Member of the European Union, Sweden is the largest of the five Nordic countries (by far). It’s even the 3rd largest country in the EU (after France and Spain) and the 5th largest in Europe (including Russia and Ukraine).
This country, less than 3 hours by plane from France, is easily accessible. While we admire its landscapes, Northern Lights or Midnight Sun, many know little about its culture, practices, regulations, or food. That’s why we are focusing here on the essential information for traveling to Sweden.
This Nordic and Scandinavian country (yes, there’s a difference, explained in our article on Norway : 10 Things to Know Before Travelling to Norway) is nicknamed the "Land of 100,000 Lakes."
A true paradise for nature lovers !
Sweden boasts 30 national parks and is covered in:
(Source: VisitSweden, 2020 and Contura, 2021).
For example, if we focus on the Stockholm Archipelago alone, it contains 24,000 islands, accessible by ferry or private boat. This is huge !
Whether you prefer deserted islands, forests, or mountains, Sweden has something for everyone (whether you want to explore on your own or with a guide).
We all know IKEA stores.
Mind you, who doesn't know this brand known for its affordable prices and cleverly named furniture ?
This is the perfect ally when it comes to furnishing your apartment, especially when you are a student.
In case you missed it, IKEA is a Swedish brand. Its name is very local and comes from the first letters of the founder:Ingvar Kamprad, his family farm: Elmtaryd, and his hometown: Agunnaryd.
Fun fact: IKEA product names follow a specific logic, with Swedish names for lakes used in the bathroom section, masculine names for office furniture, feminine names for textiles, and city names for rugs. It is nice to know the logic behind all this.
If you’re planning to explore Sweden’s landscapes, especially Lapland, a car is almost essential. Of course, there’s a good network of trains and buses (not to mention domestic flights), but a car (or campervan) offers more freedom.
So if you come to Sweden with your vehicule, here is what you need to know.
Roads and highways in Sweden are free, which is great news for your wallet.
Police checks and speed cameras are frequent (yes, this part is less fun). Be attentive in town, because cameras in cities are not always marked.
In addition, parking enforcement is strict, and most spaces are paid. Payment is made via meters or apps like EasyPark.
Finally, winter tires are mandatory from December 1 to March 31, even for foreign cars.
There are several authorized types of tires:
And the headlights are mandatory 24/7, even during day time.
For car rentals, we recommend using DiscoverCars for competitive pricing and no hidden fees. The website compares hundred of companies and offers the best prices and best rental conditions (i.e. unlimited mileage, partial coverage, and theft protection). Knowing that prices can go up very high in Sweden for rentals, this website really allows you to save money!
Is it even possible to come to Sweden without experiencing a sauna?! Definitely no!
In Sweden, as in all Nordic countries, the sauna is a real institution. It is a cultural must that is deeply ingrained in Swedish culture, dating back to the 5th century. Its Swedish name is “bastu” (a diminutive of the word “badstuga” which means “bath house”).
Most homes and flat have a private sauna, and if not, there’s likely a communal one in the building. Hotels too almost always feature saunas. You can find Swedish spa establishments everywhere and even floating saunas.
It's hard to escape it for real.
For the brave, consider jumping into cold water or snow after your sauna session—it’s refreshing and invigorating!
This may be familiar to you if you have already visited other Nordic countries. Indeed, up there is what is called the right of free access to nature.
This right does not have the same names depending on the country and the language. In Swedish, it's said “Allemansratten”.
Thanks to this right, Everyone is free to move and walk wherever he wants and to explore Sweden the way he wants.
So everyone can:
This may sound familiar if you have ever visited other Nordic countries. Up north, there’s a concept known as the right of public access to nature. While it has different names depending on the country and language, in Swedish, it’s called “Allemansrätten.”
This right allows everyone to roam freely and explore Sweden as they please.
With Allemansrätten, you can:
However, this right comes with a few limitations (which is only fair when you think about it):
By following these rules, you’ll be able to enjoy Sweden’s natural beauty to the fullest and have memorable adventures!
Sweden joined the European Union in 1995, and while it has been part of the Schengen Area since 2003 (the free-travel zone within the EU), it refused to adopt the euro that same year and thus does not belong to the Eurozone.
The country kept its own currency, the “Swedish Krona”, abbreviated as “SEK”.
In November 2024, the exchange rate is €1 = 11.58 SEK.
Once there, there’s no need to withdraw cash, as very few purchases in Sweden are made with cash. Many establishments only accept card or smartphone payments.
To avoid paying fees for every transaction, it’s a good idea to check whether your card incurs charges for foreign currency transactions. If it does, don’t worry—there are solutions! We recommend opening an account with BoursoBank.
For our part, we’ve been using the Visa Ultim card since our van tour of Europe, and we’re thrilled with it! The card and account are free, with no withdrawal or payment fees. Plus, if you open an account using our referral code SILE2464 or via the following link, you will receive a bonus of €80 to €220 (depending on the conditions met and the current offer at the time of account opening). What more could you ask for?!
