Sweden. Description of the country

Sweden is distinguished by its low population density (10 million people live here - less than in Moscow), a long sea coast, dense forests and countless lakes. This is one of the northernmost countries in the world. In area it is comparable to Spain, Thailand or the American state of California. Sweden's borders have not changed since 1905, and the country has not been involved in wars since 1814 - which makes Sweden one of the most peace-loving countries on the globe.

Contrasts of day and night

Riches of wildlife

The diversity of Sweden's landscapes is matched by the abundance of its fauna: from wolves and brown bears in the north to roe deer and wild boars in the south. Biological diversity is the result of the richness of the plant and aquatic world.

The country, large by European standards, stretches from north to south for 1572 km. According to the climate zone, coniferous forests, in particular pine and spruce, predominate in Sweden. The further south you go, the more often they are adjacent to deciduous groves: birch and aspen. The very south of Sweden is gentle, picturesque fields and hills, thinned by copses and surrounded by long sandy beaches. Thanks to the limestone-rich soil combined with a mild climate, the islands of Gotland, Öland and parts of the Scandinavian Mountains are characterized by special flora, including a variety of orchid species.

Facts and figures

Capital: Stockholm

Population: 10 million

Total area: 528,447 sq. km, third largest country in Western Europe, after France and Spain

Lifespan: Men – 81 years old, women – 84 years old

Population born outside the country: 17%

Religion: The Church of Sweden is Evangelical Lutheran. Numerous other faiths and religions are also represented in the country.

Language: Swedish

Form of government: Constitutional monarchy, parliamentary democracy

Parliament: Riksdag, unicameral, 349 deputies

Education: 9 years of compulsory schooling, most students study for 12 years (including “grammar school”). About a third continue their education at universities and colleges.

Working hours: The standard working week is 40 hours, the minimum paid vacation is 5 weeks.

Dialing code: +46

Internet domain:.se

Time zone: GMT +1

Currency: 1 crown (SEK) = 100 ore

GDP per capita (PPP): USD 51,475

GNI per capita: USD 49,680

Population of largest cities (including suburbs):

Stockholm: 2,315,612

Gothenburg: 1,015,974

Malmo: 721,926

Main export products: Machinery and transport equipment, chemicals and plastic products, electronics and telecommunications equipment, energy products, industrial equipment, road vehicles, minerals, food

National parks

In 1910, Sweden became the first European state to establish national parks. The beginning was made in the mountain ranges of Norrland, a region in the north of the country. This helped save one of the last corners of pristine nature in Europe from destruction. Then, throughout Sweden, vast areas were declared nature reserves and protected cultural heritage areas.

Rule of universal access to natural areas ( allemänsrätten) states that everyone has the right to walk through forests and meadows, pick berries and mushrooms - without separate permission from landowners. But this right also comes with obvious responsibilities: to respect private property and take care of nature.

Geography of Sweden

Length from north to south: 1,574 km

Length from west to east: 499 km

Urbanized and industrial areas: 3%

Agricultural land: 8%

Forests: 53% Swamps: 9%

Fields: 7% Mountains: 12%

Lakes and rivers: 9%

Highest mountain: Kebnekaise (2,103 m)

Largest lake: Vänern (5,650 sq. km)

National symbols of Sweden

The official Swedish heraldry is the yellow and blue flag, the national symbol “Three Crowns”, the national anthem, as well as the coat of arms in two versions: large and small. The oldest images of a blue flag with a yellow cross that have survived to this day date back to the 16th century. The symbol of the yellow cross itself has been applied to banners and standards in the Swedish army since time immemorial. It is based on the outlines of the ancient coat of arms of the kingdom with a blue background, divided into four parts by a golden cross. The sign of the "three crowns" has been used as the state emblem of Sweden since at least 1336, but long before that it was known to Europeans as a symbol of the "Three Wise Kings".

Since 1916, Swedish Flag Day has appeared on the Swedish calendar - June 6th. In 1983, it was renamed Swedish National Day, and in 2004 it was declared a public holiday and a day off. The date was chosen for two reasons: on June 6, 1523, the first Swedish king, Gustav Vasa, ascended the throne, and on the same day in 1809, the country adopted a new Constitution that granted citizens civil liberties and rights.

Swedish national anthem

The text of “Du Gamla, Du Fria” (“You are ancient, you are free”) was composed by the balladist and folklorist Richard Dubeck (1811-1877), and its musical basis was a mid-19th century folk melody from the Västmanland province in central Sweden. At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, this ballad became so popular that it was declared the national anthem of Sweden.

About the country:

The Kingdom of Sweden is a country in Northern Europe, occupying most of the Scandinavian Peninsula. Sweden is a country of thousands of lakes, virgin forests and rocks, a country with numerous castles, mysterious stone boats and amazing cities. Sweden is also Abba, Volvo and Carlson, who lives on the roof. Sweden borders Norway and Finland and is washed by the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia. Sweden is the largest country in Scandinavia, the total area of ​​the country is 449,964 km², the country's territory from north to south is 1,500 km, from west to east - 500 km. Stockholm is the capital of Sweden, translated as “stack” - “bay”, that is, “an island in a bay”, the city is built on fourteen small, unconnected islands. The largest islands are Öland and Gotland. The largest cities are Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo.

