Money:
The Swedish monetary unit is the Kronor/Krona or Crown (SEK),
which is divided into 100 öre. Banks exchange money during business
hours from Monday to Friday. At other times money can be changed at
airports, ferry terminals, post offices and Forex exchange offices,
which are open daily. There are numerous ATMs throughout the
country, most of which accept MasterCard and Visa. Travellers
cheques and most major credit cards are widely accepted for payment
throughout Sweden.
Time:
Electricity:
230 volts, 50Hz. Standard European two-pin plugs are
used.
Language:
Swedish is the main language, with Lapp being spoken by
the Sami population in the north. Most Swedes speak and understand
English. Many also speak German and French.
Health:
There are no health risks associated with travel to Sweden, but
visitors should guard against ticks when travelling to forested
areas or the southern coast, including the Stockholm archipelago.
Medical care in the country is excellent, and reciprocal health
agreements exist with other European Union countries, including the
United Kingdom. UK citizens in possession of a European Health
Insurance Card (EHIC) will be entitled to emergency medical
treatment on the same terms as Swedish nationals. Outbreaks of bird
flu have been detected in wild birds around the country, but the
risk to travellers is low and no human infections have been
reported. As a precaution all egg and poultry dishes should be well
cooked and close contact with live birds should be avoided.
Tipping:
A service charge is included in restaurant bills, but an
additional tip of 7 to 10% is expected for evening meals in Sweden.
Generally customers round off the fare when using a taxi. Tips are
welcome for exceptionally good service in hotels, but are not
expected.
Safety:
Sweden is an extremely safe country to visit. There is some
petty crime during the summer months in the cities where tourists
congregate, but crime is at much lower levels than elsewhere in
Europe. Most visits to Sweden are trouble free.
Customs:
Swedish culture is very liberal and secular. Despite a
reputation for excess and a love for partying, drunk driving is a
serious crime and public nudity is considered inappropriate
anywhere other than designated nude beaches. Smoking is not allowed
in indoor establishments like restaurants and bars, however many
Swedes partake in snus (snuff). It is polite to remove your shoes
when entering a Swedish home. Equality is an important part of
Swedish culture, and boastfulness and open conflict is usually
avoided. 'Chivalry' is often considered an outdated concept in
Sweden, which is one of the most gender equal countries in the
world, and gestures like opening doors for women are not considered
necessary.
Business:
Sweden hosts the headquarters for many multinational companies.
Sweden is the adoption of an egalitarian mindset - Scandinavians,
and Swedes in particular, value the inherent equality and dignity
of all people. Most companies use flat reporting lines and
consensus and compromise is valued in decision-making processes.
However, decisions often take a long time to be made as all
opinions are considered.Avoid overt displays of wealth or status.
Business practice and personal conduct should always be rational,
calm, and disciplined. This may makes Swedes come across as
slightly unfriendly, but it also makes business meetings quick,
efficient and to the point.The business world in Sweden draws a strict line between work
and social gatherings so don't expect many post-work social events
or dinner invitations. The best way to circumvent the reserved
nature of most Swedes in the business environment is at the
twice-daily 'fika', or coffee break, when the general rules
regarding business behaviour are relaxed a little. Punctuality is
vital it is a point of pride for many Scandinavians and illustrates
mutual respect. It is important to schedule an appointment in
advance and have it confirmed shortly before any engagement.
Keeping one's cool and not showing too much emotion is also
vital.Handshakes for men and women are common after introduction
and often first names are used instead of surnames.Dress codes are conservative and smart, but suits are not always
necessary. Business people in Sweden should endeavour to show
honesty, transparency, professionalism and mutual respect in all
business dealings. Sweden is one of the least corrupt countries in
the world making it a pleasure to do business there. Business hours
run from 8am to 5pm from Monday to Friday. The language of business
is Swedish, but English is generally spoken throughout the country
and many multinationals will use it as the language of business
when necessary.
Duty Free:
Travellers to Sweden over 18 years from non-EU countries and
residents who arrive on a commercial flight, from a trip exceeding
20 hours do not have to pay duty on the following items: 200
cigarettes, or 100 cheroots, or 50 cigars, or 250g tobacco, or a
proportional mix of these. 1 litre of spirits with alcohol content
higher than 22%, or 2 litres fortified or sparkling wine, and 2
litres of non-sparkling wine and beer are allowed duty free; other
goods to the value of 1,700kr are also allowed. Prohibited items
include drugs, other than those for medical or scientific purposes;
and potatoes that are grown outside the EU.
Communications:
The country code for Sweden is +46, and the outgoing code is 00
followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the UK).
City/area codes are in use, e.g. 08 for Stockholm. Public
telephones are available and there is good coverage across the
country for mobile telephones, which use different GSM 900 and 1800
networks. Internet cafes can be found in all the cities and
towns.