SWEDEN

 

Group travel can be hard especially if each person has different preferences. Envision you are in a group of four. Agnetha has the Northern Lights on her bucket list, but Björn wants to lounge on a white sand beach. Benny loves big cities while Anni-Frid has her sights on hiking in the great outdoors. SOS! Where do you go? Sweden is here to come to your rescue! This Scandinavian nation ranges nearly 1,000 miles from north to south allowing visitors to see snow-capped mountains one day and sunbathe the next. Did I mention that Sweden also finds itself consistently in the top ten of happiest countries on Earth?

  • Updated COVID-19 Travel Information:

  • Currency:

    • The official currency of Sweden is the Swedish Krona (SEK). Unlike its Scandinavian compadre, Denmark, Euros are not accepted here. If you carry any cash, make sure it is SEK, not EUR. It is also worth noting that credit and debit cards are the way to go when making purchases in Scandinavian countries; cash is being slowly waned out.

      • $1 USD = 8.5 SEK

  • Pricing for Leisure Travelers:

    • Average Hotel Expenses = 1,000-1,125 SEK/Night ($120-$135 USD/Night)

    • Average Food/Drink Expenses = 300-425 SEK/Day ($35-$50 USD/Day)

  • Pricing for Backpackers:

    • Average Hostel Expenses = 180-265 SEK/Night ($21-$31 USD/Night)

    • Average Food/Drink Expenses = 180-265 SEK/Day ($21-$31 USD/Day)

  • Communication:

    • Swedish is the country’s official language but, as with all Nordic nations, you will find that most everyone is also fluent in English.

  • Transportation:

    • Train: The best mode of transportation for getting around Sweden and traveling across Scandinavia when taking into account efficiency and comfort. Purchase tickets through SJ, Sweden’s state-owned train operator, or Rail Europe.

    • Airplane: Flying is not a great option for domestic travel within Sweden but can be viable if you are on a time crunch or traveling throughout Europe; Stockholm is a big travel hub. Tickets can be purchased via SAS, Norwegian Air, or Skyscanner.

    • Bus: Another practical option for traveling throughout Sweden/Scandinavia. You can expect ticket prices to be less expensive than taking the train, but the travel time will be longer. Book tickets through FlixBus or BusBud.

    • Taxi/Uber: Uber only operates in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö, but you can find taxis everywhere. Be wary though, they’re quite pricey. I recommend sticking to bus or train transportation if possible!

  • Miscellaneous:

    • One of Sweden’s most popular holidays is Midsummer, a day commemorating the summer solstice. On this day, the longest of the year, the entire country comes together in merriment by singing, dancing, and (of course) drinking! This annual celebration takes place between June 19-26, so I recommend planning your visit around it if possible. Not only will you create flower crowns, but you may even help raise the ever-special maypole!

    • Sweden is one of the few European countries that grant people “freedom to roam”. This means travelers can pitch tents, swim in lakes, forage for mushrooms, or hike through nature freely so as much as they do not destroy land or disturb the peace. The only exceptions are private gardens, cultivated land, and the immediate vicinity (70m) of someone’s home.

    • Sweden is a member of the EU, but not a member of NATO.

    • Before my trip to Scandinavia, I read the book The Almost Nearly Perfect People, written by British journalist Michael Booth. Each country (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden) has its own section and although I do not love that it is a Brit writing about the culture of a place he was not born, I do like that it gives you a view of life in each country as an outsider/tourist/traveler. Take the facts with a grain of salt, but it gives some good context!

 

STOCKHOLM