Sweden

SAFETY: excellent
The country is generally safe. No particular risks are reported other than petty crime (suburbs, large cities...).

TRANSPORT: excellent
A comprehensive, modern transport system covering the whole country (air, rail, bus, metro, tram, taxi, ferries) makes it possible to reach any destination. Motorways are toll-free and well maintained, but in the more remote regions unpaved roads prevail, impassable for much of the year. Hiring cars, motorbikes, campervans, bikes and boats is easy and convenient. Well connected to Italy and all neighbouring countries.

Main airports: Eskilstuna, Gothenburg (Säve and Landvetter), Helsingborg (Ängelholm), Jönköping (Axamo), Malmö (Sturup), Norrköping (Kungsängen), Stockholm (Arlanda and Skavsta), Västerås (Hässlö), Växjö.

Main ports: Brofjorden, Gothenburg, Helsingborg, Luleå, Malmö, Stenungsund, Stockholm, Trelleborg, Visby.

ACCOMMODATION: excellent
Sweden has a wide choice of accommodation of various kinds, categories and prices. The international hotel classification applies (one to five stars), and there are also farm stays, B&Bs, guesthouses, hostels, campsites, spa and wellness centres. The choice of restaurants is less varied.

COUNTRY FACTS: Full name: Kingdom of Sweden – Location: Northern Europe. Borders: Norway to the west, Finland to the north-east, the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia to the east, the Skagerrak and Kattegat straits to the south-west. To the south-west it is linked to Denmark by the Öresund Bridge – Time zone: UTC +1, the same as Italy, observes daylight saving time – Area: 450,000 sq km – Capital: Stockholm – Population: 9,031,000 – Religion: 87% Lutheran, 13% other religions – Languages: Swedish, Finnish, English – Measures: metric system.

CURRENCY: Swedish krona (SEK). There are no restrictions on importing or exporting currency– Credit cards: the major cards are generally accepted– Exchange: bring euros, easy to exchange.

ELECTRICITY: 230 V and 50 Hz – Sockets: two-pin type, bring an adapter.

DOCUMENTS: identity card valid for foreign travel, with remaining validity exceeding the length of stay in the country. There are no customs restrictions on personal luggage (Schengen) – Driving: Italian driving licence – Car: Italian third-party insurance is sufficient for Italian vehicles.

COMMUNICATIONS AND TELEPHONES: International dialling code: 0056 – GSM: coverage available across the whole southern part of the country and along the entire coast. In the northern regions coverage is limited to the main towns. Standard: GSM 900/1800 and 3G 2100 (as in Italy). Local operators: Hi3G Access, Seanet Maritime Communications, Swefour, Tele 2 AB, Telenor Sverige and TeliaSonera Mobile – Internet: very widespread and available throughout the country – Web domain: .se – Emergency numbers: single number 112.

RULES, LAWS AND CUSTOMS: the sale, possession and use of drugs are punishable, depending on the seriousness of the offence, by fines or imprisonment. Offences against the person carry sentences of up to 2 years' imprisonment; sexual assault is punishable by up to 10 years' imprisonment. The sale of alcohol is a state monopoly, and alcoholic drinks may be bought in the dedicated shops only by those aged 20 or over. Drinking alcohol outdoors is generally prohibited. Homosexuality is legal.

HEALTH: no compulsory vaccinations are required. In some wooded areas there is a risk of tick-borne encephalitis. Local medical facilities are excellent and over-the-counter medicines are readily available (a Swedish prescription is needed for specialist medicines). Italian citizens travelling temporarily who hold a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) receive the necessary medical care provided by the local public health service.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: 1 January, New Year's Day; 6 January, Epiphany; Good Friday, Easter Sunday and Easter Monday; 30 April, Walpurgis Night; 1 May, Labour Day and St Walpurga's Day; Ascension Day; Whitsun; 3rd Saturday in June, Midsummer; 1 November, All Saints' Day; 13 December, St Lucia's Day; 24-25-26 December, Christmas and Boxing Day; 31 December.

OPENING HOURS: Post offices: Mon-Fri 9.00-18.00, Sat 10.00-13.00 – Banks: Mon-Fri 9.30-15.00 – Shops: Mon-Fri 9.00-18.00, Sat 9.00-17.00 – Closing day: Sunday.

CLIMATE: cold continental. Winters are long and harsh, with very long nights, and summers are short. The recommended time to visit Sweden is from early June to late August, when the days are long and sunny. The northern regions are covered in ice from October to May. Rainfall is concentrated in summer and autumn.

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USEFUL ADDRESSES IN ITALY

Embassy and Consulate of the Kingdom of Sweden
Piazza Rio de Janeiro 3 – 00161 Rome – Tel. 06 44194100– Fax 06 44194760/1/2– Web: www.swedenabroad.com/roma – E-mail: ambassaden.rom@foreign.ministry.se

Consulates General
Via Agnello 6– 20121 Milan – Tel. 02 86915266 – Fax 02 85910211
Via Arcivescovado 1 – 10121 Turin – Tel. 011 5172465

USEFUL ADDRESSES IN SWEDEN

Embassy of Italy

Oakhill, Djurgårdsvägen 174 – 11521 Stockholm – Tel. 0046 8 54567100 – Fax 0046 8 6600505 – Web: www.ambstoccolma.esteri.it – E-mail: info.stockholm@esteri.it

Honorary Consulates
Gibraltar Herrgård, Gibraltargatan 17 – 41136 Gothenburg – Tel. 0046 31 7110381 – Fax 0046 3 1402086
Consul Jan Bergmark – Kiselstråket 19 – 907 42 Umeå – Tel. 0046 703 27 16 84
Skepparplatsen 1 – 851 88 Sundsvall – Tel. 0046 60 193422