What currency is valid in Sweden?
Despite the fact that Stockholm is a member of the European Union and the Schengen area, that is, a Schengen visa is valid here, Sweden is not included in the euro area. In 2003, the Swedes held a popular referendum on whether to switch to the euro or not, and the majority voted against, about which this moment(court by conversations) do not regret at all.
Thus, Sweden has its own currency - the Swedish krona, or as it is often written on the SEK price tags. Despite the fact that in Denmark (Copenhagen) and Norway (Oslo) money is also called kroons, these are their own currencies, which in turn are denoted by DKK and NOK. That is, all three Scandinavian countries have their own money - different crowns.
Euro is foreign currency, which is practically not accepted for payment in Sweden, with the exception of a few souvenir shops in the Old Town. You can always check with the seller about this, BUT: keep in mind that even if they accept, then at a very high rate, which is beneficial to them, and not to you. Conclusion: in Sweden, you can only buy souvenirs for euros in the historical center of Stockholm and at a very unfavorable rate.
That is, if you are going to Sweden and Stockholm, you must definitely consider the money issue.
What and how to pay in Sweden?
There are three options:
1. Travel with a card.
2. Ride immediately with crowns.
3. Travel with any currency and exchange it for kroons already in Sweden.
It's hard to say which way is better. Before the crisis, it was very convenient to pay everywhere with a card and not bother with the issues of transporting and exchanging money at all. Now, however, cash is back. Therefore, we will consider in more detail each of the options.
1. Pay everywhere with Visa, MasterCard, American Express.
Cards are accepted for payment almost everywhere (with the exception of a few sausage kiosks) - in taxis, restaurants, shops, metro, etc. The only thing to remember is that the bank processes transactions and withdraws money for some time or, more simply, when it is convenient profitable. Therefore, even though you receive an instant SMS notification that a certain amount has been withdrawn from your account, in reality this money will be withdrawn a few days later. Therefore, firstly, do not be alarmed when, already in Russia, you will be notified again that something has been withdrawn from your account again, and before calling and swearing in Stockholm, call your bank and ask again once again. And secondly, be prepared for the fact that if the ruble exchange rate suddenly changes quickly even after your return from Europe (and you think with relief, they say, it has passed), practice shows that the bank will withdraw from you in rubles not so how profitable for you - namely, at the highest rate.
Plus, there is now a certain possibility that Visa, MasterCard, Amerikan Express may suddenly stop serving Russian banks and customers, so being abroad in your hands with an invalid card, absolutely no cash, is a somewhat frightening and unpleasant prospect.
2. Buy crowns before traveling to Sweden.
You can exchange rubles (euro or dollars - whoever has what) for crowns on the territory of Russia. This can be easily done in central cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well as in others - by prior order. What amount should be rumpled, as they say, to be enough? Depends on how you plan your holiday. First of all, be prepared for the fact that Stockholm is an expensive city, and consider something like this (minimum prices):
One souvenir in the Old Town - 25 CZK, Happy Meal at McDonald's - 32 CZK, cappuccino in a cafe - 30 CZK, lunch - 90 CZK, dinner - 300 CZK, one trip by public transport - 36 CZK, taxi nearby - 200 CZK, beer in the bar - 60 kroons, etc.
Approximate exchange rate: one euro is equal to 10 kroons, one kroon is equal to 8 rubles. That is, you need to change at least 800 rubles or 10 euros.
3. Go to Sweden and change money.
Best Options:
1. Change money on the ferry (if you are sailing to Stockholm).
Advantages: a good exchange rate, you go to the exchanger when it suits you and there are no queues. As a result: you come to Stockholm already with crowns and spend precious time only on excursions and walks around the city, and do not spend it looking for an exchange office and standing in line.
Such a nuance with exchangers in Stockholm: there are not many of them, they are not always located along the way, they work on schedule, there is almost always at least a small queue there.
2. Change money immediately upon arrival at Arlanda airport.
Advantages: a good exchange rate, you do not need to spend time in the city looking for an exchanger. If you arrive in the evening (a popular flight from Moscow), then keep in mind that exchange offices and banks in the city are open until 18.00! That is, exchanging money at the airport is your only chance to exchange them at all on the evening of arrival in Stockholm and, as a result, pay for a possible dinner.
3. Change money in Stockholm - in city exchange offices.
Swedish krona is the official currency of the Kingdom of Sweden. Bank code- SEC. 1 kroon is equal to 100 öre, but banknotes with denominations of less than 1 kroon are currently out of circulation. Denominations of valid banknotes: 1,000, 500, 100, 50 and 20 crowns. Coins: 10, 5, 1 crown.