About the seasons:

Thanks to the warm Gulf Stream, Sweden has a temperate climate, except for a small part located above the Arctic Circle. Due to the meridional elongation of the country, the weather in the northern and southern parts of the country is different. In the north, west and east, the Scandinavian mountains shield the mainland from the Atlantic winds, which makes the winters here quite cold and the summers short and cool. Average temperatures in winter reach −14 °C, and in some places −16 °C; in the summer season the temperature fluctuates between +17 °C. In the part of Sweden that lies within the Arctic Circle, the phenomenon of polar day and night, as well as the northern lights, can be observed.

About nature:

Sweden is dominated by hilly terrain, forests, podzolic soils, rapids rivers, mountain lakes, as well as a rich fauna for the North. In the south of the country there are broad-leaved forests, to the north mixed-coniferous forests appear, and in the northern parts taiga forest predominates with tree species such as spruce, pine, aspen, and birch. Forests occupy 53% of Sweden's total area. There are 900 nature reserves and 16 national parks spread across the country, where you can meet fauna such as wolves, lynx, foxes, brown bears, hares, badgers, squirrels, arctic foxes, lemmings, and wolverines. Also in the waters of Sweden you will be pleased with the abundance of herring, cod, sturgeon, pike, perch, bream, various types of crayfish, crabs, lobsters and other river and sea inhabitants, in total there are about 160 species.

About the language:

The official language of Sweden is Swedish, the most widely spoken language in Scandinavia; Lapland is also spoken in the north of the country. Swedish belongs to the eastern subgroup of the Scandinavian group. More than 9 million people speak Swedish. The language has 17 vowel phonemes and 16 consonants. One of the features is the double stress in words: tone and dynamic. As a rule, the main stress is on the first root syllable. This is why Swedish seems so “melodic”
The Swedish language has two genders - common and neuter, and there are no cases at all. The determinant of gender, number and case is the article, which is used with a noun.

About the past:

The first settlements on Swedish soil appeared about 12 thousand years ago, when hunters came to the territory, which was more reminiscent of tundra covered with thick ice. In the period from the 4th to the 5th century there was a great migration of peoples, and the Svei tribes settled on the territory of modern Sweden, their region was called Svealand and Geta, whose land became known as Getaland. It was these peoples who united and later formed the Swedish people. But the time of migration of peoples was a turbulent time; constant attacks on each other by small tribes forced them to build, in addition to dwellings, also borg fortresses - stones laid out in the shape of a ring, forming a relatively high wall. Gradually, passions subsided and the unification of these tribes was the beginning of the creation of small states with trading centers throughout Scandinavia. And it was around these centers that a force was formed that terrified all its neighbors - the Vikings. The Vikings are cruel barbarians who perfectly mastered navigation and for a long time grew rich by devastating nearby countries. The wealth of the Vikings can be judged by the huge number of Roman, Byzantine and Arab coins found during excavations.
Today it is generally accepted that the Viking Age ended in the 11th century, it was then that the last king Olaf (Olof) Skötkonung (Sjötkonung), one of the early rulers of Sweden, reigned in the weakened state, who “baptized” the entire country. Numerous internecine skirmishes continued until the Kalmar Union was formed in 1397 between Denmark, Norway and Sweden.
Already in the 16th century, after an uprising led by Gustaf Vasa, religious reforms were carried out and a strong centralized state was created, which soon came to control most of Finland and the Baltic countries. Unlimited monarchical power in 1809 led to the aristocratic revolution. At the same time, a state constitution was adopted in Sweden, which divided legislative power between the king and parliament.
Sweden acquired its military advantage after a military alliance with Norway, but nevertheless, in the First World War the country accepted neutrality. Closer to the 20s, mass unrest began in Sweden, caused by food shortages and discontent with the government. In 1932, the Social Democrats came to power and the situation in the country changed radically; only in 1986 did political power shake after the assassination of Prime Minister Walof Palme.
The year 1991 brought major changes. A moderate coalition entered the political arena, which subsequently influenced the course of the country's history. Sweden joins the EU. Today there are plans to join the single European currency. But the difficult economic situation still causes debate even about the advisability of the country joining the European Union.

What is a Swede like?

Most Swedes are tall, fair-haired, blue-eyed, and their main character trait is hard work. The Swede, unlike most European nations, is reserved and modest, which is typical for a northern country. Swedes are quite careful in expressing their opinions, they are closed and silent, especially in emotions associated with mental suffering, but despite this, they are very friendly and smiling when we meet.
Swedes have a special attitude towards women. A Swede will never pay for his companion in a movie, cafe or restaurant, and this is not because of stinginess, it’s just that a man would never think of paying for a woman who works herself. Swedish women are very jealous, so married women try to protect their men from communicating with free women.
In Sweden you will hardly meet overweight people; they strictly take care of themselves and from childhood they are accustomed to daily gymnastics, swimming, walking and cycling as a result - a good build, excellent health and vigor.
Swedes are very punctual. For example, clients in hairdressing salons are served at strictly designated hours. If a client makes an appointment but does not show up on time, according to Swedish rules, he will still be sent an invoice. High customer service culture. The owner of a small private store knows each of his customers and their tastes. Sellers can often give detailed advice on a product of interest, including in German and English - there are many foreigners in Sweden.

What do Swedes do on the weekend?

