Sweden

Sweden Travel Guide for First-Time Visitors

Sweden is a Scandinavian country of sleek cities, storybook old towns, thousands of islands, forests, lakes, and long summer evenings where the sun hardly sets. Stockholm alone can fill several days—with its royal palace, waterfront promenades, and cobbled Gamla Stan—but Sweden rewards visitors who go farther: university-city Uppsala, west-coast Gothenburg with its cafés and archipelago, medieval Visby on Gotland, and the vast north where you can see reindeer, the Northern Lights in winter, and the midnight sun in summer. It is a safe, well-organized, English-friendly destination, which makes it excellent for first-time visitors to Scandinavia. The main surprise for many travelers is cost—so this guide focuses on practical, SEO-friendly information on money, transport, power, and common scams to help you plan smart and enjoy Sweden comfortably.

Cities, Towns & Attractions Popular with Tourists

Stockholm: Capital built on 14 islands—Gamla Stan (old town), Royal Palace, Vasa Museum, ABBA Museum, Djurgården museums, boat tours.
Gothenburg (Göteborg): Laidback west-coast city with canals, seafood, Haga district, and an archipelago perfect for day trips.
Malmö & Lund: Southern cities connected to Copenhagen via the Öresund Bridge; Malmö for Turning Torso and waterfront, Lund for its university charm.
Uppsala: Historic cathedral city and university town, easy day trip from Stockholm.
Visby (Gotland): UNESCO-listed medieval town, summer favorite.
Swedish Lapland (Kiruna, Abisko, Jokkmokk): Winter activities, Northern Lights (roughly Sept–Mar), dogsledding, snowmobile trips; in summer, midnight sun and hiking.
Archipelagos: Stockholm and Gothenburg archipelagos are great for island-hopping in summer.

Good to Know

When to go: May–Sept for mild weather, long days, and island trips. Dec–Mar for winter, Christmas markets, and Northern Lights up north.
Daylight: Summer has very long days (especially in the north); winter has short days—plan sightseeing accordingly.
Cards over cash: Sweden is famously cash-light; many places prefer cards and sometimes do not accept cash.
Alcohol: Sold in dedicated state shops (Systembolaget) with limited hours; restaurants and bars sell alcohol normally.
Nature access: “Allemansrätten” (right of public access) allows respectful enjoyment of nature—follow local rules.

Visa & Entry Requirements for Tourists from the U.S., Canada, EU, U.K., and Australia

EU/EEA & Schengen citizens: Free movement to Sweden with valid ID/passport.
U.K. citizens: Visa-free short stays (up to 90 days in any 180-day period) in Schengen, including Sweden. Passport must meet Schengen validity rules.
U.S. citizens: Visa-free for tourism and business up to 90 days in any 180-day period within Schengen, with a passport valid at least 3 months beyond your intended departure and issued within the last 10 years.
Canadian citizens: Also visa-free for 90/180 tourism in Schengen.
Australian citizens: Visa-free for short Schengen stays (up to 90/180).
Important: Border officials can ask for proof of onward/return travel, accommodation, and sufficient funds, and travelers should check the latest Swedish/EU guidance before departure (especially if systems like ETIAS become active).

Currency & Budget

Currency: Swedish Krona (SEK).

Exchange rate: In 2025, 1 USD is often in the range of 10–12 SEK and 1 EUR roughly 11–12.5 SEK, but it moves—check a live rate just before you arrive.

Average daily budget (approx.):

Backpacker: 60–95 USD/day (650–1,000 SEK) – hostels, supermarket food, public transport, free sights.
Midrange: 120–210 USD/day (1,300–2,200 SEK) – 3-star hotels, restaurant dinners, intercity trains, museum entries.
Luxury: 240–400+ USD/day (2,500–4,300+ SEK) – boutique/4–5 star hotels, archipelago cruises, fine dining, domestic flights north.

Tipping: Not mandatory—service is often included. Round up or add 5–10% in restaurants or for good service; tip taxi drivers and guides modestly.

Credit card acceptance: Excellent. Visa and Mastercard widely accepted; contactless is the norm. Some places are card-only.

ATMs: Available in cities and towns, but you may not need much cash. If you do, use bank ATMs.

Best way to get local cash: Withdraw a small amount of SEK from an ATM on arrival and pay by card for almost everything else.

Language & Communication

Official language: Swedish.
English: Very widely spoken—among the highest English levels in Europe—so first-time visitors rarely have language problems.
Other languages: You may hear Finnish, Sami (north), and many immigrant languages in big cities.

SIM cards / eSIM

Main operators: Telia, Tele2, Telenor, and Tre (3).
Where to buy: Stockholm Arlanda airport, operator stores, supermarkets (like Pressbyrån/7-Eleven-type shops), and electronics stores. Bring your passport if asked.
Tourist eSIM: Very convenient—buy online before landing; many EU eSIMs roam in Sweden at domestic rates.
Coverage: Excellent in cities and along major routes; slower/patchier in remote northern or forested areas—download offline maps if going rural.

Power Plugs & Voltage

Voltage: 230V, 50 Hz.
Plugs: Type C and F (two round pins). Travelers from the U.S./U.K./Australia will need an adapter and should check device voltage.

Getting Around

Trains: SJ (national rail) and regional operators connect major cities—Stockholm–Gothenburg, Stockholm–Malmö/Copenhagen, and Stockholm–north. Book ahead for cheaper fares.
Domestic flights: Useful for long distances (e.g. Stockholm to Kiruna, Luleå, or Umeå) and for winter/northern trips.
Local transport: Stockholm has metro (T-bana), buses, trams, and ferries; Gothenburg also has extensive trams. Contactless and travel cards are easy to use.
Ferries & archipelago boats: Popular summer activity—good-value day trips from Stockholm and Gothenburg.
Driving: Right-hand traffic, excellent roads, winter tires in season, and watch for wildlife in rural/northern areas.

Safety

Overall: Sweden is very safe for visitors, including solo and family travel.
Petty theft: Can occur in busy tourist areas in Stockholm (old town, central station) and on public transport—keep valuables zipped and in front.
Weather safety: Winters are cold and dark, especially in the north—dress in layers, wear proper shoes, and check transport updates.
Nature: If hiking or going to the archipelago/Lapland, tell someone your plans and check weather and daylight hours.

Common Tourist Scams & Annoyances

Overpriced taxis at airports/stations: Use official taxi ranks, compare posted fares, or use ride-hailing/apps.
Pickpocketing in busy areas: Especially around central Stockholm, Old Town, and festivals—keep phones and wallets secure.
ATM dynamic currency conversion (DCC): Always choose to be charged in SEK, not in your home currency.

Base yourself in Stockholm for 2–3 days, add a day trip to the archipelago or Uppsala, then head west to Gothenburg or south to Malmö/Copenhagen—or fly north for Northern Lights—and you will get Sweden’s nature, design, and friendly everyday life in one trip.