In ancient times, Sweden was inhabited by the Suiones (svear) in Svealand and the Geats (götar) in Götaland. Some of these participated in Viking expeditions (see Vikings and the Old Norse), and are said to have founded the first kingdoms in Russia. Written sources from the Viking Age are few and short.

Around AD 1000, Christianity replaced Norse paganism, Suiones and Geats united under one king (probably Olof Skötkonung), and the first cities were founded; among them Sigtuna, Uppsala and Skara. With Christianity came written chronicles and stone architecture, which have provided the afterworld with better historical detail than earlier remnants. Swedish kings Christianized and annexed Finland. During the 14th and 15th century, Sweden was a subject of the Kalmar Union with Norway and Denmark. Gustav Vasa liberated Sweden from Danish rule, was elected king in 1523, and is regarded the founder of modern Sweden. He also reformed the church to Lutheran-Protestant. Today, the monarch is still constitutionally required to be a Lutheran, though contemporary Swedish society is largely secular, with only a minority of Swedes going to church regularly.

During the 17th century Sweden rose as a Great Power, through several successful wars (such as the Thirty Years' War), where kings such as Gustavus Adolphus and Charles X annexed Scania, Halland and Bohuslän from Denmark, as well as temporary possessions in the Baltic countries and northern Germany. In the early 18th century, an alliance of Denmark, Poland and the Russian Empire defeated Swedish king Charles XII, marking the end of the Swedish Empire. In 1809, Sweden was again defeated by Russia, which annexed Finland. The country has been at peace since 1814; the country has a high peace profile, with internationally renowned names such as Raoul Wallenberg, Dag Hammarskjöld, Olof Palme and Hans Blix. Sweden is a monarchy by constitution, but King Carl XVI Gustaf has no executive power.

Sweden is a developed post-industrial society with an advanced welfare state. The standard of living and life expectancy rank among the highest in the world. Sweden joined the European Union in 1995, but decided by a referendum in 2003 not to commit to the European Monetary Union and the euro currency. Sweden has a strong tradition of being an open, yet discreet country. Citizens sometimes appear to be quite reserved at first, but once they get to know who they are dealing with, they'll be as warm and friendly as you'd wish. Privacy is regarded as a key item and many visitors, for example mega-stars in various lines of trade, have many times realized that they mostly can walk the streets of the cities virtually undisturbed.

Sweden houses the Nobel Prize committee for all the prizes except the peace prize, which is hosted in Oslo, a memento of the Swedish-Norwegian union that was dissolved in 1905.

In the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Sweden abandoned its longstanding policy of neutrality and joined NATO in 2024.

See also: Winter in the Nordic countries

The weather in Sweden is typically cool or cold from October to April, but in the summer (late May to early September) temperatures lie around 20 °C. If you like snow, go to Norrland or Dalarna in January to April. In Sweden there are no earthquakes or volcanoes to be worried about. There are seasonal storms though, mostly in the early spring and in the autumn. Occasional heavy rainfall makes the many rivers swell and in some cases cause flooding. During dry summers counties may issue warnings or even bans on the use of open fire.

Daylight varies greatly during the year. In Stockholm, the sun sets at 15:00 in December. In June and July, however, summer nights exist only in the form of prolonged twilight. North of the Arctic Circle one can experience the midnight sun around Midsummer and the Arctic night in midwinter.

The major holidays are Easter (påsk), National Day of Sweden or Swedish Flag Day (nationaldagen or svenska flaggans dag, June 6), Midsummer (midsommar, celebrated from the eve of the Friday between June 19–25), Christmas (jul, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day are all considered holidays). Most celebration happens on the day before the holiday proper; Midsummer's Eve, Christmas Eve etc. Expect everything to be closed in the countryside during the National Day and Midsummer.

There are three periods of the year when Swedes traditionally have their vacations. To avoid fully booked venues, heavy traffic and crowded tourist resorts in the summer, you should either book in time or stay clear of July and the first two weeks of August. These six weeks are weather-wise usually the most enjoyable for a summer vacation in all of Sweden. Winter vacation (sportlov) is usually a week in February or March depending on when kids have time off from school. This time of year is high season for tourism in all of Lappland, Dalarna and some winter resorts in Southern Sweden. Autumn vacation (höstlov) is a week around the end of October and the beginning of November. This period has become a time of reading and reflection, so people tend to stay at home getting used to the dark winter evenings.

• Visit Sweden. (updated Jan 2024)

Sweden is a member of the Schengen Agreement. See Travelling around the Schengen Area for more information on how the scheme works, what countries are members and what the requirements are for your nationality. In summary:

• There are normally no immigration controls between countries that have signed and implemented the treaty; there may be such controls temporarily, such as in connection with important events and various crises.
• There may be identity checks before boarding international flights or ferries, even between Schengen countries, carried out by the operators.
• Citizens of the EEA countries and Switzerland do not need visas for travelling in the Schengen area, and may stay up to 90 days with no requirements other than having a valid ID card or passport. See European Union#EEA citizens.
• Normal visas granted by any Schengen member are valid in all countries that have signed and implemented the treaty (with exceptions for some overseas territories). The granting country may offer additional rights (such as longer stays or right to work) that apply only locally.

Nordic citizens can stay indefinitely regardless of the purpose of their stay.

Visitors coming in from other Schengen countries (such as Norway and Finland) can usually enter Sweden without any inspections, in a land vehicle, on foot, or by boat, as long as they do not carry goods to declare. The ferries from Finland may however want to check your ID (which should state your nationality) – and there are usually "temporary" border controls when coming from Denmark.

Restricted goods include but are not limited to cash^{[dead link]} in the equivalence of €10,000 and more, pets^{[dead link]}, firearms, as well as wholesale commodities. These must be declared at a toll station. The Swedish Customs (Tull) is a law enforcement agency, that is entitled to arrest people using due force.

For arrival and departure times, and for lots of other information about flights and airports in Sweden, visit Luftfartsverket (Swedish Airports and Air Navigation Services).

Most airports can be reached by the airport coaches of Flygbussarna for around 70–120 kr, but some are well served also by normal public transport.

Major airports:

• Stockholm Arlanda (ARN ^IATA) is by far the country's largest airport, serving most major international and domestic airlines. It is a secondary hub for flag carrier SAS Scandinavian Airlines.
• Göteborg Landvetter^{[dead link]} (GOT ^IATA) - serves several international airlines and provides convenient bus transfer (about 20 minutes) to central Gothenburg.
• Copenhagen Airport (CPH ^IATA) — Located in Denmark on an island between Copenhagen and Malmö, this is Scandinavia's largest air hub, served by most major airlines, and the main hub for SAS Scandinavian Airlines. Direct rail line from the airport to southern Sweden allows it to serve most of the region conveniently.
• Oslo Airport, Gardermoen (OSL ^IATA) in Norway can be considered for destinations in western Sweden.

