Sweden Fast Facts

Sweden borders Finland and Norway and is also the largest country in Scandinavia. Characterized by beautiful landscapes, Sweden is a perfect country to switch off, relax and find yourself. But thousands of islands, exciting cities and of course the Northern Lights also fascinate travelers again and again. See andyeducation.com for education in Sweden.

Fast facts to know

• Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government.
• Home of Pippi Longstocking, Inspector Wallander and ABBA.
• Largest country in Scandinavia.
• Two thirds of Sweden is covered by forests, fields or wilderness.
• The Swedish territory includes 221,800 islands.
• 85% of Swedes live in the south of the country, mainly in the three big cities.
• The moose is the country’s most famous animal.
• The right of public access (allemansrätten) regulates how to deal with nature, but is not a written law, but a list of rules of conduct.
• Sweden’s capital Stockholm is spread over 14 islands with a network of bridges.
• The sale of alcohol is expensive and only allowed to the state.

Exciting cities in Sweden

• Stockholm
• Gothenburg
• Malmo
• Trelleborg
• Uppsala
• squid
• Visby
• Falun
• Helsingborg
• Karlskrona

History of Sweden

• First settled by humans 11,000 years ago.
• Viking Age from 800 to 1050.
• Christianization from the 11th century.
• 1397-1523 Kalmar Union between Norway, Sweden, Denmark.
• 1544 Sweden is declared a Protestant kingdom.
• In the 17th century attempts by the royal family to attain a position of hegemony in Europe.
• 1611 to 1613 The Kalmar War between Denmark and Sweden ends with the surrender of the Finnmark to Norway, which is under Danish rule.
• Conquest of large parts of northern Germany, including Western Pomerania, the Archdiocese of Bremen and the Diocese of Verden in the Thirty Years’ War.
• Efforts to colonize outside of Europe are only successful in the short term.
• 1809 Finland ceded to the Russian Tsarist Empire after the Napoleonic Wars.
• Beginning policy of neutrality, also in World War II Sweden tries to prevent participation in the war.

Climate & travel weather in Sweden

• South: cool-temperate oceanic climate (summer quite humid and cool, winter cool but still quite mild).
• East: continental climate with greater temperature differences between summer and winter.
• North: Polar climate with very cold winters, sometimes below 40° C (short winter days, summers are also short and changeable).
• Recommended travel time:
  • Ski season: December to April (snow guaranteed).
  • Outdoor Activities: May to July.
  • Beach holiday: June & July (precipitation is always to be expected).

Ideas for trips in Sweden

• King’s Path Kungsleden.
• Stora Nyckelviken Manor.
• Gripsholm Castle.
• Wanås Sculpture Park.
• Mårbacka Manor.
• Varberg’s cold bath house.
• Rosendal Castle.
• Vasa Museum in Stockholm.
• Watch the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) in the arctic winter (October to March).
• do dog sled rides.
• Hike!
• Sigtuna’s old wooden houses.
• Hiking on the Kullaberg.
• ABBA Museum in Stockholm.
• Gota Canal.
• Ice Hotel Jukkasjärvi.

Eating & drinking in Sweden

• Swedish cuisine is based on solid, traditional home cooking.
• Very popular: reindeer meat, elk meat, salmon caviar, fish, seafood.
• Favorite pastime of all Swedes: drinking coffee and telling stories.
• Beer and wine are popular with meals.
• Classic Swedish ingredients: potatoes, fish, meat, mushrooms.
• In many restaurants, you put your meals together like in a canteen.
• Tap water is free in many restaurants and can be drunk without hesitation.
• Breakfast: continental style with bread, jam, cheese.
• Lunch: quite early from 11.30 am.
• Dinner (midday): served around six o’clock.
• Popular side dish: bread, usually flavored with cinnamon or sweetened with syrup.
• Swedes like to snack, popular with tea and coffee: cinnamon rolls, Viennese bread.
• The traditional Christmas buffet is called Julbord.
• Typical dishes:
  • saffron pastries.
  • Smoked reindeer hearts.
  • Engraved Salmon.
  • Surstromming (fermented herring).
  • Älg (moose, as a goulash-like stew or steak).
  • Filmjölk (thick sour milk).
  • Fiskbullar (fish cakes).
  • Kanelbullar (cinnamon rolls made from yeast dough).
  • Knäckebröd (classic Swedish dry bread).
  • Köttbullar (meatballs).
  • Sill (herring).

Particularly scenic

• Rockets from Digerhuvud.
• Stone coast in the north of the island of Gotland.
• Österlen in southeast Skåne.
• Bohuslan coast.
• Lake Vättern.
• National Parks:
  • Abisko National Park.
  • Sarek National Park.
  • Fulufjallet National Park.
  • Tiveden National Park.
  • Store Mosse National Park.
  • Hamra National Park.
  • Muddus National Park.
  • Padjelanta National Park.