Sweden is a Scandinavian nation with thousands of coastal islands and inland lakes, along with vast boreal forests and glaciated mountains.  It shares its border with Finland, Norway, and Denmark. The country has a 1,000-year-long continuous history as a sovereign state. In Scandinavia, along with Norway and Finland, you can experience the midnight sun in June and Polar nights in December/January. So, it’s a year-round destination for world travelers. Stockholm, its permanent capital since 1523 is built on 14 islands.

• Official Name: Kingdom of Sweden
• Capital: Stockholm
• Population: 10.23M in 2021
• Currency: Swedish Krona 1 US$= 7.82 SEK
• Some stores, restaurants, and hotels accept payments in euros but the exchange rate may not be very favorable.
• Official Language: Swedish
• Visa Requirements: Sweden is a member of the European Union (EU) and Schengen area. Anyone can visit it with a valid Schengen visa.
• Best Time to Visit: late Spring(April-May) to early Autumn(September-October) is the best time to visit the Sweden. Due to Northern lights and Polar Nights, it is the year round destination for travelers.

The general crime rate in Sweden is low, however, the notion that foreign travelers are immune to crime is a common misconception. So, here are a few minor hassles to be aware of.

The prevalent rate of crime in major urban areas reflects that travelers are more susceptible to certain types of crime (mainly thefts) than national criminal statistics would indicate. Most crimes affecting foreign visitors are petty Crimes.

Sweden’s geographic locale and climate affect crime rates; crime (especially theft) tends to increase acutely in the summer when tourism, empty residences, and diminished police resources combine with extended periods of daylight. Hotel breakfast rooms and lobbies attract professional, well-dressed thieves who blend in with guests and target purses/briefcases left unguarded.

A  Recent Report is beneficial before a visit to Sweden.

Transportation – Stockholm has an excellent public transportation system of buses, trams, subway (T-Bana), and commuter trains. SL operates the bus and subway systems, and tickets are interchangeable. There are several ticket options when using public transportation.

Metro: The metro system in Stockholm is called the Tunnelbana (T-Bana). There are seven lines which are divided into three colors (green, red, and blue). The 100 stations which make up the Stockholm metro map are divided into three zones. for travel plan and metro map, please check here

Railway: The largest rail operator in Sweden is Swedish Railways.

Bus: Most cities in Sweden have their own local bus and train services which are often operated under the same ticket system. Just as Stockholm has the Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL),

Flix Bus now also offers a route between Arlanda Airport and Stockholm City.

Taxis can be booked by phone, can be taken from a taxi rank, or hailed in the street. Swedish taxis often run on fixed prices rather than using a meter, this is why you should check with your driver how much the journey will cost before you get into the vehicle.

Accommodation – A hostel dormitory bed starts around €20 and most hostels come with breakfast.

Budget hotels start at around €50 per night for a single room with basic amenities.

Other sites to plan and choose your accommodation might be Booking.com,  Air BnB(€40),  Agoda, or Hostelworld.(€15~30). However, when you’re looking for a hostel, do your research, read reviews to get a feel for the place. and book somewhere that suits you

Food and local Dishes – Some of the must-have dishes when in Amsterdam, including

• Kanelbulle is just more than a cinnamon bun.
• Prinsesstårta, a bright green cake
• Lingonberries, desserts like cheesecake
• Klenat, a deep-fried pastry.
• Smulpaj, a delicious Swedish crumb pie