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Sweden travel guide
Island cities, Lapland's northern lights and cosy fika.
Last reviewed 11 October 2026 · by the Travel Search Engine editorial team
Do I need a visa for Sweden?
Sweden is in the Schengen Area. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need no visa. Holders of visa-free passports, such as the US, UK, Canada and Australia, can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen Area. Many other passports need a Schengen visa before travel. Use the visa checker below for your passport and confirm with Sweden's Migration Agency or embassy.
Sweden is a large Nordic country of forests, lakes and long coastlines. Stockholm is spread across 14 islands, the west coast is known for seafood and fishing villages, and Swedish Lapland in the far north offers the midnight sun in summer and northern lights in winter.
Travel tools
Getting there
Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) is the main international airport, with others in Gothenburg and Malmö. Ferries connect Sweden with Finland, Germany, Poland and the Baltic states, and the Öresund Bridge links Malmö to Copenhagen.
Best time to visit: Jun–Aug for long sunny days; Dec–Mar for snow and northern lights.
Flights: see the cheapest month to fly to Stockholm, with live one-way and return fares from your nearest airport.
Tougher months: No bad time – but November is dark and wet, while winter is ideal for snow and Northern Lights.
Weather by month in Stockholm
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Average daytime highs in °C; dots show how rainy the month is (one dot dry, three dots wet).
Time zone: Europe/Stockholm. Compare with your local time.
Visas: in our passport dataset, 93 of 198 other passports can enter Sweden without arranging a visa first (visa-free or visa on arrival), 0 need an e-visa or electronic authorisation, and 105 need a visa in advance. Check your passport.
Background: Visa policy of the Schengen Area (Wikipedia).
Official advisory: Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution (U.S. Department of State, updated 2026-05-18). Read the advisory.
Stay
Most trips to Sweden are based around Stockholm, Gothenburg or Swedish Lapland. Pick a base for your main interest, then add day trips rather than moving hotels every night.
Typical daily budget: about US$60–90 for a backpacker and US$150–250 mid-range, per person.
Connect
Plug types: C, F. Voltage: 230 V. Check your own devices on the plug and currency checker.
Calling code: +46.
Mobile data: set up a travel eSIM or check your roaming plan before you fly, so data works as soon as you land.
Do
- Stockholm (Capital · culture & islands): A beautiful city spread across islands, with museums, palaces and waterfront life.
- Gothenburg (West coast · seafood & archipelago): A relaxed city with canals, parks and access to rocky islands.
- Swedish Lapland (North · Arctic nature): Northern Lights, midnight sun, reindeer and Sámi culture.
- Gotland & Visby (Baltic island · medieval town): A sunny island with beaches, cycling routes and a walled town.
- Malmö (South · modern city): A multicultural city linked to Copenhagen by the Öresund Bridge.
- Uppsala (Central · history): A university town with a cathedral and Viking-era burial mounds.
- Höga Kusten (High Coast) (Northeast · UNESCO landscape): Dramatic coastline shaped by land rising since the last Ice Age.
- Dalarna (Central · folk traditions): Lakes, forests and red cottages, home of the iconic Dala horse.
Things to do
- Explore Stockholm's Gamla Stan. Wander cobbled lanes and colourful buildings in the city's medieval old town.
- Visit the Vasa Museum. See a remarkably preserved seventeenth-century warship that sank on its maiden voyage.
- Island-hop the archipelago. Take a ferry to some of the tens of thousands of islands around Stockholm.
- See the Northern Lights. Head to Abisko or Kiruna in winter for a chance to see the aurora.
- Stay in the Icehotel. Spend a night in a hotel carved from ice in Jukkasjärvi.
- Experience Sámi culture. Learn about reindeer herding and traditions in Lapland.
- Walk Visby's medieval walls. Explore a UNESCO-listed Hanseatic town on the island of Gotland.
- Enjoy fika. Take a coffee break with cinnamon buns, a cherished Swedish ritual.
Eat and drink
- Gravlax – cured salmon with dill and mustard sauce
- Kanelbulle – soft cinnamon bun, perfect with coffee
- Gravlax – thin slices of cured salmon with dill and mustard sauce
- Räksmörgås – open sandwich piled with prawns
Money and safety
Currency: Swedish krona (SEK). Currency and plug checker.
Tipping: Not required; round up or leave 5–10% in restaurants.
Emergency numbers: 112 police, fire & ambulance.
- Sweden uses the Swedish krona.
- Cards and mobile payments are accepted almost everywhere; some places are cashless.
- Sweden is very safe, but watch for pickpockets in busy city areas.
- Dress warmly in winter, as temperatures can drop sharply.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a visa for Sweden?
Sweden is in the Schengen Area. EU, EEA and Swiss citizens need no visa. Holders of visa-free passports, such as the US, UK, Canada and Australia, can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen Area. Many other passports need a Schengen visa before travel. Use the visa checker below for your passport and confirm with Sweden's Migration Agency or embassy.
What is the best time to visit Sweden?
Jun–Aug for long sunny days; Dec–Mar for snow and northern lights. Mild summers and cold winters, very cold and dark in the far north.
What time zone is Sweden in?
Sweden uses Europe/Stockholm.
What plug and voltage does Sweden use?
Sweden uses plug type C, F at 230 V. Check whether your devices are dual-voltage before you plug in.
What is the calling code for Sweden?
The international calling code for Sweden is +46.
Do you tip in Sweden?
Not required; round up or leave 5–10% in restaurants.
What is the emergency number in Sweden?
112 police, fire & ambulance.
Which side of the road do they drive on in Sweden?
Traffic drives on the right.