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 About Sweden |
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Sweden is a country that combines beautiful landscapes, large modern cities and attractive seaside resorts. Its people are friendly, outdoorsy, and environmentally conscious.
Sweden offers many different attractions. In the south, you will find Saine County which was ruled by the Danes until 1685. Because of that, most resident of Saine speak fluent Danish, and you will be able to visit over 200 ancient castles and forts.
Smaland Province is another point of interest. In the mid 18th century, German immigrants founded the province, and established 77 glassworks, which became "the kingdom of glass."
The only “problem” with Sweden is the extreme weather, which is harsh and unforgiving during winter time. Summer months of July and August however can be quite hot, with occasional rain.
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Visas |
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Citizens of most countries in West Europe, North America and Australia do not need visas for stays of up to 90 days in Sweden (nationals of Scandinavian countries can even stay beyond the 90-day limit). People of other nationalities, however, generally need visas; it’s best to contact the Swedish embassy closest to home to find out whether you need a visa or not. If you need a visa, any Swedish diplomatic mission can issue it; if you do not need one, you’ll still need to have a valid passport in order to enter the country. |
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Education |
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Sweden’s record, when it comes to education, is commendable- a literacy rate of 99%, which is good, considering the fact that some of the population lives in remote areas where schooling can be a bit of a problem.
Most children in Sweden start school at the age of 6 or 7, and after 9 years of compulsory education, can opt for upper secondary school. During these nine years, all education is free, and children are even provided with one meal daily at school. Upper secondary school includes academic as well as vocational training, and may or may not be followed by university education.
There is in addition, a system of adult education organised by municipal departments for adults who would like to go `back to school’.
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Money and Costs |
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The local currency is the Swedish krona (Skr), plural kronor, made up of 100 öre. The country is fairly expensive, so if you’re on a limited budget, it’s wise to plan your trip very carefully- stay in campsites or hostels, travel by bus or train, cook your own food or buy food from supermarkets, and limit the souvenir buying. Even with all these restraints, you’ll probably end up spending something like US$30 or so a day, and more if you’re traveling alone. If money is a real constraint, visit the country towards the fag end of the tourist season- say, late August or September- when accommodation tariffs start falling, but most tourist facilities are still open.
Banks & Money Changers
Most banks in Sweden are open Monday to Friday, from 9.30 am to 3 pm, although banks in larger cities- notably Stockholm and Gothenburg- often stay open till later, particularly in the summer. All banks exchange foreign currency, as do foreign exchange counters at ferry terminals and airports. In addition, you can change foreign currency at post offices and at the bureaus de change- the latter, in fact, usually offer the best rates. Note that a transaction fee is tagged on if you’re exchanging a traveler’s cheques.
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Health |
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Sweden is, on the whole, a safe country to travel in, whether it’s from the point of view of health or otherwise. There are no health risks, but if you’re visiting the country in the winter, it’s wise to pack lots of woolens and an umbrella- the weather can be very cold. In addition, if you’re going off the beaten path- trekking, cycling and so on- take along an insect repellant and stock up on first aid. If you’re on medication, it’s advisable to carry your doctor’s prescription, along with your medicines in their original wrapping. Fortunately, the Swedish medical service is very competent, and you should generally not have any difficulty in finding an English-speaking doctor even in smaller towns. |
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Weights & Measures |
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The official system in the Sweden is the Metric system, measuring weight and mass in Kilos and grams, and distance and length in kilometers, and centimeters |
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Electricity |
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The electricity used in the Sweden is a 240-v AC (50-60HZ), so you will need a converter when traveling from the US |
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