Travel tips to European Countries: Sweden

About the county

Beautiful and clean, the peaceful Sweden is a land of cultural diversity with a mix of Danish and Wild Arctic North influences. One can also get the feel of urban living in its beautiful and sophisticated cities and at the same time one can feel the tranquility in the countryside.

Sweden is full of charm with scenic medical villages, islands, lakes and forests dotting its landscape. Most of Sweden’s area is covered by forests and not to forget thousands of lakes. One of the beauties of Sweden is its islands and one cannot go without seeing these islands. They offer the most scenic and beautiful experience to any visitors.

Stockholm is the capital of Sweden, a city with 14 islands dotted with great restaurants, nightclubs, pubs and artistic grandeur. Wherever you go most people speak English. If visitors want to have a taste of seafood the west coast is the place to be. Also it is popular for ancient city Uppsala. Do not miss a trip to the Ice Hotel which is sculpted from ice each winter in Lapland. Sweden is an exciting country with great roads and state of the art high speed train system.

Best Time To Visit

Late May to late July if you want sunshine: December to March if you want to ski

Population & Languages

Sweden has a population of around 9 million and the official language is Swedish. Lapp is spoken by Sami people in the north. Most people speak English fluently and also many speak German and French.  

Electricity

Voltage - 230 volts, Frequency - 50Hz. Standard European 2-pin plugs are used.

Geographic Location

Sweden is a Nordic country lying in the Scandinavian Peninsula and is the fifth largest country in Europe. Its west neighbor is Norway; Finland in the northeast, the southwest border is surrounded by Skagerrak and Kattegat straits and the west coast is surrounded by Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia. Majority of the area is forest and there are thousands of lakes mostly in the Southern part of Sweden.

Local Customs

Like any other country Sweden has its own customs too. It is customary not to drink until the host makes a toast. Smoking is prohibited in most public areas. It is also customary to say Tack för maten to the hostafter having a meal which means thanks for the food.  Casual dress is acceptable for everyday wear and formal wear for social gatherings. Also tipping up to ten percent is customary for service in restaurants and around same percent for taxis also.

Places to see

·         Stockholm – The biggest city and capital of Sweden and is one of the most beautiful cities of the world. The old town is a treat for your eyes and a walk around city’s waterways and parks is an experience to cherish. Most visitors prefer walking around on foot and visit the medieval part of Gamla Stan.

·         The city is basically constituted by archipelagos which are outstandingly scenic and can be explored by cruises.

·         Gothenburg – it is the second biggest city of Sweden. Not to be missed attraction in this city is Liseberg, a world class amusement park. It is home to popular museums like Ostindiska huset, Konstmuseet and Sjöfartshistoriska museet.

·         Skiing Dalama’s slopes or watching Vasaloppet, the world’s largest cross-country skiing race

·         Ambling around the historic town of Lund

·         Taking advantage of allemansrsten and hiking Sweden’s superb forest

·         Vadstena - The Renaissance castle Vadstena slot & klosterkyrkan.

·         Visby – Port of Visby, ruins of Drotten, St Nicolai, St Lars and St Carin, cathedral of St Maria and Gotlands Fornsal historic musem.

·         Oland – Fort of Graborg, Eketorp museum and ruins of Borgholm Castle.

·         Touring the glassworks of glasriket in Kalmar

Try local delicacies:

Eat a lot fish and the ubiquitous potato-try sill och nya potatis (pickled herring and new potatoes), pytt I panna (fried diced potatoes, sausage and onion served with diced beetroot and a fried egg), kotbullar och potatis (Swedish meatballs and potatoes), janssons frestelse (baked potato, onion, cream and anchovy dish), and, if you’re really brave, sustroming(fermented herring, stinky and not for the faint hearted)

Drink kaffee (coffee), which the Swedes love and do surprisingly well, but they love their aquavit and their ol(beer) even more.  Try Absolt vodka, and Spendrups or Pripps beer

Further Pleasures:

To read: Charlotte Rosen Svensson’s Culture Shock! Sweeden: A Guide to Customs and Etiquette for an accurate guide to Swedish cultural behaviour

To listen: Abba, Roxette or Ace of Base, if that’s your thing.  Or give the Hives, Millencolin or Sami folk-music as yoik, a spin

To watch:  Anything by Ingmar Bergman, or Mitt Liv Som Hund (My Life as a Dog)

Travel

By Air – It is well connected to the rest of the world by air. Many international airlines serve Sweden apart from its national airlines SAS. The other airlines are Air Canada, Air France, Aeroflot, British Airways, Finn air, Lufthansa, Ryan air etc.

By Sea – The ferries connect Sweden with other destinations such as New Castle, Copenhagen, and St. Petersburg etc.

By Rail – Trains connect Ostend, Sweden to London. It is also connected to Denmark by Eurostar train.

By Road – Visitors from UK can drive to Sweden through Demark or Germany

Duty Free Items

1.    Up to 200 cigarettes or 250 gm tobacco

2.    100 cigarillos or 50 cigars

3.    1 liter spirit over 22% or 2 liter wine or 32 liter beer

4.    Perfumes

5.    Gifts up to SEK 1700.

Prohibited Items

Narcotics, firearms, ammunition, weapons, most meat and dairy products, eggs, plants, endangered species, fireworks and alcoholic beverages that contain more than sixty per cent alcohol.