Kingdom of Sweden | Konungariket Sverige
Sweden is a northern European country, situated on the eastern side of the Scandinavian Peninsula. Norway is virtually its entire western border, while Finland and the Baltic Sea are located to its north and east, respectively; in the very south of Sweden, a long bridge now offers a land connection to Denmark’s capital city, Copenhagen.
This Nordic country has had a rough and troubled past, but that was quite a while ago; today, Sweden is a global hub for fashion, cuisine, art, music, and culture, amid much else. With its colorful history behind it, the Scandinavian country now annually ranks in the top 5 as far as happiness, air quality, and standards of living – a big source of pride.
Related Read: Sweden History: A Quick Timeline of Swedish Historical Events
Stockholm, the country’s capital, is located in the southeast corner of Sweden, amid a vast archipelago of islands (25,000+!) on the Baltic Sea. This cosmopolitan city is a great way to begin understanding the country as a whole, especially the Skansen open-air museum, where one can find dozens of relocated buildings from all over the country, and from all different ages, in a hodgepodge of architectural history.
From the very north of the country, which experiences the drastic long and short daylight hours that are a novelty to most of the rest of us, to the very south, Sweden has lots to offer. The country is quite long, as well as plentiful on natural beauty; hills, lakes, mountains, and rivers can be found throughout.
Related Read: 5+ Things to Do in Sweden: Best Places to Go, Sites to See & More
Sweden Travel Information & Key Points
General points to know about the country of Sweden – demographics, important ages, phone numbers, key statistics, and more, whether you’re traveling there or not.
Capital: Stockholm (& largest city)
Population: 10,333,456 (2020 census)
Language(s): Swedish
Monarch: King Carl XVI Gustaf
Prime Minister: Stefan Löfven
Currency: Krona (SEK)
Area: 450,295 km2 (173,860 mi2)
Dialing Code: +46
Time Zone: Central European Time “CET” (UTC+1), DST/Summer Time: Central European Summer Time “CEST” (UTC+2)
Demonym: Swedish or Swede (what is a demonym?)
Endonym: Sverige (their name for their country)
Emergency Number: 112
Drinking Age: 18
Smoking Age: 18
Age of Consent: 15
Drives on the: Right
Electricity & Adapter: 220 V, 50 Hz, Plug Types C / F (define)
ISO Country Code: SE
Sweden is full of world-class destinations, and the cities and towns offer any kind of traveler whatever it is they seek. And an interesting note: Sweden is quite an innovative country, too – Forbes ranks each of its three largest cities on their Top 15 Most Inventive Cities List; Gothenburg ranks at #12, Stockholm is #8, and Malmö is at an impressive #4.
We’re busy trying to restructure our country and city destination guides, including regional pages such as this one, so this page will be populated in a much better way shortly. For now, here’s what we’ve got. Oh, also, check back soon, please! 🙂
Stockholm
The capital and largest city of Sweden is located in the southeast corner of Sweden, amid a vast archipelago of over 25,000 islands on the Baltic Sea. This cosmopolitan city is a great way to begin understanding the country as a whole.
Göteborg
Gothenburg is Sweden’s second-largest city, located on the western coast towards the south of the country. The city is post-industrial, and various art scenes and hipsters abound.
Malmö
Sweden’s third city is situated perfectly at its southern tip, and it is a perfect way to enter and exit the country, being only 35 minutes by train to Copenhagen, or a scenic (but expensive: €46 toll!) drive over the Øresund, or Öresund Bridge.
Central Sweden
The central area of the country is quite picturesque, full of small towns each vying to top its neighbor in cuteness and beauty, it seems. Uppsala, the 4th largest city, offers a wealth of calm history, dating back a millennium. Central Sweden is riddled with lakes, and the man-made canals which connect some of them are quite popular tourist destinations in themselves, such as the Dalsland Canal and the Göta Canal.
Northern Sweden
The north is the cities’ alternative to the “real” Sweden. Lapland is both Europe’s last true wilderness and home to its only indigenous peoples, the Sami. The north is where you’ll experience such wonders as the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights), the “Midnight Sun,” and the eight seasons that the Sami describe.
Related Read: Swedish Holidays: Important Events & Days Off for Sweden