Northern Europe · UN member
Sweden: Travel Guide & Requirements
Kingdom of Sweden · Konungariket Sverige
Sweden is a country in Northern Europe with its capital in Stockholm. It has a population of 10.6 million (#92 in the world) and covers 450,295 km². The official language is Swedish. The currency is the Swedish krona (SEK, kr).
Where is Sweden? Map of Sweden
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway.
- Region
- Northern Europe
- Coordinates
- 62° N, 15° E
- Neighbours
- 2 — see list
- Coastline
- 3,218 km
- Sweden
- Neighbours
- Capital
- Largest cities
Map of Sweden showing Stockholm (capital) and the largest cities: Malmö, Uppsala, Linköping, Örebro, Umeå, Västerås, Jönköping and Helsingborg.
Travel requirements
What you need to travel to Sweden
- Passport
The Swedish Migration Agency says visitors who do not need a visa must have a passport valid for at least three months after they plan to leave the Schengen area; for visa applicants it must be valid for at least three …
- Visa or eTA
Depends on your passport: of 198 passports, 93 need no visa, 105 need a visa from an embassy. Check yours or see Sweden entry requirements for every passport.
- Return or onward ticket
The Swedish Migration Agency says visitors who do not need a visa must still have a valid round-trip ticket with a return journey within 90 days, and a written invitation from the family member or friend they will stay …
- Proof of funds
The Swedish Migration Agency says Sweden requires SEK 700 for each day of the visit.
- Travel insurance
Under the Schengen Visa Code, visa applicants must hold travel medical insurance valid throughout the territory of the Member States and covering the entire period of the intended stay; the minimum coverage is EUR 30,00…
- Arrival card
The EU's Travel Europe site says that the first time you arrive at a border crossing point since the EES started, passport control officers will take a photo of your face and/or scan your fingerprints, and your passport…
- Customs allowance
The EU says that if you enter or leave the EU with EUR 10,000 in cash (or its equivalent in other currencies) you must declare it to the customs authorities of the EU country you are entering or leaving.
- Travel advice
Some caution needed — US and UK advice.
Entry rules: TravelRequirements.info — Entry Requirements Dataset (CC BY 4.0), each rule cited to an official government source. Always confirm with the airline and the official source before you travel.
Before you go
10 things to know before you travel to Sweden
- Safety: Sweden is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Sweden Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
- Best time to go: July to August — when daytime highs in Stockholm are around 22–23°C.
- Money: the Swedish krona (SEK) — 1 US dollar is about 9.9243 SEK.
- Plugs: type C and F, 230 V, 50 Hz — standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
- Emergency numbers: Police 112, Ambulance 112, Fire 112.
- Language: Swedish is official.
- Driving: on the right — speed limits are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 70 km/h outside built-up areas and 110 km/h on motorways.
- Time zone: UTC+1 in Stockholm.
- Capital: Stockholm. About 10.6 million people live in Sweden.
- Outdoors: 32 national parks and 98 ski areas.
Key facts
Sweden at a glance
Languages spoken: Swedish (official)
Geography & history
About Sweden
A military power during the 17th century, Sweden maintained a policy of military non-alignment until it applied to join NATO in 2022. Sweden has not participated in any war for two centuries. Stockholm preserved an armed neutrality in both World Wars. Since then, Sweden has pursued a successful economic formula consisting of a capitalist system intermixed with substantial welfare elements. Sweden joined the EU in 1995, but the public rejected the introduction of the euro in a 2003 referendum. The share of Sweden’s population born abroad increased from 11.3% in 2000 to 20% in 2022.
Location
Northern Europe, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway
Climate
temperate in south with cold, cloudy winters and cool, partly cloudy summers; subarctic in north
Terrain
mostly flat or gently rolling lowlands; mountains in west
Highest point
Kebnekaise South 2,100 m
Natural resources
iron ore, copper, lead, zinc, gold, silver, tungsten, uranium, arsenic, feldspar, timber, hydropower
Natural hazards
ice floes in the surrounding waters, especially in the Gulf of Bothnia, can interfere with maritime traffic
National symbols
three crowns, lion
Driving
Speed limits & road rules in Sweden
The default speed limits in Sweden are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 70 km/h outside built-up areas and 110 km/h on motorways. The legal alcohol limit for drivers is 0.2‰. Posted signs always take priority over these defaults.
- 5050 km/hBuilt-up areasTowns and cities
- 7070 km/hOutside built-up areasCountry roads
- 110110 km/hMotorwaysMotorways / freewaysWith a trailer: 80 km/h
- International Driving PermitRecognised: 1968 Vienna, 1949 GenevaCarry the IDP together with your national licence
- Driving sideDrive on the rightOvertake on the left
- Alcohol limit0.2‰ blood alcohol (0.02% BAC)
- Seat beltsRequired by law
- Child seatsRequired by law
- Motorcycle helmetsRequired for riders
- Road deaths (2021)2.1 per 100,000 peopleSafer than most countries (median 12.4)
Speed limits: OpenStreetMap wiki — Default speed limits (CC BY-SA 2.0). Road-safety laws: WHO Global Health Observatory. Compare speed limits and alcohol limits by country. Defaults for cars; local signs, weather and vehicle type can lower them.
Safety
Is Sweden safe to visit?