Smaller airports:

• Stockholm Skavsta (NYO ^IATA) is mainly served by budget airlines like Ryanair and Wizzair, with many connections to Europe, especially the Balkans. In Nyköping, quite a distance (about 100 km) from Stockholm.
• Stockholm Bromma (BMA ^IATA), 6 km west of central Stockholm, mainly for short-range flights.
• Stockholm Västerås^{[dead link]} (VST ^IATA) — international flights from Copenhagen and London. Also about 100 km from Stockholm.
• Malmö-Sturup (MMX ^IATA) — serves domestic flights and low fares flights. It's about 30 km from Malmö.
• Jönköping Airport^{[dead link]} (JKG ^IATA) connects to Stockholm, Visby, Frankfurt and destinations in southern Europe.

See also: Rail and bus travel in Sweden

You can reach Sweden by train from neighbouring countries, and some more distant ones:

• Denmark: Trains depart Copenhagen and Copenhagen's airport for Malmö every 20 minutes, and cost only about 100 Swedish kronor ("Öresundståg / Øresundstog" regional trains). The train goes over the magnificent Öresund Bridge to get to Sweden in less than 30 minutes. Furthermore direct trains (SJ) leave from Copenhagen to Stockholm. Tickets are purchased in machines, or for SJ also on the web. Danish Rejsekort can also be used if your destination is one of the three stops in Malmö. Be aware that the two operators do not recognize each others tickets. The Helsingør-Helsingborg connection, known as one of the busiest ferry routes in Europe, might also be used (local trains from Copenhagen, change to ship).
• Finland: The Torneå/Muonionjoki river valley has seasonal train service on the Finnish side (up to Kolari, by Pajala). From the station in Tornio the station in Haparanda is within easy reach. There are no direct train connections, as Finland and Sweden use different rail gauges. Haparanda has some trains, but you can also take the bus to Luleå or Boden, with night train connection to Stockholm. Interrail tickets are valid on that bus, otherwise tickets are purchased from the driver. Off season you can use the year-round daily connections to Kemi, with bus to Tornio.
• Norway: Main connections between Oslo and Stockholm and Gothenburg as well as connections on the lines Trondheim–Åre–Östersund and Narvik–Kiruna–Boden–Stockholm.
• Germany: Direct overnight trains run daily from Berlin to Stockholm via Hamburg and Malmö, operated by SJ, along with a competing service operated by Snälltåget. The latter service is extended to Dresden on select dates, but does not run in the winter. There are also several trains per day from Hamburg to Copenhagen, just across the Öresund strait from Malmö.
• Austria: Weekly overnight trains are offered winter and summer from Austrian ski resorts via Hamburg and Munich to Malmö, operated by Snälltåget.

From western and central Europe via Copenhagen by Flixbus or Nettbuss.

Buses from and to the Western Balkans are also operated by Toptourist ^{[dead link]}. Call + 46 (0 ) 42 18 29 84 for more information.

There are buses from Tornio in Finland, and, e.g., from Oslo, Bodø and Mo i Rana in Norway.

From Norway and northern Finland there are many border crossings. Norway is not part of EU, so visit customs. Nearly all the ferries to Sweden take cars.

From Germany, a car ferry is needed when going directly to Sweden or via the Jutland peninsula in Denmark. See how to get in by boat.

The exception to the rule is to take the Great Belt Bridge in combination with the Öresund Bridge as a ferry-free drive via Denmark to Sweden (Autobahn 7 to the Danish border — Motorway E45 to Kolding — Motorway E20 to Malmö, Sweden). This is however a 170-km detour, and the bridges have heavy tolls. Going via the Danish isles to Sweden is also possible (Autobahn 1 to Puttgarden — Scandlines car ferry to Rødby — Motorway E47 to Helsingør — Scandlines car ferry to Helsingborg, Sweden) or a combination of the two routes switching from E20 to E47 or vice versa on Zealand.

Before you decide on the route, do check out the prices on the ferries going directly from Germany to Sweden, since they can be much cheaper.

See also: Baltic Sea ferries

Before the Öresund Bridge was opened in July 2000, the Scandinavian peninsula could only be reached by boat, unless going very far north. Still, boat traffic is very important to Sweden.

Domestic flights are mainly for travellers with more money than time, and for the vast distances of Norrland. There are low-price tickets, but they must be bought well in advance.

The most important domestic airlines:

• SAS — the international airline, and flag carrier, has many domestic routes as well.
• Norwegian — several domestic and international destinations.
• BRA — several regional flights to most domestic airports.
• Amapola — several domestic routes and also flights to Norway.

See also: Rail and bus travel in Sweden

Sweden has an extensive railway network. Most long-range lines are operated by the government-owned company SJ. To buy a railway ticket, or to obtain information, call +46 771 75 75 75, check their website, or download their mobile app. VR also operates several trains between Gothenburg and Stockholm. Because point-to-point tickets are quite expensive, for more train journeys, a Sweden InterRail^{[dead link]} (for European citizens) or Eurail^{[dead link]} (for non-European citizens) pass might be useful. Purchasing single journey tickets online in advance can also help save money, although the cheapest tickets often come with more restrictions.

The national public transport carriers operate an alliance service called Resplus for multiple-leg travel. See Resrobot for an interactive journey planner.

Regional public transport typically has a carrier per county. For instance, when travelling regionally in the province of Scania (Skåne in Swedish), one should refer to Skånetrafiken. For travelling in the region of Mälardalen (the "Lake Mälaren Valley"), you can check all train and bus operators at Trafik i Mälardalen. This regional traffic cooperation includes many of Sweden's major cities, such as Stockholm, Uppsala, Västerås, Linköping, Norrköping, Örebro and Eskilstuna.

Flixbus and Nettbuss runs a number of bus lines in the southern third of the country, Götaland and Svealand. They tend to cost less than going by train, if you can't take advantage of SJ's youth discounts. Y-buss ^{[formerly dead link]} , tapanis, and Härjedalingen operate between Stockholm and Norrland.

Flixbus also operates from Stockholm and Göteborg to Oslo. At the county or län level, buses are a good method for travelling short distances from town to town, as they are more frequent and cheaper than trains. It is best to check with the local transportation authority for routes and schedules.

• Bus4You is a high-comfort carrier.

See also: Driving in Sweden and Winter driving

Svealand and Götaland can be crossed by car within a day, but distances in Norrland tend to be larger, and settlements can be tens of kilometres apart. When available, air or rail travel are often faster. Travelling by night can be dangerous due to wild animals on the roads, and the cold nights during the winter. See E4 through Sweden and E6 through Sweden and Norway for two of the main highways. While traffic is less aggressive than in Denmark or Central Europe, traffic jams are common around Stockholm and Gothenburg.

Car crash rates in Sweden are among the lowest in Europe. Wearing a seatbelt is mandatory for everyone in the car. Driving tired is illegal and is treated the same way as driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Animal collisions with moose, deer and boar are a major danger; these animals are commonly on the road, especially around dawn and dusk. The moose is a big and heavy animal (up to 700 kg and 2.1 m shoulder height) so a collision can be lethal.

