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Sweden
Limits
| Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Local | Declare 10.000 Euro |
| Foreign | Declare 10.000 Euro |
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
Public Holidays
| Date | Holiday |
|---|---|
| 1 Jan | New Year's Day |
| 5 Jan | Eve of Epiphany (banks close early) |
| 6 Jan | Epiphany |
| 5 April | Maundy Thursday (Half Day |
| 21 Mar | Good Friday |
| 23 Mar | Easter |
| 24 Mar | Easter Monday |
| 30 Apr | King's Birthday |
| 1 May | May Day |
| 1 May | Ascension (Officially 1 day but often two in practice) |
| 11 May | Whit Monday |
| 6 Jun | National Day |
| 21 Jun | Midsummer Day |
| 1 Nov | All Saint's Day |
| 25 Dec | Christmas Day |
| 26 Dec | Boxing Day |
| 31 Dec | New Year's Eve (bank holiday) |
Note that the eve of a holiday is as important as or more so than the holiday itself. Most Swedes have the day off, including civil servants, banks, public transport workers, hospitals, shops and media workers. Others have at least a half day. This applies especially to Midsummer's Eve, All Saints Day Eve and Christmas Eve. The eve of May Day is sometimes called Valborg Eve.
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.