+/- 0 h

Stockholm

Official language

Swedish

Language capabilities

English and German

• 230 volts
• A travel plug adapter for type F sockets is required.

Banks

9.30 am–3.00 pm (Mon–Fri)
9.30 am–5.00/6.00 pm (Thu)

Shops

9.30 am–6.00 pm (Mon–Fri)
9.30 am–2.00/4.00 pm (Sat)

In larger cities, department stores are often open until 7.00 pm or later and, in some cases, also on Sundays from 12.00 noon to 4.00 pm.

• 1 January: New Year’s Day (Nyårsdagen)
• 6 January: Epiphany (Trettondedag jul)
• Good Friday: date varies (Långfredagen)
• Easter Sunday: date varies (Påskdagen)
• Easter Monday: date varies (Annandag påsk)
• 1 May: Labour Day (Första maj)
• Ascension Day: date varies (Kristi himmelsfärds dag)
• Whit Monday: date varies (Annandag pingst)
• 6 June: Swedish National Day (Sveriges nationaldag)
• Midsummer Day: Saturday between 20 and 26 June (Midsommardagen)
• 1 November: All Saints’ Day (Alla helgons dag)
• 25 December: Christmas Day (Juldagen)
• 26 December: Boxing Day, the second day of Christmas (Annandag jul)

• The following documents are required to enter Sweden:
• A valid Swiss identity card or a valid Swiss passport.
• A visa is not required.
• Minors: minors travelling alone, with only one parent or without their parents are advised to carry a travel consent form.

Last updated: April 2024

• Southern Sweden: a temperate maritime climate with mild winters of around 0°C and warm, pleasant summers with temperatures of up to 25°C.
• Central Sweden: a transitional climate with relatively mild winters and moderately warm summers.
• Northern Sweden and Lapland: a subarctic climate prevails, with long, cold winters, often below −15°C, and short, cool summers with temperatures of around 15°C.
• Baltic coastal regions: these areas have a continental climate with cold winters and warm summers.
• Mountain regions of the Scandinavian Mountains: an alpine climate with cool summers and long, snowy winters.

The ideal time to visit Sweden

• Nature and hiking: July to September.
• City breaks: spring and summer offer the best conditions.
• Winter sports: December to April, particularly in the northern and mountainous regions.

• Mobile phone use in Sweden may incur roaming charges. Before travelling, it is advisable to check roaming rates and, where necessary, purchase a special roaming package to reduce costs.
• For longer stays in Sweden, purchasing a prepaid SIM card is recommended. Telia is the country’s largest mobile network provider.
• Free Wi-Fi is available in cafés, hotels, public places and on public transport.

• Vasa Museum, Stockholm: a maritime museum built around the Vasa, an almost completely preserved 17th-century warship that sank in Stockholm harbour.
• Gamla Stan, Stockholm: Stockholm’s Old Town, known for its well-preserved medieval street network and Nordic architecture.
• Drottningholm Palace, Lovön: a UNESCO World Heritage Site and residence of the Swedish royal family, featuring beautiful gardens and an impressive palace theatre.
• Icehotel, Jukkasjärvi: a unique hotel built entirely from ice and snow and redesigned every year.
• Gotland and Visby: a picturesque island featuring the well-preserved medieval town of Visby, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Øresund Bridge: an impressive bridge-and-tunnel connection between Sweden and Denmark, also known from the television series “The Bridge”.
• Ales Stenar: an impressive ship-shaped megalithic monument in southern Sweden.
• Abisko National Park, Lapland: known for its natural beauty and ideal for hiking and viewing the Northern Lights.
• Liseberg, Gothenburg: one of Scandinavia’s largest amusement parks, known for its rollercoasters and annual Christmas market.
• Skansen, Stockholm: Sweden’s first open-air museum and zoo, presenting traditional Swedish ways of life.

For further inspiration and practical tips, read our blog article “Stockholm city break – sights, museums, food and hidden gems”.

Sweden is known for its natural and uncomplicated cuisine, shaped by the abundant availability of fresh ingredients and a strong commitment to sustainable food production. Swedish gastronomy reflects the country’s geographical diversity and offers a wide range of flavours, from traditional dishes to modern culinary innovations.