Drunk driving is a serious crime, the laws are strictly enforced, and the punishments are harsh by international standards. The legal limit of 0.02% is lower than in most other western countries and as little as one beer may put you over the limit. Violations carry a hefty fine and/or a prison sentence of up to 6 months, while serious violations of 0.1% and higher carry a guaranteed prison sentence of up to 2 years. Be sure to either bring a designated driver, take a taxi or make use of public transport if you plan on drinking. The Stockholm port at Frihamnen has alcogates: an automated breathalyzer which reports drunk drivers to police.

Scenic routes

edit

Sweden has a small but growing network of designated scenic routes, they are often minor roads with limited traffic and speeds not exceeding 80 km/h.

Road ferries (ferries that constitute part of public roads) are yellow, run by Färjerederiet. An online map service showing all available road ferries and their daily schedule can be found on Trafikverket's website.

The Swedish archipelagoes have boat services provided by the local county transport authority, in Swedish called skärgårdstrafik.

• Destination Gotland runs domestic ferry lines from Nynäshamn and Oskarshamn to Visby, Gotland.
• Ölandsfärjan runs a domestic ferry line in the summer season (mid-June to mid-August) between Oskarshamn and Byxelkrok on Öland.
• Ventrafiken runs a domestic ferry line between Landskrona and Ven in Scania.

Taxis are generally comfortable and, in the larger cities, easy to find. Check the price info on the rear window before entering, and do use the seat belt. If you are travelling with a toddler call in advance to get a cab with a proper child seat, or the driver may refuse you. Outside the bigger cities it makes sense to note the contact information of one or a few companies with decent pricing and enough presence in the city you are visiting.

• TaxiKurir. Smart phone app offers address based routing and calculates price according to them. Includes several cities around Sweden. (updated Aug 2020)
• Sverigetaxi. Smart phone app offers address based routing and calculates price according to them. Includes several cities around Sweden. (updated Aug 2020)
• Cabonline. Smart phone app offers address based routing and calculates price according to them. Includes several cities. (updated Feb 2021)

Sweden has a reputation for being a pretty difficult country to hitch in, though it's still quite possible to hitch-hike. Ordinary people are often reluctant to pick up strangers. Truck drivers are probably most likely to pick up hitch-hikers, so target them. Asking at gas stations works pretty well. Bus stops are common places to attract attention, position yourself before the actual bus stop so the vehicle can stop at the stop. This works best if the road is widened at the bus stop, allowing cars to pull off easily. Pedestrians are prohibited from accessing motorways.

See also: Cycling in Sweden

Most Swedish cities have excellent bicycle paths, and renting a bike can be a quick and healthy method of getting around locally. Some cities have bikes for borrowing. Inter-city cycling is a good option for the experienced cyclist. While cycling is not allowed on motorways, most of them have a parallel old road without the heavy traffic.

Note that most long-distance trains don't take bikes. A foldable bike or combining regional trains may be viable although cumbersome options.

Cars are by law required to stop at any unattended crosswalks (zebra stripes in the road without red-lights) to let pedestrians cross the road. But keep in mind that you are required to make eye contact with the driver so that they know that you are about to cross the street.

Sweden has more palaces and castles (slott) and manors (herrgård) than other Nordic countries. Eleven of them belong to the Swedish monarchy; most of them are open to the public. Stockholm Palace (Stockholm/Gamla Stan), Rosendal (Stockholm/Djurgården), Haga, Gustav III:s pavilion and Ulriksdal (Solna), Drottningholm and Kina (Ekerö), Tullgarn (Södertälje) and Rosersberg (Sigtuna) are within greater Stockholm. Gripsholm (Mariefred) and Strömsholm (Hallstahammar) are further away. The farmland areas are full of noble and bourgeois manors from the 17th century and onwards; many of them are used as hotels today.

While the Bergslagen district, Roslagen and other parts of Sweden became world-leading in mining and metalworking during the 17th century, the full industrialization of Sweden lagged behind the rest of Europe until the 20th century, when Swedish product brands such as Volvo, Ericsson, SAAB, SKF, AGA, IKEA, Tetra Pak and Atlas Copco conquered the world. During the last decades, most of the Swedish workforce has moved on to high technology and the service sector, converting many of the mines, factories and waterways to museums. Among industrial heritage sites are Göta Kanal from the Baltic Sea to the Atlantic, the copper mine in Falun, and the Nobel Museum in Stockholm.

See also: Nordic folk culture

Swedish folk culture includes folk music and dance (see Nordic music), folk costumes, folk art, handicraft (slöjd, hemslöjd) and traditional farming. Local identity used to be based on the socken (parish) and the province (landskap). With the 19th century industrialization and urbanization, folk culture had to be preserved, and today survives through different institutions. Most provinces have an open-air museum with buildings, workshops and sometimes livestock and wild animals on display; the oldest one being Skansen in Stockholm. Hembygdsförening is an organization for local folk culture, usually based on an old farm, hembygdsgård. Among traditional farming methods, the fäbod, a seasonally used livestock shed, can be found in particular in Dalarna, Värmland and Norrland. Folkets hus och parker is a cooperative for local community centres; bygdegård is a rural community centre.

Protected areas cover 15% percent in Sweden's total area of national territory. Most common in the country are nature reserves and national parks.

Sweden's landscape includes dense forests to crystal clear lakes, waterfalls and rolling mountains, with opportunities to see Eurasian wildlife.

In total, Sweden has 29 national parks. The stunning but rugged wilderness of Sarek National Park, called "Europe's last wilderness" by some, is a challenging but highly rewarding area to explore. It was the first of a list of 29 established national parks and is part of the vast and Unesco protected terrains of Laponia, together with the national parks Padjelanta, Stora Sjöfallet (with its snowy peaks) and the taiga and ravines of Muddus National Park. Set out to spot elk/moose, wolverines and more Swedish wildlife or visit in winter for a chance to see the magical Northern Lights. Kosterhavet^{[dead link]} maritime park is the place to go for lobster or seal safaris.

During the summer Kungsleden in northern Sweden attracts lots of visitors who enjoy a solitary hike between cabins or camp sites in the beautiful mountains. The Swedish Right to access gives anyone the right to walk over other's land, as long as you do not destroy nor disturb it. This means that you can go sailing or canoeing and put up a camp on islands in the Stockholm Archipelago, you can go hiking and put up a camp almost wherever you want, however it is illegal to make a campfire on a rock surface. Sceneries of nature, less populated than most of Europe. Ice and snow during winter. The west coast has plenty of small towns like Marstrand, Skärhamn, Mollösund and Lysekil that are worth exploring with their distinct architecture and cuisine, best experienced during summer.

Some outdoor life opportunities are winter sport, hiking, canoeing, sailing, horse riding and berry- or mushroom-picking depending of season. The ultimate test of aerobic fitness is the Swedish Classic Circuit; four annual races of cross-country skiing (Vasaloppet, from Sälen to Mora), running (Lidingöloppet), cycling (Vätternrundan starting from Motala) and swimming (Vansbrosimningen).

