutually intelligible with those languages to a certain degree — especially in written form. While Finnish (the largest minority language) as well as the less spoken Sami, Meänkeäli, Yiddish and Romani languages are officially recognized, practically everyone born in Sweden speaks Swedish. Regardless of what your native tongue is, Swedes appreciate an attempt to speak Swedish, and beginning conversations in Swedish, no matter how rudimentary your level is, will help to ingratiate you to locals.

English is widely spoken in Sweden, and most younger adults have near native proficiency. If you're trying to speak Swedish and it does not sound native, do not be surprised if locals respond in English. Do not take this personally; they are not trying to be rude, but just trying to make communication less awkward. In case your English is also rudimentary you can expect the communication to end or the locals trying to find someone that can help them to communicate.

Hej (hey) is the massively dominant greeting in Sweden, useful on kings and bums alike. You can even say it when you leave. The Swedes most often do not say "please" (snälla say SNELL-la), instead they are generous with the word tack (tuck), meaning "thanks". If you need to get someone's attention, whether it's a waiter or you need to pass someone one in a crowded situation, a simple "ursäkta" (say "OR-sek-ta") ("excuse me") will do the trick. You will find yourself pressed to overuse it, and you sometimes see people almost chanting it as a mantra when trying to exit a crowded place like a bus or train.

Some things get English names that do not correspond to the original English word, such as light, which is used for low-calorie products, and freestyle, which means "walkman".

Sweden uses the metric system. Two units may be confusing: Swedish miles, mil (10 km), are commonly used in spoken language for distances such as between cities (if you hear 'mile', make sure it indeed refers to international miles), and some food items are sold by the hectogram (100 g). For dates, the ISO 8601 standard (yyyy-mm-dd) is in wide use, in parallel with the more traditional d/m yyyy and dd.mm.yyyy. The decimal separator in Swedish is the comma, thus 1.000 is a thousand and 1,000 is one, and Swedish uses the long scale, thus en biljon is a trillion, not a billion (which is en miljard).

Foreign television programmes and films are almost always shown in their original language with Swedish subtitles, with only children's programmes dubbed into Swedish.

Entry requirements

Sweden is a member of the Schengen Agreement. See Travelling around the Schengen Area for more information on how the scheme works, what countries are members and what the requirements are for your nationality. Normal visas granted by any Schengen member are valid in all countries that have signed and implemented the treaty (with exceptions for some overseas territories). The granting country may offer additional rights (such as longer stays or right to work) that apply only locally. Nordic citizens can stay indefinitely regardless of the purpose of their stay.

There are normally no immigration controls between countries that have signed and implemented the treaty; there may be such controls temporarily, as circumstances change. Operators may carry out identity checks before passengers board international flights, ferries or trains, even between Schengen countries.

Citizens of EEA countries (All 27 EU member states plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway) and Switzerland do not need visas to travel in the Schengen area, and may stay up to 90 days with no requirements other than having a valid ID card or passport. See European Union.

Visitors coming in from other Schengen countries can usually enter Sweden without any inspections, in a land vehicle, on foot, or by boat, as long as they do not carry goods to declare. The ferries from Finland may however want to check your ID (which should state your nationality) – and there are usually "temporary" border controls when coming from Denmark.

Restricted goods include but are not limited to cash (€10,000 and more), pets, firearms, as well as wholesale commodities. These must be declared at a toll station. The Swedish Customs (Tull) is a law enforcement agency, which is entitled to arrest people using due force.

If you use ferries with duty-free shopping (those via Åland), there are customs checks even if you don't leave the EU. If you carry more tobacco or alcohol than may be imported freely, make sure you have evidence (such as the receipt) that you have already paid the taxes in an EU country. Also note that exporting snus from Sweden to other EU countries is restricted.

By plane

For arrival and departure times, and for lots of other information about flights and airports in Sweden, visit Luftfartsverket (Swedish Airports and Air Navigation Services).

Most airports can be reached by the airport coaches of Flygbussarna for around 70–120 kr, but some are well served also by normal public transport.

Major airports:

• Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) is Sweden's main airport, 40 km from the centre of Stockholm, with flights departing from all over Europe, but also from North America, the Middle East, China, Japan, Thailand, and Ethiopia. It is a base for flag carrier Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) but also for Norwegian Air Shuttle, and Ryanair.
• Göteborg Landvetter (GOT), 25 km from Gothenburg in southern Sweden, has flights from most major European airports.
• Copenhagen Airport (CPH), on an island between Copenhagen and Malmö, is Scandinavia's largest air hub, served by most major airlines, and the main hub for SAS Scandinavian Airlines. Direct rail line from the airport to southern Sweden allows it to serve most of the region conveniently.
• Oslo Airport, Gardermoen (OSL) in Norway can be considered for destinations in western Sweden, especially to Värmland.

Smaller airports:

• Stockholm Skavsta (NYO) is mainly served by budget airlines like Ryanair and Wizzair, with many connections to Europe, especially the Balkans. In Nyköping, quite a distance (about 100 km) from Stockholm.
• Stockholm Bromma (BMA), 6 km west of central Stockholm, has been under threat of closure for many years and, as of 2025, few flights remain.
• Stockholm Västerås (VST) — international flights from Copenhagen and London. Also about 100 km from Stockholm.
• Malmö-Sturup (MMX) — serves domestic flights and low fares flights. It's about 30 km from Malmö.
• Jönköping Airport (JKG) connects to Stockholm, Visby, Frankfurt and destinations in southern Europe.

By train

You can reach Sweden by train from neighbouring countries, and some more distant ones:

• Denmark: Trains depart Copenhagen and Copenhagen's airport for Malmö every 20 minutes, and cost only about 100 Swedish kronor ("Öresundståg / Øresundstog" regional trains). The train goes over the magnificent Öresund Bridge to get to Sweden in less than 30 minutes. Furthermore direct trains (SJ) leave from Copenhagen to Stockholm. Tickets are purchased in machines, or for SJ also on the web. Danish Rejsekort can also be used if your destination is one of the three stops in Malmö. Be aware that the two operators do not recognize each other's tickets. The Helsingør-Helsingborg connection, known as one of the busiest ferry routes in Europe, might also be used (local trains from Copenhagen, change to ship).
• Finland: The Torneå/Muonionjoki river valley has seasonal train service on the Finnish side (up to Kolari, by Pajala). From the station in Tornio the station in Haparanda is within easy reach. There are no direct train connections, as Finland and Sweden use different rail gauges. Haparanda has some trains, but you can also take the bus to Luleå or Boden, with night train connection to Stockholm. Interrail tickets are valid on that bus, otherwise tickets are purchased from the driver. Off season you can use the year-round daily connections to Kemi, with bus to Tornio.
• Norway: Main connections between Oslo and Stockholm and Gothenburg as well as connections on the lines Trondheim–Åre–Östersund and Narvik–Kiruna–Boden–Stockholm. The railway service between Oslo and Gothenburg sees seasonal service to Malmö.
• Germany: Direct overnight trains run daily from Berlin to Stockholm via Hamburg and Malmö, operated by SJ, along with a competing service operated by Snälltåget. The latter service is extended to Dresden on select dates, but does not run in the winter. There are also several trains per day from Hamburg to Copenhagen, just across the Öresund strait from Malmö.
• Austria: Weekly overnight trains are offered winter and summer from Austrian ski resorts via Hamburg and Munich to Malmö, operated by Snälltåget.

By bus

From western and central Europe via Copenhagen by Flixbus or Nettbuss.

Buses from and to the Western Balkans are also operated by Toptourist . Call + 46 (0 ) 42 18 29 84 for more information.

There are buses from Tornio in Finland, and, e.g., from Oslo, Bodø and Mo i Rana in Norway.

By car

From Norway and northern Finland there are many border crossings. Norway is not part of EU, so visit customs. Nearly all the ferries to Sweden take cars.

From Germany, a car ferry is needed when going directly to Sweden or via the Jutland peninsula in Denmark. See how to get in by boat.

The exception to the rule is to take the Great Belt Bridge in combination with the Öresund Bridge as a ferry-free drive via Denmark to Sweden (Autobahn 7 to the Danish border — Motorway E45 to Kolding — Motorway E20 to Malmö, Sweden). This is however a 170-km detour, and the bridges have heavy tolls. Going via the Danish isles to Sweden is also possible (Autobahn 1 to Puttgarden — Scandlines car ferry to Rødby — Motorway E47 to Helsingør — Scandlines car ferry to Helsingborg, Sweden) or a combination of the two routes switching from E20 to E47 or vice versa on Zealand.

Before you decide on the route, do check out the prices on the ferries going directly from Germany to Sweden, since they can be much cheaper.

By boat

Before the Öresund Bridge was opened in July 2000, the Scandinavian peninsula could only be reached by boat, unless going very far north. Still, boat traffic is very important to Sweden.

Belgium

• From Ghent to Gothenburg by DFDS Torline (cargo line with limited passenger capacity)

Denmark

• From Grenå to Halmstad by Stena Line.
• From Frederikshavn to Gothenburg by Stena Line.
• From Helsingør to Helsingborg by Scandlines and Sundsbusserne. The latter does not take motorised vehicles.

Estonia

• From Tallinn to Stockholm (via Helsinki) by Viking Line.
• From Tallinn to Stockholm (direct connection) by Tallink.

Finland

• From Helsinki to Stockholm (via Åland) by Tallink Silja and Viking Line.
• From Naantali to Kapellskär by Finnlines.
• From Turku to Stockholm (via Åland) by Tallink Silja and Viking Line.
• From Vaasa to Umeå by Wasaline.