Sweden is one of the healthiest nations, so sporting activities are at the top of every Swede's mind. Each city is full of cycling and jogging paths, as well as numerous parks where you can enjoy the fresh northern air.
Sweden is one of the capitals of fashion and design. On weekends, shopping centers are full of people wanting to update their wardrobe or interior. And Friday and Saturday evenings smoothly flow into noisy or romantic gatherings in the best cafes and restaurants in the city. At night, life in large cities does not stop for a minute.

• Swedes never use the term "buffet". Many centuries ago, expecting a large number of guests, the Scandinavians prepared preparations from meat, fish, and vegetables. Food was placed directly on the table in large bowls, and such a table was called a “snack bar”
• There are no “Swedish families” in Sweden. In the 70s, Sweden had a democratic attitude towards love, marriage and close relationships, but today the concept of family means only two parents and children.
• In northern Sweden, the northern lights last all year round, but, unfortunately, they can only be seen at night
• The IKEA brand was founded in 1943 in the Swedish village of Agunnaryd, when the company's founder, Ingvar Kamprad, was only 17 years old.
• The Nobel Prize was founded in Sweden after the founder, Swedish chemical engineer A. B. Nobel.
• More than 300,000 people in Sweden have the surname Carlson.
• At birth, a child receives the mother's surname, not the father!
• Stockholm is home to the largest royal palace in the world.
• In Stockholm, the open window law is still in effect, which was introduced in the 17th century so that everyone could see whether people were living within their means or not. And although many years have passed, the Swedes living in the old part of the city still do not hang curtains, trying to preserve the historical appearance of the city.

What to bring from Sweden:

• figurines of Vikings and trolls made of glass, porcelain, ceramics
• SurstrСimming (rotten herring) is a Swedish product that is canned fermented herring. Herring literally gives off a very unpleasant smell, so this souvenir is good for fun in a group. One way to avoid the terrible smell is to open the can in a bucket of water.
• Рölgpastej - elk pate
• souvenir wooden horse Dala
• Marabou chocolate
• "Swedish snus" - chewing tobacco, banned in many European countries
• smoked deer and elk meat.
• Punch "Karlshamnspunsh", produced in the south-eastern part of Sweden in the city of Karlshamn.

The kingdom occupies the eastern and southern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula and the islands of Öland and Gotland in the Baltic Sea. In the west it borders with Norway, in the northeast with Finland, in the east and south it is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea, separating from Denmark in the south.

The name of the country comes from the Scandinavian svear-rige - “state of the Svens”.

Official name: Kingdom of Sweden (Konungariket Sverige).

Capital:

Territory area: 450.5 thousand sq. km

Total Population: 9.3 million people

Administrative division: Sweden is divided into 24 counties.

Form of government: Constitutional monarchy.

Head of State: King.

Population composition: 91% are Swedes, 3% are Finns, Sami, Norwegians, Danes, people from the former Yugoslavia, Greeks, Turks. For many centuries the country was ethnically very homogeneous, consisting of Swedes and Sami themselves.

Official language: Swedish, Finnish, Meänkieli and Sami are also spoken.

Religion: 87% are Lutheran, there are also Catholics, Orthodox, Baptists, Muslims, Jews, and Buddhists.

Internet domain: .se

Mains voltage: ~230 V, 50 Hz

Country dialing code: +46

Country barcode: 730-739

Climate

Since the territory of Sweden has a significant extent in the submeridional direction, in the north of the country it is much colder and the growing season is shorter than in the south. The length of day and night varies accordingly. However, in general, Sweden has a higher frequency of sunny and dry weather compared to many other countries in North-West Europe, especially in winter.

Despite the fact that 15% of the country is located beyond the Arctic Circle, and all of it is located north of 55° N, due to the influence of winds blowing from the Atlantic Ocean, the climate is quite mild. Such climatic conditions are favorable for the development of forests, comfortable living for people and more productive agriculture than in continental regions located at the same latitudes. Throughout Sweden, winters are long and summers are short.

In Lund in the south of Sweden, the average temperature in January is 0.8 ° C, in July 16.4 ° C, and the average annual temperature is 7.2 ° C. In Karesuando in the north of the country the corresponding indicators are -14.5 ° C, 13.1 ° C and –2.8° C. Snow falls annually throughout Sweden, but snow cover in Skåne lasts only 47 days, while in Karesuando it lasts 170–190 days. Ice cover on lakes lasts on average 115 days in the south of the country, 150 days in the central regions and at least 200 days in the northern regions. Off the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia, freeze-up begins around mid-November and lasts until the end of May. Fog is common in the northern Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia.

Average annual precipitation ranges from 460 mm on the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea and the far north of the country to 710 mm on the west coast of southern Sweden. In the northern regions it is 460–510 mm, in the central regions – 560 mm, and in the southern regions – slightly more than 580 mm. The greatest amount of precipitation falls at the end of summer (in some places the second maximum is expressed in October), the least - from February to April. The number of days with stormy winds ranges from 20 per year on the west coast to 8–2 on the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia.

Geography

Sweden is located in Northern Europe, in the eastern and southern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula. In the west, Sweden borders on Norway, in the north-east on Finland, and on the east and south it is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia. In the south, the straits Öresund, Kattegat and Skagerrak separate Sweden from Denmark. Sweden includes two large islands in the Baltic - Gotland and Öland.

