A Few Important Things to Know Before You Visit Sweden

Know Before You Go: Differences Between the US and Sweden

Greetings from Stockholm, Sweden! Today I’m sharing with you some of the differences between Sweden and the U.S. When you visit Sweden from the US, you’ll be more prepared with these Sweden travel tips!

Language in Sweden

The official language of Sweden is Swedish, but they also speak English very well. This is one reason I recommend Sweden for first time international travelers who want to visit a non-English-speaking country but be able to get by with only English. If you want to learn a few Swedish phrases, these are easy:

Hi = Hej
Bye = adjö
Thank You = Tack

Money & Prices in Sweden

In Sweden, they tend to prefer credit cards as payment. To avoid any issues, make sure you have a PIN for your credit card or debit card, and try to bring cards that have the chip in them. When dealing with cash in Sweden, the currency is the Krona, SEK or Kr. In 2018, the Swedish exchange rate is about 9 Kr per US Dollar.

Swedish currency comes in bills and coins. There are 1000Kr bills, but beware of those, and ask for two 500Kr instead as it will be hard to spend. The other bills are 500Kr, 100Kr, 50Kr and 20Kr. Coins come in 10Kr, 5k, 1Kr and .50 Kr.

ATM’s are found throughout the cities, and this is the best exchange rate for withdrawing Swedish currency. There are also exchange houses around, but you won’t get as good of a rate as you would from an ATM. Be sure to call your banks ahead of time to let them know you’ll be using your cards in Sweden!

I find prices in Sweden to be about 20 to 30% more expensive than the U.S. So, it’s fairly expensive, but it’s worth it!

Swedish Restaurants

Plan on spending about $20 – $25 for a meal, without drinks in most Swedish restaurants.

Sweden in general has very good restaurants, especially in Stockholm. There’s a lot of great international cuisine throughout the country, so it’s not always traditional Swedish food at the best restaurants. Traditional food in Sweden includes meatballs and gravy, lots of potatoes, herring served many ways, crispy cracker bread, lingonberries and so much more. Check out our video “Swedish Food: What You Should Eat in Sweden.”

Service in Sweden

Tipping in Sweden is around 5%, but service in Sweden is not that great compared to American standards. You need to be proactive in your needs when it comes to Swedish service. The service isn’t overly friendly or helpful, which isn’t to say that the people aren’t friendly or helpful, you just have to ask for help. Swedish culture is just a little more reserved, but it sometimes gives the reputation of rudeness, which isn’t true.

Watch: Do You Tip in Sweden?

Drinking in Sweden

Try Swedish micro-brews for some good beer. In general, the beer isn’t great in Sweden. If you want something stronger, you have to go to a System Bolaget, which is the government-owned liquor store. These stores close at 1pm on Saturday and are closed on Sunday, so you really need to plan ahead if you want to make cocktails over the weekend. If you prefer to go in Sweden, be sure to dress the part. Many Swedish nightclubs enforce a dress code.

Ask a local for bar, restaurant and beer recommendations in Sweden.

Queuing Up in Sweden

Be prepared for less personal space in Sweden. When you’re waiting in line for something, be right up behind the person in front of you, or you could lose your spot. If you leave too much space in the line, others will assume you’re not waiting in line. We speak from experience on this one, having lost our spot in a breakfast line a few times!

10 Things That SHOCK Tourists about Sweden

Swedish Store Hours

Swedish stores are open on Sundays, which is unusual for Europe. This is a nice change, so you can do some shopping any day of the week.

Electrical Outlets in Sweden

Electrical outlets in Sweden are similar to the rest of Europe, with two round plugs.

Safety in Sweden

Sweden is super safe, with very low crime. There may be occasional pickpockets in big cities or in No Go neighborhoods.

Getting Around Sweden

Sweden has a very good public transportation system. Beware that the trains often run late, and it can be expensive. Sometimes getting public transportation tickets in Sweden can be difficult. It can be frustrating getting hold of a the card you need to load up for access to trains and buses.

Toilets in Sweden

Toilets in Sweden are normal, sit-down toilets. However, flushing can be a bit different. Sometimes, you have to hold the button down to release all of the water needed. Check the bowl before you walk away to ensure you don’t leave any surprises for the next visitor. As you are out and about in Sweden, there aren’t many public toilets. If you do find a public toilet in Sweden, be prepared to pay 10Kr to use it. It’s always good to have a few 5Kr and 10Kr coins in your pocket, should you need to use a public toilet.

Additional Sweden Travel Resources

Sweden is such a cool destination. We’ve got lots more Sweden travel videos to help you get ready for your trip.