Sweden
Capital City: Stockholm
Sweden Key Facts
-
Flag
-
Size
449,964 km²
(57th largest) -
Population
9,716,962
-
Sweden Location
Northern Europe
-
Travel Insurance
For Sweden travel insurance, select Europe Region
-
International Calling Codes
46
-
Cities
Gothenburg
Gotland
Kiruna -
Language
Swedish
-
Religions
66% Church of Sweden
30% Agnostics
-
Currency
-
Driving
In Sweden they drive on the right side of the road
Tourism website:
sweden.se
When is the best time to visit?
While the summer months of June, July and August have the best weather, they also correspond with the main school vacation in Europe. The best times to visit are in spring (May through June) and the month of September. Winter is only recommended for skiing enthusiasts.
Transport Information
Airports (226 domestic, 4 international), railways, highways, metro, bus, ports and harbors
World Heritage Sites
- Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland, a stunning landscape with abundant evidence of continuous human settlement from prehistoric times until today
- Birka and Hovgården, an example of the vast trading networks of Viking-Age Europe
- Church Town of Gammelstad, Luleå, a beautiful example of Scandinavia's unique church villages
- Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland, representing the high point of regional timber building traditions around the Middle Ages
- Engelsberg Ironworks, the best-preserved example of Sweden's famous ironworks from the 17th century
- Grimeton Radio Station, Varberg, which bears witness to the early wireless transatlantic communication
- Hanseatic Town of Visby, the best-preserved example of a fortified commercial city in northern Europe
- Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun, which illustrate the successive stages in the economic and social evolution of the copper industry in the Falun region
- Naval Port of Karlskrona, a stunning example of a let 17th century panned naval city
- Rock Carvings in Tanum, which reveal the beliefs and the life of people in Europe during the Bronze Age
- Royal Domain of Drottningholm, a perfectly preserved example of an 18th century north European royal residence inspired by the Palace of Versailles
- Skogskyrkogården, a cemetery in Stockholm that has profoundly influenced cemetery design in the rest of the world
- Stuve Geodetic Arc, is part of a chain of survey triangulations that stretch from Hammerfest in Norway all the way to the Black Sea, crossing 10 countries
- High Coast/Kvarken Archipelago, a stunning landscape that is helping scientists understand the important processes that formed the glaciated and land uplift areas of the Earth's surface
- Laponian Area, the home of the Saami people and the largest area in the world with an ancestral way of life
-
Average Annual Temperature
4 degrees
-
Average Annual Rainfall
600 mm
Climate Information
Sweden has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons and mild temperatures throughout the year. Due to its location, sunlight hours are very variable: north of the Arctic Circle the sun does not set for a certain time in summer and never rises in winter, whereas Stockholm tends to have 18hours of sunshine in summer, and only 6 hours in winter. Temperatures between the north and south vary a lot. Southern Sweden has average temperatures of 23 degrees in summer and 0 degrees in winter, while in the north summers are shorter and cooler, and winter temperatures are well below freezing. In terms of precipitation, Sweden receives less rainfall than the global average.
Official Holidays
- January 1 - New Year's Day
- January 6 - Epiphany
- March/April - Good Friday
- March/April - Easter Day
- April 6 - Easter Monday
- May 1 - May 1st
- May 14 - Ascension Day
- May 24 - Whit Sunday
- June 6 - National Day
- June 20 - Midsummer Day
- October 31 - All Saints' Day
- December 25 - Christmas Day
- December 26 - Boxing Day
Why Visit Sweden?
Sweden is any nature lover's dream offering lots of adventure trekking and hiking in rugged terrain. There are also lots of winters sports offered, from skiing to ice skating. With many iconic and stunning hiking treks, Sweden attracts mainly outdoor enthusiasts.
Things To Do In Sweden
- See Stockholm's Old Town.
- Go island hopping on the Stockholm archipelago.
- See Sweden's biggest mountain Kebnekaisa.
- Have some pickled herring.
- See Sweden's beaches and enjoy its midnight sun.
- See northern lights and other fantastic nature sites.
- Visit UNESCO World Heritage sites.
Travel Tips For Sweden
- Alcohol is Sweden is only sold in one chain of stores that sells alcohol.
- Midsummer (end of June) is Sweden's biggest festival, and it is well worth planning your trip around this event.
