Sweden Travel Guide
Sweden Travel Guide. Yes it is.
With almost ten million locals, Sweden is a small but lovely country. From the frozen lands up north to the rugged western coast to the picturesque islands in Stockholm, Sweden is one of my favorite countries in the world.
populace has preserved it wonderfully. The country isn’t cheap (though this travel guide will help you save money) and people often skip it until they have more funds but it’s never too soon to see Sweden. I fell in love with the country the first time I visited and am always wowed by the architecture, historic cities, and surreal landscape. Throw in welcoming locals and you have the recipe for a truly amazing destination! I visit the country every year and always fall back in love. Don’t skip the country! Fall in love with it too!
Accommodation – Accommodation, like everything in Sweden, is not cheap. Hostels start around 250 SEK per night for a dorm room and are between 690-810 SEK for a double private room. Hostels in Sweden also add a 25-50 SEK surcharge for bed linen (I know, it’s ridiculous). A budget hotel will begin around 700 SEK for a double room per night. Cheaper options are available however they necessitate sharing a bathroom with other guests so make sure you read the fine print! Shared rooms from sites like Airbnb can be found for as little as 400 SEK per night, while a private apartment or house will cost you almost double. Wild camping is a good budget option as it is legal (and FREE!) to wild camp almost anywhere in Sweden. If that’s not your thing, campgrounds are also common (though many require a Swedish camping card, which you can purchase at your campsite for 150 SEK and have modern facilities, including toilets and showers.
Food – Food is expensive in Sweden. You can get cheap food from outdoor street vendors starting at 50 SEK, though they are few and far between. You can get hot dogs starting at 25 SEK. (Try the French hotdogs for 30 SEK. They’re delicious!) Grocery shopping here will cost 565 SEK per week, however, if you cut down on your meat and cheese intake (some of the most expensive food items in Sweden) you can lower your costs significantly. Many convenience stores offer pre-packaged sandwiches and meals for under 50 SEK. Whole pizzas begin around 65 SEK. Most nice sit-down restaurant meals begin at 160 SEK for a main dish. Beer can be as cheap as 40 SEK, though 60-75 SEK is more common. Wine will cost around 55-75 SEK at your average restaurant, and cocktails will set you back at least 100 SEK. If you’re on a budget you’ll likely want to stick to beer. You can buy your own alcohol at the government-run Systembolaget for even greater savings.
Transportation costs – The majority of intercity trains cost 325–610 SEK, though tickets for as low as 200 SEK can be found. Long overnight sleep train, like the fifteen-hour trip from Stockholm to Luleå, cost between 700–1,215 SEK. Buses booked a month or more in advance can be found for as cheap as 80 SEK. However, those tickets are limited in number, and typically buses cost 225–405 SEK. The ferry to Gotland (from either Oskarshamn or Nynäshamn) is 258 SEK and up. If you are arriving at an airport, Flygbussarna is the shuttle company, with tickets around 100 SEK from major airports to the nearest downtown (Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö). Hitchhiking isn’t really common in Sweden, though foreigners can get away with it as long as they stick to major highways.
