Sweden

Limits

Currency

• The Swedish Krona is the official currency in Sweden.
• 1 Swedish Krona (SEK) = 100 öre
• Notes are in denominations of SEK 20, 50, 100, 500 1,000 and 10,000.
• Coins are in denominations of 50 öre, SEK 1, 5 and 10.

Credit/Debit cards and ATMS

American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa are all widely accepted. Most shops and restaurants require ID when paying with a credit card. ATMs are widely available. Personal cheques are no longer used.

Travellers Cheques

Widely accepted. A nominal fee is charged when paying with travelle's cheques. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, visitors are advised to take travellers cheques in Euros, Pounds Sterling or US Dollars.

Culture

Scandinavia was somewhat isolated from mainstream European culture for a long time and, subsequently, folk art motifs and traditional handicraft have influenced the development of modern artistic traditions.

Scandinavian 20th century design is renowned and exported to countries all over the world. Sweden was one of the strongholds of the Functional movement and this can still be found in IKEA products, which are inexpensive, simple but charming. Most Swedish painters with an international reputation were active in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Emergency Services

• Emergency: 112

Weather

In spite of its northern position, Sweden has a relatively mild climate which varies widely, owing to its length. 

The summers can be extremely hot but get shorter further north. The midnight sun can be sighted between mid-May and mid-June above the Arctic Circle. Winters can be bitterly cold, particularly in the north.