Stockholm : Formalities and administrative procedures
Stockholm : Organize your stay
Money Stockholm
Sweden is outside the euro zone. The currency used in Sweden is the Swedishkrona, abbreviated to "kr" or "SEK". 1 € = 11.20 SEK and 1 SEK = 0.089 € (2024). Banknotes are in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 crowns. Coins are available in denominations of 1, 2, 5 or 10 crowns. The existing 100 and 500 krona banknotes, as well as all coins except the 10 krona coin, have been out of circulation since 2017. Sweden is now considering the potential of an electronic version of the Swedish krona to eliminate the need for cash. In Stockholm, it's common to see signs indicating that an establishment is cashfree. Avoid exchange offices at airports and hotels, as they charge higher fees and have lower exchange rates. A list of exchange offices can be found at www.forex.se. An ATM will generally offer a better exchange rate. Beware of charges that may be applied to your credit card for simple transactions, such as taking the metro or bus. However, fees are generally lower than for ATM withdrawals, and the spending limit is often higher. Fees can be fixed, at between €0 and €1.20, plus 2-3% of the amount paid by bankcard.
Budget & Tips Stockholm
In Stockholm, the cost of living is a little higher than in major French cities. Some things really are more expensive, such as the usual supermarkets. In hotels, restaurants and cafés, service is included, so there's no need to leave a tip. Cab drivers can expect a 10% tip.
A small budget would be around 650 SEK per day. A night in a youth hostel costs around 300 SEK, two inexpensive meals around 200 SEK, a museum around 70 SEK. A pint of beer costs 60 SEK and a cup of tea or coffee 25 SEK.
For average budgets, you can expect to pay around 1,400 SEK per day. A night in a hotel costs a minimum of 500 SEK per person. Two restaurant meals cost around SEK 400 per person, and a walk around the archipelago costs around SEK 200.
For big budgets , you should expect to pay at least SEK 2,000 per day. A luxury hotel costs over 1,500 SEK per day for a double room. Upmarket restaurant meals cost around SEK 500 per person, and a day cruise in the archipelago costs around SEK 300.
Passport and visas Stockholm
A valid passport allows you to stay in Sweden for up to three months. No visa is required. For EU citizens, a valid identity card is sufficient. For motorists, a green card (international insurance) is not compulsory, but recommended. Your car must bear the nationality plate "F" for France, "B" for Belgium, and "CH" for Switzerland.
You can contact the French customs information service by calling 08 11 20 44 44, or via the website www.douane.gouv.fr. A mobile application is also available.
Driver's license Stockholm
As in France, you must be at least 18 years old to drive. Certain types of international driving license are accepted by the Swedish Transport Agency, and any type of European driving license is valid in Sweden.
Drunk driving is severely punished, and the country has a zero-tolerance policy on drinking and driving. The tolerated limit is 0.2g/l blood alcohol (0.5g/l in France), and it is strongly recommended not to consume alcohol at all before driving.
Security Stockholm
As everywhere, it is advisable to familiarize yourself with the local culture and political environment to minimize the risk of danger. Stockholm is one of the least dangerous cities in Europe, with a low crime rate. It's a safe destination for everyone, especially women traveling alone. Day or night, Stockholm is generally safe... The city at night is rarely dangerous, and is brightly lit (an important factor on dark winter days).
The police telephone number is 112.
Time difference Stockholm
There is no time difference. However, sunrise and sunset times differ, with the sun setting around 3pm in January and rising around 3.30am in July.
Spoken languages Stockholm
The language spoken in Sweden is Swedish, a North Germanic language. You can learn a few words and phrases in Swedish through smartphone applications such as Duolingo or Babbel, enabling you to communicate with locals or understand essential information such as street names, traffic signs and so on. Swedes often don't speak French, but English.
To learn Swedish in Sweden , you can take courses locally, through various institutes, such as SFI, Swedish for Immigrants: a training program for adults organized by local municipalities.
Communication Stockholm
Once in Stockholm, the available networks work very well, as does 4G. WiFi is available almost everywhere, in museums, restaurants, cafés, stations, etc., and is free. There are no roaming charges, so calling or texting someone in France or another member country costs the same. This means you keep the same charges according to your usual mobile budget.
Electricity and measurements Stockholm
The voltage is 220 volts, the current is alternating and the electrical outlets are identical to ours. The metric system has been adopted in Sweden, as have weight scales (grams and kilograms) and temperature scales (degrees Celsius, a measurement system invented by a Swede!). We sometimes hear about the Swedish mile , equivalent to 10 km.
Luggage Stockholm
For winter, pack a good down jacket, hat, gloves, socks and, above all, layers of clothing that keep you warm! Temperatures often drop below freezing, so you'll need to be well covered if you want to get around town without any problems. Sidewalks and roads are sometimes covered in ice, so be careful not to slip! In summer, temperatures can reach 24 degrees Celsius, so you can walk around in a t-shirt and perhaps have a sweater handy for when the temperature drops at night. It can rain at any time of year, so an umbrella is always handy!
For travelers who come for outdoor activities such as cycling or hiking, make sure you have all the equipment you need, as this can be more expensive in Sweden than in France. The Swedes even have a saying: "There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes"!
Stockholm : Daily life
Hello? Stockholm
To call from Sweden to France, dial 0033, or +33, followed by your correspondent's number, without the 0 at the beginning.
To call from France to Sweden, dial 0046, or +46, followed by your correspondent's number, without the 0 at the beginning.
Since 2017, as part of the EU, roaming charges have been abolished. Calling someone from France or another member country costs the same. This means you keep the same charges according to your usual mobile subscription. So there's no need for a Swedish SIM card. For more information, ask your operator.