Swedish Food
Swedish cuisine is a typical example of Scandinavian cuisine, with the main staples being fish (especially herring), meat, potatoes and dairy products. Swedes do not use a lot of spices in their cooking. Famous dishes include meatballs, which are traditionally served with gravy, potatoes and jam. In the north you will find quite a bit of game meat being consumed, most popularly reindeer. Bread is a popular food product, and you will find a wide range of different breads from rye, wheat, oat an with bread to dark breads, sour dough, and flatbreads. Don't be surprised to find hot and cold fruit soups, such as blueberry soup and rose hip soup, on many a menu. Sweden also gave the world the smörgåsboard, which is a buffet consisting of various hot and cold dishes.
Sweden's Travel Safety and Warnings
- Sweden is very safe for travellers, and while crime is not unheard of it is not common. Make sure you have travel insurance for Sweden before starting your journey.
- If you plan on hiking or going to remote areas, be aware of weather predictions as snow storms can be vicious and the roads become icy.
About Sweden
Home of the Nobel Prize and the ferocious Vikings, Sweden offers visitors some absolutely stunning scenery and some of the most unspoilt nature areas in the world. Stretching 1572 kms from Denmark all the way to the Arctic Circle, Sweden offers a staggering amount of diverse sceneries and landscapes that are simply breathtaking.
Sweden is an outdoor adventurers dream, not only offering great hikes, but also lots of activities from skiing and ice skating to sailing and horse-riding. Get a warm jacket ready, arrange travel insurance for Sweden, and explore the home of the Vikings.
|
Stockholm is Sweden's capital city and a beautiful place to explore. More than 30% of the entire city area is taken up by waterways, and another 30% is covered in green spaces. Moreover, the inner city of Stockholm is actually built on 14 islands that are connected by canals and bridges. Altogether, this creates an amazingly open and spacious feel to the city, and it also makes it a lot less stressful than many other busy European capitals. |
 |
Gamla Stan is Stockholm's Old Town and is a true pleasure to explore on foot. Make sure you check out the following attractions:
- The Royal Palace, which is the official residence of the King of Sweden.
- The 13th century Stockholm Cathedral,
- Riddarholmen Church, where many Swedish regents are buried.
- The Nobel Museum is an interesting place to explore and offers lots of information and material about the Prize itself as well as a video archive of the speeches, which range from interesting to truly inspiring.
- For a little bit of a different experience head to the Storkyrkobadet, an 18th century bathhouse. Pools and Saunas are offered here, and it’s not only wonderfully relaxing but also a very Swedish thing to do.
Not far from Stockholm itself is an area known as the Stockholm archipelago. This stunning area is home to some 24,000 islands, of which roughly 150 are inhabited. While most islands are only accessible by private boat, the larger ones tend to have a ferry service. Värmdö is the largest island, is quite easy to get to, and offers some wonderful forests, lakes and beaches.
However, the further out you manage to get, the better the views become. Utö is on the outer-archipelago and offers some tremendous views of its surrounding area. For the brave, or those unafraid of cold water, swimming is an option on these islands! Before jumping in the water though, sort out your travel insurance for Sweden.
|
Norrland is the name of the northern region of Sweden and contains many of the big national parks. Here you will find few people, and a stunning amount of pristine wilderness. Coming here is about hiking and exploration, so make sure you have all the equipment you need. The important UNESCO site of Höga Kusten (High Coast) is located here, and notable for helping scientists understand the effects of glacial movement on land formation. |
 |
|
Sweden's highest mountain, Kebnekaisa, is also here and there are many popular hiking tracks. When coming to this area, make sure to take lots of mosquito repellent with you, as this part of Sweden is utterly infested with them. For very ambitious hikers, the Royal Trail also starts here and runs from Abisko to Hemavan, covering 430kms |
 |
However, the north is not all desolation, isolation, and stunning nature, it’s also the site of the internationally famous ice hotel. Famous for being made completely out of ice, including bar stools and beds, this hotel is only around for a couple of months a year during the winter months. The vodka bar in it is iconic, and they offer tours for the curious.
Sweden is a very safe country for travellers. If you plan on any nature activities though, it is recommended that you first check the local weather forecast and secondly that your travel insurance for Sweden is up to date. Snowstorms can move in quickly, and depending on where you find yourself, you may well get snowed in for a while, so make sure you are properly equipped for any adventures.
|
Swedes are famously friendly, and they love connecting with international travellers. They love to eat, especially herring, sit around in coffee shops, and tackle life with a very relaxed attitude. If you happen to be in Sweden in the last weekend of June, you get to celebrate Sweden’s biggest festival: Midsummer! From public dances to folk music, from traditional pickled herring to local Schnapps, this festival is well worth the journey. |
 |
For more information on Sweden, visit the Sweden Tourism Website.