On the front side of the banknote of 20 crowns there is a portrait of the Swedish writer of the late 19th - early 20th century Selma Lagerlöf, on the back - an illustration to her fairy tale "The Amazing Journey of Nils Holgerson with Wild Geese in Sweden"; on 50 crowns - the 20th century singer Jenny Lind against the backdrop of the Stockholm Opera House and a silver harp; on 100 crowns - Swedish biologist, naturalist of the XVIII century Carl Linnaeus and a bee pollinating a plant; on 500 crowns - King Charles XI against the background of the former building of the State Bank of Sweden and the Swedish scientist of the late 17th - early 18th centuries in the field of mining and metallurgy Christopher Polhem; for 1,000 crowns - King Gustav I Vasa, who ruled the country in the 16th century, and an illustration for the book of that time "History of the Northern Peoples" by Olaus Magnus.
The 1 crown coin contains on the obverse a portrait of King Carl XVI Gustaf, on the reverse - the royal crown and face value; on 2 crowns - King Carl Gustav VI Adolf in profile, the text "Gustav VI Adolf, King of Sweden", the stamp of the Swedish Mint and the monogram of its director, and on the back - a large national coat of arms with a royal crown and the royal motto; on 5 crowns - the monogram of Carl XVI Gustav with a crown, on the reverse - the face value; on 10 crowns - a portrait of Carl XVI Gustaf and the national coat of arms, but without a shield, the denomination of the coin and two letters on the left indicating the place of minting, and on the right - the first letter of the surname of the director of the mint and the year of minting the coin.
The Swedish krona was introduced as the national currency in place of the riksdaler in 1873 when the Scandinavian Monetary Union was formed, which also included Denmark and Norway. According to the agreement between the countries, one crown was equal to 1/2480 kg of pure gold.
This ratio lasted until the outbreak of the First World War. The Scandinavian Monetary Union collapsed in 1914, but all three members retained the krone currency name, creating their own monetary systems.
By 1930, Sweden had become one of the most prosperous countries with the highest living standards in Europe. She was one of the first in the world to emerge from the Great Depression. In 1931, Stockholm finally abandoned the gold standard, and since then the krone's rate has been determined by the market.
In both World War I and World War II, Sweden adhered to a policy of neutrality, and therefore the economy was not destroyed there, as in other countries of the continent. The post-war recovery led to even greater prosperity, and by the 1970s, the state ranked third in the world in terms of per capita income.
It is believed that the so-called Swedish model of the economy is based on close interaction between the government, trade unions and industrialists. At the same time, high taxes are paid in the country - up to 50% of GDP, and a high level of social security is maintained.
A certain decline in the smooth operation of this redistribution mechanism occurred only in the early 1990s. From 1990 to 1995, the volume of GDP declined by an average of 5%. In 1992, in an effort to hold on to the national currency, the Swedish Central Bank was forced several times to briefly raise the refinancing rate to unprecedented levels for a developed country. European country quantities.
As a result, many modern economists attribute the success of the Swedish economic model in the second half of the 20th century not to its effectiveness, but to the fact that Sweden had objective advantages after the Second World War.
Since the mid-1990s, Stockholm has pursued a policy of reducing budget spending and reforms.
Today, the Swedish economy focuses primarily on the export of industrial products to other European countries. Swedish National currency is sufficiently linked to the euro. At the same time, entry into the eurozone is not planned in the near future: in a referendum held in 2003, 55.9% of the population opposed this step.
Nevertheless, since the introduction of the euro currency, the Swedish krona on the Forex market has never significantly deviated from the quotes of 9.1-9.4 per euro until the start of the debt crisis in Europe. For autumn 2017, the exchange rate is 9.95 kroons per euro or 8.52 per US dollar. In relation to the ruble, 1 crown can be bought for 6.98 rubles.
Cash currency in Sweden is best changed at exchange offices- there, as a rule, the exchange rate is more profitable than in credit organizations. And you can pay almost anywhere. credit cards. There are no restrictions on currency exchange in Sweden, and the Swedish krona is fully freely convertible currency.
As you know, more than half of the Swedes, when joining the European Union, voted for the preservation of their national currency and against the introduction of the euro. This was back in 1995. The Swedish krona is the name of the Swedish currency. Introduced in 1873, it replaced the Swedish Riksdaler currency. If we translate the word "crown" from the Scandinavian languages into Russian, then "crown" means "crown".
Some coins of Sweden have her image on one of their sides. It is believed that Sweden's money is very beautiful - many tourists do not even worry about what souvenir to bring from Sweden, but simply bring banknotes and coins as a souvenir.
Currently in Sweden there are banknotes in denominations of 20 SEK, 50 SEK, 100 SEK, 200 SEK, 500 SEK and 1000 SEK (SEK is the international letter designation of the Swedish krona) and coins - 1 SEK, 5 SEK and 10 SEK. Previously, there were eras equal to 1/100 crowns, but since 2010, era coins have been removed from circulation, and all prices have been rounded up to whole crowns.