Boating in Sweden can be done on a sailing boat, a motor boat, or a canoe.

Diving in Sweden is challenging because of the cold waters. Still, the Baltic Sea is full of well-preserved shipwrecks.

Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö have great nightlife and shopping opportunities, while far from the cheapest places in Europe.

Gambling in Sweden is offered by the state (Svenska Spel), and a few privileged organizations.

Casino Cosmopol is a state-owned company with a venue in Stockholm (Norrmalm). Horse racing is a pastime in many Swedish cities. The most widespread class is harness racing, trav, with race tracks in many towns. Bookmaking is operated through ATG with on-line agents at the tracks, and in most towns. Several bars and restaurants have gambling tables and slot machines.

See also: Nordic music

Swedish popular music is world-famous, with names such as ABBA, Roxette, Swedish House Mafia and others. Sweden hosts dozens of music festivals with international acts, as well as stars-to-be, most of them during summer. Sweden Rock Festival (Sölvesborg) and Way Out West (Gothenburg) to mention only two. There are also several festivals ^{[dead link]} for folk, classical and jazz music.

Live concerts, music galas, DJs and music shows organized during Christmas events.

Choir (kör) music is big in Sweden, with regular performances even in smaller towns, not least the weeks before Christmas.

Dansband (a type of dance orchestras) music is popular, and is performed live at social dancing venues such as dance pavilions (often in what is called a "folkpark"), community centres and some dance restaurants. While disco may be popular in cities, these venues provide a more traditional way to get together. Most dancing nights the music played suites the smooth Swedish swing dance bugg, which together with foxtrot and one-step is the dance most commonly danced there. Some nights there is gammeldans, when older ballroom dances are played and danced, such as waltz, schottische, polka, mazurka, perhaps snoa, and sometimes also foxtrot and tango. Some of the dansband have also these genres in their repertoire (sometimes with a modern touch), others don't. The culture at dance pavilions is generally a bit less formal than in Finland: there may be no well-established rules on asking people to dance or on how many dances to dance at a time with the same partner.

The national currency is the Swedish krona (plural,: kronor), denoted by the abbreviation "kr" (ISO code: SEK). Swedes may call the currency "crowns" when speaking English. Don't confuse it with the Norwegian or Danish krone.

One krona equals 100 öre, but 1 krona is today the smallest coin. Ören remain in use only in electronic transactions; when payment is done in cash, prices are rounded to the nearest full krona.

Coins of Sweden are produced in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10 kronor. Banknotes of Sweden are issued in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 kronor.

Sweden is notorious for invalidating old money, so don't save any for future visits. Banknotes and coins older than 2017 are no longer valid, except for the latest type of the 10 kronor coin (year 1991 to 2009). Invalid banknotes can be redeemed only via the Swedish National Bank. You might be able to exchange old Swedish currency for a foreign one that you will need (such as euro) – the exchange bureau will then do the visit to the national bank. Counterfeit Swedish money is very rare, and you are very unlikely to receive already obsolete money.

Money exchange is best done at companies that have specialized in this, since many commercial banks are cashless on foreign currency. Forex^{[dead link]} has branches all over most of Sweden, but they may be expensive. X-change has branches in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö. Tavex has branches in and around Stockholm.

Tipping, known as dricks in Swedish, is not customary in Sweden, but sometimes a tip is left as a sign of appreciation for good service, usually by rounding up the bill but truly exceptional service may be rewarded with a tip of 5–10%. Tipping is strictly voluntary and should be given only as a token of real appreciation for the service. Be aware that the tips will most often be split between the waiters and the kitchen. Taxi drivers do not expect tips, any extra service (such as carrying bags) will be listed on the receipt according to rate.

Sweden is a rather expensive country to inhabit, though still somewhat cheaper than Norway and Denmark; many Norwegians living near the border drive into Sweden to purchase groceries. Sundries like a 33 cl bottle of Coca-Cola cost about 10 kr, a beer in a bar will cost you around 45 kr, the average price of hotel accommodation is around 1300 kr, a room in a hostel varies between 150 and 350 kr, a public transport ticket in Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmö will set you back around 25 kr, one meal will cost you around 100 kr, 1 litre of petrol fuel costs about 18 kr, and a pack of 19 cigarettes will cost you 50 kr. If you are a bit careful about your expenses, a daily budget of around 1000 kr will be enough (2015 prices). House prices outside metropolitan areas are probably among the lowest in Western Europe, and discount stores such as Lidl, Netto and Willys offer a wide range of items to a low cost. Accommodation and dining out are cheaper in Stockholm than in most other West European capitals.

Sweden has three levels of value-added tax (moms or mervärdesskatt). Price tags always include tax, except in a business-to-business context (wholesale stores, etc.), so the consumer need not worry about it.

Financial transactions, gambling, healthcare, dentistry and prescription medication are exempt from VAT. The 6 per cent level applies to passenger transport, books, newspapers, sport events, performances, zoos and museums. The 12 per cent level applies to travel accommodation and food (including restaurant meals and soft drinks, but not alcoholic beverages). Everything else has 25 percent VAT; that includes clothing, alcohol, tobacco, non-prescription medication, cosmetics, hair and beauty services, appliances, souvenirs, amusement parks, nightclubs, office supplies, electronic services, vehicles (including rental), and fuel.

Bargaining is not a common habit in Sweden, in some areas it is even frowned upon. It might work in some instances, especially for more expensive products, flea markets, street vendors, and antique shops after some small talk of interest. The act of haggling is called pruta in Swedish. A more enticing way of haggling to Swedes is to ask for a discount (rabatt), and then haggle for the size of the discount.

Most shops, at least major chains in central areas, are open all week, even on Sundays, although they do close on Christmas Day, Midsummer's Eve afternoon and all of Midsummer's Day. Closing times are rigid, most often on the minute.

At grocery stores and supermarkets it is considered good practice to place each product on the conveyor belt so that the barcode faces either towards you or upwards so they can be scanned more quickly by the cashier. Do not stack items on top of each other; place them one by one on a line, and remember to place the divider on the conveyor belt when you are done. Stores charge for plastic and paper bags (usually 1-3 kronor for plastic and double for paper), and you have to bag your goods yourself.