The terrain of the country is elevated, the northwestern part of the country is mountainous (the highest point is Mount Kebnekaise, 2111 m) and is framed on the east by a vast plateau; in the south the terrain is flatter and abounds in rivers and lakes (there are almost 90 thousand reservoirs in the country). Most of the country is covered with forests; in the north, vast areas are occupied by the tundra zone of Swedish Lapland. The coastline is heavily indented and abounds with skerries and island groups. The area of ​​the country is 450 thousand square meters. km.

Flora and fauna

Flora

Based on the nature of natural vegetation in Sweden, there are five main areas confined to certain latitudinal zones:

1) alpine region, combining the northernmost and most elevated areas, with a predominance of colorful short grass and dwarf forms of shrubs;

2) an area of ​​crooked birch forest, where squat trees with strongly curved trunks grow - mainly birch, less often aspen and rowan;

3) the northern region of coniferous forests (the largest in the country) - with a predominance of pine and spruce;

4) the southern region of coniferous forests (largely cleared); in the surviving massifs, oak, ash, elm, linden, maple and other broad-leaved species are mixed with coniferous species;

5) area of ​​beech forests (almost not preserved); in these forests, along with beech, there are oak, alder and, in some places, pine.

In addition, azonal vegetation is widespread. Lush meadow vegetation grows around the lakes, and swamps with specific flora are common in some places. On the coast of the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea, halophytic communities (plants growing on saline soils) are common.

Animal world

In Sweden there are such forest inhabitants as elk, brown bear, wolverine, lynx, fox, marten, squirrel, and mountain hare. American mink and muskrat were brought from North America several decades ago for breeding in fur farms, but some individuals escaped and formed quite viable populations in nature that quickly spread throughout the country (excluding some islands and the far north) and displaced a number of local animal species from their ecological niches. There are still wild reindeer in northern Sweden.

Ducks, geese, swans, gulls, terns and other birds nest along the shores of seas and lakes. The rivers are home to salmon, trout, perch, and in the north – grayling.

Attractions

The country is abundantly endowed with natural beauty and attractions - the green fields of the south of the country and the harsh tundra of Lapland, the green hills of the west and the wooded cliffs of Norrbotten, the picturesque islands and skerries of the south and the calm shores of the Gulf of Bothnia, a huge lake system and a lot of wild animals - all this attracts a huge amount to the country. number of tourists. And its rich history and beautiful cities will allow you to get acquainted with the unique culture of the country.

Banks and currency

Swedish krona. 1 crown is equal to 100 ore. In circulation there are banknotes in denominations of 1000, 500, 100, 50, 20 and 10 crowns and coins in 10, 5, 1 crown and 50 öre.

Banks are open on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:30 to 15:00, and on Thursday from 9:30 to 17:30. Exchange offices at airports, train stations, and marinas are open seven days a week.

Currency exchange is carried out in banks, exchange offices and post offices.

Useful information for tourists

Regular store opening hours are from 10.00 to 18.00 on weekdays and from 10.00 to 15.00 on Saturdays. Many shops are also open on Sunday. Large department stores are open every day, but on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays they have shorter working hours. In July, the “industrial holidays” begin (until mid-August), when all enterprises are closed and institutions operate in a “saving” mode.

Sweden or Kingdom of Sweden- a state in Northern Europe, located in the eastern and southern parts of the Scandinavian Peninsula.

In terms of area (449,964 km²), Sweden ranks third among Western European countries and fifth among countries in all of Europe. In the west, Sweden borders with Norway (border length 1,619 km), in the northeast with Finland (614 km), and from the east and south it is washed by the waters of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia. The total length of the borders is 2,333 km. In the south, the straits Öresund, Kattegat and Skagerrak separate Sweden from Denmark.

Sweden includes two large islands in the Baltic - Gotland and Öland.

The highest point in Sweden is Mount Kebnekaise, 2111 m. Most of the country is covered with forests (53%), according to this indicator Sweden ranks first in Europe. About 10% of the country is occupied by lakes. The largest of them - Vänern (5,545 sq. km) and Vättern (1,898 sq. km) - are located in the south of the country.

Climate in Sweden

The peculiarities of the location of the Scandinavian mountains, which play a barrier role in relation to moist air masses coming from the Atlantic Ocean, as well as the significant meridional extent, make the climate of Sweden very diverse.

The climate in the southern and eastern parts of the country, thanks to the warm Gulf Stream, is temperate, maritime, transitional to continental. The average temperature in January is from -15 °C to -3 °C, in July - from 10 °C to 17 °C. Humid marine air masses from the North Atlantic and Baltic Sea often bring quite changeable weather with precipitation and winds, especially in the off-season.

In the north and east, in the mountainous regions of the country beyond the Arctic Circle, the climate is subarctic. In the mountains, the average temperature in January reaches -14...-16 °C, and in July from 6 °C to 8 °C. Most of this territory is covered by glaciers.

Population

The population of Sweden is 9,354,426 people (2010). Life expectancy: men: 78.59 years, women: 83.26 years - 9th place in the world. Urban population - 85%.

Despite the traditional dominance of Swedes in the population, Sweden's modern population is quite diverse racially and ethnically due to a new wave of political and economic immigration from developing countries.

The country's population is actually divided into two large groups: indigenous and immigrant. Among the autochonous peoples, the Swedes and even more ancient inhabitants of the northern regions - the Finno-Ugric tribes (Finns and Sami) - stand out. Ethnic Swedes are of Germanic origin and number about 7.5 million people. In addition to the Swedes, more than 17 thousand Sami live in the far north of Sweden. More than 50 thousand native Finns live along the border with Finland, which was once part of the Kingdom of Sweden, and in the central regions of the country there are more than 450 thousand ethnic Finns who immigrated to the country during the 20th century, as well as their descendants.