Cards, cash and exchange offices
What currency to take on a trip? It is most convenient and profitable in Sweden to pay with a plastic card - they are accepted everywhere. Yes, and throughout the country there are a huge number of round-the-clock ATMs, if you suddenly decide to withdraw money. In fact, cash can be withdrawn even in any store at the checkout if you pay for goods with a card and want to withdraw up to 2000 kroons. If there is no plastic card and this option does not suit you, then you can bring it to.
Many shops, hotels, cafes and restaurants in the tourist cities of Sweden will definitely accept them, but you should always remember that the commission for the exchange in such establishments can be overstated, or you will be charged euros at a very unfavorable rate. It is more profitable to immediately exchange euros for crowns at special exchange offices, such as Forex. Not all Swedish banks now allow you to exchange currency, or the banks they have are too high commission and not the most favorable rate. There are exchange offices in almost any city, they work every day from 7 am to 9 pm, banks are open only on weekdays and only until 3 pm.
What do banknotes and coins look like?
Swedish banknotes and coins are considered to be some of the most beautiful currencies in the world. If they fall into your hands, be sure to consider the images on each of the bills.
On the banknote of 20 crowns you can see Selma Lagerlöf (Swedish writer; she is also the first woman who received Nobel Prize on literature) on the one hand and the hero of the children's novel written by Lagerlöf "The Wonderful Journey of Niels" on the other.
50 SEK features Jenny Lind (an opera singer from Sweden) and a silver harp. At 100 SEK, Carl Linnaeus (Swedish physician and creator of the plant and animal classification system) and a pollinating flower are located. For 500 SEK, portraits of two Charles - Charles XI (king, reigned from 1660 to 1697) and Karl Polhei (scientist) with his mathematical calculations. Well, for 1000 - the "father of Swedish statehood" Gustav Vasa on one side of the bill, and on the other side - a picture with the harvest.
Basically, almost all coins of Sweden have the image of the monarch, and on the other hand, the image of the coat of arms or the crown. Some have the motto of the royal family, which sounds like "For Sverige i tiden" and means "For Sweden - always."
Interesting fact: Central bank Sweden decided to make some changes by 2015. A 200 SEK banknote and a 2 SEK coin will appear. There will also be banknotes with new images. As far as we know, these will be portraits of 3 men and 3 women - this is how the bank is trying to show gender equality.
Currency in Sweden: krone exchange rate
What is the ratio of the Swedish krona to the dollar, euro, ruble and hryvnia? Currently, 10 SEK is equal to 1.5631 USD, which is 1.1246 EUR.
If we exchange 10 Swedish crowns for our currency, then we will get 57.2897 rubles, or 15.1624 hryvnias.
The exchange rate varies from day to day, so be sure to check it out before your trip.
Prices and salaries in Sweden
Consider some prices and salaries, in terms of the national currency. So, breakfast for two will cost an average of 150 kroons, a buffet lunch will cost the same amount (70-80 kroons per person), and dinner will cost a little more - 300 or more. The cost of one trip by public transport will cost from 20 to 35 crowns, and a taxi from the airport costs about 470-520. Rental housing in Sweden - from 3,000 to 11,000 kroons per month, depending on the city and area. Renting a 3-room apartment will cost 5000-6000 per month. Wireless internet costs 300 CZK per month. Going out or a movie costs from 80 to 125.
If we compare prices with Russians, then we can say that prices there bite a lot. What is the salary of the Swedes? The average salary is about 20,000 kroons after tax, the minimum salary for a person without special education is about 14,000 after tax. Lawyers, politicians and doctors earn the most. The approximate salary of a Swedish general practitioner is on average 40,000 - 50,000 after tax. In a private clinic 60,000 - 90,000 after tax.
If , then you should be aware of the minimum budget per person per day - it is 200 SEK. For this money, you can live in a camp in the forest and eat some semi-finished products, nothing more. If the budget is at least 1000 per day, then you can no longer save on transport, live in more or less decent hotels and eat in cafes.
Despite the fact that Sweden joined the European Union back in 1995, it is in no hurry to join the Eurozone, which means putting the euro into circulation on its territory. In a referendum held in 2003, the inhabitants of the Kingdom opposed the introduction of a single European currency, therefore, at the moment monetary unit Sweden is the Swedish krona. In tourist areas and border settlements, along with the national currency, the euro is also accepted.
The Swedish krona is subdivided into 100 öre. The international alphabetic code of the crown is SEK, the digital code is 752. The Swedish krona is issued in banknotes (20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 crowns each) and coins in denominations of 1, 5 and 10 crowns.
Swedish krona to ruble exchange rate
In Sweden, there are usually no problems with currency exchange: you can buy crowns at any bank branch, at the post office or at exchange offices, which, by the way, offer the most favorable rate. Banks in the country work from half past nine to three in the afternoon, on Thursday - until six in the evening, Saturday and Sunday - days off. Exchange offices are open daily at railway stations, piers and airports.