Latvia

• From Riga to Stockholm by Tallink (temporarily suspended).
• From Ventspils to Nynäshamn by Stena Line.

Lithuania

• From Klaipėda to Karlshamn by DFDS Seaways.
• From Klaipėda to Karlshamn and Trelleborg by TT-Line.

Germany

• From Travemünde to Trelleborg by TT-Line.
• From Travemünde to Malmö by Finnlines.
• From Kiel to Gothenburg by Stena Line.
• From Rostock to Trelleborg by Scandlines and TT-Line.
• Via Denmark
• From Puttgarden to Rødby in Denmark by Scandlines. Continue via the Helsingør to Helsingborg ferry, or the bridge to Malmö.
• From Rostock to Gedser in Denmark by Scandlines. Continue via the Helsingør to Helsingborg ferry, or the bridge to Malmö.

Norway

• From Sandefjord to Strömstad by Color Line

Poland

• From Gdańsk to Nynäshamn by Polferries.
• From Gdańsk to Visby by Polferries.
• From Gdynia to Karlskrona by Stena Line.
• From Świnoujście to Ystad by Polferries.

Russia

• From Saint Petersburg to Stockholm by St. Peter Line.

The ancient right to access (allemansrätten) grants everybody a right to move freely on most land on foot, swimming, by horse, by ski, by bicycle or by boat, even on privately owned property – but not through private yards. With the right comes an obligation to respect the privacy of people and the integrity of nature. It is important to understand the limitations.

By plane

Domestic flights are mainly for travellers with more money than time, and for the vast distances of Norrland. There are low-price tickets, but they must be bought well in advance.

The most important domestic airlines:

• SAS — the international airline, and flag carrier, has many domestic routes as well.
• Norwegian — several domestic and international destinations.
• BRA — several regional flights to most domestic airports.
• Amapola — several domestic routes and also flights to Norway.

By train

Sweden has an extensive railway network. Most long-range lines are operated by the government-owned company SJ. To buy a railway ticket, or to obtain information, call [tel:+46771757575 +46 771 75 75 75], check their website, or download their mobile app. VR also operates several trains between Gothenburg and Stockholm. Because point-to-point tickets are quite expensive, for more train journeys, a (single-country) Interrail pass may be cheaper. Tickets bought online in advance are usually cheaper, at the expense of flexibility. Students (ISIC Card required) or travellers under 25 benefit from reduced prices and special last-minute tickets (ca 20% reduction) that go live 24 hours before the trip.

The national public transport carriers operate an alliance service called Resplus for multiple-leg travel. See Resrobot for an interactive journey planner.

Regional public transport typically has a carrier per county. For instance, when travelling regionally in the province of Scania (Skåne in Swedish), one should refer to Skånetrafiken. For travelling in the region of Mälardalen (the "Lake Mälaren Valley"), you can check all train and bus operators at Trafik i Mälardalen. This regional traffic cooperation includes many of Sweden's major cities, such as Stockholm, Uppsala, Västerås, Linköping, Norrköping, Örebro and Eskilstuna.

By bus

Flixbus and Nettbuss runs a number of bus lines in the southern third of the country, Götaland and Svealand. They tend to cost less than going by train, if you can't take advantage of SJ's youth discounts. Y-buss , tapanis, and Härjedalingen operate between Stockholm and Norrland.

Flixbus also operates from Stockholm and Göteborg to Oslo. At the county or län level, buses are a good method for travelling short distances from town to town, as they are more frequent and cheaper than trains. It is best to check with the local transportation authority for routes and schedules.

• Bus4You is a high-comfort carrier.

City buses

City buses are operated by the counties' public-transport companies.

If you plan to use city buses, check out the local arrangements for how to obtain tickets. In many Swedish cities it is not possible to buy tickets for the city buses at the bus. In this case neither cash nor bank or credit cards are accepted. Instead you need an electronic bus card, a special card for each region, that sometimes also has to be filled with a minimum amount of money, typically 100 kr. This bus card can sometimes be obtained only at dedicated ticket offices, not at the bus, but can often be filled with money for travel at local shops or refill machines that are found at public places.

On long distance buses, passengers can normally buy tickets from the driver.

By car

See also: Driving in Sweden and Winter driving

Svealand and Götaland can be crossed by car within a day, but distances in Norrland tend to be larger, and settlements can be tens of kilometres apart. When available, air or rail travel are often faster. Travelling by night can be dangerous due to wild animals on the roads, and the cold nights during the winter. See E4 through Sweden and E6 through Sweden and Norway for two of the main highways. While traffic is less aggressive than in Denmark or Central Europe, traffic jams are common around Stockholm and Gothenburg.

Car crash rates in Sweden are among the lowest in Europe. Wearing a seatbelt is mandatory for everyone in the car. Driving tired is illegal and is treated the same way as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Animal collisions with moose, deer and boar are a major danger; these animals are commonly on the road, especially around dawn and dusk. The moose is a big and heavy animal (up to 700 kg and 2.1 m shoulder height) so a collision can be lethal.

Drunk driving is a serious crime, the laws are strictly enforced, and the punishments are harsh by international standards. The legal limit of 0.02% is lower than in most other Western countries and as little as one beer may put you over the limit. Violations carry a hefty fine and/or a prison sentence of up to 6 months, while serious violations of 0.1% and higher carry a guaranteed prison sentence of up to 2 years. Be sure to either bring a designated driver, take a taxi or make use of public transport if you plan on drinking. The Stockholm port at Frihamnen has alcogates: an automated breathalyzer which reports drunk drivers to police.

Scenic routes

Sweden has a small but growing network of designated scenic routes, they are often minor roads with limited traffic and speeds not exceeding 80 km/h.

By ferry

Road ferries (ferries that constitute part of public roads) are yellow, run by Färjerederiet. An online map service showing all available road ferries and their daily schedule can be found on Trafikverket's website.

The Swedish archipelagoes have boat services provided by the local county transport authority, in Swedish called skärgårdstrafik.

• Destination Gotland runs domestic ferry lines from Nynäshamn and Oskarshamn to Visby, Gotland.
• Ölandsfärjan runs a domestic ferry line in the summer season (mid-June to mid-August) between Oskarshamn and Byxelkrok on Öland.
• Ventrafiken runs a domestic ferry line between Landskrona and Ven in Scania.

By taxi

Taxis are generally comfortable and, in the larger cities, easy to find. Check the price info on the rear window before entering, and do use the seat belt. If you are travelling with a toddler call in advance to get a cab with a proper child seat, or the driver may refuse you. Outside the bigger cities it makes sense to note the contact information of one or a few companies with decent pricing and enough presence in the city you are visiting. Officially registered taxis can be recognized by the vehicle registration plate with black text on a yellow background, whereas ordinary cars have registration plates with a white background.

By thumb

Sweden has a reputation for being a pretty difficult country to hitch in, though it's still quite possible to hitch-hike. Ordinary people are often reluctant to pick up strangers. However, given a location with sufficiently much traffic, you will often find the one or other helpful driver.

Bus stops are common places to attract attention, position yourself before the actual bus stop so the vehicle can stop at the stop. This works best if the road is widened at the bus stop, allowing cars to pull off easily. Also the beginning of motorway or major road ramps is a good location, or right after a junction. Avoid any location where cars are able to drive 80 km/h and above (even if it's a bus stop), or where there is no space for cars to stop.

Unless for shorter trips, you will want to avoid minor side roads. While you can find rides there, they are often just 30-50 km, and it will take ages to arrive. Motorways and major roads is the best way forward. Note, pedestrians are prohibited from accessing motorways.

Truck drivers are probably likely to pick up hitch-hikers, so ask at gas stations — anywhere else they will have a hard time to stop.

Look polite, friendly and trustworthy (see clothes), try to catch the drivers eyes and have a smile on your lips even if cars don't stop — in the end it is a social game.

By bicycle

Most Swedish cities have excellent bicycle paths, and renting a bike can be a quick and healthy method of getting around locally. Some cities have bikes for borrowing. Inter-city cycling is a good option for the experienced cyclist. While cycling is not allowed on motorways, most of them have a parallel old road without the heavy traffic.

Note that most long-distance trains don't take bikes. A foldable bike or combining regional trains may be viable although cumbersome options.

On foot

Cars are by law required to stop at any unattended crosswalks (zebra stripes in the road without red-lights) to let pedestrians cross the road. But keep in mind that you are required to make eye contact with the driver so that they know that you are about to cross the street.

As modern as its society is, Sweden is a country full of seemingly untouched nature and ever-present history. The first stop for many visitors is historic and compact Stockholm, full of heritage, home to the Vasa Museum and gateway to the Stockholm Archipelago. There's the canals and cobblestoned streets of Gothenburg, with its famous botanical garden, or the modern architecture of Malmö. For more history, head to the port town of Visby, a recognized Unesco World Heritage Site, or the medieval town of Ystad, famous through the Kurt Wallander novels that are set here and for Ales stenar, one of the ancient iron-age burial monuments in the country.

Palaces

Sweden has more palaces and castles (slott) and manors (herrgård) than other Nordic countries. Eleven of them belong to the Swedish monarchy; most of them are open to the public. Stockholm Palace (Stockholm/Gamla Stan), Rosendal (Stockholm/Djurgården), Haga, Gustav III:s pavilion and Ulriksdal (Solna), Drottningholm and Kina (Ekerö), Tullgarn (Södertälje) and Rosersberg (Sigtuna) are within greater Stockholm. Gripsholm (Mariefred) and Strömsholm (Hallstahammar) are further away. The farmland areas are full of noble and bourgeois manors from the 17th century and onwards; many of them are used as hotels today.