At the same time, a significant Swedish minority has lived in Finland itself for several centuries (about 300 thousand people or 6% of the population), historically more powerful than the Finnish in Sweden. Swedish is the second official language in Finland, but Finnish in Sweden is used very limitedly and has no official status at the state level.

Religion

The majority of Sweden's population (82%) belongs to the Church of Sweden - a Lutheran church separated from the state in 2000. Catholics, Orthodox and Baptists are also present. Some Sami profess animism.

As a result of immigration, numerous Muslim communities professing Islam have emerged in the country.

The de facto language is Swedish, which belongs to the group of Germanic languages ​​(Scandinavian subgroup) of the Indo-European family, related to the Norwegian and Danish languages, from which it differs in pronunciation and spelling. The country, however, does not have an official language - since Swedish is dominant, the question of recognizing it as official has never been raised. Most Swedes speak excellent English.

The recognized languages ​​of national minorities are Sami, Meänkieli, Finnish, Roma and Yiddish. The first three of them can be used in state and municipal institutions, courts, kindergartens and nursing homes in some parts of Norrbotten County.

Currency

The country's currency is the Swedish krona (SEK), equal to 100 øre. Banknotes are issued in denominations of 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 kroner, as well as coins in denominations of 50 öre, 1, 5 and 10 kroner.

In Sweden, unlike most other countries, it is most profitable to exchange currency at exchange offices. Banks charge quite a high fee, and the rate is not the most favorable.

Major credit cards are accepted throughout Sweden at banks, hotels, shops, restaurants, taxis, car rental companies, for railway, air and passenger ship tickets. You can withdraw cash from Visa, MasterCard, Maestro or Cirrus cards at any ATM of the Bankomat or Minuten system. You can withdraw cash from your American Express card at currency exchange offices. FOREX systems.

Bank opening hours

Weekdays, except Thursday, from 10.00 to 15.00. Thursday from 10.00 to 16.00 or 17.30. In some cities, banks may be open until 18.00. All banks are closed on weekends and public holidays.

Communications

Dialing code: 46

Internet domain: .se

Fire, police or ambulance: 112

Telephone city codes

Stockholm - 8, Gothenburg - 31, Malmo - 40

How to call

To call from Russia to Sweden, you need to dial: 8 - dial tone - 10 - 46 - area code - subscriber number.

To call from Sweden to Russia, you need to dial: 00 - 7 - area code - subscriber number.

Landline communications

In Sweden, pay phones that accept special telephone cards, as well as credit cards, are common. Phone cards can be purchased almost everywhere - from newsstands and Pressbyrån kiosks to supermarkets.

Mobile communications

Mobile phones are widespread in Sweden. You can connect to the TeliaSonera, Tele2, and Telenor networks.

In the southern regions of Sweden, almost the entire territory is within the coverage area of ​​​​mobile communications, with the exception of a limited number of areas where reception is difficult. In northern Sweden, mobile communications are available along the coast and main highways. Mobile phones cannot always be used in emergencies, since in the mountains, for example, there is no reception.

All operators offer the opportunity to buy prepaid mobile cards.

Post offices open approximately the same hours as shops (9am to 6pm on weekdays and 10am to 1pm on Saturdays), although some branches may have different opening hours. Postage stamps are sold at all post offices and most kiosks that sell printed materials.

In most populated areas of the country, postal services are also provided in grocery stores, tobacco kiosks and gas stations.

Shopping in Sweden

In Sweden it is worth buying glass and crystal products, as well as ceramics. If possible, you should definitely visit the glass shops in Småland - Orreforse, Costa Bode.

Everywhere in Sweden, even in the smallest villages, you can find handicraft shops, knitted clothes, embroidery, and wooden figurines. Sweden hosts annual traditional fairs that attract thousands of visitors.

The inscriptions REA, Fynd and Extrapris mean a discount.

Store opening hours

Weekdays from 10.00 to 18.00. Saturday from 9.30 to 14.00 or 16.00. In large cities, department stores are open until 19.00 and later. Some shops are open on Sundays from 12.00 to 16.00. Grocery stores are open daily, usually until 20:00, and some even longer.

On the eve of public holidays, stores are usually open on Saturdays.

VAT and tax-free

Persons living outside the European Union (EU) are entitled to a tax refund on goods purchased in Sweden. In Sweden, as in most European countries, value added tax is included in the sales price of the product indicated on the price tag. The duty-free trading system organized by the Global Refund network allows tourists to receive a tax refund in cash at the time of leaving the EU. The tax refund on purchases is 12 - 17.5%, with a minimum purchase amount of 200 SEK.

When purchasing, you must present your passport and ask for a special tax refund check (Global Refund Check). The goods will be delivered in sealed packaging, which cannot be opened until permission to export is received. The goods must be exported from the country within three months from the date of purchase. When leaving Sweden or the last country on your route that is part of the European Union, you must present your passport, goods in sealed packaging and tax refund receipts, after which you can obtain an export permit (stamp). They give permission for export and pay the presented checks to the tax refund office. They are available at departure points from Sweden, Finland and Norway, as well as at Copenhagen Airport.

