There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Stockholm each year. The main ones are listed below:
January 1: New Year's Day (national) January 6: Epiphany (Trettondedag jul) (national holiday)In general, Epiphany concludes the Christmas season. However, many Stockholmers traditionally keep the festivities going for an extra week and keep the Christmas tree until January 13, St. Knut's Day.
April 30: Walpurgis Night (national)This pagan festival dates back to the Vikings, who gathered around a bonfire each year at this time to bid farewell to winter. Today, in addition to a famous bonfire at Riddarholmen, Stockholm residents usher in the spring with folk dancing, torchlight processions, student choirs, and general merry-making on all of the Swedish capital's main squares.
May 1: International Workers' Day (Första maj) (national holiday)On that day, Stockholmers gather in various parks for picnic parties organised by labour unions. It is an opportunity for workers to meet other colleagues in a festive atmosphere.
June 6: National Day (national)Swedes celebrate their independence from Denmark and the election of King Gustav Vasa on this day in 1523. This commemorative day includes several official celebrations.
First Friday between June 20-25: Midsummer's Eve (Midsommar - national)After Christmas, this is the most important festival of the year in Sweden. To celebrate the summer solstice, Swedes raise the maypole and dance around it, especially in rural areas, also taking part in games and activities like wreath making. Families share a traditional meal consisting of pickled herring, boiled new potatoes with fresh dill. In Stockholm, people not leaving for the countryside decorate their homes lavishly, don traditional costumes and enjoy folk music, dancing and drinking.
December 13: Saint Lucy's Day (Santa Lucia) (national holiday)According to tradition, the night of December 13 is the longest of winter. In order to light up those long hours of darkness, Stockholmers elect their new Saint Lucy, the “carrier of the light”. A series of concerts conclude the celebrations in grand fashion in the Stockholm cathedral.
December 25: Christmas (national)Month | Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°) | Average Rains (MM) | Best Time to Travel |
---|---|---|---|---|
January | -5/23 | -1/30 | 39/1.5 | Not the best period to go |
February | -5/23 | -1/30 | 27/1.1 | Not the best period to go |
March | -3/27 | 3/37 | 26/1.0 | Good period to go
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April | 1/34 | 9/48 | 30/1.2 | Good period to go
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May | 6/43 | 15/59 | 30/1.2 | Good period to go
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June | 11/52 | 21/70 | 45/1.8 | Good period to go
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July | 13/55 | 22/72 | 72/2.8 | Good period to go
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August | 13/55 | 20/68 | 66/2.6 | Good period to go
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September | 9/48 | 15/59 | 55/2.2 | Not the best period to go |
October | 5/41 | 10/50 | 50/2.0 | Not the best period to go |
November | 1/34 | 4/39 | 53/2.1 | Not the best period to go |
December | -3/27 | 1/34 | 46/1.8 | Not the best period to go |
The Stockholm's Arlanda International Airport, the largest in Sweden and the third largest in the Nordic countries, is located in the city of Sigtuna, about 42 km (26 miles) north of the city centre.
The Swedish capital is served by a public transport system and urban infrastructures that allow visitors to explore the city easily.
Stockholm's Metro, the Tunnelbana (also known as the T-bana), with a network serving some 100 stations, is certainly the most convenient way to get around the city. Trains operate from 5 a.m. to 1 a.m. on weekdays and until 3 a.m. on weekends.
Fares:
Stockholm has an efficient network of bus routes offering extensive coverage of the city. Two routes are particularly of interest for visitors: bus line 7, which runs from Sergels Torg to Djurgården (Waldemarsudde stop), and bus line 54, which runs from Centralen to the museums in Ladugårdsgärdet park (Kallskärsgatan stop). SEK 37 (full fare) / SEK 25 (reduced fare, for youths under 20 and seniors)
As much as possible, it is recommended to avoid driving in central Stockholm. The city plan makes traffic dense and parking is both scarce and pricey.
Taxis are plentiful in Stockholm. The initial charge is SEK 45, then SEK 10 to SEK 13 per kilometre.
Bikes are an excellent way to get around Stockholm. A particularly spread-out network of bike lanes ensures safety of all riders. City Bikes, a self-service bike rental system (available from April to October) spread around 150 stations across town makes them easy to use. For further information, please visit www.citybikes.se/en
Upon your arrival in Stockholm, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organise your stay.
Stockholm Visitors BoardOffers information and useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).
The currency used in Sweden is the Swedish Krona (SEK).
$1 = k8.29
k1 = $0.12
The above exchange rate is given for information because is variable.
In order to travel in the best conditions and for your health and safety, we invite you to check all information regarding preventive measures and best practices to be respected, available on the official website of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs: https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/
Your comfort, well-being and health are at the heart of Air France's concerns, and we want to help you prepare for your trip in the best way possible. Find out more about the measures taken to ensure safe travelling on our website: https://www.airfrance.fr/FR/en/common/page_flottante/information/coronavirus.htm#notre-engagement-sanitaire
See your doctor before you travel. It is also recommended to take out insurance covering medical expenses and repatriation before your trip. Stockholm counts several hospitals and medical institutions, as well as quality medical practitioners and health specialists.
There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to Sweden. For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:
Tap water is safe to drink in Stockholm.
For stays of less than three months, travellers from the Schengen area, as well as those from the countries of the European Union not included in the area, need only be in possession of a national identity card or a passport valid for the duration of their stay. As a general rule, travellers from all other countries are subject to visa requirements, although foreign nationals from certain countries may enter Sweden for up to 90 days for tourism or business purposes. For further information, visit the website of the Office of the Swedish Federal Foreign Office :
http://www.migrationsverket.se/English/Private-individuals/Visiting-Sweden/Tourists-visas.html
To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Stockholm, visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of your country.
Here are a few basic Swedish phrases that will make your stay in Stockholm a little easier:
Hello / Good morning / Good afternoon: God morgon
Thank you very much: Tack så mycket
I don't understand: Jag förstår inte.
Could you repeat?: Kan du vänligen upprepa
What time is it?: Vad är klockan?
Sorry / Excuse me: Ursäkta mig
I'm looking for (…): Jag letar efter (…).
How much is (...)?: Hur mycket kostar (...)?
Do you have (…)?: Har ni (…) ?
Where can I find (…)?: Var kan jag hitta (…) ?
Tipping
In Stockholm as in the rest of Sweden, a service charge is usually already included in restaurant bills and taxi fares, but you can certainly reward good service with a 10% tip.