In Sweden, much like saunas, herring is a way of life. It comes in many flavors and forms: marinated, cooked, raw, fermented, fresh, or canned.
It is usually eaten with Knäckelbröd (a flat, crispy Swedish bread) with potatoes, butter or cream and a touch of chives.
If herring is not your favorite fish, don't worry, Swedes also love smoked fish, such as salmon or mackerel. And more broadly, they eat a lot of fish and seafood.
Another typical dish is meatballs. So iconic that they are even on the menu at IKEA restaurants. They are usually served with mashed potatoes, sauce, and lingonberry jam.
Berries are another specialty of the country. Blueberries, raspberries, lingonberries, and other wild berries are commonly used as condiments to season, enhance, or accompany dishes.
Let’s stick to culinary specialties with these two.
“Fika” can be translated as “coffee break,” or “snack,” and the "kanelbulle" is simply THE quintessential Swedish pastry. This is nothing less than a cinnamon Roll.
For Swedes, Fika is sacred. It’s truly an essential and unmissable part of the day. This daily break is deeply embedded in Swedish culture and fosters social interactions and connections.
For instance, 7/11 stores offer unlimited coffee for 15 SEK (around €1.30), which is quite competitive! And when paired with a treat like kanelbulle, it’s even better. It’s also common to see “coffee + snack” deals in cafes. In such cases, you can ask for “Un Kaffe och un kanelbulle tack.” You may have guessed it—it means, “A coffee and a cinnamon bun, please.”
In Sweden, recycling is mandatory. It has become such a habit that everyone complies and sorts their waste without exception. This commitment results in 99% of household waste being recycled, with only 1% ending up in landfills. It’s truly impressive! And these figures date back to 2015. Today, Sweden has set itself the goal of achieving 0% landfill waste.
By comparison, in France, the recycling rate for municipal waste was 44% in 2021, a figure that drops to an average of 38% across European countries (source: Eurostat, 2015, and the Statistical Data and Studies Service [SDES], March 2024).
Every household in Sweden has at least three recycling bins (and, on average, eight) for:
For recyclables, here’s how it works:
Swedes are so proficient at recycling that the country has more waste-to-energy plants than it has trash to incinerate. As a result, Sweden imports waste from other countries to keep its plants operational and avoid financial losses. It’s truly unprecedented (Eurostat, 2015).
Of course, we couldn’t forget this: where there’s Sweden, there’s Lapland. And where there’s Lapland, there are the Sami people (or Sames).
Lapland is a wild, untamed land in the Far North, extending over four countries: Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia. This is why Lapland is sometimes categorized by country.
A significant portion of Lapland lies above the Arctic Circle, resulting in 24-hour days in the summer (the “Midnight Sun”) and 24-hour nights in the winter (known as “Polar Nights” or “Endless Nights”).
The Sami people (called Lapps in English) are the indigenous people of this territory. They are one of Europe’s last indigenous populations. There are about 100,000 Sami, with 20-40% living in the Swedish part of Lapland. Traditionally reindeer herders, the Sami were once a nomadic people. Today, many have settled, but they remain the only group allowed to rely on reindeer herding as their primary source of income.
Since it’s far from urban areas, Lapland experiences very little light pollution, making it an ideal spot for stargazing and viewing the famous Northern Lights under perfect conditions in winter.
Swedish Lapland is less touristy than its neighbors (not counting Russian Lapland, which is sparsely populated and underdeveloped). This allows you to fully enjoy typical Northern activities.
Depending on the season, you can:
As we have mentioned it in our articles on Finland and Norway, you don’t have to limit yourself to paid activities while visiting (though it’s tempting in winter). Exploring, observing reindeer, and chasing for the Northern Lights on your own are free experiences that are just as rewarding.
In summary, while winters can be extremely cold (between -10°C and -30°C), Lapland is a destination worth visiting in every season.
There is so much to say about this country that we have added few bonus tips for you:
That’s it! We’ve shared 10 key pieces of information, along with some bonuses, about Sweden. We hope this country inspires you and that our tips will help you plan your trip.
For booking flights at the best price, click here:
Feel free to share your experiences and tips in the comments for other travelers 😊.
1. In Sweden’s national parks, you will find over 200 free huts and cabins where you can spend the night. Open to everyone and nestled in nature, these are great places to enjoy being away from it all. Just make sure to follow common sense rules, like cleaning up after yourself and replacing anything you might have used (such as chopped firewood). Also, since these are not commercial accommodations, the bed should always be given to the last person who arrives.
You can find both free and paid cabins listed on the Naturkartan.se website.*
2. In Sweden, the pace of life is quite different from what we know in France. Shops open late (around 9:30 or 10 am) and close early. On weekdays, it’s around 6 pm, and on weekends, even earlier, around 4 pm or 5 pm. Fortunately, this doesn't apply to cafés, bakeries, restaurants, and supermarkets, but still. In addition, Swedes are used to eating early: around 11:30 am for lunch and 5 pm for dinner. As a result, restaurants, outside the big cities, stay open less late than in France. Good to know when planning your stay.
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