Where to stay

Hotels in Sweden do not have an official classification. All “stars” that can be seen in operator catalogs and on travel websites reflect only the subjective assessment of their authors. The service in the hotels is of a good “European” level, the staff is very friendly, but somewhat slow.

Hotels and apartments at ski resorts are built in Alpine style, many apartments (90% of them with a sauna). World and Scandinavian “chains” are common in the country.

Swedish tourist houses or youth hostels

Swedish tourist houses are spread throughout the country, including mountainous areas. They offer excellent amenities at low prices. Everyone is welcome here. More than 300 tourist houses are united by the Swedish Tourist Club. Members of this club or the Youth Hostel Federation (IYHF) can receive discounts on accommodation.

The average price ranges from 100 to 200 CZK per night. There is a 50% discount for children provided that parents have an international youth hostel card or an appropriate other card.

Many of the tourist camps are open all year round. Here you will be offered a variety of accommodation options from simple houses to fully equipped self-catering cottages. Accommodation in youth hotels is possible. All you have to do is choose from the many small and larger campsites scattered throughout Sweden, which one you like the most.

Sea and beaches

Malmö is the only major city in Northern Europe that can boast its own beach in the city center - and a very good one at that, having received the international Blue Flag award for its clear waters. This is the classic Ribbersborg beach, 2.5 km long, often called the “Scandinavian Copacabana”.

On warm summer days, the beach is filled with sun worshipers, most of them families. Ribbersborg Beach has something for everyone - there is a nudist beach, an area for dogs, and an equipped swimming area for the disabled. A local landmark leading to a classic cold bath, Ribbersborg Pier is one of several piers for swimmers who don't want to walk halfway to Denmark in shallow water.

In recent years, Ribbersborg Beach has been given tough competition by a new deep-water sea bath in the new city district of Västra hamnen (West Harbour). Wooden decks strewn with lounge chairs are reminiscent of the Cote d'Azur. The people here are usually younger and more laid-back; people come here to meet friends, show themselves off and fearlessly dive from high piers.

If you want to get out of Malmö, these areas have many fantastically beautiful beaches, more than we can mention here, located within an hour's drive of the city. A lovely beach in the stylish Skanör Falsterbo area, a superb and cozy resort ideal for strolling - it's the closest of many classic beaches, some of which are around twenty minutes' drive from Malmö city centre. A 45-minute drive takes you to beaches longer and wider than you'd ever expect to find in these latitudes, with sand so fine and clean it creaks underfoot. Beaches Ljunghusen, Stenhammaren, Åhus, Stenshuvud in the famous National Park - the list of wonderful beaches in the province of Skåne goes on and on.

History of Sweden

Primitive hunters and fishermen began to appear within what is now Sweden and move further north during the era of melting glaciers that covered the Scandinavian Peninsula for many thousands of years. The earliest evidence of human presence on the territory of modern Sweden is a site found near Malmö and dating back to 8000 BC.

Settlements, where the basis of human existence were already agriculture and cattle breeding, date back to the late Stone Age (2500-1800 BC). Rock paintings, caves, and burial mounds have been preserved from this time.

The Bronze Age (1800-500 BC) left evidence of trade relations with Central Europe and the British Isles, evidence of the high development of arts and crafts.

Iron Age, starting from the 6th century. BC, marked by contacts with the Celts in Europe. Period from I to VI centuries. AD Scandinavian historians call it the Roman Iron Age. This is a time of close ties between Sweden and the Roman Empire.

The early Middle Ages (VI - 9th centuries AD) - the period of formation of the Swedish state. According to researchers, it was formed as a result of the fact that the Svei tribe, who lived on Lake Mälaren in Central Sweden (now the historical region of Svealand), conquered other local tribes, including the Getae, who inhabited the province of Götaland, located to the south.

Around 800, the first Swedish city of Birka was founded on Lake Mälaren, which quickly became one of the major trading centers in the Baltic; trade ties extended all the way to Byzantium and the Arab Caliphate in the east and the Frankish state in the west.

This is where the Viking campaigns began. Detachments of adventurers - merchants and sea robbers (in Scandinavian "Viking" - an inhabitant of the bays, hunting in the bays), received the name "Normans" ("northern people") in Western Europe, "Varangians" in Rus' and Byzantium, in Finland - “ruotsi” (from here many researchers derive the name of Rus', since the famous princes in our homeland in history were the Scandinavians - Rurik and his descendants), raided their neighbors who inhabited the south-eastern coast of the Baltic Sea and the shores of the Gulf of Finland. VIII - X centuries were a period of rapid expansion, leading to colonization and the creation of a vast Viking domain.

Russian-Swedish relations originate from the Middle Ages, when a busy trade route “from the Varangians to the Greeks” developed. The peaceful trade of neighboring states did not stop their stubborn struggle for the Baltic lands.

In 1240, the Swedes sent their fleet under the command of Jarl (Duke) Birger to the mouth of the Neva to capture Staraya Ladoga and Novgorod with its possessions, but were defeated by the squad of Prince Alexander Yaroslavich, who received the nickname Nevsky. By the end of the 13th century. The Swedish state subjugated the Finnish lands, the border with Russia passed along the Neva River. The city of Vyborg was founded (the Swedish fortress still towers over the city today).

By the middle of the 12th century. Sweden became a unified state under the king. Several rulers succeeded each other before, as a result of the Danish conquest of part of Sweden in 1387, Queen Margaret of Denmark was on the throne. Since she was also the ruler of Norway, the three countries were united under the Danish crown.