Industrial heritage

While the Bergslagen district, Roslagen and other parts of Sweden became world-leading in mining and metalworking during the 17th century, the full industrialization of Sweden lagged behind the rest of Europe until the 20th century, when Swedish product brands such as Volvo, Ericsson, SAAB, SKF, AGA, IKEA, Tetra Pak and Atlas Copco conquered the world. During the last decades, most of the Swedish workforce has moved on to high technology and the service sector, converting many of the mines, factories and waterways to museums. Among industrial heritage sites are Göta Kanal from the Baltic Sea to the Atlantic, the copper mine in Falun, and the Nobel Museum in Stockholm.

Folk culture

Swedish folk culture includes folk music and dance (see Nordic music), folk costumes, folk art, handicraft (slöjd, hemslöjd) and traditional farming. Local identity used to be based on the socken (parish) and the province (landskap). With the 19th century industrialization and urbanization, folk culture had to be preserved, and today survives through different institutions. Most provinces have an open-air museum with buildings, workshops and sometimes livestock and wild animals on display; the oldest one being Skansen in Stockholm. Hembygdsförening is an organization for local folk culture, usually based on an old farm, hembygdsgård. Among traditional farming methods, the fäbod, a seasonally used livestock shed, can be found in particular in Dalarna, Värmland and Norrland. Folkets hus och parker is a cooperative for local community centres; bygdegård is a rural community centre.

Nature

Sweden's landscape includes dense forests to crystal clear lakes, waterfalls and rolling mountains, with opportunities to see Eurasian wildlife.

In total, Sweden has 29 national parks. The stunning but rugged wilderness of Sarek National Park, called "Europe's last wilderness" by some, is a challenging but highly rewarding area to explore. It was the first of a list of 29 established national parks and is part of the vast and Unesco protected terrains of Laponia, together with the national parks Padjelanta, Stora Sjöfallet (with its snowy peaks) and the taiga and ravines of Muddus National Park. Set out to spot elk/moose, wolverines and more Swedish wildlife or visit in winter for a chance to see the magical Northern Lights. Kosterhavet maritime park is the place to go for lobster or seal safaris.

During the summer Kungsleden in northern Sweden attracts lots of visitors who enjoy a solitary hike between cabins or camp sites in the beautiful mountains. The Swedish Right to access gives anyone the right to walk over other's land, as long as you do not destroy nor disturb it. This means that you can go sailing or canoeing and put up a camp on islands in the Stockholm Archipelago, you can go hiking and put up a camp almost wherever you want, however it is illegal to make a campfire on a rock surface. Sceneries of nature, less populated than most of Europe. Ice and snow during winter. The west coast has plenty of small towns like Marstrand, Skärhamn, Mollösund and Lysekil that are worth exploring with their distinct architecture and cuisine, best experienced during summer.

Some outdoor life opportunities are winter sport, hiking, canoeing, sailing, horse riding and berry- or mushroom-picking depending on season. The ultimate test of aerobic fitness is the Swedish Classic Circuit; four annual races of cross-country skiing (Vasaloppet, from Sälen to Mora), running (Lidingöloppet), cycling (Vätternrundan starting from Motala) and swimming (Vansbrosimningen).

Football in Sweden is a summer game. The men's national team play at Strawberry Arena in the Solna district of Stockholm. 16 clubs play in Allsvenskan and 16 in Superettan. The women's national team play at Gamla Ullevi in Gothenburg; 14 women's clubs play in Damallsvenskan.

Boating in Sweden can be done on a sailing boat, a motor boat, or a canoe.

Diving in Sweden is challenging because of the cold waters. Still, the Baltic Sea is full of well-preserved shipwrecks.

If you want to document your experiences in Sweden with an unmanned aerial vehicle (a drone), there are some regulations you need to adhere to. The open category of flying drones does not require certification or a permit. The basic restrictions for the open category is: You are not allowed to fly out of sight, no higher than 120 meters, nor in a way that poses a risk to other aircraft, people, animals, the environment or property. Drones are also not allowed to weigh more than 25 kg. For more information see the Transportstyrelsen website.

Sweden is rich on mineral deposits and ancient cultural artifacts. If you intend to bring a metal detector you need a permit from the county board (Länsstyrelsen) of the county you want to visit. You also need a permit from the landowner since the freedom to roam does not include the use of metal detectors. For more information see the Swedish National Heritage Board's website.

City life

Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö have great nightlife and shopping opportunities, while far from the cheapest places in Europe.

Gambling in Sweden is offered by the state (Svenska Spel), and a few privileged organizations.

Horse racing is a pastime in many Swedish cities. The most widespread class is harness racing, trav, with race tracks in many towns. Bookmaking is operated through ATG with on-line agents at the tracks, and in most towns. Several bars and restaurants have gambling tables and slot machines.

Music

Swedish popular music is world-famous, with names such as ABBA, Roxette, Swedish House Mafia and others. Sweden hosts dozens of music festivals with international acts, as well as stars-to-be, most of them during summer. Sweden Rock Festival (Sölvesborg) and Way Out West (Gothenburg) to mention only two. There are also several festivals for folk, classical and jazz music.

Live concerts, music galas, DJs and music shows organized during Christmas events.

Choir (kör) music is big in Sweden, with regular performances even in smaller towns, not least the weeks before Christmas.

Dansband (a type of dance orchestras) music is popular, and is performed live at social dancing venues such as dance pavilions (often in what is called a "folkpark"), community centres and some dance restaurants. While disco may be popular in cities, these venues provide a more traditional way to get together. Most dancing nights the music played suites the smooth Swedish swing dance bugg, which together with foxtrot and one-step is the dance most commonly danced there. Some nights there is gammeldans, when older ballroom dances are played and danced, such as waltz, schottische, polka, mazurka, perhaps snoa, and sometimes also foxtrot and tango. Some of the dansband have also these genres in their repertoire (sometimes with a modern touch), others don't. The culture at dance pavilions is generally a bit less formal than in Finland: there may be no well-established rules on asking people to dance or on how many dances to dance at a time with the same partner.

Money

The national currency is the Swedish krona (plural,: kronor), denoted by the abbreviation "kr" (ISO code: SEK). Swedes may call the currency "crowns" when speaking English. Don't confuse it with the Norwegian krone, Danish krone, Icelandic króna, nor the Czech koruna.

One krona equals 100 öre, but 1 krona is today the smallest coin. Ören remain in use only in electronic transactions; when payment is done in cash, prices are rounded to the nearest full krona.

Coins of Sweden are produced in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10 kronor. Banknotes of Sweden are issued in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 kronor.

Sweden is notorious for invalidating old money, so don't save any for future visits. Banknotes and coins older than 2017 are no longer valid, except for the latest type of the 10 kronor coin (year 1991 to 2009). Invalid banknotes can be redeemed only via the Swedish National Bank. You might be able to exchange old Swedish currency for a foreign one that you will need (such as euro) – the exchange bureau will then do the visit to the national bank. Counterfeit Swedish money is very rare, and you are very unlikely to receive already obsolete money.

Don't expect stores to accept foreign currency, apart from close to the borders, where usually only the neighbour currency is accepted (i.e. Danish krone, Norwegian krone or euro). Larger stores in Stockholm and at larger airports and railway stations often accept payment in Euro, typically at unfavourable rates.

Money exchange is best done at companies that have specialized in this, since many commercial banks are cashless on foreign currency. Forex has branches all over most of Sweden, but they may be expensive. X-change has branches in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. Tavex has branches in and around Stockholm.

That said, Sweden is one of the world's most cashless countries and a card-centric country. There are a lot of automated vending machines that only accept payment cards, and businesses that don't accept cash at all, or where paying with cash is complicated, are common. Electronic payments with credit cards and debit cards (kontokort, bankkort) are very common, as is the Swedish payment app Swish. It is entirely possible to live one's life in Sweden without ever using cash or seeing cash except in a museum – and as a foreigner you will need cash mostly where Swedes would use Swish. Actually, getting rid of your cash may require some effort.

Tickets for transport, events and attractions can often be bought online (on the web or by dedicated app), using a payment card, avoiding the need to buy them on-site, and without having to print the tickets on paper – just make sure that your phone doesn't go flat, and that you can show the ticket even if the local network is oversaturated (perhaps through a screenshot).

Card

Most stores, restaurants and bars accept all major credit cards. You might need an ID card or a passport when shopping with a credit card, though not in supermarkets and such where the PIN code is king. PIN-pads are widely used instead of signatures (even for credit cards), so make sure to get a PIN for your card and to memorise it. If you don't have a credit card, you can buy a Paygoo Mastercard gift card (from 200 SEK+35 SEK activation fee) at any Pressbyrån or 7-Eleven outlet, found at major airports, train stations, and coach stations; it will be accepted in the same way as any other MasterCard in most places. Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay are accepted for payments with credit cards and debit cards where you see a contactless icon on the reader.

The domestic payment smartphone app Swish is commonly used, but it requires a Swedish bank account. If you travel through the countryside, some small vendors like cafés, gift shops, farm shops (gårdsbutik), and antiques shops offer only Swish or cash as payment options. To be prepared, you might want to withdraw a smaller amount of cash at an ATM.

