Shopping
Overview
Glass and crystal goods, steel and silver items and hemslöjd (arts and crafts) and wood carvings. Shop opening hours: Mon-Fri 09.00-18.00 and Sat 09.00-16.00. In the big cities, department stores are open until 8pm/10pm on certain evenings, and some also on Sundays from 12pm to 4pm. In the countryside, shops/gas stations close at 17.00/18.00.
Nightlife
Introduction
In Stockholm you will find countless pubs, cafes, discotheques, restaurants, cinemas and theatres. In the countryside, the offer is limited and the evenings are quieter. Open-air concerts and theatrical performances in open-air arenas take place in many cities in Sweden during the summer.
- Usprivateschoolsfinder: Offers description downloadable image of national flag for the country of Sweden. Also includes prehistory and history of this nation.
Culinary
Overview
The restaurants are expensive, the cheapest are the daily specials, which are offered at lunchtime. To really enjoy the smörgåsbord (cold platter), you should eat the dishes in the traditional order. First you try pickled herring with boiled potatoes, then maybe some other fish dishes like smoked salmon or anchovies, then cold roast, pâté, sliced beef, stuffed veal or smoked reindeer. Then the hot dishes follow, e.g. B. a herring dish, small meatballs (köttbullar) or an omelette. For dessert there is semlor, a yeast pastry filled with marzipan and cream. Drinks: Aquavit and Brännvin are served chilled with Smörgåsbord. Swedish light and dark beers come in four strengths. Wine and champagne are very expensive. Spirits are not sold to young people under the age of 20. Wine, beer and spirits are sold in state shops (Systembolaget) which are open during normal business hours. On Sundays, alcohol is not served in a café, bar or restaurant before 1 p.m. After midnight, alcohol is only available in nightclubs that stay open until 2am or 3am. Spirits are only available in certain establishments with the appropriate liquor license (Fullständiga Rättigheter). The penalties for drunk driving are high.
Accommodation
Hotels
Offer a high standard. Most hotels have restaurants and/or cafeterias and TV rooms. Every Swedish city has good high-end or mid-range hotels. Most of the hotels are family-run, but hotel chains are also represented. At the weekends and in summer you will find many special offers. In Stockholm, Malmö and Gothenburg there are cheap package deals available all year round. Hotel Classification: Hotels are classified into the Hotelstars Union star categories from one to five stars.
Camping
There are a variety of well-equipped campsites. Most places are on the lake shore or by the sea, so you can swim or go boating. There are over 750 designated campsites classified by the Swedish Tourist Board. Many have boat and bike rentals, mini-golf and tennis courts, and saunas. 50 campgrounds are in the mountains, 12 of which are beyond the Arctic Circle, where the sun never sets in summer. There are facilities for the disabled on about 180 places. Between June 1st and August 15th is the peak season and all facilities are available to the visitor. Many places open as early as April or May, but often some of the facilities (e.g. the post office) still closed. About 200 pitches are also open in winter, especially in the winter sports areas of northern and central Sweden, and have electricity for caravans. The price for an overnight stay in provided tents or caravans is low by European standards. In some places, however, you have to pay extra to use the showers and launderettes. A camper card (camping card) is required on most sites; If you don’t have one yet, you can buy it at the first campsite, and it is then valid for the whole season. You can also order them directly from the Swedish Camping Union (SCR) (address below). International camping cards are also valid. Swedish campsites are among the best in Europe. the designated campsites, Each check is valid for one night’s family accommodation, including car and tent or caravan. Caravans and mobile homes can also be rented. Wild camping is also temporarily permitted except on farmland and pastures. It should be noted that motor vehicles are only allowed to drive on paved roads. More information from Sveriges Campingvärdars Riksförbund (Campsite Headquarters SCR), Box 255, S-45117 Uddevalla. (Internet: www.camping.se)Camping gas is difficult to obtain, it is best to take a supply with you. The gas from the Swedish companies Primus and Sievert can usually be bought at gas stations for refilling.
