Before You Book

PREPARE TO TRAVEL TO SWEDEN

 

Capital:

Stockholm

Religion: 

Lutheran Christianity is the largest religion in Sweden, with 65.9% of the Swedish citizens being the members of the Church of Sweden. Other Christian denominations include Catholicism and Eastern Orthodoxy.

Language:

Swedish

LOCAL TIME

Central European Time (CET) is 2 hours ahead of GMT.

Sweden is a country with big differences in daylight. In the far north, the sun does not set at all in June and there is darkness around the clock in January. However, in January in Stockholm the sun rises at 8:47 am and sets at 2:55 pm, while in July the sun rises at 3:40 am and sets 10:00 pm. 

ELECTRICITY

Sweden uses electrical outlets with 220 Volts with two round prong electrical plugs (Type C & F).

PASSPORT & VISA:

A valid passport is required by all nationals. All Passengers are responsible for securing proper documentation prior to joining the tour. Please ensure that passport/s are valid for a minimum of 6 months beyond the intended date of return and contain between 2-6 blank “Visa” pages. You should have at least two free pages in your passport. Please access the Travel & Visa Requirements Section on the top of this page for the latest visa entry requirements for the country/ies you are visiting. Passports are required; in addition, travelers are also advised to check with local consulates for full details regarding visa requirements. Please note securing a valid visa for entry is the sole responsibility of the traveler.

Currency & Money

Swedish krona (SEK). Notes are in denominations of SEK 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50 and 20. Coins are in denominations of 1, 2 and 5 krona

Credit cards: 

Credit and debit cards are accepted at most places throughout Sweden, including American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard, and Visa. Please note! To pay or withdraw cash with your credit card it requires that you have a card with chip and PIN (Personal Identification Number). The older magnetic-stripe cards won’t work.

ATM: 

ATMs are widely available throughout Sweden, especially in the major cities.

Banking hours: 

Monday-Friday:  10.00 am – 3.00 pm

Thursday: 10.00 am – 4.00/5.30 pm

In some cities, banks may stay open until 6 pm. All banks are closed at weekends and on public holidays. Banks at airports, ports and main railway stations are generally open longer.

Currency exchange: 

Most cash machines accept major credit cards. You can also exchange money at banks and bureaux de change.

Social conventions: 

While the Swedes do not differ greatly in their social conventions from the rest of Europe, you will notice a calm and ordered atmosphere that is not prevalent in some other EU countries. In keeping with this atmosphere, you should not behave noisily when in restaurants or on public transport. In addition to antisocial and loud behavior being frowned upon, so is any violent and anti-social behavior including expressing racist, homophobic, and sexist opinions. Sweden is known for its liberalness with regards to gender equality, gay rights, and openness, therefore conversations regarding these issues are unlikely to provoke any embarrassment.

Best time to visit:

Sweden's climate is hard to classify because temperatures, influenced by the Gulf Stream, vary considerably from the fields of Skåne to the Arctic Circle wilderness of Lapland. The country has many sunny days in summer, but it's not super hot. July is the warmest month, with temperatures in both Stockholm and Gothenburg averaging around 64°F (18°C). February is the coldest month when the temperature in Stockholm averages around 26°F (-3°C). Gothenburg is a few degrees warmer. Many visitors, except those on business, prefer to avoid Sweden in winter.

Required clothing:

Warm clothes and rainwear; light wear for summer

Telephone:

Phonecards are available for use in payphones. SIM cards are available for mobile phones and the Finish network supports many data-roaming packages.

Mobile phone:

Roaming agreements exist with most international mobile phone companies. Coverage is good.

Internet:

Internet access is available in Internet cafés and phone booths operated across Sweden, found in most major town and cities. In the case of phone booths, charges are payable by phonecard or credit card, whilst cafés are mostly independently run. Internet coverage is good across Sweden.