This association, called the Kalmar Union, collapsed after a century and a half under the pressure of active resistance from the Swedes. The nobleman Gustav Vasa (or Vasa), who distinguished himself in the struggle for independence, was elected king of Sweden in 1523. During his reign, the country became a strong, unified monarchy. On his initiative in 1544; The traditional election of kings was abolished, and from that moment on the crown could only be passed on by inheritance.

Often in its history, Sweden pursued an active military policy. The period of numerous wars with Russia and Denmark for dominance in the Baltic was a period of endless victories and defeats. The seizure of the territory of Ingria, Estonia, Livonia, Poland, as well as part of the German lands by the end of the 17th century. turned Sweden into a huge empire. Attempts at further expansion led to its collapse. As a result of the complete defeat of the Swedes by Peter I near Poltava and defeat in the Northern War of 1700-1721. Sweden lost its German possessions and gave Russia its Baltic provinces and Western Karelia, including the fortress of Vyborg. The Finnish War between Sweden and Russia (1808-1809) ended in the complete defeat of the Swedish army. Russia occupied not only all of Finland, but also part of Northern Sweden.

In 1809, after the death of Charles XIII, who had no children, the reigning Goldstein-Gottorp family, which was destined to become the last Swedish royal dynasty, ceased to exist. Sweden again faced the problem of choosing an heir to the throne.

In the context of the outbreak of war between France and England, in order to maintain neutrality, which Sweden tried to adhere to after the conclusion of peace in 1809, and in order to avoid war with Napoleon, the best political decision was to elect French Marshal Jean Baptiste Bernadotte as king, who, according to some sources, was the adopted son Charles XIII. He received the name Karl XIV Johan. A curiosity of the history and fate of the king himself is the discovery that shocked his contemporaries: after Bernadotte’s death, a poorly etched “Death to Kings” tattoo was discovered on his body.

Contrary to the hopes of the Swedes to recapture Finland from Russia with his help, the new king moved towards rapprochement with Tsar Alexander I.

The last military actions of the Swedes were short wars with Denmark and Norway for the annexation of Norway to Sweden (Swedish-Norwegian Union - 1814-1905). Since 1814, Sweden has not participated in hostilities. During the First World War, Sweden declared neutrality, managing to maintain it during the Second.

In 1946, Sweden became a member of the UN.

In 1952, Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Iceland formed the Nordic Council.

In 1995, Sweden became a full member of the European Union, thus declaring that the guiding principle of neutrality in foreign policy was replaced by an orientation toward pan-European cooperation.

The Swedish state is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary form of government. King Carl XVI Gustaf, being the head of state, performs only ceremonial functions. The throne will be inherited by the eldest child of the royal family, Crown Princess Victoria. All political functions of government are assigned to the unicameral parliament Rigsdag, in which about 50% of deputies are women.

Swedish homeless man Kurt Degerman left behind a fortune of more than a million dollars. The story took place in the town of Skelleftea. In local beggar circles, Degerman was known by the nickname "Kurt the Tin Can." His life was no different from the life of other homeless people. He ate leftover fast food that he found in the trash. There he found his clothes. He spent most of his time collecting cans of beer and other drinks, which he later handed over. Unlike other homeless people, Kurt did not spend the money he earned on alcohol and drugs, but kept it for investment. As it turned out after Degerman's death, he preferred to invest in shares of the best companies in Sweden.

Kurt Degerman died of a heart attack in the fall of 2008 at the age of 60. Before this, he made a will in which he bequeathed all his property to his cousin, who sometimes visited him. The Swedish press does not disclose the name of the relative.

When the will came into force, to the surprise of all Degerman’s acquaintances, it turned out that he had left behind 8 million crowns ($1.1 million) in shares and other securities in a Swiss bank account. In addition, Degerman kept 124 gold bars worth 2.6 million crowns ($300 thousand) in a safe deposit box. In addition, the homeless man had $6,500 in his bank account in Skelleftea, while Degerman only kept about $450 in cash in his home.

According to the deceased's cousin, he was able to become a financial genius by regularly reading newspapers. “He went to the library every day because he didn’t buy newspapers,” said Degerman’s relative. “There he read the Swedish Business Daily and Dagens Industri - so he was thoroughly aware of the processes on the stock exchange.”

After Degerman's death, his cousin failed to inherit the entire pauper's fortune. The uncle of the deceased intervened in the matter, who expressed interest in the relative only after learning about his condition.

The man filed a lawsuit challenging the soundness of the will. According to Uncle Degerman, he also has the right to the wealth of a beggar. The hearings lasted about 4 months, and eventually the parties reached a settlement agreement in March. It is not reported how Degerman's money was divided, however, according to relatives, both parties were satisfied.

According to Degerman's family members, he was a very bright boy as a child. Kurt was the first student in his class, and he was predicted to have a wonderful future. However, due to a personal crisis, Degerman decided to leave society and found himself at the bottom of the social ladder.

Northern lights

In the northernmost region of Sweden, beyond the Arctic Circle, there is a fabulous land - Lapland. Lapland's light variations attract travelers from all over the world. In summer there are 100 sunny nights above the Arctic Circle. In other words, more than three months of constant daylight without any sign of night. The “midnight sun” phenomenon is when, when looking north, an observer sees the very center of the sun directly in front of him. The light of the midnight sun gives the landscape a magical depth. At such times, hiking along the mountain slopes of Lapland gives a truly unique experience.