You can withdraw cash from the card at numerous ATMs that operate around the clock. It is preferable that the credit card be Visa or Mastercard, as other cards are not accepted everywhere. If you want to bring home Swedish crowns, then remember that there is a restriction on their export - the amount should not exceed 6 thousand crowns in paper bills.
The currency, called the krone, came into circulation in the countries of the Scandinavian Monetary Union (which included Sweden, Norway and Denmark) in 1873. The name itself comes from the word “crown”, since this attribute of royal power was and is displayed on all coins now. After the collapse of the union, each of the states moved to its own crowns.
And the first silver coin on the territory of modern Sweden was minted back in the 16th century - in 1522, it was called an era. At the end of the same century, the era was replaced by the daler, and in 1604 by the silver coin riksdaler. The first paper money (not only in the Kingdom, but throughout Europe) appeared in 1661, at the same time the first bank was opened.
Modern Swedish banknotes are considered to be some of the most colorful and beautiful in the world, in addition, thanks to the coded magnetic stripe, they have a high level of protection against counterfeiting. Another advantage of paper money is the fact that bills of different denominations have different sizes.
I decided to start my acquaintance with Northern Europe from Stockholm, I went with the readiness to see the place where the most wonderful fairy tales from my childhood were born. And although I had little experience of traveling around Europe, in Stockholm I discovered my own nuances and subtleties, which I want to write about in this article, so that by learning about them in advance, you can optimize the preparation for the trip and enjoy the trip to the fullest.
1. General information
2. When is the best time to go to Stockholm
3. How to get to Stockholm
4. Currency, exchange points
5. Hotels in Stockholm
6. Estimated budget for a trip to Stockholm and local prices
7. Communication and Internet in Stockholm
8. Public transport in Stockholm
9. Should I buy a Stockholm card (Stokholm card)
10. Sights of Stockholm
11. Museums of Stockholm
12. Tourist Information Centers
13. Sightseeing buses and sightseeing tram
14. Unusual excursions around Stockholm
15. Where to go from Stockholm
16. Shopping in Stockholm
general information
Peaked roofs, on each of which you look with your eyes for the house of the same, moderately well-fed, bridges, the living northern sea, which tests the strength of the aristocratic nobility of the inhabitants or simply northern restraint, windows without curtains and blinds, in which people can be seen behind the drawings (for sure design new models of furniture, which will then settle in homes around the world), ships and again fairy tales, fairy tales.
Stockholm is the city that most people get to know from books by Astrid Lindgren, and he miraculously manages to keep this feeling of a fairy tale in reality. And although high prices carefully try to bring down this euphoria, they do not succeed, because the magic is priceless.
Without the help of any mysterious charms, Stockholm has already outstripped many European cities in terms of the standard of living and comfort of citizens: it is a very green and environmentally friendly city, there is a saying that Stockholm is one third water, one third greenery and only one third city. From myself I will add that water and greenery are full-fledged harmonious parts of the city, without which the panorama of Stockholm is unthinkable, and residents carefully monitor their safety.
This is a city completely open to children - child-friendly, as it is now fashionable to say: high chairs in every cafe, interactive and entertainment programs in museums, and much, much more. In Stockholm, people with disabilities are also taken care of: the entire public transport system is built in such a way that it was convenient for all citizens to use it. And, of course, Stockholm is open to tourists: many hotels of completely different levels, cafes and restaurants - all the cuisines of the world in one city, and how many places for shopping ... A whole baggage of impressions!
Stockholm is optimal both for a short stay (for example, as one of the stops during a cruise to the Scandinavian countries), and for a long, thoughtful study of the city. And for the weekend and for 2 weeks in the city, you will discover something new every day. The main thing is to be open and ready to discover!
When is the best time to go to Stockholm
Of course, in every season, Stockholm is charming in its own way: it either caresses the eye with quiet, harsh northern beauty, then it sinks into greenery, then it dresses in gold, the color of the water changes, and the streets and houses change along with it ...
But in order to spend time in Stockholm as richly and comfortably as possible, experienced travelers are advised to go to Stockholm in late spring or summer, when walks on sightseeing trams begin, and you can walk on the roofs only in the spring and summer months.
In addition, in June-July in Stockholm you can walk for a very long time, because during this period the white nights come. Many museums at this time change their mode of operation - they extend the visiting time, and the observation deck on the Town Hall tower opens. In Skansen (ethnographic park) all pavilions are open, while in winter they are almost all inaccessible to the public.
It is worth noting that the Swedes themselves most often choose August for their holidays, so this month there is a risk of finding only tourists in the city and almost not seeing local residents.
At the same time, winter Stockholm is no less interesting for trips, because winter in Sweden is the most fabulous and cozy time of the year: hot glögg (Scandinavian analogue of mulled wine) on the streets or coffee in warm little cafes, holiday atmosphere, fairs, many winter entertainments, bright decorated shop windows, followed by sales-sales…
However, Christmas in Swedes is a purely family holiday, so many establishments, including museums, may be closed between December 24 and 27.