Post office hours:

Mon-Fri 08.00 am - 6.00 pm

Swedish Food and Drink

Swedish cuisine could be described as centered on cultured dairy products, crisp and soft (often sugared) breads, berries and stone fruits, beef, pork and seafood. Potatoes are often served as a side dish, often boiled. Swedish cuisine has a huge variety of breads of different shapes and sizes, made of rye, wheat, oat, white, dark, sourdough, whole grain; soft flatbreads and crisp breads.

Specialties: 

• Swedish meatballs, or köttbullar, with or without sauce, quite often with lingonberry jam
• Jansson’s Temptation: Mix potatoes with onions, anchovies, and cream
• Toast Skagen: Toast Skagen is an elegant combination of prawns and other ingredients on a small piece of sautéed bread.
• Raggmunk: is the name for a Swedish potato pancake. The pancakes are fried in butter and served with fried pork and lingonberries.

Regional drinks: 

The main Swedish specialty is brännvin (literally "burn-wine"), liquor distilled from fermented grain or potatoes. Vodka is the highest grade of brännvin, with brands like Absolut Vodka and Explorer Vodka. Brännvin seasoned with herbs is known as akvavit. This is usually drunk as a snap, also known as nubbe, a small shot glass to a traditional meal (especially pickled herring or crayfish).

WEATHER & CLIMATE

Summer -- When it comes to weather, the ideal time to visit Sweden is from June to August. Currently, all its cafes and most attractions, including open-air museums, are open, and thousands flock to the north of Sweden to enjoy the midnight sun. (However, except for special festivals and folkloric presentations, the major cultural venues in Sweden, including opera, dance, ballet, and theater, shut down in summer.) Summer also is the most expensive time to fly to Sweden, as this is peak season. To compensate, hotels sometimes grant summer discounts. (It pays to ask.)

Spring & Fall -- The months of spring and autumn, notably May through June and the month of September, are almost prettier than the Swedish summers. When spring comes to the Swedish countryside, wildflowers burst into bloom after a long dark winter.

Winter -- Scandinavia's off season is winter (about Nov 1-Mar 21). Many visitors, except those on business, prefer to avoid Sweden in winter. The cold weather sets in by October, and you'll need to keep bundled up heavily until long past April. However, other more adventurous tourists go to Sweden despite, or even because of, the winter. Students have returned to such university cities as Stockholm and Lund, and life seems more vibrant then. Cultural activities also abound. Skiers also go to Sweden in winter, but we don't recommend it. It is pitch dark in winter in the north of Sweden, and the slopes must be artificially lit. You'd be better off soaking up the alpine sun in Germany, Switzerland, or Austria.

Of course, one of the most fascinating things you can experience in Sweden is to see the shimmering northern lights, and they can be viewed only in the winter.

Stockholm: (approx)

SUGGESTED TIPPING SCALE:

Tipping is a way of showing your appreciation and will be welcomed by the recipient, although if you decide not to tip in a particular circumstance, this doesn’t mean you’ll receive a lower level of service. Ultimately, tipping is discretionary and should be done at a level that feels comfortable.

Here are some guidelines that you may find helpful:

Service                                                                                    Tipping amount per/person

1 - Drivers per/ day                                                                     EUR 10 per person

2 - Guides per/day                                                                     EUR 15 per person – private tour

                                                                                               EUR 5 per person – SIC tour

3 - Bellmen at hotels per/check in or check out                                EUR 1 per bag

4 - Restaurant servers                                                                  A percentage of the bill if its not already included

HEALTH & MEDICAL REQUIREMENTS & GUIDELINES

As a general recommendation, it is advisable to check with your family doctor or travel clinic for latest health information.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is highly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Your home country health plan may only provide limited coverage while traveling outside of the country. Indus Travels can offer you a complete travel insurance package. Some credit cards do offer travel insurance; however, they do not always provide adequate coverage. Review and understand the terms of your credit card insurance policy. Extra travel insurance can be purchased. Most insurance companies do have exclusions in their coverage. Pre-existing medical conditions are not insurable.