World Guide

Sweden

Country · Europe, Northern Europe

Old Tjikko
Pictured: Old Tjikko · Photo: Karl Brodowsky, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Sweden is a country in Northern Europe with land or sea neighbours Denmark, Finland, and Norway. Its capital is Stockholm, the area is 447,425 square kilometres, and the population is about 11 million. It offers travellers cities, sights, and natural landscapes.

Highlights

The site covers 34 sights. Major attractions include palaces and museums like Stockholm Palace, Vasa Museum, Drottningholm Palace, and Nationalmuseum. Historic and natural locations feature Old Tjikko, Turning Torso, Ytterby, Uppsala Cathedral, Kebnekaise, Birka, Skogskyrkogården, Tre Kronor, Götheborg, Storkyrkan, Stockholm City Hall, Rök runestone, Skansen, Falun Mine, Grimeton Radio Station, and Rock Carvings in Tanum. Key cities are Stockholm, Gothenburg, Malmö, Uppsala, Visby, Helsingborg, and Vadstena.

Food and drink

Local dishes include cinnamon roll, surströmming, gravlax, crispbread, semla, Jansson's temptation, ostkaka, princess cake, oatmeal ball, kladdkaka, falukorv, and kroppkaka.

When to go

The climate data describes the capital's weather using daily highs and lows. Months from June to August feature warmer temperatures, with highs from 18 °C to 21 °C and lows from 11 °C to 14 °C, along with monthly rain totals between 57 mm and 69 mm. Months from November to March bring colder conditions, with highs from 0 °C to 4 °C and lows from -5 °C to 1 °C.

Practical notes

Sweden uses the Swedish krona currency and the Swedish language. The calling code is +46 and the internet top-level domain is .se. Driving is on the right side. The time zone is UTC+01:00. Electrical plugs of types C and F are used, operating at a voltage of 230 volts.

Cities

Food and drink to try in Sweden

  • Cinnamon roll
  • Surströmming
  • Gravlax
  • Crispbread
  • Semla
  • Jansson's temptation
  • Ostkaka
  • Princess cake
  • Oatmeal ball
  • Kladdkaka
  • Falukorv
  • Kroppkaka

Top sights in Sweden

  1. Old TjikkoOld Tjikko
  2. Stockholm PalaceStockholm PalaceStockholm
  3. Vasa MuseumVasa MuseumStockholm
  4. Turning TorsoTurning TorsoMalmö
  5. YtterbyYtterby
  6. Drottningholm PalaceUNESCODrottningholm Palace
  7. Uppsala CathedralUppsala CathedralUppsala
  8. KebnekaiseKebnekaise
  9. BirkaUNESCOBirka
  10. SkogskyrkogårdenUNESCOSkogskyrkogårdenStockholm
  11. Tre KronorTre KronorStockholm
  12. GötheborgGötheborgGothenburg
  1. Storkyrkan · Stockholm
  2. Stockholm City Hall · Stockholm
  3. Rök runestone · Vadstena
  4. Nationalmuseum · Stockholm
  5. Skansen · Stockholm
  6. Falun MineUNESCO
  7. Grimeton Radio Station · VarbergUNESCO
  8. Rock Carvings in TanumUNESCO
  9. Malmö Castle · Malmö
  10. Uppsala Castle · Uppsala
  11. LaponiaUNESCO
  12. High CoastUNESCO
  13. Valsgärde · Uppsala
  14. St. Peter's Church, Malmö · Malmö
  15. Visby City Wall · Visby
  16. Sofiero Palace · Helsingborg
  17. Kärnan · Helsingborg
  18. Visby Cathedral · Visby
  19. Gothenburg Cathedral · Gothenburg
  20. Gothenburg Museum of Art · Gothenburg
  21. Alvastra Abbey · Vadstena
  22. Gotland Museum · Visby

UNESCO sites in Sweden →

Weather by month

The warmest month is July, with an average high of 21 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average high, °C00381418212015941
Average low, °C-4-5-2271114141051-3
Rainfall, mm423134333657696755585653
Rainy days111010889121210101213

Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Stockholm (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.

Also worth a look

Neighbouring countries and territories