The weather in January-February is the most unpredictable, for example, tourists who came to meet 2014 in Stockholm were disappointed in the form of a complete lack of snow and constant dank autumn rain.
But remember that Stockholm is called the city of museums, which means that you can always hide from bad weather in countless and interesting museums. Traveling to Stockholm in winter is a kind of adventure, partly even a challenge, quite in the nature of the bold and determined Vikings.
Those who go to Stockholm in the autumn will not be mistaken with the choice, the “golden autumn” in Stockholm begins around October. You can imagine how beautiful it can be in a city 40% of which is occupied by trees and other green spaces. Autumn is also a harvest season: various homemade preparations, jams can become delicious and excellent souvenirs brought from autumn Stockholm.
It is most pleasant to cycle through Stockholm in spring, summer or warm autumn (from April to November), as you can save a lot on expensive public transport, and it is much more convenient to travel long distances.
One thing is for sure: at any time of the year, it is easy to breathe in Stockholm, because it is one of the ten most environmentally friendly cities in the world. Therefore, forward to Stockholm - for fresh air and wind of adventure.
Speaking of wind. The weather in Stockholm is changeable all year round, the only constant natural phenomenon in this northern city is the wind, so light stacks can easily turn into a haystack. A little about ways to outsmart capricious weather: in summer, even on the hottest days, it can get colder in the evening. Therefore, when planning a trip to Stockholm in the summer months, do not forget to take a warm jacket or sweater. An umbrella is an integral part of the bag of any tourist and local resident in Stockholm, if you don’t want to take a heavy umbrella with you, then grab at least a compactly folding raincoat or raincoat. This method is much more convenient than an umbrella, and indeed, a raincoat is a peculiar feature of Stockholm, even the royal guard does not disdain it.
How to get to Stockholm
The fastest and most familiar way to get to Stockholm from Moscow and St. Petersburg, of course, is by plane. The good news is the low price of tickets, well, when compared with cities, for example, in southern Europe. You can fly to Stockholm for about 8,000 round trip per person if you buy tickets a couple of months in advance. In addition, promotions-sales of air tickets regularly appear for this direction.
Direct flights from Moscow are carried out by Aeroflot, SAS (a major Scandinavian airline), by the way, from St. Petersburg the same story.
Personally, I would not fly to Stockholm with a transfer, because the difference in the price of a direct flight is hardly more than 1000 rubles.
However, with a transfer, you can fly with AirBaltic (change in Riga), FinnAir (with a change in Helsinki), Estonian Air (change in Tallinn), KLM (change in Amsterdam), Air Berlin (change in one of the cities in Germany) and some others.
You can take a ferry from St. Petersburg to Stockholm, and also include a visit to this city in your itinerary through northern Europe. For example, you can swim from Tallinn on an excursion.
How to book a transfer from Stockholm airport
If you like to plan everything in advance, like to be met at the airport, then you need to book a transfer in advance.
You can do this online through the form below. I used their services more than once, even in Barcelona I was met by a Russian-speaking driver. At the time of booking, you need to pay about 15% of the transfer cost, pay the rest in cash to the driver.
Currency, exchange points
Sweden is a member of the European Union, but not part of the Eurozone, which means that the country has its own national currency - the Swedish krona (SEK). Thus, all payments in cafes, shops, hotels and museums are made in kroons, except that on the tourist streets in Gamla Stan and on the Drottinggatan shopping street somewhere they accept euros, but it’s better to take care of buying the Swedish currency in advance.
Money can be exchanged in banks and exchange offices, in general, as in all civilized countries. I note right away that in Sweden it is more profitable to change money at exchange points than at banks. But on Sundays, both banks and exchange offices are closed, and those that are open will take a large commission, so we do not recommend postponing the exchange of money until Sunday. If you come to Stockholm on a Sunday, don't worry, change some money at the extortionate rate and pay for the rest bank card.
Currency exchange points in Stockholm are located at central stations, at the airport, at the train station, at the piers, at tourist information centers. The most popular network of exchangers FOREX Bank ( official site, yellow-black signs). In the center of Stockholm there are also many exchange points of the "X-Change" system ( official site, white letters on a red background).
There are electronic queues at exchange points, a certain commission is charged on transactions - this is a fixed amount that is written on the scoreboard. Separately, it is worth noting the exchange offices of the "ChangeGroup" system, they appeared in Stockholm quite recently and are located on a pedestrian street in Gamla Stan (old town). There, even rubles can be exchanged for Swedish krona, but the exchange rate will be extremely unfavorable. Current exchange rates at exchange offices in Stockholm and their location can be viewed on the websites.