The white nights show a completely different side in winter, when the sun leaves Lapland for three whole months and the polar darkness gives way to faint glimpses of light for only a few hours a day. It is at this time of year that you can enjoy the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis), restless rays against the backdrop of the dark purple polar sky. Many consider this spectacle to be the most picturesque and breathtaking light show in the world.

The Northern Lights are born when electrified particles driven by the solar wind enter the Earth's magnetic field at enormous speed. In this regard, the northern lights are most visible near the magnetic poles.

The Northern Lights last all year round, but can only be seen against a dark winter sky. The visual drama of the northern lights gave rise to numerous myths and legends in ancient times.

In Lapland, the best time of year to see the northern lights is mid-winter. Staff at the Abisko mountain station, one of the most popular places to see the northern lights, "almost guarantee" their guests will experience the phenomenon at least once every three days.

Useful information

Sweden ranks one of the first in the world for the quality of water purification. Tap water in Sweden is clean and safe to drink without first boiling. Therefore, you should not be surprised if you are served tap water in a bar or restaurant.

All public toilets (with the exception of the airport and some museums) have a fee. The cost is usually 5 SEK. In some places you have to pay directly when entering the toilet, in other establishments you only have to pay for using the stall (in this case, there is a machine on the stall door or next to it indicating the price). Use of the toilet in a restaurant or cafe is free only for clients of the establishment; often it is simply locked. In this case, contact service personnel.

Literally exemplary order is maintained on the streets, so you should absolutely not litter or throw garbage in the wrong place. Violation of cleanliness standards can result in serious fines.

Fishing is not allowed everywhere. In the lakes Vänern, Vättern, Mälaren and Hjelmaren you can fish for free; in other bodies of water you need to obtain a special permit (“fiskekort”) from the local information offices or sports shops. Fishing in privately owned water bodies is strictly prohibited.

You cannot cross the boundaries of the reserves without special permission. It is strictly forbidden to walk through crops (including reforestation plantations) and personal plots, leave garbage on the road or near the house, cause damage to buildings and nature, cut down trees, break or saw branches for a fire (even if it is dry wood or brushwood), destroy bird nests, driving a car into the forest where there is no road, lighting fires (even on rocky areas), washing cars in natural reservoirs, etc.

In a number of establishments (museums, theaters, etc.) the use of cell phones is prohibited (special signs at the entrance inform about this).

Many grocery stores, banks, ticket offices, currency exchange offices, information desks, etc. use coupon numbers to form a queue. Coupons are “issued” by special machines, usually mounted on the wall next to the counter. In order to use it, you just need to tear off the ticket and remember the number displayed on the board. The coupon is presented to the seller, and if the queue is accidentally missed, you should take a new coupon.

Smoking is prohibited in most indoor areas and transport. Hotels provide special non-smoking rooms. Since June 2005, smoking has been prohibited in all restaurants and cafes. Some establishments have closed smoking areas where food and drinks are prohibited from being taken into the premises.

Alcohol in Sweden is under strict government control. Wines and spirits with an alcohol content of more than 2.8° and beer with an alcohol content of more than 3.5° are sold only in special state stores “Systembolaget”. The minimum age to purchase alcoholic beverages is 20 years. Restaurants and bars in Sweden must have a special permit to sell alcoholic beverages.

Alcohol and cigarettes are very expensive, even by Swedish standards. A bottle of wine costs from 20 EUR and above. A pack of cigarettes costs about 5 EUR on average.

How to get to Sweden

By plane

Aeroflot and SAS Scandinavian Airlines operate daily flights from Moscow to Stockholm (travel time 2 hours 10 minutes). SAS also flies 6 times a week from St. Petersburg (1 hour 30 minutes). State Transport Company "Russia" has 2 flights per week from St. Petersburg. A number of airlines offer flights with transfers to other European cities.

To travel to the southern part of Sweden, it is better to use Copenhagen Airport (20 minutes by train to Malmo).

By train

There are no direct trains to Sweden from Russia, but you can travel by train from Finland (Helsinki or Turku), where you take a ferry to Stockholm. The entire journey from Moscow takes one and a half days, from St. Petersburg - a day. Trains to Sweden also run from Germany, Denmark and Norway.
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Attention! Transit visas from these countries are required.

By bus

One of the most economical options to get to Sweden is to take an organized Finland-Sweden group tour by bus from St. Petersburg. Such tours are organized daily by several large travel agencies. Such a tour usually involves departure in the evening, crossing the border at night, early morning arrival in Helsinki, and a short excursion program. Then the bus goes to Turku, where the group takes a ferry to the Swedish Kappelskær and, having arrived there early in the morning, leaves by bus to Stockholm (90 km). In the evening the group leaves back to Kappelskör, and then to St. Petersburg. The tourist is free to leave the group at any stage and follow his own route.

By car

You can travel to Sweden from Russia by car through the territory of Finland. To do this, you must have a green card, a driver's license (for temporary stay a certificate and international license are not required), an international vehicle registration certificate or a power of attorney (if the car belongs to another person).

Distances from Stockholm by road: to Moscow (excluding ferry crossings) - 1390 km, Oslo - 750 km, Copenhagen - 620 km, Hamburg - 920 km.