Traveling to Sweden

Are you looking for beautiful nature, award winning hotels and spectacular traditional cities? Then Sweden is the place to go. With bordering countries such as Norway to the west, Denmark to the southwest, and Finland to the east, Sweden is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe and has a population of 10 million people. The official language is Swedish; however, most Swedes know English as their second language. This enables convenient and efficient traveling throughout the country for people from all around the world!

Money and Budgeting

When traveling in Sweden it's extremely important to keep a budget as it can get expensive at times. It's also easy to fall into tourist traps; however, you can easily see cool places without spending the additional cash. The Swedish use the Swedish Krona as their currency, which has a current exchange rate of 7.88 krona to 1 dollar. Before visiting Sweden it would be helpful to plan out the places you'd like to visit and budget what you are planning to do and what you plan to spend money on. 

Food

Sweden has a large variety of food. The Swedes are most well known for their love of Swedish Meatballs with potatoes and lingonberries. Another well known Swedish dish is pickled herring which is also the center of the smorgasbord, a word that the English have adapted from the Swedish Dictionary.

For some real local Swedish taste, you must experience a real Swedish “fika," which translates to "coffee break with a friend." A Swedish fika can consist of coffee, tea, pastries, and desserts. It's also most well known for the Swedish “kanelbulle," also known as the cinnamon roll.

Living

Generally, living accommodations in Sweden can be quite expensive, which is why it's important to do your research and plan ahead before booking anything. If you plan on visiting Stockholm, you should consider booking accommodations slightly outside of the city center to save money. Hostels are also a popular lodging option where can also meet new people. However, if you'd like to get a more big city experience, you try to stay at the Grand Hotel in Stockholm.

Sweden contains some of the most well known hotels in the whole world. If you're visiting during the winter, the Ice Hotel is a must see attraction. This hotel holds beds, tables, chairs, glasses, and more, all built of ice. The hotel is in the far northern part of Sweden, where the temperature drops to the negatives during winter. Each year the Swedish rebuild the Ice Hotel on 64,600 sq. ft. of land. A room in this hotel can cost from $200 a night and up, but keep in mind you're not just paying for a room, but for a lifetime experience.

Transportation

Traveling in Sweden can be very simple as the Swedes are well known for valuing their public transportation. The length of your visit and locations you plan to travel to, should determine the means of transportation you should rely on. A popular means of transportation within Sweden are the public train and bus systems. You can easily check their transportation schedules on websites such as sj.se.

Culture

The citizens of Sweden tend to be known as introverts since they don't often talk to strangers. Because the Swedes value privacy and courtesy, there's an unwritten Swedish law to not sit next to someone on the bus because it can be seen as an invasion of space. To uphold and respect Swedish culture, always ensure that you're on time, and if possible even early. Also, when entering someone’s home it's respectful to always remove your shoes -- this way you can make sure you don't step on anyone's toes (;

Now that you're prepared on what to expect when you visit Sweden, enjoy some sights you may see throughout your journey!

-- Marisol and Carl

Östersund, Sweden

Stockholm, Sweden

Forsaleden, Jämtland, Sweden

Bräcke, Sweden