Sweden

Good to know

1. 1Sweden stretches a long way from south to north, and the far north lies above the Arctic Circle, where the sun barely sets in midsummer and barely rises in midwinter.
2. 2The right to roam, known as allemansrätten, lets people walk, camp briefly and pick wild berries and mushrooms on most open land, as long as they respect nature and keep their distance from homes.
3. 3Fika is a daily habit of stopping for coffee and something sweet, often a cinnamon bun, and it is as much about taking a break with other people as about the coffee itself.
4. 4Stockholm is built across fourteen islands where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea, and its old town, Gamla Stan, keeps a medieval street pattern.
5. 5Swedish is the main language, and most people also speak very good English, especially in cities and among younger people.
6. 6Sweden uses the krona, and the country is one of the most cashless in the world, with cards and phone payments accepted almost everywhere.

Tips for a first visit

• Carry a contactless card or a phone wallet, since many shops, cafés and even some public toilets do not take cash.
• Try classic home cooking such as meatballs with lingonberry jam, pickled herring at a midsummer or Christmas table, and a cinnamon bun with coffee.
• Queue politely and take a number where there is a ticket machine, for example in pharmacies and some shops, because people take turns very seriously.
• Take your shoes off when you are invited into someone's home, and arrive on time, since being punctual is expected.
• Book trains and long-distance buses ahead if you want a particular departure, and use the national and regional apps to plan local trips.
• Pack layers and a waterproof jacket in any season, because the weather can change quickly, and bring insect repellent if you plan to be in the forest in summer.

When to go

Summer, from June to August, has long light evenings, warm swimming weather and the busiest time for the islands and the countryside, with midsummer in late June being the big celebration. Autumn brings colourful forests and berry picking, winter is dark and snowy with a good chance of seeing northern lights in the far north, and spring is quiet and fresh as the light returns quickly.

Getting around

Trains link Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö and many other cities, and the fast services between the big three are comfortable and popular. Long-distance buses cover places the trains do not reach, and domestic flights are the practical choice for the far north. In and around cities, trams, buses, metro and ferries are easy to use, and in the south and along the coast many people also cycle.