FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Stockholm

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Stockholm each year. The main ones are listed below:

This pagan festival dates back to the Vikings, who gathered around a bonfire each year at this time to bid farewell to winter. Today, in addition to a famous bonfire at Riddarholmen, Stockholm residents usher in the spring with folk dancing, torchlight processions, student choirs, and general merry-making on all of the Swedish capital's main squares.

Swedes celebrate their independence from Denmark and the election of King Gustav Vasa on this day in 1523. This commemorative day includes several official celebrations.

After Christmas, this is the most important festival of the year in Sweden. To celebrate the summer solstice, Swedes raise the maypole and dance around it, especially in rural areas, also taking part in games and activities like wreath making. Families share a traditional meal consisting of pickled herring, boiled new potatoes with fresh dill. In Stockholm, people not leaving for the countryside decorate their homes lavishly, don traditional costumes and enjoy folk music, dancing and drinking.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Stockholm

Month	Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)	Average Rains (MM)	Best Time to Travel
January	-5/23	-1/30	39/1.5	Not the best period to go
February	-5/23	-1/30	27/1.1	Not the best period to go
March	-3/27	3/37	26/1.0	Good period to go
April	1/34	9/48	30/1.2	Good period to go
May	6/43	15/59	30/1.2	Good period to go
June	11/52	21/70	45/1.8	Good period to go
July	13/55	22/72	72/2.8	Good period to go
August	13/55	20/68	66/2.6	Good period to go
September	9/48	15/59	55/2.2	Not the best period to go
October	5/41	10/50	50/2.0	Not the best period to go
November	1/34	4/39	53/2.1	Not the best period to go
December	-3/27	1/34	46/1.8	Not the best period to go

Stockholm Arlanda International Airport

The Stockholm's Arlanda International Airport, the largest in Sweden and the third largest in the Nordic countries, is located about 42 kilometres (26 miles) north of the city centre.

• Five terminals
  • Terminal 1
  • Terminal 2
  • Terminal 3
  • Terminal 4
  • Terminal 5 (Air France)

• By car
  • Accessible via the E4 Northwards.
  • Several short- and long-term parking facilities are available, in proximity to all five terminals. Hourly rates range from SEK 50 to SEK 90 and daily rates range from SEK 150 to SEK 380.
  • Several car rental companies have counters at Terminal 2. Others have counters at the airport's car rental centre or at the low-price Alfa parking facility, with free bus transfers from Terminals 2, 4 and 5.
• By bus
  • Buses run between the airport and central Stockholm every 10 minutes and the trip to the city centre takes about 45 minutes. The adult fare is SEK 119 one way.
• By taxi
  • Taxis are available at the ranks outside the terminals. The maximum price for one to four passengers going to the same address in central Stockholm is SEK 675.

• Services: shops, bars and restaurants, free Internet access (Wi-Fi) available in the airport.
• Telephone: +46 (0)10 109 10 00
• Website: http://www.swedavia.com/arlanda

GETTING AROUND Stockholm

The Swedish capital is served by a public transport system and urban infrastructures that allow visitors to explore the city easily.

By rail

Stockholm's Metro, the Tunnelbana (also known as the T-bana), with a network serving some 100 stations, is certainly the most convenient way to get around the city. Trains operate from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. on weekdays and until 3 a.m. on weekends.

Fares:

• Single ticket valid for 75 minutes: SEK 22 (full fare) / SEK 14 (reduced fare, for youths under 20 and seniors)
• Single ticket purchased with a rechargeable SL Access fare card (SEK 20 card fee, SEK 100 minimum initial travel value): SEK 25 (full fare) / SEK 15 (reduced fare)
• Book of 16 tickets: SEK 200 / SEK 120 (reduced fare)
• 24-hour Travelcard: SEK 115 (full price) / SEK 70 (reduced price)
• 72-hour Travelcard: SEK 230 (full price) / SEK 140 (reduced price)
• 7-day Travelcard: SEK 300 (full price) / SEK 180 (reduced price)

By bus

Stockholm has an efficient network of bus routes offering extensive coverage of the city. Two routes are particularly of interest for visitors: bus line 47, which runs from Sergels Torg to Djurgården, and bus line 69, which runs from the Central Station to the museums in Ladugårdsgärdet park. SEK 22 (full fare) / SEK 14 (reduced fare, for youths under 20 and seniors)

By taxi

Taxis are plentiful in Stockholm. The initial charge is SEK 45, then SEK 10 to SEK 13 per kilometre.

Visitor information

Upon your arrival in Stockholm, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organize your stay.

Offers information and useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).

• Address: Kulturhuset, Sergels Torg 3-5, 103 27 Stockholm
• Telephone: +46 (0)8 508 28 508
• Website: http://www.visitstockholm.com

Medical information

See your doctor before you travel. Stockholm counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists. It is recommended that you obtain insurance covering health care expenses as well as medical evacuation or repatriation before you leave home.

There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to Sweden. For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:

• Address: 38 Quai de Jemmapes 75010 Paris
• Website: http://www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr
• Phone: +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• To make a vaccination appointment:
  • online (click here)
  • call the centre at +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00

Tap water is safe to drink in Stockholm.

Administrative formalities

For a stay of less than three months, travellers from the Schengen area, as well as those from the countries of the European Union not included in the area, need only be in possession of a national identity card or a passport valid for the duration of their stay in Sweden.

As a general rule, all other travellers are subject to visa requirements, although citizens of some countries may enter Sweden for a short stay of up to 90 days without a visa.

To find out whether you will need to obtain a visa for your stay, visit the website of the Swedish Migration Agency:

http://www.migrationsverket.se/English/Private-individuals/Visiting-Sweden/Tourists-visas.html

Useful addresses

To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Stockholm, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.

Essential phrases

Good to know

00 46

+ phone number without 0

-5 : 00
of time difference with
Jakarta

Start of daylight saving time: last Sunday in March
End of daylight saving time: last Sunday in October

Banks

Usually open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Government offices

Usually open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

230 V / 50 Hz

Tipping
In Stockholm as in the rest of Sweden, a service charge is usually already included in restaurant bills and taxi fares, but you can certainly reward good service with a 10% tip.