Sweden
Sweden suits travelers who want old towns, islands and lakes in summer, and the midnight sun in the far north.
Sweden is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe, bordered by Norway and Finland and linked to Denmark by the Öresund Bridge. Stockholm, the capital and largest city, is built on islands and water. It is the largest Nordic country, but most of its roughly 10.6 million people live in the south and centre, and the north is sparsely populated. Its long Baltic coast and large lakes, including Vänern, the third largest in Europe, mean water is never far away.
Visitors come for Viking history, from the trading port of Birka near Stockholm to the runestones that commemorate Viking journeys, and for the medieval town of Visby on Gotland. The Göta Canal links the Baltic Sea with Gothenburg, Sweden's second city. About 15% of the country lies north of the Arctic Circle, where the sun stays up through part of summer and stays down through part of winter. Islands and lakes suit a summer trip, while the far north suits the midnight sun or the winter dark.
Five things to know before Sweden
- Carry a card; many places take no cash
Canadian government advice says many shops and restaurants no longer accept cash. A bank card or phone payment covers most spending, in Swedish krona (SEK). Money and cards
- Carry your passport on trips in and out
Sweden has notified temporary controls at its internal borders until 11 November 2026, and UK advice names arrivals from Denmark over the Öresund crossing and on ferries from Denmark and Germany. Malmö or Copenhagen
- Check the rule for your passport
US, UK, Canadian and Australian passports need no visa for up to 90 days in any 180, shared across Schengen, and the passport must be valid 3 months after you leave. German and Spanish citizens can enter with a passport or ID card. Visa checker
- Use the right of public access with care
Allemansrätten allows movement and camping on public land, with restrictions in some areas and seasons. Stay away from homes and read the rules for the area before you pitch a tent.
- Plan the Arctic north as a remote trip
UK advice says emergency medical help and search and rescue are limited in remote Arctic areas, so book insurance that covers the activity and tell someone your route. Swedish Lapland
Sweden travel guides
Practical guides from writers who live there.
Gamla stan, the islands and where to stay.
Read the guideGothenburgThe west coast, the archipelago and seafood.
Read the guideMalmöThe Öresund train to Copenhagen, the castle and where to stay.
Read the guideGotlandVisby's ring wall, Fårö and the ferry crossing.
Read the guideUppsalaThe cathedral, Linnaeus and the Viking mounds, near Arlanda.
Read the guideSwedish LaplandNorthern lights, night trains and the midnight sun.
Read the guideEES explainedFingerprints and a face photo at your first Schengen border.
Read the guideVisa checkerYour passport's entry rule, checked against official sources.
Read the guide
Hostel beds, cheap eats, buses and free sights.
- Bed a night
- SEK 350
- Food
- SEK 180
- Transport
- SEK 43
- Sights
- Free
A 3-star room, casual restaurants, public transport and one paid sight a day.
- Bed a night
- SEK 900
- Food
- SEK 450
- Transport
- SEK 150
- Sights
- SEK 190
A 4-star room, good restaurants, taxis and a guided tour.
- Bed a night
- SEK 1,600
- Food
- SEK 900
- Transport
- SEK 500
- Sights
- SEK 600
When to go
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Best
- JanuaryCloudy10 rainy days3 snowy daysHigh1°Low-3°Dark, icyJanuaryCloudy
- High
- 1°
- Low
- -3°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 3
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, icy
- FebruaryPartly cloudy9 rainy days2 snowy daysHigh2°Low-3°ColdFebruaryPartly cloudy
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -3°
- Precipitation
- 34 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 2
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchPartly cloudy8 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low-1°ThawMarchPartly cloudy
- High
- 5°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 40 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Thaw
- AprilPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh9°Low2°SpringAprilPartly cloudy
- High
- 9°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 30 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring
- MayPartly cloudy9 rainy daysHigh15°Low6°Long daysMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 48 mm
- Rainy days
- 9
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JunePartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh21°Low12°MidsummerJunePartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 61 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Midsummer
- JulyPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh22°Low13°WarmestJulyPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 66 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warmest
- AugustPartly cloudy12 rainy daysHigh21°Low13°WarmAugustPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 13°
- Precipitation
- 80 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm
- SeptemberPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh17°Low10°CrispSeptemberPartly cloudy
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 50 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Crisp
- OctoberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh10°Low6°AutumnOctoberPartly cloudy
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 64 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn
- NovemberPartly cloudy10 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh5°Low2°DarkNovemberPartly cloudy
- High
- 5°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 49 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark
- DecemberCloudy12 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh2°Low-1°Lights, marketsDecemberCloudy
- High
- 2°
- Low
- -1°
- Precipitation
- 47 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Lights, markets
Average daily high and low in Stockholm, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Sweden
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
3
- Feels like
- 0°
- Humidity
- 98%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 24%
Sweden
09:36 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today7°0°24%Monday: Drizzle. High 7°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 24%.
- Tue8°0°2%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 8°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 2%.
- Wed9°2°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 9°, Low 2°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu10°3°0%Thursday: Clear. High 10°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri7°0°0%Friday: Partly cloudy. High 7°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sat7°0°0%Saturday: Partly cloudy. High 7°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Sun4°-2°0%Sunday: Fog. High 4°, Low -2°. Chance of rain 0%.
Updated 05:23 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Money
Mid-market rate1 USD = 9.823 SEK
Rates from Nov 2, 2026 · Rates By Exchange Rate API
Festivals by month
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- JunMidsummer in SwedenAcross SwedenStockholm Early Music FestivalStockholm
- JulUppsala Reggae FestivalUppsala
- AugWay Out WestGothenburgMedieval Week on GotlandGotland
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
On tour in Sweden: Westlife 25: The Anniversary World Tour Stockholm, Nov 20, 2026 · Olivia Rodrigo The Unraveled Tour Stockholm, Mar 19 – 20, 2027 · Rush Fifty Something Tour Stockholm, Apr 8, 2027 · Rod Stewart The Final Encore Rättvik, Jun 11, 2027 · Nickelback Everything Under the Sun Tour 2027 Gothenburg, Jul 11, 2027
Before you go to Sweden
Sweden FAQ
Do I need a visa for Sweden?
Not on a US, UK, Canadian or Australian passport for up to 90 days in any 180; German and Spanish citizens can enter with a passport or ID card. Check your passport in the visa checker.
Do I need Swedish krona?
Hardly. Many shops and restaurants no longer accept cash, so bring a card that works abroad without high fees.
Is Sweden in Schengen, and are there border checks?
Yes. Non-EU visitors register under EES at the first Schengen border, and days count toward the shared 90 in 180. Sweden also has temporary internal controls until 11 November 2026, so carry your passport.
How many days do I need in Sweden?
Three days for Stockholm, two each for Gothenburg and Malmö, and three or four for Gotland. Add four or five for Lapland by night train or plane.
When is the best time to visit Sweden?
Late spring to early autumn for the cities, the archipelago and Gotland. Choose winter nights for the northern lights in Swedish Lapland, and book that leg first.