• An unofficial national symbol, the Dala Horse (Swedish: dalahäst) is the souvenir of souvenirs to bring from Sweden. Named after their origin, the province of Dalarna, these small wooden horses have been around since the 17th century. They are normally painted orange or blue with symmetrical decorations. They are fairly expensive: expect to pay around 100 kr for a very small one or several hundred kronor for bigger versions. The horses can be bought in souvenir shops all over Sweden. If you want to know more about how the horses are made, visit Dalarna and the municipality of Mora where the horses are carved and painted in workshops open for tourists. And if driving towards Mora from Stockholm, keep your eyes open when you pass the town of Avesta where the world's largest (13 meters high) Dala Horse overlooks the highway.
• Swedish glass is world famous for its beauty. Several skilled glass artists have contributed to this reputation through innovative, complex (and expensive) art creations, but mass-produced Swedish table glass has also been an international success. Part of the province of Småland, between the towns of Växjö and Kalmar, is known as the Kingdom of Crystal. 15 glassworks are packed into this small area, the most famous being Orrefors, Kosta and Boda. Tourists are welcome to watch the glass blowers turn the glowing melt into glittering glass, and you can even give it a try yourself.
• High-end wines from Systembolaget.
• Swedish design, spanning from furniture to jewelry, is known for function, efficiency and minimalism. Designtorget^{[dead link]} is a chain of stores with a wide range of everyday products; Lagerhaus is another. Svenskt Tenn is another store with beautiful items by designers such as Josef Frank.
• There are some items for the home that are invented by Swedes that might be fun to bring home such as safety matches, adjustable spanners or adjustable wrenches, paraffin cooking stove (Primuskök) or a good old Celsius thermometer.
• With a long tradition of woodwork, and the absence of wars in modern times, Sweden has plenty of antique furniture. Furniture made industrially in the early 20th century mimicking older styles (stilmöbler) can be found cheap.
• Flea markets are literally translated as loppmarknad or loppis, and one of few places where haggling is accepted.

Swedish consumption of coffee (kaffe) is among the highest in the world. Drinking coffee at home or in a café, an act called fika, is a common Swedish social ritual, used for planning activities, dating, exchanging gossip or simply spending time and money. Swedish coffee is filtered and usually stronger than American coffee - but still not the espresso of France or Italy. Italian varieties (espresso, cappuccino, caffe latte) are available at larger city cafés. Sweden has several domestic café franchises (Espresso House, Wayne's Coffee, Coffeehouse by George) with an international atmosphere, and a broad selection of coffees, sandwiches, and cakes.

One cup is around 25 kr, often including a refill, påtår. Many retailers sell coffee at their cafés for 5 kr a cup.

The traditional Swedish café is called konditori, and every city and town has at least one. They offer warm beverages as coffee, tea and cocoa, and an assortment of cookies, pastry and perhaps also smörgås, the Swedish open sandwich, and fralla, the Swedish closed sandwich. The sandwiches offered can vary a lot depending on where you are in Sweden.

The most famous Swedish alcoholic beverage is Absolut Vodka, one of the world's most famous vodkas. There are several brands of distilled, and usually seasoned, liquor, called brännvin. Brännvin does not have as high requirements on distilling as for Vodka and it is distilled from potatoes or grain. Liquor seasoned with dill and caraway is called akvavit. When brännvin is served in a shot glass with a meal it is called snaps (not to confuse with the German "Schnapps"). It is part of custom to drink snaps at occasions such as midsummers eve, Crayfish party, Christmas, student parties, etc. Often it is done together with a snapsvisa to every drink (a typical snapsvisa is a short, vigorous song; its lyrics usually tell of the delicacy and glory of the drink, or of the singer’s craving for snaps, or about anything in a cheeky way).

Punsch (not to be confused with punch) is a traditional sweet liqueur made from a combination of water, lemon, sugar, spirits and arrack, unique for Sweden and Finland. It can be served both warm and cold, usually has 25% alcohol by volume (ABV) and 30% sugar, and is by tradition often served at Thursdays together with pea & pork soup and pancakes. It grew very popular during the 18th and 19th centuries, generating a strong punsch-culture with numerous special punsch drinking songs, and maintains a strong precence in Swedish student culture.

If visiting Sweden in December or January a typical hot drink is glögg (similar to mulled wine or Glühwein). It is often served together with ginger bread and lussebullar or at the julbord (Christmas buffet). The main classic ingredients are red wine, sugar, spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, cloves, and bitter orange, and optionally also stronger spirits such as vodka, akvavit, or brandy. There is also non-alcohol glögg.

Sweden does produce some outstanding beers, and there has been a rise in the numbers of microbreweries. Some of them are Slottskällans, Nils Oscar, Närke kulturbryggeri, Jämtlands ångbryggeri and Dugges Ale- & Porterbryggeri. You may have some trouble finding them, unless you go to a bar with a wide range of beers, or a well-stocked Systembolaget, but you will find a few of them in every major city. Despite this the most common beer is the rather plain "international lager". The beer you get in supermarkets is called folköl and has 2.8 or 3.5% alcohol. You are able to find a variety of different brands of beers in food stores, Swedish, English and even Czech beer. Sweden has a seasonal beer for Christmas, julöl. It is sweeter than normal beer and usually seasoned with Christmas spices, mostly it is ale. All Swedish breweries make at least one type of julöl. Wine is popular, but the Swedish production is very modest.

Drinking alcohol in parks and public spaces outdoors is generally allowed, with some obvious exceptions (playgrounds, schoolyards, etc. and places were a prohibition is posted). Drinking your own is also prohibited in shopping centres and the like and on public transport and in associated areas; there may be licensed restaurants or bars.

Establishments with permission to serve alcohol (those allowed to sell strong drinks usually advertise it as fullständiga rättigheter, "full rights") are usually not permitted to sell alcohol to be consumed outside the establishment.

Beer and lager up to 3.5% ABV is readily available in supermarkets at 10–15 kr a piece, but strong alcoholic beverages are, as in Norway, Finland and Iceland available over the counter only from the state-owned retailer, Systembolaget (also sometimes referred to as Systemet or Bolaget). Its stores are usually open M–W 10:00–18:00, Th F 10:00–19:00, and Sa 10:00–15:00, with long queues on Fridays and Saturdays, closing at the minute no matter how long the queue outside the store is, something the Swedes themselves joke about. They are always closed on Sundays. Most shops are of supermarket style. The assortment is very good, and the staff usually has great knowledge. Systembolaget does not serve customers already intoxicated or under the age of 20, and will most likely ask for identification from customers looking younger than 25. This also applies to any companions, regardless of who is making the actual purchase.

Beverages are heavily taxed by content of alcohol, some liquor is very expensive (vodka is around 300 kr a litre at Systembolaget), but the monopoly has brought some perks – Systembolaget is one of the world's largest bulk-buyers of wine, and as such gets some fantastic deals which it passes on to consumers. Mid-to-high-quality wines often cost less in Sweden than in the country of origin; sometimes even less than if you were to buy the wine directly from the vineyard. This does not apply to low-quality wines or hard liquor, due to the volume-based tax on alcohol.

All brands are treated equally and there is no large-pack discount. Therefore, microbrews cost largely the same as major brands, and might be a more interesting choice. Beverages are not refrigerated.

Moonshine (hembränt) is popular in the countryside, though illegal. Though some shipments can be as good as legal vodka, most are disgusting and some may be hazardous, so you should stick to the real thing.

The minimum age requirement is 18 to get into bars and to buy regular (3.5% ABV or less) beer in shops (to prevent teenage drunkenness, some shops have decided to enforce a minimum age of 20 for 3.5% beer as well), and 20 in Systembolaget. Many bars have an age limit of 20, but some (especially on weekends in those in the centre) have age limits as high as 23 or 25, but this rule is arbitrarily enforced. Bring passport or ID.