ATMs

The most used Swedish word for automated teller machine is Bankomat, although this is a trademark of the Trade Bank Consortium, much like the term cash point in the United Kingdom, and therefore not used by several banks. A more generic word would be Uttagsautomat; Uttag, Minuten and Kontanten are other trademarks that have become part of normal speech. Nearly all machines regardless of operator will accept the MasterCard, Maestro, Visa, Visa Electron and American Express. You can withdraw up to 10,000 SEK per use. During a seven-day period you can withdraw a maximum of 20,000 SEK.

You have three attempts to enter the correct PIN code. If you fail a third time, the machine retains the card and closing it. In order to facilitate the visually impaired have the keys on the machines equipped with Braille. You may have spoken guidance, press the TALK button. In some ATMs you can withdraw euros if you have a card issued by a Swedish bank. You may take up the maximum per use. You can make multiple withdrawals after the other but a maximum 20,000 SEK per week applies.

Tipping

Tipping, known as dricks in Swedish, is not customary in Sweden, but sometimes a tip is left as a sign of appreciation for good service, usually by rounding up the bill but truly exceptional service may be rewarded with a tip of 5–10%. Tipping is strictly voluntary and should be given only as a token of real appreciation for the service. Be aware that the tips will most often be split between the waiters and the kitchen. Taxi drivers do not expect tips, any extra service (such as carrying bags) will be listed on the receipt according to rate. The only area where tipping might be expected are walking tours advertised as "free", which are common in cities that are quite walkable. Bar entertainers such as musicians and comedians might request a voluntary tip instead of a cover charge.

Costs

Sweden is a rather expensive country to live in, though still somewhat cheaper than Norway and Denmark; many Norwegians living near the border drive into Sweden to purchase groceries. Sundries like a 33 cl bottle of Coca-Cola cost about 10 SEK, a beer in a bar will cost you around 45 SEK, the average price of hotel accommodation is around 1,300 SEK, a room in a hostel varies between 150 SEK and 350 SEK, a public transport ticket in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö will set you back around 25 SEK, one meal will cost you around 100 SEK, 1 litre of petrol fuel costs about 18 SEK, and a pack of 19 cigarettes will cost you 50 SEK. If you are a bit careful about your expenses, a daily budget of around 1,000 SEK will be enough (2015 prices). House prices outside metropolitan areas are probably among the lowest in Western Europe, and discount stores such as Lidl, Netto and Willys offer a wide range of items at a low cost. Accommodation and dining out are cheaper in Stockholm than in most other West European capitals.

Taxes

Paying tax is awesome.

Coined by Social Democratic politician Mona Sahlin. Repeated years later, by her opponent Finance Minister Anders Borg of the Moderate Party, as a comment about Sweden's persistently high taxes, regardless of government.

Sweden has three levels of value-added tax (moms or mervärdesskatt). Price tags always include tax, except in a business-to-business context (wholesale stores, etc.), so the consumer need not worry about it. Having said, knowing the amount of VAT paid could be useful is when claiming VAT refunds on eligible purchases (something done upon your exit from the European Union).

Financial transactions, gambling, healthcare, dentistry and prescription medication are exempt from VAT. The 6 per cent level applies to passenger transport, books, newspapers, sport events, performances, zoos and museums. The 12 per cent level applies to travel accommodation and food (including restaurant meals and soft drinks, but not alcoholic beverages). Everything else has 25 percent VAT; that includes clothing, alcohol, tobacco, non-prescription medication, cosmetics, hair and beauty services, appliances, souvenirs, amusement parks, nightclubs, office supplies, electronic services, vehicles (including rental), and fuel.

Shopping

Bargaining is not a common habit in Sweden, in some areas it is even frowned upon. It might work in some instances, especially for more expensive products, flea markets, street vendors, and antique shops after some small talk of interest. The act of haggling is called pruta in Swedish. A more enticing way of haggling to Swedes is to ask for a discount (rabatt), and then haggle for the size of the discount.

Most shops, at least major chains in central areas, are open all week, even on Sundays, although they do close on Christmas Day, Midsummer's Eve afternoon and all of Midsummer's Day. Closing times are rigid, most often on the minute.

At grocery stores and supermarkets it is considered good practice to place each product on the conveyor belt so that the barcode faces either towards you or upwards so they can be scanned more quickly by the cashier. Do not stack items on top of each other; place them one by one on a line, and remember to place the divider on the conveyor belt when you are done. Stores charge for plastic and paper bags (usually 1-3 SEK for plastic and double for paper), and you have to bag your goods yourself.

• An unofficial national symbol, the Dala Horse (Swedish: dalahäst) is the souvenir of souvenirs to bring from Sweden. Named after their origin, the province of Dalarna, these small wooden horses have been around since the 17th century. They are normally painted orange or blue with symmetrical decorations. They are fairly expensive: expect to pay around 100 SEK for a very small one or several hundred kronor for bigger versions. The horses can be bought in souvenir shops all over Sweden. If you want to know more about how the horses are made, visit Dalarna and the municipality of Mora where the horses are carved and painted in workshops open for tourists. And if driving towards Mora from Stockholm, keep your eyes open when you pass the town of Avesta where the world's largest (13 meters high) Dala Horse overlooks the highway.
• Swedish glass is world famous for its beauty. Several skilled glass artists have contributed to this reputation through innovative, complex (and expensive) art creations, but mass-produced Swedish table glass has also been an international success. Part of the province of Småland, between the towns of Växjö and Kalmar, is known as the Kingdom of Crystal. 15 glassworks are packed into this small area, the most famous being Orrefors, Kosta and Boda. Tourists are welcome to watch the glass blowers turn the glowing melt into glittering glass, and you can even give it a try yourself.
• High-end imported wines from Systembolaget.
• Swedish design, spanning from furniture to jewelry, is known for function, efficiency and minimalism. Designtorget is a chain of stores with a wide range of everyday products; Lagerhaus is another. Svenskt Tenn is another store with beautiful items by designers such as Josef Frank.
• There are some items for the home that are invented by Swedes that might be fun to bring home such as safety matches, adjustable spanners or adjustable wrenches, paraffin cooking stove (Primuskök) or a good old Celsius thermometer.
• With a long tradition of woodwork, and the absence of wars in modern times, Sweden has plenty of antique furniture. Furniture made industrially in the early 20th century mimicking older styles (stilmöbler) can be found cheap.
• Flea markets are literally translated as loppmarknad or loppis, and one of few places where haggling is accepted.

See Nordic cuisine for an in-depth description of Swedish food.

Swedish food is typical of Nordic cuisine, based on meat (notably pork and game), fish, dairy products, potatoes and bread, together with berries and wild mushrooms. Fresh fruit and vegetables are rather recent additions to the menu.

Traditional everyday dishes are called husmanskost (pronounced whos-mans-cost). Some of them are:

• Pickled herring (sill) is eaten with bread or potatoes for summer lunch or as a starter on the smörgåsbord, at traditional holidays.
• Many forms of salmon (lax), especially cured salmon (gravlax).
• Meatballs (köttbullar), the internationally most famous Swedish dish. Served with potatoes, brown sauce and lingonberry jam.
• Hash (pytt i panna) consisting of meat, onions and potatoes, all diced and fried. Sliced beetroots and a fried or boiled whole egg are mandatory accessories.
• Pea soup (ärtsoppa) with diced pork, followed by thin pancakes, is traditionally eaten on Thursdays.
• Blodpudding, a black sausage made by pig's blood and flour, eaten with lingonberry jam.

• Falukorv, a big baloney from Falun.
• Sweden has many varieties of bread (bröd). Many of them are whole-grain or mixed grain, containing wheat, barley, oats, compact and rich in fiber. Some notable examples are tunnbröd (thin wrap bread), knäckebröd (hard bread - might has a bland taste, but is nearly always available), and different kinds of seasoned loaves. Bread is mostly eaten as simple sandwiches, with thin slices of cheese or cold cuts. Some spreads typical to Sweden are messmör (whey butter) and leverpastej (liver pâté).
• Reindeer, ren, traditionally herded by the Sami people. Renskav is sliced, sautéed reindeer meat, preferably eaten with wild mushrooms, lingonberries and potatoes.
• Tunnbrödrulle, a fast food dish, consisting of a bread wrap with mashed potatoes, a hot dog and some vegetables.
• Kroppkakor Potato dumpling stuffed with diced pork, reminiscent of the German Klöße. Originally from Småland, there is also a variant from Piteå up north, known as pitepalt.
• Hard cheese (ost): In an ordinary food market you can often find 10 to 20 different types of cheese. The most famous Swedish hard cheese would be Västerbotten, named after a region in Sweden.
• Milk (mjölk) is commonly drunk during meals. Filmjölk is a Nordic yoghurt, eaten with breakfast cereal.
• Rose hip soup (nyponsoppa) and bilberry soup (blåbärssoppa), for recovery of heat and energy during winter sports.

