17 Things You NEED To Know About Traveling to Sweden: What To Do (And NOT To Do!)

Have an upcoming trip to Sweden and don’t know where to start? No worries – I’m here for ya!

After my trip to Sweden, I fell in love with the country and wanted others to have the same experience, which is why I wrote up these quick and easy Sweden travel tips. Here you’ll find places to visit in Sweden, what to do and not to do, and how to get the most of your visit.

Let’s check it out!

1. Swedish transportation is on another level

Before traveling to Sweden, the only thing that I heard about their public transportation system was how gorgeous Stockholm’s metro system was. However, what people failed to mention was how good Swedish transportation is! They have everything figured out: there’s a fast and cheap shuttle from the airport to the city center; city-wide public transportation (buses, metro, Gothenberg’s famous trams, etc); and inter-city high-speed trains. I had the chance to take a train from Stockholm to Gothenburg and was amazed at how fast, clean, and efficient it was – there was even WiFi onboard!

2. DO Go beyond Stockholm…

Although my trip to Sweden was short (this time!), I’m glad I got to spend 2 days in Stockholm and 1 day in Gothenburg. Each city in Sweden has its own personality, just like every major city around the world. If you have the time and adventurous spirit, I recommend going beyond Stockholm and getting the full Swedish experience by adding in a few different cities. Some recommendations: Gothenburg, Skåne, Uppsala, Malmö, and so on.

Source: Unsplash

3. …But not too far!

No, I’m just kidding :)

If you’re visiting during the summer I recommend jumping on a ferry and going island hopping. There are over 25,000 islands in the Stockholm archipelago, with many within a short distance from the capital. The Stockholm Pass offers a sightseeing tour of the archipelago (plus a ton of other perks, like free entrances and discounts!). If you prefer to buy just the tour, you can do that here.

4. Alcohol ain’t cheap

If you’re planning to drink in Sweden, it’s a good idea to come prepared. Hard alcohol (anything over 3.5%) is only sold in state-run stores called Systembolaget, which are open during set times and closed on Sundays. Likewise, the drinks in restaurants and bars are much more expensive, so buy ahead or get ready to hand over your credit card.

Source: Booking

5. Sweden has its very own Ice Hotel

That’s right! If you’ve been envying those igloo-, bubble-, or ice hotels, here’s your chance. Jukkasjärvi, located in the northernmost part of Sweden, is home to the country’s famous Icehotel. The hotel has two types of rooms: Warm Rooms if you’d rather not freeze your butt, or Cold Rooms, if you want your entire room to be made out of ice. The most unique hotel rooms can be found if you book the Art Suite 365, which are hand-carved – plus each room has its own design!

6. DO Check your Check

Tips are usually included in your check, so be sure to “check” (Excuse the pun )

However, if you really loved the service, feel free to add some extra krona!

Source: Unsplash

7. Stockholm Metro

If you have an extra hour or two, buy a ticket and take a ride around Stockholm’s metro stations. Almost each station is decorated in a colorful, artistic, and interesting way. The rainbow station above is called Stadion Station and was built when Stockholm hosted the Olympic games back in 1922 (you can see an original poster there as well!)

Some of my other favorites include T-Centralen station, Kungsträdgården station, and Solna strand station.

8. See the City (Almost!) for Free

One of my favorite travel hacks to see Stockholm on a budget is to take a free walking tour. I used Free Tour Stockholm and loved the Old Town Tour – our tour guide was hilarious and had so many fun tidbits! The best part? You tip what you like. :)

Source: Unsplash

9. Fika is an important part of life here

Fika, loosely translated to a “coffee and pastry break” is something that everyone should know before traveling to Sweden. If you’re anywhere near a coffee shop before and after noon — for example, around 10 am and 3 pm — you’ll see that it’s packed with locals enjoying their coffee and sweets. Who says you can’t experience fika culture as well? Go to any coffee shop that you like (my personal pick is Vete-Katten), order a coffee and pastry, and enjoy!

10. Sweden is expensive

I’m not going to lie: Sweden can get expensive if you don’t look after your budget. Decent hotels start around $75/night, lunch for one is around $20, even souvenir magnets are $7! Thankfully, there are plenty of cheap (and delicious) eats, free tours (see above), and attractions that cost nothing to see.

11. Don’t be afraid of booking accommodations outside of the city center

As mentioned before, Sweden has an amazing network of public transportation. If you want to save money and live like a local, don’t be afraid to book your hotel/hostel/Airbnb outside of the touristy areas. Sweden is extremely safe, and I walked everywhere without a problem — except for my feet after 7 miles!

My AirBnb in Gothenburg was a 15-minute walk from the center, but it saved me about $50 USD than if I had stayed at a hotel that was in the downtown area.

This cute room that you see above is at the hotel I stayed at (Central Hotel). :)

12. You might not speak the language like a local, but it’s helpful to learn a few phrases!

If you’re afraid of navigating around Sweden due to the language barrier – don’t be! Swedes are the best non-native English speakers in the world, and whenever I asked a local about something, their English was perfect (sometimes even better than mine! 😉)

If you really want to wow the locals, learn a few words in Swedish. Here are some to get you started:

Hej hej – Hello!
Tack – Thank you
Hur är det? – How are you?

Source: Unsplash

13. Come to Sweden for the Fika, Stay for the Northern Lights

Iceland may be the most popular destination to see the northern lights, but Sweden has its own charm! If you’re coming visiting between October to April, head up to Swedish Lapland in the north to be part of the lucky 3% of people that have seen the northern lights in their life.

14. Airport Lifehack: Save a ton of money with the Flygbussarna

Psst… Want to save 50% from your airport transportation with one simple trick? Instead of taking the Arlanda express train from Stockholm’s main airport, ARN, just take the Flygbussarna instead.

You’ll pay 99 SEK (about $11USD) instead of 195 SEK ($21 USD) and only spend an extra 15 minutes on the road. The best part: there’s even WiFi onboard. Mycket trevligt!

15. DON’T change your dollars/euros/pounds/etc to Krona…

Did you know Sweden wants to be a cashless society by 2020? When I arrived in Sweden, I didn’t bother to change my dollars into kroner because I knew that I wouldn’t need them. Some places that I went to (see above) even had signs that stated they don’t accept cash! Which brings me to my next point.

16. …But DO set up Apple Pay!

I prepared for my trip by setting up Apple Pay (yes, I know, I’m way behind technology!) Apple Pay works by storing your card information on your phone and allows you to pay by simply holding your phone near a card reader. No need to dig for your wallet, take out your card, and swipe it – it’s that simple!

17. Plan carefully

Last but not least… Before you let loose and start planning your trip, don’t forget to check the season! Summer is the best if you enjoy long days, fun festivals (such as Midsummer!), and summers by the lake. Just be careful: If you visit in August, most locals go on holiday and many places might be closed. Likewise, if you visit in the winter, it gets dark very early (around 4 pm!)

Be sure to keep these tips in mind, and you’ll have a stress-free trip to Sweden. Trevlig resa!