• Crispbread and herring: knäckebröd, often served with various spreads and toppings, and pickled herring are staples of Swedish food culture. Sweden’s love of fish can also be seen in dishes such as gravad lax.
• Meatballs and elk sausage: Swedish meatballs, internationally known as köttbullar, are traditionally served with mashed potatoes and lingonberry sauce. Game meat, particularly elk, is also popular and is often prepared as sausage or roast meat.
• Fika and pastries: fika, the traditional coffee break often enjoyed with friends or colleagues, is an essential part of Swedish culture. It is commonly accompanied by pastries such as cinnamon buns and cardamom buns.
• Berries and mushrooms: thanks to Sweden’s extensive forests, fresh berries and mushrooms are widely available and are used in both sweet and savoury dishes.
• Seafood: Sweden’s long coastline provides an abundance of fresh seafood, particularly prawns, lobster and various types of fish, which feature prominently in Swedish cuisine.
• Restaurants and cafés: from high-end restaurants serving modern Swedish cuisine to cosy cafés offering traditional dishes, Sweden’s culinary scene is remarkably diverse.

• Greetings: a firm handshake with eye contact is the usual form of greeting; hugs are generally reserved for friends and family.
• Saying please and thank you: words such as “tack” (“thank you”) and “varsågod” (“you’re welcome” or “please”) are commonly used in everyday life to show politeness.
• Clothing: Swedes tend to favour simple, practical clothing. Dress is generally formal in professional settings, while functionality is valued in everyday life.
• Dining etiquette: meals are enjoyed in a calm atmosphere. Before eating, it is customary to say “smaklig måltid” (“enjoy your meal”) and wait for the host to begin.
• Smoking: smoking is prohibited in public buildings, on public transport and near entrances in Sweden.
• Tipping: a tip of around 10% is customary in restaurants and taxis for good service, although it is not compulsory, as service charges are often included.
• Environmental awareness: environmental protection is highly valued in Sweden. Visitors should separate and recycle waste carefully and observe the rules designed to protect nature.

• Tap water is of high quality and is safe to drink throughout the country. It is clean and subject to strict controls, and often tastes even better than bottled water.
• No specific vaccinations are required to enter Sweden.
• Ensure that adults and children are up to date with the routine vaccinations recommended in the Swiss vaccination schedule issued by the Federal Office of Public Health.

• Sweden has a highly developed and easily accessible healthcare system. Before travelling, Swiss citizens should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from their health insurance provider.
• In Sweden, some medicines available without a prescription in Switzerland may require one. Some pharmacies are open around the clock.
• Medicines for personal use, including prescription medicines, may be brought into Sweden without prior authorisation.

• Before and during your trip, follow the latest developments in the media and remain in contact with your tour operator.
• Sweden has a low rate of violent crime. However, pickpocketing and petty theft may occur in major cities and tourist areas.
• There is a certain risk of terrorist attacks.
• Further information on the current security situation is available on the website of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA).

Last updated: April 2024

• The Swiss driving licence is accepted for car hire, provided that, depending on the car hire company, it was obtained at least one year previously.
• The minimum age for hiring a car is 21.
• A CH sticker and warning triangle are required by law. Travellers are also advised to carry a first-aid kit and fire extinguisher.
• Motorway use is subject to tolls. Cash payment is not possible, as cameras record vehicle registration plates. Foreign travellers whose vehicles are registered outside Sweden are billed for motorway use through EPASS24. Payment can be made by credit card on the EPASS24 website.
• Blood alcohol limit: 0.2‰

Sweden offers numerous direct flights to various international destinations, mainly from Stockholm Arlanda (ARN), Gothenburg Landvetter (GOT) and Malmö (MMX):

• Stockholm Arlanda (ARN): direct connections from Geneva and Zurich.
• Gothenburg Landvetter (GOT): direct connections from Zurich.

These direct flights are operated mainly by airlines such as Swiss International Air Lines and EasyJet.

• Swiss driver's license accepted for car rentals if obtained at least 1 year previously, varies by rental company.

• Minimum age for car rentals: 21 (varies by rental company).

• Headlights must be on even during the day.

• CH sticker and breakdown triangle mandatory.

• Blood alcohol limit: 0.2 ‰.

00 41 (omit the zero from the Swiss area code)

• General emergency number: 112

Valhallavägen 64
114 27 Stockholm
Tel. +46 8 676 79 00
Email: stockholm@eda.admin.ch

Sweden aims to become completely cashless from the 2030s onwards, a goal supported by both the government and society.