Sweden has outgrown its iconic preconceptions—a certain car, a specific hair color, and a particular legendary ’70s pop group. Stockholm, the country’s beautiful postcard-perfect capital, is home to many tech businesses, creative design firms, and environmentally friendly cafés and restaurants. Laid-back Gothenburg is Sweden’s culinary pride, with the finest seafood in the region and young chefs who emerge from tattoo parlors to run Michelin-starred restaurants for Swedish royalty. Today’s Sweden is a colorful melting pot of artistic and cultural influences far beyond Volvos, blondes, and ABBA, featuring Malmö’s intoxicating blend of cultural influences, Northern Sweden’s Arctic tundra and indigenous Sámi cultures, the traditional Swedish roots of Dalarna, and medieval history on Gotland.
When’s the best time to go to Sweden?
The Swedes are extremely tough to get out of Sweden during the summer because the country comes alive with almost 24 hours a day of sunlight.The climate is temperate, with blue skies and low-hanging clouds and plenty of lush, undulating vegetation.
People spend their time island-hopping around various archipelagoes, hiking, swimming in bays, and retreating to summer cottages and cabins.Autumn in west Sweden is the ideal time to go on a shellfish-hunting journey with professional fishermen, where you can trawl for lobster, crayfish, oysters, mussels, shrimps and langoustines. Winter offer the perfect conditions to seedisplay of Aurora Borealis as well as take part in thrilling outdoor activities such us husky sledding , snowmobiling or skiing.
How to get around Sweden
Flights to Sweden’s main airports in Stockholm and Gothenburg are well-connected to the rest of Europe, and there are direct flights to the U.S. West Coast available through Norwegian Airlines and Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). If you’re coming to Sweden from another country, chances are you’ll arrive in Stockholm via Arlanda Airport, which is a 45-minute drive from the center of the nation. Airlines such as Ryanair and EasyJet fly into Stockholm Skavsta Airport, which is 1.5 hours from Stockholm city centre. Other means to reach town include airport coaches such as Flygbussarna and Swebus.
Sweden’s public transportation is excellent if you need to get around the country quickly and efficiently. Taking the SJ train is a great option for longer distances, while domestic flights with SAS or Norwegian can often be cheaper and faster than taking a cross-country train. If you’re in one of the major cities, make use of the subway or aboveground tram system. And last but not least, there are ferry options that travel between some of Sweden’s islands and other countries within Scandinavia. Only take a taxi as a last resort though – they’re very expensive.
Food and drink to try in Sweden
Scandinavia’s most expensive place to live, Sweden has some of the world’s greatest restaurants. Swedish locals save money by looking for “Dagens Rätt” signs. This indicates the daily dish and implies one or more inexpensive meals available at up to half off the regular price. A bakficka (“back pocket”) sibling restaurant in some of Sweden’s renowned Michelin-starred fine dining places offers high-quality food at lower prices. West Sweden is recognized for its excellent seafood owing to its proximity to clean, chilly North Sea waters. Try traditional meatballs and pickled herring, which is Sweden’s version of classic soul food. The Swedish term “fika” means to take a break several times throughout the day to have coffee and pastries with friends, family, or colleagues.
In Sweden, there are even days dedicated exclusively to celebrating food! For example, March 25th is Waffle Day, Shrove Tuesday is Semla Day, October 4th is Cinnamon Bun Day, and November 6th celebrates a creamy sponge cake called the King Gustavus Adolphus pastry. If you want to stock up on liquor while in Sweden ,you’ll need visit one of the hundreds of government-run alcohol stores called Systembolaget.
Culture in Sweden
Looking for an amazing travel destination that has it all? Look no further than Sweden! The country’s capital, Stockholm, is built on 14 beautiful islands, each with its own unique charm. From edgy Södermalm and glitzy Östermalm to quaint Gamla Stan and hip Kungsholmen, there’s something for everyone in Stockholm.
And the city’s subway system, T-bana, is home to the world’s longest art exhibition! Just a short trip from Stockholm is Gothenburg – a more laid-back city with a thriving hipster culture. Don’t miss Sweden’s largest amusement park, Liseberg! Gothenburg is also known as Sweden’s culinary capital – seafood lovers will be in heaven here. Make sure to visit the fish market too – it’s the largest one in Sweden. Malmö is a 35-minute train ride from Copenhagen, Denmark, and it is one of Sweden’s most culturally diverse cities.
Every summer on Gotland, explore Sweden’s Viking and medieval history. Abisko served as the European Capital of Culture in 2014, making it the northernmost city in Sweden. Luleå is the gateway to Swedish Lapland, while Jokkmokk and Kiruna are good places to learn more about Sámi culture in Northern Sweden. Abisko is northern Sweden’s most popular location for seeing the Northern Lights.
Valborg is a springtime celebration in Sweden that includes bonfires, vigils, and fun throughout the country. On National Day (June 6), you’ll see the blue-and-yellow Swedish flags flying all around towns.
Midsummer is still Sweden’s most famous cultural event, taking place every year in late June. In addition to this, Stockholm Film Festival takes place in the fall, and Swedish Lapland hosts an ice festival as well as the 410-year-old indigenous Sámi market at Jokkmokk during the winter months.
The most popular festivals in Sweden include the Gothenburg Film Festival, which is held each January, as well as the Sonar music, creativity and technology event in Stockholm. There are a variety of Christmas markets throughout Sweden, with Stockholm hosting the Nobel Prize ceremonies and banquet every December.
Practical Information
– Many locals know English, so unless you want to learn more Swedish, “hej” (hello) and “tack” (thanks) are all you need.
-Most businesses open at 9 or 10 a.m. and close between 5 and 6 p.m., with the exception of supermarkets, which generally operate seven days per week. On weekends, they may even close earlier—and on Sundays, they may not open at all—so plan your trip accordingly.
-When it comes to queue management, most enterprises rely on a number dispenser, so keep an eye out for these when you go shopping.
-Sweden is a virtually cashless society, with most people using credit cards and few coins saved for public toilets.
– Given the country’s strong commitment to environmentalism, be aware of this when utilizing public areas.
-If you’re pushing a stroller, you can ride public buses for free. – Tipping isn’t required for the services provided.
-The 230 volt Europlug is used in Sweden—type C and F.
– The currency in Sweden is the krona.
