Travel tips · Stockholm · Sweden
Stockholm travel tips: what to know before you go
The etiquette, money and practical details that make the first day easier.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Steven Lek, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Swedes value equality, modesty and lagom — 'just the right amount' — and Stockholm feels calm, orderly and informal. Almost everyone speaks excellent English. Daily life follows the strong seasons: long summer evenings outdoors and in the archipelago, cosy candlelit winters, and festivals such as Midsummer and Lucia that bring everyone together.
Key facts
- Language
- Swedish and English
- Currency
- SEK
- Plugs
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Tap water
- Tap water is excellent and safe to drink; refill bottles anywhere.
- Emergency
- 112 (emergency number)
Things to know
- Take a queue ticket (nummerlapp) where there is a machine, in pharmacies, bakeries and some shops, and wait for your number.
- Remove your shoes when entering someone's home.
- Stand on the right and walk on the left on escalators, and let passengers off before boarding.
- Keep your voice down on public transport; loud phone calls are frowned upon.
- Be on time; punctuality is expected for tours, reservations and meetings.
- Don't walk in cycle lanes, which are often marked only by a line on the pavement.
- Book Vasa Museum ahead: Summer queues can be long; buying a ticket online speeds up entry.
- Book Stockholm City Hall ahead: Interiors are seen on guided tours only, and tower tickets are limited; both sell out in summer, so book ahead.
- Book ABBA The Museum ahead: Entry is by timed ticket; book online, especially at weekends and in summer.
- Eat your main meal at lunch: a weekday dagens lunch includes salad, bread and coffee for far less than dinner.
Tipping
Service is included in Swedish prices. Rounding up or adding about 5–10% for good restaurant service is common but entirely optional, and tipping in bars and cafés is not expected.
Language
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Hej | Hello |
| Tack / Tack så mycket | Thanks / Thank you very much |
| Ursäkta | Excuse me |
| Skål! | Cheers! |
| Hej då | Goodbye |
| Fika | Coffee break with something sweet |
What to wear
Stockholmers dress casually but neatly, often in dark, minimal styles. Pack layers year-round, a warm coat, hat and grippy shoes from November to March, and a light jacket for cool summer evenings on the water.
Practical details
- Plugs and voltage
- Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
- Drinking water
- Tap water is excellent and safe to drink; refill bottles anywhere.
- Emergency number
- 112 (emergency number)
- Phone and internet
- Free Wi-Fi is widely available in cafés, museums and on many SL services; EU roaming applies to European SIMs, and eSIMs work well for other visitors. A contactless card is essential, as many places are cashless.
- Time zone
- Europe/Stockholm
Stockholm is generally safe for visitors. Pickpockets operate around T-Centralen, Gamla Stan and Djurgården in summer, so keep bags closed. In winter, icy pavements are the main hazard, and the Baltic and lakes stay cold even in summer, so swim near others.
Entry requirements
Visa and passport rules depend on your nationality and change often. Check Sweden's official government guidance and your own government's travel advice before booking.
Plan the trip
Questions travellers ask
+Do you tip in Stockholm?
Service is included in Swedish prices. Rounding up or adding about 5–10% for good restaurant service is common but entirely optional, and tipping in bars and cafés is not expected.
+Can you drink the tap water in Stockholm?
Tap water is excellent and safe to drink; refill bottles anywhere.
+What plugs are used in Stockholm?
Type C and F sockets, 230 V, 50 Hz
+What language is spoken in Stockholm?
Swedish and English.