Stockholm Travel Tips

Normal Stockholm business hours are from 09:00 to 18:00 on weekdays and 09:00 to 13:00 or 16:00 on Saturdays. Larger shops and department stores are usually the exception and close around 19:00. 

Banks: 10:00 to 15:00, Monday to Friday (except Thursday when some close at 16:00 and others at 17:30)
Post Offices: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday, 10:00 to 13:00 on Saturdays.
Department Stores and Shops: 09:00 to 20:00, Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 13:00/16:00 on Saturdays
Museums: times are unique to each individual establishment
Business Offices: 09:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday

Stockholm is a very safe city in which to either live or visit. Tourists will feel comfortable both day and night going about their activities. Theft is perhaps the only thing to be concerned about as pickpockets maintain a presence here just as they do in any big European city. You can reduce your chances of becoming victim to their exploits by maintaining extra vigilance in crowded places and holding onto your belongings. Some areas of the city have reputations for attracting miscreants and lone travellers might be wise to avoid them; these include Sergelstorg and the tunnelbana station. The Metro late at night has also been known to see some criminal activity so be wary of travelling it alone. The police are very approachable and keen to help so you should always any problems to an officer, either in person or by telephone.

Electricity: 220V, 50Hz

The krona (plural "kronor") is the official currency in Sweden and is made up of 100 öre. Notes come in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 kronor while coins come in 50 öre, 1, 5 and 10 kronor.

Foreign currency and travellers cheques can be exchanged at all of the city’s banks although fees may vary between companies. ATMs are readily available throughout the city and generally accept foreign cards. You may wish to check with your own bank with regards to fees for using cash machines abroad. Credit cards such as Barclaycard, Visa, American Express and Diner’s Club, are widely accepted as a form of payment for both goods in shops and for services also.

Visitors arriving in Stockholm either by air connection or at a land border will generally not find customs clearance a complicated or stressful experience provided they are in compliance with Swedish customs law. With regards to the import of alcohol and tobacco products; non EU visitors aged 20 or over, are permitted to bring one litre of spirits or two litres of fortified or sparkling wine, two litres of wine and 32 litres of strong beer. Visitors of similar origin aged 18 or over are permitted an allowance of 200 cigarettes or 250 grams of loose tobacco or 50 cigars or 100 cheroots. EU visitors are permitted what is referred to as the ‘traveller’s allowance’ and is an unquantifiable amount based on what might be considered reasonable and appropriate for personal use. There may be some onus on the individual to prove that goods are not for resale if amounts appear excessive. Prescription drugs may be brought in provided the owner is in possession of appropriate documentation to support them. 

Should you wish to bring your dog or cat with you to Stockholm then make sure you have acquired the necessary documentation for them as border controls will insist on this before permitting entry to the country.

Swedes, while an exceptionally friendly race, are somewhat reserved and also sticklers for formal customs and behaviour. If meeting a local in Stockholm for the first time then a handshake usually suffices as a greeting. Body language is also important, maintaining eye contact at all times is a norm and something you should be especially conscious of if you are conducting business in the city. Obvious bodily displays of affection are not common in Sweden, so avoid public displays of affection if travelling with your partner.

Business culture is of utmost importance to Swedes. Tardiness for appointments is highly frowned upon and visitors should call ahead to warn their associates if delays are likely. Appropriate use of titles is also important, be sure to use surnames preceded by the title only, unless locals specify otherwise. Jumping to the use of Christian names without permission will not be well accepted. Finally, avoid calling a Swedish business associate at home unless you are especially familiar with them or a situation genuinely necessitates it.

Formal dining etiquette is quite complex in Sweden and there are a number of rules that need to be observed if you are to avoid offending your host or other guests. Hands should be kept visible at all times during a meal and not on laps, elbows should be kept well clear of the table. For toasts, the host only is permitted to initiate them and all guests should await the completion of the toast before taking a drink. Men should wait for the women to lower their glasses first before lowering their own and all guests should look others in the eye and nod before setting their glass down. Guests should try a little of everything served at the meal and set their knife and fork down together on the plate when finished. If dining at the house of a local, it’s both polite and customary to bring a gift as a token of your appreciation; flowers, wine, chocolates or figurines are all appropriate, candy for the host’s children is also a well received gesture.

Stockholm poses no specific threats to health. Tap water is entirely safe to drink and hygiene standards in restaurants and other establishments serving food and drink are high. Healthcare standards in the city’s hospitals are also high so should you require treatment, you will always receive the best care possible. Pharmacies are easy to locate in the city and can be used for conditions that are not so serious, although only a limited selection of drugs is available without a doctor’s prescription. English is widely spoken in hospitals and also in most of the city’s pharmacies. Visitors from EEA countries qualify for free medical treatment provided they are in possession of a European Health Insurance card, or EHIC. 

Stockholm Healthcare information

Tel: +46 8 672 24 00

The official language of Stockholm is Swedish. English is however widely spoken and while you may wish to purchase a phrase book you may find yourself with limited opportunities to use it.

EU residents are permitted to enter the country on nothing more than a valid passport and may stay for up to three months, after which a resident permit is required for an extension of stay. For US, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and South African citizens, the same applies. Visitors from Asia and Africa invariably require a visa and should contact the Swedish embassy in their respective country for more information.

Stockholm’s main tourist information office is known as the Stockholm Visitors Board AB and is located at Kungsgatan 37, Box 7542, SE-103 93. They can be contacted by telephone on +46 08 789 24 00 or by email at: info@svb.stockholm.se.