Other Swedish favorites:

• Raggmunk, wheat flour, milk, egg, and shredded potatoes fried like thin pancakes served with fried pork (bacon) and lingonberries.
• Soft whey butter (messmör), breadspread with a sweetish, hard-to-describe taste.
• Caviar, not the expensive Russian or Iranian kind but a cheaper version made from cod roe, sold in tubes and used on sandwiches. The most famous brand is Kalles Kaviar.
• Julmust, stout-like Christmas soft drink. Available during Easter as well, by then known as Påskmust.
• Crayfish (kräftor), hugely popular around August, when Swedes feast on them at big crayfish parties (kräftskivor). Silly paper hats and lots of alcohol included.
• Surströmming; the world's stinkiest dish. See Nordic cuisine for details for how to eat it without disgusting oneself or the surroundings.
• Semla, a cream-filled pastry traditionally eaten on Tuesdays in February and March, starting on Fat Tuesday.
• Rabarberkräm/Rabarberpaj rhubarb cream or rhubarb pie with vanilla sauce (other cakes or pies on fresh blueberries, apples, or just strawberries with cream or ice cream are also very popular in the summer)
• Spettekaka A local cake from Scania in south Sweden, made of eggs, sugar, and potato starch.
• Smörgåstårta A cold Sandwich layer cake, often with salmon, eggs, and shrimps. (Also often with tuna or roast beef) Swedish people often eat it at New Year's Eve, or birthdays and parties.
• Lösgodis candy from boxes that you mix on your own, sold by weight, is one of the most popular candy among this candy-loving nation. A choice of chocolate, sours, sweet and salty liquorice are always offered.
• Swedish cookies and pastries like bondkakor, hallongrottor, bullar or cakes like prinsesstårta are widely popular. It used to be tradition to offer guest 7 different cookies when invited over for coffee. If you have a sweet tooth you should try chokladbollar, mazariner, biskvier, rulltårta or lussebullar.

As Sweden is stretched out between central Europe and the Arctic, there are many regional specialties. Among the more exotic are

• Surströmming, a stinky canned fish popular along the Norrland coast.
• Spettekaka, a meringue-like cake from Scania.

A specialty of the Raggare sub-culture (Swedish greaser culture) is hot dog with shrimp salad as topping. Some fast food vendors, especially in the countryside, has this dish on their menu.

As in most of Europe, inexpensive pizza and kebab restaurants are ubiquitous in Swedish cities, and are also to be found in almost every small village. Sushi and Thai food are also quite popular. The local hamburger chain Max is recommended before McDonald's and Burger King, for tasteful Scandinavian furnishing, clean restrooms, no trans fats and free coffee with meals. In parts of Norrland it is customary to eat hamburgers with a knife and fork - available at Max. Another Swedish chain Frasses offers apart from all kinds of meaty burgers a tasty vegetarian alternative - a quornburger. Another type of fast food establishment is the gatukök ("street kitchen"), serving hamburgers, hot dogs, kebab and tunnbrödrulle (se above).

Highway diners, vägkrogar, have generous meals, but might be of poor quality, greasy and overpriced. If you have time, a downtown restaurant is preferable. Gas stations sell decent packed salads and sandwiches.

You can get a relatively inexpensive lunch if you look for the signs with "Dagens rätt" or just "Dagens" (Today's special or literally meal of the day). This normally costs between 80 SEK and 150 SEK, and almost everywhere includes a bottle of water; soft drink; or light beer, bread & butter, salad bar and coffee afterwards. Dagens rätt is served Monday to Friday.

If you're on a tight budget, self-catering is the safest way to save your money. There are a few nationwide supermarket chains such as Coop, ICA, Willy:s, City Gross and Lidl. As a rule of thumb, the Coop stores are usually most expensive with ICA as a runner up. Willy:s and Lidl are considered discount. City Gross used to be discount but is now catering more for local produce in meat and vegetables.

Vegetarian and vegan lifestyles are accepted in cities, less common in the countryside, where fishing and hunting are a national pastime. You should be able to find a falafel in any medium-sized town; or you may negotiate a price to only access the salad bar, as all well assorted eateries have one.

Coffee

Swedish consumption of coffee (kaffe) is among the highest in the world. Drinking coffee at home or in a café, an act called fika, is a common Swedish social ritual, used for planning activities, dating, exchanging gossip or simply spending time and money. Swedish coffee is filtered and usually stronger than American coffee - but still not the espresso of France or Italy. Italian varieties (espresso, cappuccino, caffe latte) are available at larger city cafés. Sweden has several domestic café franchises (Espresso House, Wayne's Coffee, Coffeehouse by George) with an international atmosphere, and a broad selection of coffees, sandwiches, and cakes.

One cup is around 35 SEK, often including a refill, påtår. Many retailers sell coffee at their cafés for 10 SEK a cup.

The traditional Swedish café is called konditori, and every city and town has at least one. They offer warm beverages as coffee, tea and cocoa, and an assortment of cookies, pastry and perhaps also smörgås, the Swedish open sandwich, and fralla, the Swedish closed sandwich. The sandwiches offered can vary a lot depending on where you are in Sweden.

Alcoholic beverages

The most famous Swedish alcoholic beverage is Absolut Vodka, one of the world's most famous vodkas. There are several brands of distilled, and usually seasoned, liquor, called brännvin. Brännvin does not have as high requirements on distilling as for Vodka and it is distilled from potatoes or grain. Liquor seasoned with dill and caraway is called akvavit. When brännvin is served in a shot glass with a meal it is called snaps (not to confuse with the German "Schnapps"). It is part of custom to drink snaps at occasions such as midsummers eve, Crayfish party, Christmas, student parties, etc. Often it is done together with a snapsvisa to every drink (a typical snapsvisa is a short, vigorous song; its lyrics usually tell of the delicacy and glory of the drink, or of the singer’s craving for snaps, or about anything in a cheeky way).

Punsch (not to be confused with punch) is a traditional sweet liqueur made from a combination of water, lemon, sugar, spirits and arrack, unique for Sweden and Finland. It can be served both warm and cold, usually has 25% alcohol by volume (ABV) and 30% sugar, and is by tradition often served at Thursdays together with pea-and-pork soup and pancakes. It grew very popular during the 18th and 19th centuries, generating a strong punsch culture with numerous special punsch drinking songs, and maintains a strong presence in Swedish student culture.

If visiting Sweden in December or January a typical hot drink is glögg (similar to mulled wine or Glühwein). It is often served together with ginger bread and lussebullar or at the julbord (Christmas buffet). The main classic ingredients are red wine, sugar, spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and bitter orange, and optionally also stronger spirits such as vodka, akvavit, or brandy. There is also non-alcohol glögg.

Sweden does produce some outstanding beers, and there has been a rise in the numbers of microbreweries. Some of them are Slottskällans, Nils Oscar, Närke kulturbryggeri, Jämtlands ångbryggeri and Dugges Ale- & Porterbryggeri. You may have some trouble finding them, unless you go to a bar with a wide range of beers, or a well-stocked Systembolaget, but you will find a few of them in every major city. Despite this the most common beer is the rather plain "international lager". The beer you get in supermarkets is called folköl and has 2.8 or 3.5% alcohol. You are able to find a variety of different brands of beers in food stores, Swedish, English and even Czech beer. Sweden has a seasonal beer for Christmas, julöl. It is an ale, sweetened and spiced. All Swedish breweries make at least one type of julöl. Wine is popular, but the Swedish production is very modest.

Drinking alcohol in parks and public spaces outdoors is generally allowed, with some obvious exceptions (playgrounds, school yards, etc. and places were a prohibition is posted). Drinking your own is also prohibited in shopping centres and the like and on public transport and in associated areas; there may be licensed restaurants or bars.

Establishments with permission to serve alcohol (those allowed to sell strong drinks usually advertise it as fullständiga rättigheter, "full rights") are usually not permitted to sell alcohol to be consumed outside the establishment.

Beer and lager up to 3.5% ABV is readily available in supermarkets at 10–15 kr a bottle, but strong alcoholic beverages are, as in Norway, Finland and Iceland available over the counter only from the state-owned retailer, Systembolaget (also sometimes referred to as Systemet or Bolaget). Its stores are usually open M–W 10:00–18:00, Th F 10:00–19:00, and Sa 10:00–15:00, with long queues on Fridays and Saturdays. The stores close exactly at closing time, no matter how long the queue outside the store is (this is a big joke for Swedish people). They are always closed on Sundays. Most shops are of supermarket style. The assortment is very good, and the staff usually has great knowledge. Systembolaget does not serve customers already intoxicated or under the age of 20, and will most likely ask for identification from customers looking younger than 25. This also applies to any companions, regardless of who is making the actual purchase.

Beverages are heavily taxed by content of alcohol, some liquor is very expensive (vodka is around 300 kr a litre at Systembolaget), but the monopoly has brought some perks – Systembolaget is one of the world's largest bulk-buyers of wine, and as such gets some fantastic deals which it passes on to consumers. Mid-to-high-quality wines often cost less in Sweden than in the country of origin; sometimes even less than if you were to buy the wine directly from the vineyard. This does not apply to low-quality wines or hard liquor, as they are taxed according to their alcohol concentration.

All brands are treated equally and there is no large-pack discount. Therefore, microbrews cost the same as major brands, and are a more interesting choice. Nothing is refrigerated in store.

Since 2025, alcohol manufacturers can sell beverages on site to customers who participate in an educational activity.

Moonshine (hembränt) is popular in the countryside, though illegal. Though some shipments can be as good as legal vodka, most are disgusting and some may be hazardous, so you should stick to the real thing.

Bars and nightclubs

The minimum age requirement is 18 to get into bars and to buy regular (3.5% ABV or less) beer in shops (to prevent teenage drunkenness, some shops have decided to enforce a minimum age of 20 for 3.5% beer as well), and 20 in Systembolaget. Many bars have an age limit of 20, but some (especially on weekends in those in the centre) have age limits as high as 23 or 25, but this rule is arbitrarily enforced. Bring passport or ID.

Some high-end nightclubs mandate dress code, vårdad klädsel is casual dress; this is also arbitrarily enforced. For male guests, proper shoes (not trainers or sandals), long-legged trousers (not blue jeans) and a dress shirt is almost always good enough.

