Highlights

Lapland’s wilderness, forest and tundra regions in search of Sweden’s ‘Big Six: moose, wolverines, wolves, brown bears, lynxes and musk oxen.

Sleep in an igloo or hotel made of ice and see the northern lights – brave the crisp winter nights to witness one of nature’s most spectacular displays – the Aurora Borealis. And what better way to see the dancing night sky, than from the comfort of your own glass-domed room or even a hotel constructed from ice blocks.

Embrace your Fika – Swedish cuisine is much more than just meatballs. From the selection of delicious toppings adorning open sandwiches or smörgås, to making time for a coffee and cake break or fika, Swede’s enjoy celebrations which centre around the sharing of food.

Sámi cultural traditions – The indigenous Sámi people who live in the northern part of Scandinavia have called this region home for thousands of years, and their rich and ancient traditions are still part of the way of life in the Arctic region.

Useful information

Your search for ""

clear search

Communications

Country code for Sweden is: +46.
Emergency services: Ambulance 112, Fire: 112, Police 112

Customs

Many Swedish customs are closely linked to the change of the season, with summer celebrated through traditional festivals, local foods and seasonal delicacies and the long, dark winter gives way to a celebration of summer’s longer, milder days. Midsummer festivities tend to take place outdoors, street parties and festivals taking place in mid-June, following Sweden’s National Day on 6 June each year. Swedes can be seen as quite reserved and polite, with society based on equality, fairness and order in day to day life. Nature, the environment and outdoors are important in Sweden, and the country in general is very green, with less than one percent of household waste ending up in landfill in Sweden. Allemansrätten, or the Right of Public Access, gives all Swedes the right to enjoy the country’s outdoors, and brings with it the responsibility to treat flora and fauna with care, something which is written into the Swedish constitution.

Electricity

The electricity current in Finland is 230V, 50Hz. Sweden uses European-style two-pin plugs (Type C and F).

Getting around

The national airline of Sweden, SAS, covers most of the country from Malmö in the south to Kiruna in the north with scheduled domestic flights departing from Stockholm Arlanda airport. An extensive rail network connects the main transport hubs of Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö with daily high-speed services between all three cities and also Stockholm city and Arlanda airport.

The rail network also extends into neighbouring countries, allowing visitors to travel from Stockholm all the way to Narvik located in the Arctic Circle in Norway. The scenic Inlandsbanan rail journey travels 1300km along a south to north route with stops in Vilhelmina in Lapland and Östersund.

A comprehensive regional bus and train system makes it simple to visit smaller towns and centres throughout the country.

The road and motorways in Sweden make driving a good way to get around. Driving is on the right-hand side and travellers should be aware of road hazards such as elk and reindeer in the north, as well as adverse road conditions in winter.

Sweden has a well-developed network of cycle paths and like most of Scandinavia is very bike-friendly, making cycling a great way for visitors to sightsee in and around cities and towns.

An extensive ferry network services the Stockholm archipelago and daily ferries travel between the mainland and Sweden’s largest island and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Visby in Gotland.

Language

Swedish, with English also widely spoken.

Health

Please consult a medical practitioner or contact The Travel Doctor for your specific risk to these preventable diseases and the appropriate avoidance measures. Australians travelling to Scandinavia or the Baltics should also ensure that they have adequate travel insurance to cover the length of their stay. For further information please visit the Smartraveller website
 
Swedish medical facilities have similar standards to those in Australia, however emergency services can be limited in remote areas. Australia has a reciprocal healthcare agreement with Sweden. Ticks are very common in country areas from March to November, so you should exercise precautions and monitor for signs of tick bites and infection.

Tipping

Normally tipping is not expected in Sweden, but it is common to round up the bill in restaurants and cafes or add 10% of the final bill for special service. If a service charge is included in your bill it will be clearly stated. It is not obligatory to give a tip to taxi drivers or hotel staff, but a modest tip of a few kronor is a nice gesture.

Shopping

In the cities and main towns, larger shopping malls are open during the following hours:
Monday – Friday 9:30am – 6:00pm

Saturday 9:30am – 2:00pm or 4:00pm
 
Some shops are also open on Sundays from 12:00pm – 4:00pm. Hours may vary in smaller towns and local shops in the countryside.
 
Sweden is renowned for its high-quality glass and crystal including brands such as Orrefors and Kosta Boda, as well as the clean and contemporary design style which influences Swedish fashion, homewares and jewellery. You can also find uniquely Swedish foods such as Lingonberry Jam, or Saltlakrits, which is a popular salted liquorice with a very acquired taste.

Visas

The Travel Corporation has partnered with the company Sherpa to provide travellers with the latest government and health restrictions. Simply enter the country you want to travel to for information on safety regulations, border closures, quarantine requirements, your travel visa and more using the Sherpa travel tool.

FIND OUT WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR YOUR TRIP


Official travel advice is available by visiting the SmartTraveller Website