Other accommodation options
Swedish youth hostels (Vandrarhem) are often functional buildings, but some are housed in mansions. There is no age limit. 2- and 4-bed rooms, family rooms and cooking facilities are always available. The youth hostels are run by the STF (Svenska Turistföreningen). Members of foreign youth hostel associations also receive a price reduction upon presentation of their membership card. All youth hostels are open in summer, some all year round. They are closed during the day, but newcomers can reserve a bed at the reception between 08.00-09.30 and 17.00-22.00. Advance booking is recommended in summer. A maximum of five overnight stays are permitted per youth hostel. An address list of the youth hostels is available from the STF (see addresses). The hostels are also listed in the International Youth Hostel Guide, which is available from the Youth Hostel Association. Throughout Sweden there are over 400 farms where you can spend your holiday. Bed and breakfast is usually offered; Cooking facilities for the other meals are available. Some farms also offer full board. Booking through the local tourist offices. A directory of farm holidays from LRF Lantbrukarnas Riksförbund (website: www.bopalantgard.org). The hostels are also listed in the International Youth Hostel Guide, which is available from the Youth Hostel Association. Throughout Sweden there are over 400 farms where you can spend your holiday. Bed and breakfast is usually offered; Cooking facilities for the other meals are available. Some farms also offer full board. Booking through the local tourist offices. A directory of farm holidays from LRF Lantbrukarnas Riksförbund (website: www.bopalantgard.org). The hostels are also listed in the International Youth Hostel Guide, which is available from the Youth Hostel Association. Throughout Sweden there are over 400 farms where you can spend your holiday. Bed and breakfast is usually offered; Cooking facilities for the other meals are available. Some farms also offer full board. Booking through the local tourist offices. A directory of farm holidays from LRF Lantbrukarnas Riksförbund (website: www.bopalantgard.org). Cooking facilities for the other meals are available. Some farms also offer full board. Booking through the local tourist offices. A directory of farm holidays from LRF Lantbrukarnas Riksförbund (website: www.bopalantgard.org). Cooking facilities for the other meals are available. Some farms also offer full board. Booking through the local tourist offices. A directory of farm holidays from LRF Lantbrukarnas Riksförbund (website: www.bopalantgard.org).
Culture
Religion
87% of the population belong to the Church of Sweden. Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Baptist, Muslim, Jewish and Buddhist minorities.
Social Rules of Conduct
Manners: Except when dealing with authorities, the »du« is generally common in Sweden. Being unpunctual is considered very impolite. One should not drink until the host raises his glass and has made a toast. Skål means cheers. After the meal, you say thank you to the cook with “Tack för maten”. Dress: Casual attire is appropriate almost everywhere, smarter attire is expected only in better restaurants, clubs and on special occasions. Smoking: Throughout Sweden, smoking is banned in all public places, in public buildings and on public transport, as well as in closed areas of cafés, restaurants and pubs where food and drinks are served. Dining establishments may offer smoking rooms, but no food or beverages may be served in them. Tipping: The service charge is already included in hotel and restaurant bills, but is usually rounded up. The service charge is higher at night. Taxi drivers are happy about a rounding up of the fare.
Climate
Best travel time
In northern Sweden, winters are long and very cold with lows of -40°C. The midnight sun shines above the Arctic Circle from mid-June to mid-July. Summers can be very hot in general, but are shorter in the north. The best time to travel to northern Sweden is from early June to mid-July. In southern and central Sweden, the winters are also cold and bring a lot of snow. The best travel time for these parts of the country begins in May and ends in September. The island of Öland is known for its particularly dry, warm climate.
Country data
Phone prefix
+46
Area (sq km)
449964
Population
10,099,265 (Source: homosociety)
Population density (per square km)
22
Population statistics year
2015
Member of the EU
yes
Main emergency number
112