Some high-end nightclubs mandate dress code, vårdad klädsel is casual dress; this is also arbitrarily enforced. For male guests, proper shoes (not trainers or sandals), long-legged trousers (not blue jeans) and a dress shirt is almost always good enough.

Age and dress requirements are not rigid, and doormen have the right to reject any patron for any reason except gender, sexual orientation, creed, disability or race, which is illegal discrimination. Still, some nightclubs are infamous for rejecting "immigrants", especially men of African or Middle Eastern origin, on pretexts such as "members only", "too drunk", or "dress code". Getting into a club is easier for patrons who dress and behave well, and arrive fairly early.

Sweden has enforced non-smoking in all bars, pubs and restaurants, save outdoor areas such as terraces, and designated smoking rooms (where drinks are not allowed).

The prices at clubs and bars are among the more expensive in Europe: a (0.4 L) glass of draft lager, stor stark, usually costs 45–65 kr (although some dive bars advertise it for as little as 29 kr early evenings). A cocktail costs around 80–180 kr. For that reason many Swedes have a small pre-party ("förfest") before they hit the town and go to nightclubs.

Large clubs can require a cover charge, usually about 100 kr, more at special performances. They usually offer a rubber stamp on your hand so you can re-enter as you like without having to pay again.

Be aware that you often have to stand in line to get into a bar or a club. Many places deliberately make their customers wait in line for a while, since a long queue indicates a popular club. At the very fanciest places in the major cities, the queue is often replaced by a disorganized crowd, and the doorman simply points to indicate who gets in and who does not (to be sure to get in either be famous, very good-looking, a friend of the doorman – or a regular).

Most bars that close at 01:00 or earlier will have a free entry policy. Most bars and clubs that remain open until 03:00 will charge an entrance fee. There are some clubs in the largest cities that remain open until 05:00. Their entrance fee will usually be around 200 kr and their entry policy will generally weigh less favourably for the non-rich, non-well-moisturised, non-Swedes, non-friends and non-regulars.

The club's wardrobe (or coat-checking) fee is often mandatory, usually around 20 kr.

The right to access (Allemansrätten) allows anyone to camp in uncultivated areas (including private property away from houses) without asking. There are certain limitations; for instance you are only allowed to stay at a certain spot for one night, before you have to move on. If you are travelling to Sweden in the summer, check out the local conditions when it comes to camp fires. Forests in Sweden can get very dry and temporary bans on lighting fires are not unusual.

Check with SMHI, the meteorological agency, for up-to-date weather forecasts, including fire risks and other weather-related warnings, such as storms, floods and blizzards.

If you prefer camping a bit more organized, most towns have campsites with showers and electricity. Expect to pay around 100–150 kr for a tentsite, but for two or three busiest weeks prices can go as high as 400 kr. Camping.se is the booking site of the national campsite organisation SCR. The leading campsite chain is called First Camp – comfortable, but can be expensive (they use dynamic price calculation), so check for local-led alternatives which can be cheaper (i.e. plain price). Campsites seem to be mainly for people with campers, who tend to prepare food at their campers. Therefore, places in service buildings, where one coming from a poorer country would expect a kitchen, have just sinks to wash dishes and a burner to cook food (but no kitchen utensils nor table).

Svenska Turistföreningen, STF, is by far the most important operator of hostels, vandrarhem, in Sweden, with a network of more than 300 hostels around the country. Membership for foreigners is 175 kr, and if you plan to stay four nights or more at hostels in Sweden you should join, since non-members pay an additional 45 kr per night. STF is affiliated with Hostelling International or HI, and if you are a member of any HI organisation you are considered a member of STF.

STF offers beds for the night in dorms or single and double rooms. The concept is standardized throughout Sweden, and only includes the price of the bed or room, with access to common kitchen facilities, common bath rooms and showers. Some hostels have double rooms with bath room and shower en suite.

Sveriges vandrarhem i förening^{[dead link]}, SVIF is another nation-wide hostel confederation.

The price per night per person in a hostel is 80-280 kr depending on where the hostel is located and how classy or tacky it is. Sheets are required (just a sleeping bag is not enough) and if you don't bring any you have to purchase at the hostel for around 50 kr. You are expected to clean out your room when leaving. Cooking equipment is normally available at all hostels for those who want to self-cater.

Some hostels are more spectacular than others; for instance Jumbostay at Arlanda Airport, located inside a decommissioned Boeing 747, and Långholmen Hostel in Stockholm, that used to be a prison.

Apartments and B&B:s are not the same thing, but Swedish online booking agencies tend to think so. Renting an apartment may be an interesting option if you plan to stay for a few nights in one of the major cities and want more privacy than a hostel offers.

Road signs with the word Rum don't show the way to the nearest drinking den for pirates - rum in Swedish means "room", and that sign points to a B&B.

Normal Swedish hotels tend to be clean, not-so-interesting and fairly expensive. A single room can easily set you back 1000 kr. Most towns, even smaller ones, still have a traditional stadshotell, Statt, (town hotel) somewhere in the city center, which usually contains the town's largest restaurant and/or nightclub. On a more positive note, breakfast buffets at Swedish hotels are often impressive with plenty to choose from - try not to be in too much of a hurry in the morning! Major hotel chains include Scandic and First.

It doesn't matter how many circumflexes Stockholm's Grand Hôtel uses, or how many celebrities stay there, the coolest hotel in Sweden is the Icehotel. Located in the village of Jukkasjärvi in the far north, it is a hotel built from snow and ice. It melts in spring and is rebuilt every winter. Ice hotels are built in several other countries, but the one in Jukkasjärvi is the original. One night in a single room is 2850 kr, book in advance.

There are an increasing number of hotels in Sweden that are "cashless" which means cash may no longer be used to settle payments. Thus, make sure you have a debit/credit card or try to settle your accommodation payment before you start your trip.

Sweden has 680,000 vacation homes. Many of those are old farmhouses, or simple cabins from the early 20th century. Most vacation homes (except the most isolated ones) have electricity. Countryside or island houses usually have no public water supply, and rely on a local water pump, and an outhouse.

While dwellings in holiday hotspots such as the Stockholm archipelago, Åre or Visby can cost as much as an urban home, woodland farmhouses in Småland or far-off parts of Norrland can be bought for a token sum of money. As Sweden is a high-income country, carpentry and other home improvement services are costly.

As Sweden has strong rent control and tenant protection, a rental contract is difficult to get in and near the largest cities. The most common apartment ownership in Sweden is bostadsrättsförening, a condominium-like organization.

Hospitality exchange services such as Airbnb can be found in Sweden, but rooms are much fewer than in other European countries, due to regulations.

You might want to avoid dense low-income suburbs on the edge of major cities (known in Swedish as utsatta områden), although few of them pose any danger to the average visitor.

