5 Traveling Tips for the Sweden-bound Tourist

Sweden is an undeniably small but beautiful country. Hailed as the land of the Vikings, Swede has a very rich history and culture. Plan a visit during summer or fall and you will be greeted by amazing natural beauty. We do have to warn you though, living in Sweden—even if it is just for a short spell—is definitely not cheap. Luckily for you, we have some tips to help your travel budget go just a little bit further in Sweden.

Book your trip far in advance

Book your travel as far ahead as you can, because otherwise you will be paying premium price for train and bus tickets. Bus fare will typically set you back $35-50, although it is possible to get bus tickets for only $10 if you book a month or more in advance. If planning ahead is no longer an option and you know that you will be moving around a lot, then buy a rail pass before you arrive in Sweden.

Finding budget accommodation

If you are lucky enough to have friends and family who can welcome you into their homes, go for it. Otherwise, save a lot of pocket money to be able to stay in a prime hotel. Even hostels can be quite pricey in Sweden, starting at around $35 a night for dorm accommodations plus a $6 surcharge for bed linens. Budget hotels cost about $65 per night in a double room and shared apartments don’t really go for much cheaper than that. If you are up for an adventure, try camping; this is free in most spots in the country although there are some parks which charge $8 per night. It might also be worth your while to look into room sharing options. Simple type hyra ut lägenhet into a search engine to find a roommate that you can live with for the duration of your stay.

Eat more for less

Accommodations are not the only things which cost an arm and a leg. The same goes for food and transportation too. The nicer restaurants which offer sit-down service will generally charge $20 for an entrée. You needn’t starve though;

a cheaper option would be street food. Outdoor vendor do sell some tasty goods like French hotdogs, Thai food, etc. so $8-10 can leave you quite satisfied. If you are longing to binge, then do it at lunchtime like many of the locals do themselves. That’s because most restaurants offer buffets and set meals for more reasonable prices, like $13. Stay away from clubs though, since will charge you a $30+ cover fee.

Spend only the minimum on alcohol

The Swedish government places heavy taxes on hard liquors so the prices for alcoholic drinks are quite sobering. Luckily, beer is quite cheap at $6 per mug at the local drinking holes. And speaking of drinking, buy a water bottle and just refill it as you go. Tap water in Sweden is potable and there really is no need to throw away $3.50 for every bottle of water.

City Tourism Card or SL Card?

And lastly, if you look forward to visiting Sweden’s museums and tourist attractions, it may be worthwhile to buy a City Tourism card. For a fixed price, the card gives you free access to the majority of the museums and unlimited use of the public transportation system (buses, subways, even ferries).  The City Tourism card is available at all major destinations in the country. If you intend to stay for a longer duration, like for a week or more, it is wise to invest in a SL card and buy museum passes separately.

When packing for Sweden, we strongly remind you to pack comfortable shoes so that you can simply walk or take the subway whenever possible. Trains run 24 hours a day anyway, and you can avoid paying steep cab fares if you really want to. Some of the notable destinations in Sweden include Stockholm, Lapland and the Bohusland Coast. If you are headed up north for an unforgettable experience, you can try staying at the Ice Hotel—which is essentially one giant igloo where everything is made up of frozen water. It features an ice bar and an ice dining room. The guests sleep with big fur blankets placed on top of ice beds.