There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Stockholm each year. The main ones are listed below:
January 1: New Year's Day (national) April 30: Walpurgis Night (national)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.
June 6: National Day (national)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.
First Friday after June 21: Midsummer's Eve (national)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.
December 25: Christmas (national)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
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April | 1/34 | 9/48 | 30/1.2 | Good period to go
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May | 6/43 | 15/59 | 30/1.2 | Good period to go
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June | 11/52 | 21/70 | 45/1.8 | Good period to go
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July | 13/55 | 22/72 | 72/2.8 | Good period to go
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August | 13/55 | 20/68 | 66/2.6 | Good period to go
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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 |
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.
The Swedish capital is served by a public transport system and urban infrastructures that allow visitors to explore the city easily.
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:
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)
Taxis are plentiful in Stockholm. The initial charge is SEK 45, then SEK 10 to SEK 13 per kilometre.
Upon your arrival in Stockholm, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organize your stay.
Stockholm Visitors BoardOffers information and useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).
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.
VaccinationsThere are no vaccination requirements for visitors to Sweden. For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:
Tap water is safe to drink in Stockholm.
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
To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Stockholm, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.
Here are a few basic Swedish phrases that will make your stay in Stockholm a little easier:
Hello: God dag
Good morning: God morgon
Good evening: God kväll/ God afton
Good-bye: Adjö
Yes: Ja
No: Nej
No, thank you: Nej tack
Thank you very much: Tackar så mycket
I don't understand: Jag förstår inte.
Could you repeat that?: Kan du ta om det där igen?
Please: Snälla
What time is it?: Vad är klockan?
Excuse me: Ursäkta (to get attention) / Förlåt (to get past).
Airport: Flygplats
Train station: Tågsstation
Taxi: Taxi
Hotel: Hotell
Hospital: Sjukhus
Bank: Bank
Telephone: Telefon
I'm (…): Jag är (…).
I'm looking for (…): Jag letar efter (…).
How much is it?: Hur mycket kostar det?
Do you have (…)?: Har du (…)?
Where can I find (…)?: Var kan jag hitta (…)?
Where can I buy (…)?: Var kan jag köpa (…)?
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.