There has been a noticeable rise in violent gang crime over the last few years, making headlines abroad and causing an intense discussion in Sweden. However this violent crime wave (våldsvågen) is very unlikely to affect you, as it mostly is about influence over the illegal narcotics, gambling, prostitution and labour trafficking markets.

Most Swedes trust that cars will stop at zebra crossings, or even wherever they choose to cross a street. Still, do watch out yourself.

Although there is a significant police presence in the city centres, especially on weekend nights, the countryside is quite weakly policed; especially Norrland, where the nearest patrol car – and the nearest ambulance – might be a hundred kilometres away.

Pickpockets usually work in tourist-frequented areas, such as airports, rail stations, public transportation, shopping areas and festivals. Most Swedes carry their wallets in their pockets or purses and feel quite safe while doing it. Still, almost all stores and restaurants accept most major credit cards, so there is no need to carry a lot of cash around. If you have a bike, do lock it or you may lose it.

Authorized security officers carry a grey uniform labelled ordningsvakt, and have the authority to use force. They patrol nightclubs, shopping malls, festivals and city centres. Security staff without special authority have the badge väktare.

While Swedish police and security officers are helpful to well-behaving people, detention laws are rather harsh, and do not allow bailout. Police can detain overly intoxicated people overnight if they endanger others or themselves, and relocate people who behave disorderly, even without suspicion of crime. A suspect of crime can be jailed until trial, if the court sees a risk of flight (which is often the case for foreigners).

The age of consent is 15 or, towards people under ones care, 18. Consent has to be clearly expressed: if one part is passive, the case may be considered a rape (even if there is no penetration). Although being a prostitute is not illegal in Sweden, hiring one is a crime.

Knife-carrying in public areas is criminalised in Sweden (except blunt or very small knives) unless needed for work, outdoor life, or other activities. Packing down a knife with camping equipment is no problem.

112 is the emergency phone number to dial in case of fire, medical or criminal emergency. It does not require an area code, regardless of what kind of phone you're using. The number works on any mobile phone, with or without a SIM card, even if it's keylocked (without SIM, you will be asked to press "5" before the call will be answered).

Swedish police are stretched thin across the country. Officers are rarely on patrol, and might be too busy to head out for minor crimes. To report a theft or getting in contact with the police in general, there is a national non-emergency phone number 114 14 that will bring you in contact with an operator at a police station (usually nearby, but not always).

Brown bear (brunbjörn), wolf (varg), lynx (lo) and wolverine (järv) roam the Swedish wilderness, though they are unusual to sight. Bears are most likely to attack if they are injured, provoked by a dog, going to hibernate or protecting their cubs. Bears in Sweden have killed no more than a handful of people since 1900. Though wild wolves might attack pets and livestock, they avoid people.

Animal collisions are a serious risk factor on the road, especially at dusk. Elk (älg), deer (hjort) and wild boar (vildsvin) are common, the latter only in southern Sweden. Reindeer (ren) is common in Lapland. Many national roads (riksväg) and most European routes (europaväg) have long sections with wildlife fences (viltstängsel) to keep large animals away. A traffic sign usually warns when the wildlife fence ends with the text: Viltstängsel upphör. In mountainous Lapland it is common that herds of reindeers take up the road, and it is not uncommon that a rock ptarmigan (fjällripa) suddenly decides to cross the road.

A serious nuisance are mosquitoes (myggor,) particularly in the north, during wet summers. While they do not carry malaria or other infections, Swedish mosquitoes make a distinctive (and highly irritating) whining sound, and their bites are very itchy. As usual, they are most active around dawn and sunset — which, in the land of the Midnight Sun, may mean most of the night in summer. Supermarkets have many types of mosquito repellents.

Other summer nuisances are gadflies (bromsar), whose painful but non-venomous bites can leave a mark lasting for days, and wasps (getingar) whose stings can be deadly for allergics in very rare cases. Use mosquito repellent, ensure your tent has good mosquito netting, and bring proper medication if you know that you're allergic to wasp stings.

Ticks (fästingar) appear in summer, especially in tall grass. They can transmit Lyme's disease (borreliosis) and more serious TBE (tick-borne encephalitis) through a bite. The risk areas for TBE are mainly the eastern parts of Svealand and the Stockholm archipelago. Wear bright clothes, and check your body (and your pets) after outdoor trips. You can buy special tick tweezers (fästingplockare) from the pharmacy.

There's only one type of venomous snake in Sweden: the European adder (huggorm), which has a distinct zig-zag pattern on its back. The snake is not very common, but lives all over Sweden except for the northern mountains. Its bite is hardly ever life-threatening (except to small children and allergic people), but people bitten should seek medical assistance. All reptiles in Sweden, including adders, are protected by law and must not be harmed.

There are no really dangerous marine animals in Sweden, although when bathing in the sea one should watch out for Greater weevers (Fjärsing); a small fish hiding in sand, with several venomous spikes on its back. The venom is about as dangerous as that of the European adder, and will likely cause more pain (this can be quite severe) than damage. There are also venomous jellyfish, bright blue or red, in the sea. The venom is not lethal, but it hurts.

Stinging nettles grow in wet and nitrogen-rich places (especially where people urinate outdoors), but getting stung is generally not dangerous, only locally hurting for a few hours.

• Credit or debit card. Payment by credit and debit card is very widespread in Sweden: in some cases, there might not be the option to pay cash, including at some ticket machines, local buses in e.g. Stockholm, and some over-the-counter transactions. Nearly all stores and all ATMs accept VISA and MasterCard, as well as Maestro (Switch). PIN-pads are widely used instead of signatures (even for credit cards), so if your card has a PIN, memorize it before you leave home. Don't expect stores to accept foreign currency, apart from close to the borders, where usually only the neighbour currency is accepted (i.e. Danish krone, Norwegian krone or euro). Larger stores in Stockholm and at larger airports and railway stations often accept payment in Euro, typically at unfavourable rates. If you do not have a debit or credit card when you arrive in Sweden, you can use your cash (make sure you exchange them for Swedish krona first) to buy a Paygoo Mastercard gift card at the Pressbyrån outlets available at major airports, train stations, and coach stations; it will be accepted in the same way as any other MasterCard in most outlets.
• Passport or EU national identity card as identification. A driver's license is not a valid ID in Sweden, but it might work nonetheless (more frequently if issued in the standard EU format). You will frequently be asked to prove age or identity – for instance when using your credit card, when buying alcohol, when renting accommodation or when entering bars and clubs. You will also need it to register a prepaid phone account (see "Connect"). Banks accept only Swedish identity documents. Swedish bureaucracy is efficient but rigid.
• Warm clothes and extra shoes. Weather in Sweden is unpredictable. It can get cold and/or wet, but almost never too hot.
• If you plan on staying in Sweden for an extended period of time, pack some rain clothes. If you don't own any, they can be bought in many stores across Sweden – but can be somewhat expensive.
• Mobile phone. There are no public phone booths in Sweden anymore. Swedish GSM (2G), 3G, and 4G coverage is great, at least in populated areas, but don't expect it to work everywhere. In rural areas the state-owned operator Telia might be the only one available. If you have another operator you may only place emergency calls. 5G is being implemented nationwide reaching maximum coverage by all providers in 2025. Within the same time frame GSM (2G) and 3G is being dismantled to make place for improved 4G coverage and 5G. If your plan does not include roaming, you can purchase a prepaid SIM card (kontantkort) at the Pressbyrån outlets available at major airports, train stations, and coach stations to enjoy fairly generous mobile data allowances. Since 2022 it is mandatory to register a Swedish SIM card, for tourists by showing passport or national-ID. If you are short on time, avoid Telia or Halebop as those have to be registered at a Telia store; other operators support self-service registration by using their app or website to upload a photo of your ID, allowing you to get started within minutes. You can also use your smartphone to buy tickets for various transport services and other attractions and store them for inspection later.
• Power plug adapters, if you come from the UK or North America. Sweden follows European standard 230 volt 50 Hz and uses Schuko plugs.
• European Health Insurance Card, if you are an EU/EEA citizen.
• In forests and mountains, use mosquito repellent, myggmedel, which is available in most food stores.