Age and dress requirements are not rigid, and doormen have the right to reject any patron for any reason except gender, sexual orientation, creed, disability or race, which is illegal discrimination. Still, some nightclubs are infamous for rejecting "immigrants", especially men of African or Middle Eastern origin, on pretexts such as "members only", "too drunk", or "dress code". Getting into a club is easier for patrons who dress and behave well, and arrive fairly early.

Sweden has enforced non-smoking in all bars, pubs and restaurants, save outdoor areas such as terraces, and designated smoking rooms (where drinks are not allowed).

The prices at clubs and bars are among the more expensive in Europe: a (0.4 L) glass of draft lager, stor stark, usually costs 45–65 kr (although some dive bars advertise it for as little as 29 kr early evenings). A cocktail costs around 80–180 kr. For that reason many Swedes have a small pre-party ("förfest") before they hit the town and go to nightclubs.

Large clubs can require a cover charge, usually about 100 kr, more if there's an event on. They will stamp your hand so you can re-enter without having to pay again.

Be aware that you often have to stand in line to get into a bar or a club. Many places deliberately make their customers wait in line for a while, since a long queue indicates a popular club. At the very fanciest places in the major cities, the queue is often replaced by a disorganized crowd, and the doorman simply points to indicate who gets in and who does not (to be sure to get in either be famous, very good-looking, or a friend of the doorman).

Most bars that close at 01:00 or earlier will have a free entry policy. Most bars and clubs that remain open until 03:00 will charge an entrance fee. There are some clubs in the largest cities that remain open until 05:00. Their entrance fee will usually be around 200 kr and their entry policy will generally weigh less favourably for the non-rich, non-well-moisturised, non-Swedes, non-friends and non-regulars.

The club's coat-checking fee is often mandatory, usually around 40 kr.

Car camping is convenient and cost-efficient, as you can stay overnight nearly anywhere.

Camping

The right to access (Allemansrätten) allows anyone to camp in uncultivated areas (including private property away from houses) without asking. There are certain limitations; for instance you are only allowed to stay at a certain spot for one night, before you have to move on. If you are travelling to Sweden in the summer, check out the local conditions when it comes to camp fires. Forests in Sweden can get very dry and temporary bans on lighting fires are not unusual.

Check with SMHI, the meteorological agency, for up-to-date weather forecasts, including fire risks and other weather-related warnings, such as storms, floods and blizzards.

If you prefer camping a bit more organized, most towns have campsites with showers and electricity. Expect to pay around 100–150 kr for a tentsite, but for two or three busiest weeks prices can go as high as 400 kr. Camping.se is the booking site of the national campsite organisation SCR. The leading campsite chain is called First Camp – comfortable, but can be expensive (they use dynamic price calculation), so check for local-led alternatives which can be cheaper (i.e. plain price). Campsites seem to be mainly for people with campers, who tend to prepare food at their campers. Therefore, places in service buildings, where one coming from a poorer country would expect a kitchen, have just sinks to wash dishes and a burner to cook food (but no kitchen utensils nor table).

Hostels

The Swedish Tourist Association (Svenska Turistföreningen or STF) is by far the most important operator of hostels, vandrarhem, in Sweden, with a network of more than 300 hostels around the country. Membership for foreigners is 175 kr, and if you plan to stay four nights or more at hostels in Sweden you should join, since non-members pay an additional 45 kr per night. STF is affiliated with Hostelling International or HI, and if you are a member of any HI organisation you are considered a member of STF.

STF offers beds for the night in dorms or single and double rooms. The concept is standardized throughout Sweden, and only includes the price of the bed or room, with access to common kitchen facilities, common bath rooms and showers. Some hostels have double rooms with bath room and shower en suite.

Sveriges vandrarhem I förening (SVIF) is another nation-wide hostel confederation.

The price per night per person in a hostel is 80-280 kr depending on where the hostel is located and how classy or tacky it is. Sheets are required (just a sleeping bag is not enough) and if you don't bring any you have to purchase at the hostel for around 50 kr. You are expected to clean out your room when leaving. Cooking equipment is normally available at all hostels for those who want to self-cater.

Some hostels are more spectacular than others; for instance Jumbostay at Arlanda Airport, located inside a decommissioned Boeing 747, and Långholmen Hostel in Stockholm, that used to be a prison.

Apartments and B&B:s are not the same thing, but Swedish online booking agencies tend to think so. Renting an apartment may be an interesting option if you plan to stay for a few nights in one of the major cities and want more privacy than a hostel offers.

Road signs with the word Rum don't show the way to the nearest drinking den for pirates - rum in Swedish means "room", and that sign points to a B&B.

Hotels

Normal Swedish hotels tend to be clean, uninteresting and fairly expensive. A single room can easily set you back 1000 kr. Most towns, even smaller ones, still have a traditional stadshotell, Statt, (town hotel) somewhere in the city center, which usually contains the town's largest restaurant and/or nightclub. On a more positive note, breakfast buffets at Swedish hotels are often impressive with plenty to choose from - try not to be in too much of a hurry in the morning! Major hotel chains include Scandic and First.

It doesn't matter how many circumflexes Stockholm's Grand Hôtel uses, or how many celebrities stay there, the coolest hotel in Sweden is the Icehotel. Located in the village of Jukkasjärvi in the far north, it is a hotel built from snow and ice. It melts in spring and is rebuilt every winter. Ice hotels are built in several other countries, but the one in Jukkasjärvi is the original. One night in a single room is 2850 kr, book in advance.

There are an increasing number of hotels in Sweden that are "cashless" which means cash may no longer be used to settle payments. Bring your card.

Vacation homes

Sweden has 680,000 vacation homes. Many of those are old farmhouses, or simple cabins from the early 20th century. Most vacation homes (except the most isolated ones) have electricity. Countryside or island houses usually have no public water supply, and rely on a local water pump, and an outhouse.

While dwellings in holiday hotspots such as the Stockholm archipelago, Åre or Visby can cost as much as an urban home, woodland farmhouses in Småland or far-off parts of Norrland can be bought for a token sum of money. However, Sweden is a high-income country, so carpentry and maintenance services are costly.

Rental homes and hospitality exchange

As Sweden has strong rent control and tenant protection, a rental contract is difficult to get in and near the largest cities. The most common apartment ownership in Sweden is bostadsrättsförening, a condominium-like organization.

Hospitality exchange services such as Airbnb can be found in Sweden, but rooms are much fewer than in other European countries, due to regulations.

Sweden is well-known for its high-quality education system. The country strongly emphasises equal and accessible education for all its citizens and is home to some of Europe's most prestigious universities.

All education in Sweden is free for residents. Although the government has subsidized schools and classes, a few private alternatives exist where a tuition fee is required. Students' Union membership is optional, but the union fee of around 500 kr/year can give several perks, such as mediation of dorm rooms or entrance to union parties and events.

If you are a non-EU/EEA citizen wishing to study at a Swedish university or other schools of higher education, you will need to pay tuition fees. Regardless, you must pay for housing, food, books, etc.

Most undergraduate courses are taught in Swedish, though many postgraduate courses are taught in English. Many universities also conduct lessons for foreigners who wish to learn Swedish.

Some important university cities:

• Uppsala
• Lund
• Gothenburg
• Stockholm
• Linköping
• Umeå

Most universities follow the custom known as an "academic quarter", where classes and most academic events will begin 15 minutes past the hour. At some schools after 18:00, this becomes a "double quarter" where events commence 30 minutes past the hour. Students are expected to be punctual and show up at the appropriate time.

The KTH Royal Institute of Technology (Kungliga Tekniska högskolan) is the country's largest and most prestigious technical university.

Sweden has a strong welfare system, a high standard of living, and a robust economy. Working in Sweden can be a great opportunity for those seeking to work in a dynamic and innovative environment.

Citizens of the Nordic countries, the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area (EEA), and Switzerland have the right to enter, reside, and work in Sweden freely. Everyone else, however, needs a work permit to work in Sweden. More information about the paperwork required is found on the government website Sweden Abroad.

With an unemployment rate of 7.6% (as of 2023), finding a job in Sweden can be a competitive affair. A decent knowledge of Swedish will significantly enhance your employment opportunities.

The government runs a job agency named Arbetsförmedlingen, but most jobs are provided through other channels.

The average hourly wage was 188 kr in Dec 2022 , and is typically paid once per month.

Sweden is generally a safe place to travel. Avoid drunk brawls on weekend nights, and, if driving, look out for wildlife crossing the road, and you'll be quite safe. Also mind ice safety and the advice for any potentially risky activity you are going to engage in, including boating and hiking.

In metalworking districts such as Bergslagen, mining holes are a particular risk factor.

Crime and law enforcement

Road traffic is generally safe, though common sense should be used. Most Swedes trust that cars will stop at zebra crossings, or even wherever they choose to cross a street. Still, do watch out yourself.

Violent gang crime has been an issue since the 2010s, making headlines abroad, and causing an intense debate in Sweden. However, gang crime is very unlikely to affect travellers, as violence is mostly motivated by drug trade and other illegal markets, and concentrated to some low-income suburban neighborhoods of large cities (utsatta områden).

Although there is a significant police presence in the city centres, especially on weekend nights, the countryside is quite weakly policed; especially Norrland, where the nearest patrol car – and the nearest ambulance – might be a hundred kilometres away.

Pickpockets usually work in tourist-frequented areas, such as airports, rail stations, public transportation, shopping areas and festivals. Most Swedes carry their wallets in their pockets or purses and feel quite safe while doing it. If you have a bike, do lock it or you may lose it.