It is less profitable to change currency in banks, as banks in Sweden set a very high fee and at the same time a low exchange rate. Most convenient way- easy to use plastic card and withdraw cash kroons from an ATM at the interbank rate.
Another option for paying for purchases and services is cashless payments: in Stockholm, credit and debit cards Visa and MasterCard payment systems are accepted absolutely everywhere: you can pay with them on the bus and even at the vending machine.
It is possible that for the entire trip you will not need to change money or withdraw it from the card at all. Paying with a card in Stockholm is more convenient and profitable. Well, except for the farewell throwing of coins into coastal waters, it is worth getting cash (although for such a ritual, Russian rubles and pennies).
Hotels
Stockholm is a rather expensive city, which we have repeatedly talked about. As for hotels, there are some nuances that it is better to know about in advance. For example, you arrive at a hotel... And the bathroom is on the floor, or there is no window in your room. Read about all the intricacies of booking hotels in Stockholm, in which areas it is better to rent a house, read in a separate note.
Estimated budget for a trip to Stockholm and local prices
When planning the budget for a trip to Stockholm, you need to proceed from the amount of 100 euros per day per person, and with this amount you will not feel like an oligarch. The main items of expenditure in Stockholm are food, transport, shopping and museums.
Estimated prices in Stockholm (as of April 2014):
- Night in a 3* hotel 1500 CZK (164 EUR)
- Day pass: 115 kroons (12 euros)
- Lunch at a restaurant: 300-700 CZK (33-77 EUR)
- Business lunch: 60-90 kroons (6.5-9 euros)
- Dinner in a restaurant with alcohol: 1000 CZK (110 EUR)
- Bottle of Coke: 10 crowns (1 euro)
- Museum ticket: 120 crowns (13 euros)
- Taxi from the airport: 500 CZK (55 EUR)
- Magnets: 35 crowns (4 euros)
- Postcards: 10 crowns (1 euro)
Communication and Internet in Stockholm
Telephone communications. The Swedish telephone network is one of the oldest and most developed in the world. The first telephone network in Stockholm was owned by a company owned by the inventor of the telephone, Alexander Bell. Then the Swedish company "Ericsson", which produced telephone sets at the beginning of the last century, gained world fame (I think this company is familiar to many from office phones).
In the historical part of the city and in the Skansen ethnographic museum, old wooden telephone booths, more like elegant carved gazebos, are still preserved, most often they are painted green or blue.
Payphones in Stockholm are still very common today: they can be found on the streets, at metro stations, in shops, in hotels and at the post office. It is clear that in the age of mobile communications, machines are no longer so relevant, but sometimes, being a tourist, it is beneficial to use them to call a taxi, call the information desk of attractions, etc. Most machines accept both phone cards and credit cards, less often you can pay for a call with crown coins. It is more profitable for us, tourists, to use a bank card, but if you want to buy a telephone card, then it is sold in various kiosks and supermarkets, called Telia Telefonkort and costs 30, 60 or 120 kroons.
A good alternative is the Telia Travel Card, which can be used to call from any phone (the instructions are on the card itself). For example, a card for 50 units costs about 120 kroons; when calling to Russia, units are spent very quickly.
Every day after 4 pm and on weekends, calls within Sweden cost half the normal rate.
When I travel, I prefer to use special roaming services from our mobile operators, reducing communication costs, but I don't talk much. Those who talk a lot can buy a local SIM card in Stockholm.
The largest operators in Sweden are Telia, Tele2 and Telenor. Tourists usually buy a card with a prepaid rate, that is, there will be as much money on the SIM card as the card itself costs. Tariffs for all operators are approximately the same, a SIM card will cost 50–70 kroons, the same amount will be on the account (here is an example of a tariff description, see from ait). All incoming calls to the Swedish number will be free. You don't need a passport to apply for a SIM card. Having bought such a SIM card, you will be able to receive calls from Skype from your loved ones, which will come out very cheap (the cost of a minute of conversation in Skype is not so high).
Well, even if most of us can survive without long conversations, it is already difficult without the Internet. Internet (3G, Wi-Fi) in Sweden is quite well developed, in terms of free Wi-Fi even better than in many European countries. So, free Wi-Fi is available in almost all hotels, cafes, and even shops: for example, in the city, Pressbyran and 7-Eleven kiosks are guaranteed to have free Internet.
In Sweden, both 3G and 4G are actively used, but they can only be used with a local SIM card.
Postcards from Stockholm
Want to send a postcard from Stockholm? The issue of postal items in Sweden is solved non-trivially. It is quite difficult to find a post office in Stockholm, but letters and parcels can be sent from a store, a supermarket, and even a gas station. You can also buy stamps there. Look for the blue and yellow logo - this means that this place provides postal services.