Accessibility Stockholm
For travelers with children , Stockholm is a very suitable city. Most hotels and restaurants have baby chairs. Museums and tourist sites often offer diaper-changing facilities. Public transport is also perfectly equipped for strollers, with rails, elevators and more. What's more, there are advantages, with free admission to museums for those under 18, 19 or even 25.
For disabled travelers, no problem. Almost all access points are wheelchair-friendly, with ramps, elevators, escalators and lowered sidewalks. Most hotels and museums meet disabled access standards. Traffic lights are equipped with audible signals for the blind. You can also contact various local organizations and associations.
As far as public transport is concerned, Stockholm's transport networks have staff on hand to help passengers with reduced mobility. For train stations, 48 hours' notice is required, and is usually free of charge. SJ trains have elevators and special seats. Guide dogs for the visually impaired must be fitted with a harness and can travel lying at their master's feet, free of charge. Special areas are also available for passengers with allergies. All stations and trains are non-smoking.
Health Stockholm
In Stockholm, sanitary conditions are similar to those in France, with a very high level of hygiene in public establishments. Water is safe to drink, and there are no major health risks.
As a visitor to Sweden, you are entitled to the health care system under the same conditions as those applicable to Swedish residents. This is only valid on presentation of a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The maximum amount payable for any medical consultation is 1,150 SEK, or around 111 euros, for one year. Medical services are free for children under 18.
Stockholm is home to several hospitals, including Karolinska University Hospital in Kungsholmen (Hantverkargatan 2J).
If you have a Visa or MasterCard bank card, you're automatically covered by medical insurance and repatriation assistance for any trip abroad lasting less than 90 days (you don't have to pay for your trip with your card to be covered; simply holding a valid card ensures coverage). If you are not covered by one of these cards, don't forget to take out insurance before you leave.
You can also check with your doctor. Alternatively, you can contact the travel medicine society at the Institut Pasteur medical center on 01 45 68 80 00 or visit the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website under "Conseils aux voyageurs" (www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/voyageurs).
In the event of illness, the best thing to do is contact the French consulate. They will be happy to help you.
Pharmacies are called Apoteket and generally have green signs.
Emergency numbers Stockholm
112 is the number valid throughout Europe for contacting emergency services, whether fire department, ambulance or police. In case of emergency while traveling, dial 112, available 24 hours a day.
Securty Stockholm
Until a few years ago, Stockholm was considered one of the least dangerous cities in Europe, but its crime rate has risen sharply in recent years. Nevertheless, it remains a safe destination for all, especially women traveling alone. Day or night, Stockholm is a city that remains generally safe when you stay in the tourist areas of the city center. Although rare, it is possible to witness robberies and assaults. The main violence occurs on weekend evenings, between people who are often drunk, or in the outlying districts. It's best to avoid the Gulmmarsplan, Slussen or T-Centralen metro stations late at night, especially if you've had too much to drink.
To contact the police in an emergency, dial 112.
LGBTQ Stockholm
Swedish society is generally a very tolerant one, having legalized marriage for all since 2009. You can find out more about government support for LGBTQ+ communities in Sweden at www.sweden.se. It goes without saying that LGBTQ+ communities can live safely in Stockholm, where you'll find many bars and hotels flying the rainbow flag. The www.stockholmpride.org website provides a wealth of information about the community. Stockholm Pride, which takes place at the end of July, is one of the biggest events of its kind in the world.
Embassies and consulates Stockholm
French Embassy in Sweden:
Kommendörsgatan 13
102 47 Stockholm
Open from 9am to 12.30pm, Monday to Friday.
+46 8 459 53 00
www.se.ambafrance.org
Embassy of Sweden in Paris :
17 rue Barbet-de-Jouy, 75007, Paris.
01 44 18 88 00
www.swedenabroad.se/fr/ambassade/france-paris/
Open Mondays and Tuesdays from 2.30pm to 4pm, Wednesdays from 10am to 12pm.
Swedish consulates: There are Swedish consulates in Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Marseille, Nantes, Nice, Porto-Vecchio, Saint-Barthélémy, Strasbourg and Toulouse.
Swedish Tourist Office
www.visitsweden.com
The Swedish Tourist Office is not open to the public, but can be contacted for information about Sweden.
Mail Stockholm
The main post offices are located in stores and supermarkets, but you can also buy stamps and envelopes at tobacconists. They generally keep the same opening hours as the stores where they are located.
Mailboxes are yellow, and a letter or postcard to Europe costs 44 SEK. Letters within Sweden cost 22 SEK. For express mail, prices are higher.
Local media Stockholm
The main dailies are Dagens Nyheter(News of the Day, independent), Göteborgs-Posten (liberal), Dagens Industri (Industry of the Day, economic), and Svenska Dagbladet(Swedish Daily, right-wing). Evening newspapers, or those with sensational headlines, include Aftonbladet and Expressen.
SwedishRadio contains four main state-owned channels, called P1, P2, P3 and P4. P1 and P2 broadcast mainly classical music and jazz, as well as cultural and educational programs. P3 broadcasts popular music and news flashes. P4 is a national relay station for local radio stations. All state radio stations are commercial-free. For the rest, Stockholm is home to a myriad of different stations. For rock, there's Bandirock, 106.3. For nostalgic hits, there's Vinyl Radio, 107.01, and Lugna Favoriter, 104.7. For current hits, there's Star Radio, 101.9.
Visit the Swedish website www.sweden.se: an official site that sums up in just a few pages all the practical information and aspects of Swedish society worth noting. You can also follow them on Facebook (www.facebook.com/swedense/), Instagram (www.instagram.com/swedense/), and YouTube.