Authorized security officers carry a grey uniform labelled ordningsvakt, and have the authority to use force. They patrol nightclubs, shopping malls, festivals and city centres. Security staff without special authority have the badge väktare.

While Swedish police and security officers are helpful to well-behaving people, detention laws are rather harsh, and do not allow bailout. Police can detain overly intoxicated people overnight if they endanger others or themselves, and relocate people who behave disorderly, even without suspicion of crime. A suspect of crime can be jailed until trial, if the court sees a risk of flight; which is often the case for people not residing in Sweden.

The age of consent is 15 or, towards people under ones care, 18. Consent has to be clearly expressed: if one part is passive, the case may be considered a rape (even if there is no penetration). Although being a prostitute is not illegal in Sweden, hiring one is a crime.

Knife-carrying in public areas is criminalised (except blunt or very small knives) unless needed for work, outdoor life, or other activities. Packing down a knife with camping equipment is allowed. Switchblade knives are prohibited to carry everywhere. Tear gas and pepper spray require authorization to be carried in Sweden, and you will probably not have use for them either way, due to the country's low rate of violent crime.

In case of emergency

112 is the emergency phone number to dial in case of fire or medical or criminal emergency. It does not require an area code, regardless of what kind of phone you're using. The number works on any mobile phone, with or without a SIM card, even if it's keylocked (without SIM, you will be asked to press "5" before the call will be answered).

Swedish police are stretched thin across the country. Officers are rarely on patrol, and might be too busy to head out for minor crimes. To report a theft or getting in contact with the police in general, there is a national non-emergency phone number 114 14 that will bring you in contact with an operator at a police station (usually nearby, but not always).

Predators

Brown bear (brunbjörn), wolf (varg), lynx (lo) and wolverine (järv) roam the Swedish wilderness, though they are unusual to sight. Bears are most likely to attack if they are injured, provoked by a dog, going to hibernate or protecting their cubs. Bears in Sweden have killed no more than a handful of people since 1900. Though wild wolves might attack pets and livestock, they avoid people.

Animal collisions

Animal collisions are a serious risk factor on the road, especially at dusk. Elk (älg), deer (hjort) and wild boar (vildsvin) are common, the latter only in southern Sweden. Reindeer (ren) are common in Lapland. Many national roads (riksväg) and most European routes (europaväg) have long sections with wildlife fences (viltstängsel) to keep large animals away. A traffic sign usually warns when the wildlife fence ends with the text: Viltstängsel upphör. In mountainous Lapland it is common that herds of reindeer take up the road, and it is not uncommon that a rock ptarmigan (fjällripa) suddenly decides to cross the road.

Certified pharmacies carry a green cross sign and the text Apotek. For small medical problems the pharmacy is sufficient. Major cities carry one pharmacy open at night. Many supermarkets carry non-prescription supplies such as band aid and antiseptics, but strong painkillers and other actual medicines are sold only at pharmacies, even those that don't require a prescription.

Swedish health care is usually of high quality, but can be quite challenging for foreigners to receive. Most medical clinics are run by the public sector, and their accessibility varies. Therefore, getting a time within a week at some medical centres could prove difficult. In case of a medical emergency, most provinces (and of course, the major cities) have a regional hospital with an around-the-clock emergency ward. However, if you are unlucky you can expect a long wait before getting medical attention. Call 112 for emergencies, and 1177 for non-emergency medical consulting, as well as directions for open medical clinics. Bring your European Health Insurance Card, if you are eligible to one.

Tap water in Sweden is of great quality, and contains close to zero bacteria. Water in mountain resorts might contain rust, and water on islands off the coast might be brackish, but it is still safe to drink. There is no real reason for buying bottled water in Sweden. Also, there is bottled water that doesn't meet the requirements to be used as tap water in Sweden.

There are few serious health risks in Sweden. Your primary concern in winter will be cold weather, particularly if hiking or skiing in the northern parts. Northern Sweden is sparsely populated and, if heading out into the wilderness, it is imperative that you register your travel plans with a friend or the authorities so they can come looking for you if you fail to show up. Dress warmly in layers and bring along a good pair of sunglasses to prevent snow blindness, especially in the spring. In snowy mountains, avalanches might be a problem.

Pests

Mosquitoes (myggor) are a serious nuisance particularly in the north and during wet summers. While they do not carry diseases, their bites are itchy and their distinctive whining sound can get highly irritating. As usual, they are most active around dawn and sunset – which, in a land of the Midnight Sun, may mean most of the night in summer. Supermarkets have many types of mosquito repellents (myggmedel).

Other summer nuisances are gadflies (bromsar), whose painful but non-venomous bites can leave a mark lasting for days, and wasps (getingar) whose stings in very rare cases can be deadly for allergics. Use mosquito repellent, ensure your tent has good mosquito netting, and bring proper medication if you know that you're allergic to wasp stings.

Ticks (fästingar) appear in summer, especially in tall grass. They can transmit Lyme's disease (borreliosis) and TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) through a bite. The risk areas for TBE are mainly parts of Götaland and Svealand (map and list of municipalities with high risk of TBE). Wear bright clothes, and check your body (and your pets) after outdoor trips. You can buy special tick tweezers (fästingplockare) from the pharmacy.

There's only one type of venomous snake in Sweden: the European adder (huggorm). The snake is not very common, but lives all over Sweden except for the northern mountains. Its bite is hardly ever life-threatening (except to small children and allergic people), but people bitten should promptly seek medical assistance. All reptiles in Sweden, including adders, are protected by law and must not be harmed.

There are no really dangerous marine animals in Sweden, although when bathing in the sea at the west and southern coasts, one should watch out for the greater weever (fjärsing); a small fish hiding in sand, with several venomous spikes on its back. The venom is about as dangerous as that of the European adder. There are also venomous jellyfish, bright blue or red, in the sea. The venom is not lethal, but it hurts.

Stinging nettles grow in nitrogen-rich places, especially around barns and stables, but getting stung is generally not dangerous, only locally hurting for a few hours.

I never said, "I want to be alone." I only said, "I want to be let alone!" There is all the difference

Greta Garbo; usually quoted to describe Swedish people's desire for privacy

Many Swedes have liberal, cosmopolitan, secular, egalitarian and environmentalist values by international standards, similar to other Nordic countries. This spares Western tourists from some cultural clashes that might be imminent in other countries. However, some strict rules of etiquette are almost unique to Swedish people. There are also intolerant circles.

• Though some people in Sweden use narcotics, most Swedes, old and young, are strongly opposed to them. Possession and intoxication of non-medical drugs (including cannabis) lead to a fine and a note in the criminal record. The police can force a suspected drug user to produce a urine or blood sample.
• When it comes to alcohol, Swedes are as double-natured as Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. Before work or driving, one beer is one too many. However, drunkenness can be a regular part of many Swedish traditions (e.g. Midsommar, Valborg, etc.) – keep this in mind if you abstain from alcohol. Some Swedes frown on people being sober at a party and reject excuses other than driving or pregnancy.
• Swedish people want and expect privacy and personal space. Salespeople, waiters and other service employees are usually less attentive than their colleagues in other countries, to respect customers' privacy, except a short "hej" to entering customers. Customers are supposed to call for attention. When entering a bus or another form of public transportation it is often considered impolite to sit next to another person if there is another twin seat available. This also applies to international A-list celebrities, who can generally walk around the streets without being bothered by the general public; approaching a celebrity outside official fan events is extremely disrespectful in Swedish culture.
• In most homes it is customary to remove your shoes. If you just assume that you are to take them off upon entry, in most cases you will have done the right thing, but you could check whether other guests have left theirs by the front door. If you are dressed up and feel undressed without shoes, bring indoor shoes, like many of the guests will. At more formal parties also wearing outdoor shoes may be acceptable. Indoor shoes may also be brought for warmth (especially to cottages and the like): most Swedish homes have wood flooring; wall-to-wall carpets are uncommon.
• Despite rumours of the "Swedish sin", Swedish people are generally not accepting of public nudity except at designated nudist beaches. Don't go skinny-dipping in public beaches if you are more than about four years old. Female toplessness is accepted at public baths, but uncommon. Public breastfeeding is a legal right in any public place. Male toplessness is accepted in the countryside and at the beach, but might be frowned upon in urban areas.
• Greetings between men and women who are good friends or relatives are often in the form of a hug. Swedes don't cheek-kiss to greet but are aware that other cultures do. If you are a visitor from France and do cheek-kiss a Swede, they will attempt to return the favour but probably feel a bit awkward doing so.
• Show up on the minute for meetings and meals, preferably five minutes before the set time. There is no "fashionably late" in Sweden. However, showing up early at a private invitation is considered rude. If it's acceptable to arrive late, it's usually mentioned specifically (e.g., "...arrive after 1700") or there are established rules (some universities apply an "akademisk kvart", an academic quarter hour, within which it is acceptable to arrive to lectures).
• Sweden is quite tolerant about homosexuality. Same-sex marriages have legal standing in Sweden. The chance of facing extreme criticism or homophobia is low in Sweden, as the country has anti-discrimination and hate crime laws. Violence against gays and lesbians is very rare.
• Sweden is a multicultural country. Do not make assumptions based on peoples' appearance. Outward displays of racism, sexism, or homophobia are often met with hostility. Even slight preferences may be noticed. That being said, there has been a rise of racist instances towards Swedes of colour, particularly with immigrant backgrounds. Do not be afraid to call the police if you feel like you are in danger.
• As of the 2020s, beggars from the Balkans can be seen in most towns or cities. Homeless Swedes beg as well; while there can be many of them in city centres, the transactions usually take place without nuisance. Loitering outdoors, begging, and handing money to beggars is not illegal in Sweden. Many municipalities, though, have made it compulsory for beggars to file for a permit to beg in public, which indirectly has curbed the trend; the social services are supposed to take care of those in need.
• A sensitive topic in Sweden is hunting and wildlife management, especially when it comes to the population of wolves and other predators. People in the countryside have strong opinions on the subject.
• Swedish decision-making processes are based on consensus. Swedes are generally raised to concentrate on what unites, rather than on what divides. For a foreigner it may seem odd that it can be very difficult for a Swede to counter your opinion with a plain "no" or "never". Most Swedes will try to counter your opinion with something positive – to create consensus, or will say nothing at all. This does not mean they do not have an opinion of their own. Have this in mind when trying to get to know Swedes. Approach them with questions and queries that can be answered in a positive way – and you will break the ice. The less positive truth comes out when Swedes will trust you in consuming alcoholic beverages with them.
• Gender neutrality is an important part of Swedish culture, and most parents aim to raise their children in a gender-neutral way. For instance, toy manufacturers are required to market their products in a gender-neutral way, and Swedish schools aim to treat boys and girls equally; check with the family before bringing a Barbie doll as a present. Both sexes work in all trades and positions.
• Local pride is strong in Sweden for each county, province or municipality. There is also a cultural gap between the capital Stockholm and the rest of the country. Stockholmers are perceived as arrogant know-it-alls by non-Stockholmers, and people from outside Stockholm, especially from Scania, are perceived by Stockholmers as yokels and backwards-thinking. This cultural gap stems to a degree from a historical background, inasmuch as governors (landshövding) were appointed by the king, and they nowadays are appointed by the national government in Stockholm as leaders of the counties, a bit like lord-lieutenants in Britain.
• Money is a taboo topic in Sweden, and many Swedes are more comfortable talking about their sex lives than their personal finances.
• Queueing, standing in line for something, is very organised in Sweden. Always look for the dispenser with the numbered queue slips (kölapp, nummerlapp). Expect to be reprimanded by staff or bystanders if you approach without a queue slip or with the wrong queue slip.
• Although 52.8% of Swedes are members of the Church of Sweden (as of 2022), an Evangelical Lutheran church, Sweden is by and large a secular country, and only a minority of Swedes go to church regularly. Freedom of religion is generally respected, but most people are uncomfortable discussing religion with people they are not very close to.