On the streets of Stockholm there are blue (blue) and yellow boxes. Blue mailboxes are for domestic mail, yellow ones are for long-distance and international mail. If you are going to send a postcard or a letter from Stockholm to Russia, you need the yellow box. And even if you have never done this, then Stockholm is the place where you should try. Yes, and close people will be very pleased to receive not an email, but a real bright postcard with views of Stockholm.
Like everything in Stockholm, postage is quite expensive: in order to send a postcard from Stockholm to Russia, you need to buy a stamp for 12 kroons (60 rubles).
Public transport
Stockholm has a very convenient and environmentally friendly public transport network. You can use the metro, tram, bicycle and even the ferry. Read about public transport in Stockholm in a separate article.
Should I buy the Stockholm Card?
In Stockholm, as in any other major European city, there is a discount card, a la "all inclusive" (travel, museums, discounts). Stockholm card is very convenient for those who go on vacation to Stockholm in winter, because it includes free admission to more than 80 museums and transportation. But if you are going to Stockholm in the summer, then you have to count here. Find out if you should buy a Stockholm card, where to buy it will help our special article. Read about the Stockholm Card here.
Sights of Stockholm
You can wander endlessly around the old center of Stockholm. However, Stockholm is not only fabulous houses, embankments, palaces, town halls. These are also roofs, ethnographic museums and viewing platforms. More read about the sights of Stockholm here .
Museums in Stockholm
There are more than 80 museums in Stockholm. More information about the most interesting museums can be P read in a separate note.
Tourist Information Centers
You can get maps of the city of Stockholm, buy a Stockholm card, and ask all your questions regarding the life of the city in the tourist centers of Stockholm.
The tourist assistance service is quite well developed: the city has several large information centers and many information booths "Stockholm Today" ("Stockholm Today").
Information booths are easy to find: the identification mark is the letter "i" on bright signs. In this booth you will find a telephone, computer and printer, information is available in Swedish, English, German or French. Choose what interests you: the poster of the city, the main attractions, the calendar of events. The received information can be saved and printed on a printer. You can order a taxi or book a hotel room by phone.
Tourist centers are located at each ferry terminal where ferries arrive from abroad, as well as at Arlanda Airport (terminal no. 2 and terminal no. 5).
The largest tourist information center is the Swedish House (Swedish House, address: Hamngatan, 27).
Here you can book excursions around Stockholm and other cities in Sweden, buy souvenirs and books, tickets to the theatre, a concert or other events, exchange money and purchase a Stockholm guest card.
At the central station (T-Centralen) there is a tourist information office "Hotellcentralen". There you can buy travel cards, tourist cards, book a hotel room and book an excursion.
Information points can also be found in some places of interest: the Kaknas tourist office is located in the TV tower, and the City Hall is located in the town hall, which provide similar services for booking hotels, booking excursions, purchasing travel tickets and subscriptions to museums.
Special mobile tourist assistance points appear in Stockholm with the onset of the "high season" - from the beginning of summer to the end of September. Employees of tourist centers ride bicycles around the city and offer their services to everyone.
Thus, in which part of the city you have not been, you will definitely find someone who will guide you and answer your questions. If there is no information point in sight, feel free to stop the locals - almost all the inhabitants of Stockholm speak English and will be happy to help you.
In addition, as a rule, a map of the city and various advertising booklets offering excursions, concerts, etc. can be taken at a special counter in the hotel.
Food and restaurants in Stockholm
It's hard not to start with the words "since Stockholm is one of the most expensive European cities ...", because the cost of food in Stockholm is the second thing that hits the wallet after the price of a hotel room.
To roughly imagine the scale and pricing policy: in the menu there are “Moscow” numbers (in kroons), for example, cappuccino - 125, soup - 190, hot dish - from 300, but if you want to know how much it will be in rubles, multiply by 5 , it turns out that a modest lunch will cost an average of 2500-3000 rubles.
And yes, portions, well, perhaps a little more than in Moscow, and coldness in service can only be attributed to the northern character.
If there are no problems with money at all, then six Michelin-starred restaurants in Stockholm are waiting for you!
I will try to figure out how it is still possible to eat inexpensively and satisfyingly in Stockholm, provided that I want to get acquainted with the national Swedish cuisine, which so far I am familiar only with meatballs in a cafe in IKEA.
Perhaps the surest way is to ask old-timers, experts on the city, those who often visit Stockholm, but not Stockholmers themselves - they most often prefer to cook at home and spend time with their families. It is precisely because the Swedes are homebodies, that is why most of the restaurants in Stockholm are more likely to be designed for tourists, and authentic Swedish restaurants with national cuisine are more of a tourist attraction, although there are exceptions like the Pelican Cafe in Södermalm.
But the advice of "experienced" and their own experience have shown that the cheapest way to eat is in international restaurants: Italian, Mexican and Oriental cuisine, they are even on the most popular tourist street Drottninggatan.