Sweden is generally safe for travellers, but some caution is needed: the US State Department rates Sweden Level 2 (“Exercise Increased Caution”), and the UK Foreign Office has no warnings against travel there.
US State Department
UK Foreign Office (FCDO)Latest update: Updated information on European Entry-Exit System (EES) (‘Entry requirements’ page).
Updated 11 Aug 2026 · Full travel advice
Sources: US Department of State travel advisories (public domain) and UK FCDO foreign travel advice (contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0). Checked daily. Advice can change quickly — always read the official page before you travel.
Weather
Best time to visit Sweden
The best time to visit Sweden is July to August, when daytime highs in Stockholm are around 22–23°C. June is also a good time to go. July is the warmest month (23°C by day), January the coldest (-5°C at night), and June the wettest with about 78 mm of rain.
- Jan-1°C-5°C
- Feb-0°C-5°C
- Mar3°C-3°C
- Apr9°C1°C
- May15°C6°C
- Jun19°C11°C
- Jul23°C14°C
- Aug22°C13°C
- Sep17°C9°C
- Oct10°C4°C
- Nov4°C1°C
- Dec1°C-3°C
Best time Good Less ideal
Before you go
Plugs, voltage & emergency numbers in Sweden
Plugs & sockets
230 V, 50 Hz · Standard 220–240 V: devices from the US or Japan (110–120 V) need a converter unless they are dual voltage (100–240 V).
Emergency numbers
112 works from any mobile phone, even without a SIM card in most networks. All countries →
Sources: Wikipedia — Mains electricity by country and List of emergency telephone numbers (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Ski resorts
98 ski resorts in Sweden
- 967 km of slopes
- 731 lifts
- up to 1,317 m
Biggest: Åre · Sälen · Bydalsfjällen
National parks
32 national parks in Sweden
- 7,303 km² protected
- oldest from 1909
Largest: Padjelanta National Park · Sarek National Park · Stora Sjöfallet National Park
Currency · 26 October 2026
Swedish krona exchange rates today
Sweden uses the Swedish krona (SEK, kr). One US dollar buys 9.9243 SEK; over the last 30 days the SEK has lost 0.1% against the dollar.
What other currencies cost in SEK
Currency converter
Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0), 26 Oct 2026. Banks and exchange offices add a margin.
World rankings
Where Sweden ranks
How Sweden compares with the rest of the world — open any card for the full ranking.
Airports
Airports in Sweden
244 airports and airfields — 11 large, 35 medium and 164 small, plus 33 heliports. 38 have scheduled passenger flights.
Borders
Neighbouring countries
Sweden borders 2 countries along 2,211 km of land borders. Coastline: 3,218 km.
Military
Swedish armed forces
Sweden ranks #37 of 145 in the Global Firepower military strength ranking, with a defence budget of $16.5 billion (2025).
People
Population & society
Religion
Largest cities: Stockholm (1.7 million)
Economy
Economy
Main industries
iron and steel, precision equipment (bearings, radio and telephone parts, armaments), wood pulp and paper products, processed foods, motor vehicles
Export partners
Germany 10%, USA 10%, Denmark 8%, Norway 6%, Netherlands 5% (2023)
Top exports
cars, refined petroleum, packaged medicine, paper, vehicle parts/accessories (2023)
Travel tools
Handy before every trip to Sweden
Next public holiday
All Saints' Day — Saturday, 31 October 2026. Then Christmas Eve (24 Dec).
Swedish passport
Ranked #3: 126 countries visa-free, 31 with visa on arrival, 9 with an eTA and 18 with an eVisa.
Swedish passport photo
Exact size, head position and background for Sweden's passport and visa photos — make one free with AI checks.
Calling Sweden
Dial +46 before the local number. Internet domain .se.
Climate footprint
38.1 million tonnes of CO₂ in 2024 — 3.59 t per person.
Entry requirements
Visa rules for every passport visiting Sweden: visa-free stays, eVisas, visas on arrival and documents to bring.
News
Latest travel news about Sweden
Sweden mulls athlete entry curbs; no visa rules change for travellers yet
Sweden is examining whether it can refuse visas to Russian and Belarusian athletes competing on its territory under neutral status. No restrictions h…
Belarusian athletes may be refused Swedish visas for Falun ski championships
Sweden is examining legal grounds to deny visas to Russian and Belarusian athletes entering for international competitions, which could affect the No…
Vietnam–Scandinavia Travel Ties Grow, but No New Routes or Dates Announced
Vietnam Airlines has signed agreements with Copenhagen Airport, SAS and the Confederation of Danish Industry to strengthen its Scandinavian connectiv…
Frequently asked questions about Sweden
What do I need to travel to Sweden?
How long must my passport be valid for Sweden?
Where is Sweden?
What is Sweden known for?
What is the capital of Sweden?
What language is spoken in Sweden?
What currency does Sweden use?
What is the calling code of Sweden?
Which countries border Sweden?
How strong is the Swedish passport?
What is the speed limit in Sweden?
Is Sweden safe to visit?
When is the best time to visit Sweden?
What plug type does Sweden use?
How many airports does Sweden have?
Sources: CIA World Factbook (public domain); World Bank Open Data (CC BY 4.0); names, languages and currencies: mledoze/countries (ODbL); flag: flag-icons (MIT); coat of arms: Wikimedia Commons (file page); exchange rates: Daily reference rates from the open-source currency-api (CC0); airports: OurAirports.