Around payday, on the 25th of each month, stores and bars can get very crowded.

Carry your passport or official ID, as you will frequently be asked to prove age or identity – for instance when using your credit card, when buying alcohol, when renting accommodation or when entering bars and clubs. You will also need it to register a prepaid phone account (see "Connect"). Driving licences are sometimes accepted, especially the EU ones. Banks accept only Swedish identity documents. Swedish bureaucracy is efficient but rigid.

Tobacco

Smoking is not allowed in restaurants, bars or any other indoor establishments (except outdoor terraces and designated smoking rooms). Smoking in someone's home is usually out of the question; if you ask kindly you might be allowed to light up on the balcony or the porch. Relatively few Swedes smoke daily, but some men and women use "snus" (snuff), a tobacco pouch inserted into the upper lip. It comes in a wide variety of different styles and flavours and in both loose and portion form. Portions are more popular and generally recommended for public events, as loose snus can be very messy when removed. Unlike American oral tobaccos, it is not usually necessary to spit if the snus is properly placed. Most bars and clubs will have snus receptacles instead of ashtrays on the tables. Be warned, however, that snus can seem very harsh to first time users, with a nicotine level several times that of cigarettes. If you want to carry some out of the country, check regulations.

Clothing

Bring warm clothes and extra shoes. Weather in Sweden is unpredictable. It can get cold and wet, but almost never too hot. Most buildings have sufficient heating; air conditioning is however mostly found in commercial buildings, rarely in private homes.

If you plan on staying in Sweden for an extended period of time, pack some rain clothes. If you don't own any, they can be bought in many stores across Sweden – but can be somewhat expensive.

Toilets

The availability and standard of public toilets varies a lot. Except gas stations, they are available at most rest areas. Public toilets in cities and at rail stations might be scarce, and often require a fee (which can be as high as 12kr in the more upscale shopping centres). Toilets in city restaurants are usually for guests only. There are approximately 270 public rest areas (rastplats) along the roads in Sweden (map); there should be one for every 40–80 minutes of driving, i.e. every 50–100 km. They should have at least a toilet, an information board, some benches and a waste management system, all accessible by the disabled. Some are well-planned and nice.

Urinating behind a tree at a countryside road is acceptable; in a city street it is criminalized and might lead to a fine.

Pets

Pets have rights according to Swedish law. One of these rights stipulates that a dog or a cat must be offered water at least every six hours. At many restaurants that serve outdoors a bowl of water is placed outdoors to accommodate pets. They also have the right to be walked.

In many municipalities it constitutes a breach of the environmental act to leave dog faeces (hundbajs) in public places. Since it is legal to film people littering for the sake of filing legal charges, walking the dog might get expensive if their droppings are left unattended. Plastic bags for dog poo (hundbajspåse) are for sale at almost any supermarket. The droppings, packed, should be left at a dedicated litter bin, found in green areas in these municipalities.

From 1 March to 20 August special attention is required when walking a dog in the wild. Dogs are not allowed to roam freely where game lives. In practice, this means that they should be leashed unless you manage to keep them at a similar distance without. During the rest of the year, the dog must be leashed or within sight and command, at all times. When entrance is permitted for dogs to national parks and nature reserves, they must always be leashed. The dog owner is always legally responsible for their dog, and subject to damages even if not criminally guilty. Specific rules apply when a dog is with a hunting party.

Mail

The national postal service in Sweden is run by PostNord and is considered efficient and reliable. Postal service points (serviceställe or postombud) sells postage stamps and can be found in many supermarkets and grocery stores all over the country. Post boxes are yellow with the postal logo, and are emptied once every workday. Domestic mail is delivered every second workday. Parcels are delivered every workday, in some places even on Saturdays. An unregistered priority (airmail) postcard or letter with a weight of less than 50 grams is 44 SEK for all international destinations (as of January 2025).

Alternatively, packages can be sent within Sweden and to international destinations with DHL or within Sweden and the European Union with DB Schenker. The latter website is in the Swedish language only, and you might need the help of a local to book and send a package.

Telephone and Internet

Sweden's international calling code number is +46. Public pay phones ceased to exist in 2015. Sweden is the world's second most Internet-connected country (after Iceland).

Sweden has widespread 4G/LTE coverage on band 3 (1800 MHz) and 20 (800 MHz), even in rural areas, except in the central and northern interior parts of the country - there the partly state-owned Telia is your best bet and a phone supporting band 28 (700 MHz) might be of importance to get the best coverage. 4G/LTE-phones must have VoLTE to enable voice calls.

Swedish traditional 2G/GSM operates on the 900 MHz band and only Telia has it; it will be shut down in 2027. 3G has already been completely shut down by all operators. 5G is being deployed in major urban areas, expected to reach maximum coverage by all providers in 2025.

The major operators are Telia, Tele2, Telenor and 3 (Tre). The major operators have discounted services via their affiliated brands – Halebop, Comviq, Vimla, and Hallon. Some operators may require a Swedish personnummer (or samordningsnummer) to get a number, although all operators (except Hallon!) that sell prepaid will allow you to get it without any "personnummer" (Tele2 and 3 do not sell prepaid, so they are not linked here)

If you already have a SIM from another EU/EEA country, you may be able to continue using it in Sweden, subject to any fair-use limits imposed by your home provider. Roaming with a non-EU/EEA provider is probably much more expensive than buying a local prepaid SIM. UK providers may or may not offer cheap roaming.

Prepaid SIM cards (kontantkort) and refills are sold at the Pressbyrån outlets, as well as at most supermarkets and tobacconists. They have fairly generous mobile data allowances. Check the registration process:

Since 2022, all Swedish prepaid SIMs need to be registered to a person with a Swedish personnummer, a BankID, or valid photo ID (passport or identity card) before they can be used. The procedure varies depending on the provider. Telia and Halebop require you to bring the SIM to a Telia store for registration, and requires a form that has to be sent off to the central support desk for processing. This can take a few hours before you can start purchasing plans to use. Telenor SIMs can be registered by yourself online here and are ready to load and use immediately after the necessary data is uploaded. Hallon SIMs can not be registered without BankID, so avoid their SIMs.

Prepaid USB 4G/LTE modems, or data-only SIMs for a modem you already have, can be bought in many stores. They are a good alternative to Wi-Fi, costing relatively little (300kr a month will get you 20–30 GB depending on provider, and a couple of providers even offer unlimited data for a slightly higher price). Alternatively, these days, all providers allow tethering, meaning that a phone's data connection can be shared to any other devices within Wi-Fi range without having to purchase a separate device. Fast food chains, libraries, hotels, cafés and malls and others may offer free Wi-Fi access. Fixed terminals where you can pay for internet access exist as well, although many libraries can provide the same service for free.

If you are planning on continuing to use your SIM in another EU/EEA country after leaving Sweden, it is important to familiarize yourself with each provider's EU roaming policy and purchase a SIM with that in mind. Halebop limits EU roaming to 10 GB a month. Comviq has fair-use limits in place that vary by plan. Only Telenor and Telia allow full use of their prepaid plans across the entire EU/EEA without any extra charge. It is, however, not possible to buy refill vouchers for these products outside Sweden in general (although Telenor and Telia will both accept foreign credit cards for refills online).