Stockholm: Fast Facts

Emergency
  • 112
Language
  • Swedish
  • Most know English language as second language
Money
  • Credit cards are widely accepted (taxis, hot dog stands)
  • Swedish krona (plural “kronor”)
  • Older versions of the 50-krona and 1,000-krona banknotes (without foil strip) became invalid after 31 December 2013.
  • Coins can't be exchanged once you leave the country, only bills
Electricity
  • 220 volt
  • 2 round prong
Restrooms
  • Most public restrooms are paid, even at the airport.
Etiquette
  • Stand to the right on escalators
  • Must take a number at many businesses (post office, deli etc.)
Tipping
  • Service charge included in the bill at restaurants, no need to tip.
  • Fancy restaurants 5%
  • ​Taxis round up 5 kroner
  • Porter few kroner per bag
  • Maids 10 kroner per night
Dining
  • Cheap eats
    • 80-100 kr daily lunch specials “dagens rett”, generally Monday-Friday only
    • Museum cafes
    • Convenience store gas station meals
    • Department stores and malls
    • Grocery stores and coops
    • Sandwiches
    • Hot dog stands
    • Picnic
  • Dine out for lunch and have something simple for dinner to save money
  • Potatoes are refillable with most meals
  • ​Tap water is free
  • Alcohol is expensive
  • Drinking in public is not allowed
  • Smorgasbord: buffets at hotels and on ferries or during New Year's
​Food & Beverages
  • Akvavit: vodka flavored with anise
  • Arctic char
  • Cheese: goat, havarti, mild castello
  • Crisp bread
  • Elk
  • Kanel-bulle = cinnamon bun
  • Lakka: sweet liquor from cloud berries
  • Lingonberries
  • Open face sandwiches
  • Pickled herring
  • Smorgasbord = buffet
  • Swedish meatballs
  • Alcohol
    • ​​Very expensive, bring in your own
    • Systembolaget = state run liquor store
​​Shopping
  • Nordiska Kompaniet = high end department store
  • Gallerian Mall
  • Designtorget
  • Loppmarknaden = flea market
  • Saturday's = earlier closing hours
  • Sunday’s = shops close
  • VAT (MOMS) is 20-25%, eligible purchases of 200 SEK or more
  • VAT is called MOMS in Sweden​
Souvenirs
  • Ceramics
  • Clogs
  • Dolls
  • Glassworks = Kosta Boda
  • Lamb skins
  • Linens
  • Wooden utensils
  • Sami jewelry and crafts
  • Red painted horses
  • Wildberry forest jam
  • Wool sweaters
​Safety & Scams
  • Pickpockets
    • Crowds
    • Royal Palace during changing of the guard or the gift shop
    • Shopping malls
    • Food courts
    • Street games​