Very often they operate according to the Bufet system, that is, the non-Swedish buffet. The alternative is chain fast food restaurants, but the prices there are about the same as in immigrant eateries, or even more expensive, and multiple restaurant vans with sandwiches, kebabs, etc.
A relatively inexpensive and at the same time typically Swedish dish - grillkorv - an analogue of a hot dog, is sold on the street.
There is a Herring Kiosk (Str?mmingskiosken) near the Slussen metro station, where you can also try typical Swedish food.
Speaking of fish: many guidebooks unanimously advise you to visit the fish markets in Stockholm and try the fish there. My imagination immediately drew a colorful picture of a noisy fish market with a tart smell and screaming traders like in southern countries, but this picture was erased as soon as I found myself in the Östermalm market: gold and purple, the counters in their decoration are more like church altars and nothing English words on price tags.
Perhaps I should have written out in advance the names of the main types of fish that can be purchased at the market, I am doing this now:
Herring - sill
Salaka (Baltic herring) - str?mming
Salmon - lax
Cod - torsk
Pike perch - g?s
But if suddenly you, like me, still have no idea what to do with this fish later, then you can just admire the gastronomic luxury and take a couple of colorful pictures.
For food, you can go to the 7-Eleven supermarket, which is open until 11 pm. There, by the way, you can buy edible souvenirs: jam, delicious juices from berries and cookies.
But with the search and purchase of alcohol, you will have to push yourself: alcohol in Sweden is sold in places strictly designated for its sale (System Bolaget stores, on iOS and Andriod you can download the locator of these stores) and only on certain days of the week.
So I advise you to use all the possibilities of the breakfast buffet at the hotel, this guarantees energy for half a day. Well, then you can treat yourself to any restaurant, after all, we only live once.
Sightseeing buses and sightseeing tram
The most convenient and fastest way to get acquainted with the city's sights for those who first came to Stockholm and did not particularly prepare for the trip is to buy a ticket for a sightseeing bus tour. They are run by two companies: Stockholm city sightseeing and Hop-on Hop-Off. You can get off and board the bus back as many times as you like at any stop on the route within 24 hours from the date of ticket purchase. Tickets for the tour are purchased from the bus driver, after which you are offered to choose an audio guide in the language you need.
Buses Stockholm city sightseeing, or Stockholm Panorama red, double-decker. They start from the Opera House. The tour lasts 1 hour 15 minutes. Ticket price - 260 kroons, children 6-11 years old - 130 kroons, children under 5 years old - free of charge. Buses run all year round. There are audio guides in Russian.
Hop-on Hop-of is a company familiar to many tourists who have visited other cities in Europe and the world. It offers sightseeing tours of Stockholm on three types of buses: blue, yellow and combi.
The colors of the buses depend on the routes.
| bus color | Route | Price |
| Cruises through the northern part of the city, passing by attractions such as the Vasa Museum, the Grune Lund amusement park, and also stops by the Östermalm shopping district. The bus runs all year round and around the clock, except in January. Embarkation and disembarkation is carried out at any of the 14 stops of the route. | ||
| Blue bus (Hop-on Hop-of bus Blue) | adult - 220 kroons, children - 50 kroons | |
| Blue bus (Hop-on Hop-of bus Blue) | This route goes past the City Hall, the Royal Palace and the Cosmopol Casino, which are located in the southern part of the city. Embarkation and disembarkation is carried out at any of the 14 stops of the route. | adult - 220 kroons, children - 50 kroons |
Sightseeing tram number 7N is actually a museum on wheels. On this line, there are old cars from the beginning of the last century, with wooden seats - in fact, museum exhibits. One of the carriages has been turned into a cafe. Trams run daily from 10.40 to 19.00 with an interval of 12 minutes, a round-trip ticket costs 30 crowns. The tram-cafe goes on the route only on Saturdays and Sundays and on public holidays. The menu features traditional Swedish fika (Fika, Swed. "Fika" is the Swedish tradition of taking a break from work to drink coffee). Entrance ticket for an adult 70 CZK (includes coffee and a bun of your choice).By purchasing one ticket, you can ride buses of different lines.
Tip: It's best to wait for the retro tram at the Normalmstorg stop.
Unusual excursions in Stockholm
A lot of entertainment has been invented for tourists in Stockholm: these are rooftop tours, walks in the mystical places of Stockholm, in the footsteps of a girl with a dragon tattoo, and many other things. More - read in a separate note.
Where to go from Stockholm
The surroundings of Stockholm are no less picturesque than the city itself. Stockholm is surrounded by more than a hundred castles and palaces, so you can spend a day in one of them. The most famous is the royal palace Drottningholm with a park ensemble. Gripsholm Castle is famous for its rich portrait gallery.
Just an hour's drive from Stockholm is a picturesque old city Uppsala where the oldest university in Scandinavia was founded. In the city you can admire the Cathedral and visit the house-museum of Professor Carl Linnaeus, who lived and was buried in Uppsala.