• Cash money from your home country – see above. However there are currency exchange offices at airports and in city centres that will exchange most currencies. Some bank branches will not exchange currency, or handle cash at all in some cases.
• Tear gas or pepper spray for self-defence. These require authorization to be carried in Sweden, and you will probably not have use for them either way, due to the country's low rate of violent crime.

Sweden uses 230 V 50 Hz electricity with the F/Schuko plug, available everywhere except the most isolated cabins. Supply is reliable, though the countryside might have blackouts during severe storms. Most buildings have sufficient heating; air conditioning is however mostly found in commercial buildings, rarely in private homes.

The availability and standard of public toilets varies a lot. Except gas stations, they are available at most rest areas. Public toilets in cities and at rail stations might be scarce, and often require a fee (which can be as high as 12kr in the more upscale shopping centres). Toilets in city restaurants are usually for guests only. There are approximately 270 public rest areas (rastplats) along the roads in Sweden (map); there should be one for every 40–80 minutes of driving, i.e. every 50–100 km. They should have at least a toilet, an information board, some benches and a waste management system, all accessible by the disabled. Some are well-planned and nice.

Urinating behind a tree at a countryside road is acceptable; in a city street it is criminalized and might lead to a fine.

Pets have rights according to Swedish law. One of these rights stipulates that a dog or a cat must be offered water at least every six hours. At many restaurants that serve outdoors a bowl of water is placed outdoors to accommodate pets. They also have the right to be walked.

In many municipalities it constitutes a breach of the environmental act to leave dog faeces (hundbajs) in public places. Since it is legal to film people littering for the sake of filing legal charges, walking the dog might get expensive if their droppings are left unattended. Plastic bags for dog poo (hundbajspåse) are for sale at almost any supermarket, and they should be used for picking up the droppings, and then left at a dedicated litter bin for this purpose, that can be found in green areas in these municipalities.

From 1 March to 20 August special attention is required when walking a dog in the wild. Dogs are not allowed to roam freely where game lives. In practice, this means if the dog does not stay within a few meters of its human company, it must be wearing a leash (koppel). During the rest of the year, the dog must be within sight and command at all times of its human company, or it must be wearing a leash. When entrance is permitted for dogs to national parks and nature reserves, they must always wear a leash. The dog owner is always legally responsible for their dog, which also means getting acquainted with the appropriate laws. Different rules apply when a dog is with a hunting party, and the owner of the hunting rights must give their approval.

The national postal service in Sweden is run by PostNord and is considered efficient and reliable. Postal service points (serviceställe or postombud) sells postage stamps and can be found in many supermarkets and grocery stores all over the country. Post boxes are yellow with the postal logo, and are emptied once every workday. Domestic mail is delivered every second workday. Parcels are delivered every workday, in some places even on Saturdays. An unregistered priority (airmail) postcard or letter with a weight of less than 50 grams is 36 kr (approximately €3.20) for all international destinations (as of January 2024).

Alternatively, packages can be sent within Sweden and to international destinations with DHL or within Sweden and the European Union with DB Schenker. The latter website is in the Swedish language only, and you might need the help of a local to book and send a package.

Sweden's international calling code number is +46. Public pay phones ceased to exist in 2015. Sweden is the world's second most Internet-connected country (after Iceland).

Sweden has excellent wireless GSM and 3G/UMTS coverage, even in rural areas, except in the central and northern interior parts of the country. Swedish GSM operates on the European 900/1800 MHz frequencies (Americans will need a triband phone), with 3G/UMTS on 2100 MHz (with 7.2–14.4 Mbit HSDPA speeds). 4G/LTE coverage is also widely available, and 5G is being deployed in major urban areas.

The major operators are Telia, Tele2, Telenor and 3 (Tre). The major operators have discounted services via their affiliated brands – Halebop, Comviq, Vimla, and Hallon. Some operators may require a Swedish personnummer (or samordningsnummer) to get a number, although all operators (except Hallon!) that sell prepaid will allow you to get it without any "personnummer" (Tele2 and 3 do not sell prepaid, so they are not linked here), and these are sold and refillable at most supermarkets and tobacco stores. If "prepaid" is not understood ask for a Kontantkort. Alternatively, if you already have a SIM from another EU/EEA country, you may be able to continue using it in Sweden, subject to any fair-use limits imposed by your home provider.

Swedish law now requires all Swedish prepaid SIMs to be registered to a person with a Swedish personnummer, a BankID, or valid photo ID (passport or identity card) before they can be used. The procedure varies depending on the provider. Telia and Halebop require you to bring the SIM to a Telia store for registration, and requires a form that has to be sent off to the central support desk for processing. This can take a few hours before you can start purchasing plans to use. Telenor SIMs can be registered by yourself online here and are ready to load and use immediately after the necessary data is uploaded. Hallon SIMs can not be registered without BankID, so avoid their SIMs.

Prepaid USB 4G/LTE modems or data-only SIMs for a modem you already have can be bought in many stores. They are a good alternative to WiFi in Sweden, costing relatively little (300kr a month will get you 20-30GB depending on provider, and a couple of providers even offer unlimited data for a slightly higher price). Alternatively, these days, all providers allow tethering, meaning that a phone's data connection can be shared to any other devices within WiFi range without having to purchase a separate device. The number of WiFi access points are growing and fast food chains, libraries, hotels, cafés and malls and others may offer free wireless internet access. Fixed terminals where you can pay for internet access exist as well, although many libraries can provide the same service for free.

If you are planning on continuing to use your SIM in another EU/EEA country after leaving Sweden, it is important to familiarize yourself with each provider's EU roaming policy and purchase a SIM with that in mind. Halebop limits EU roaming to 10 GB a month. Comviq has fair-use limits in place that vary by plan. Only Telenor and Telia allow full use of their prepaid plans across the entire EU/EEA without any extra charge. It is, however, not possible to buy refill vouchers for these products outside Sweden in general (although Telenor and Telia will both accept foreign credit cards for refills online).