FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Stockholm

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Stockholm each year.
The main ones are listed below.

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.

This 42-kilometre (26-mile) marathon, whose beautiful route takes in the city's waterways, parks and iconic landmarks, draws over 20,000 runners each year from all around the world. All entrants are invited to the Pasta Party on the day before the event, bringing them together with spectators and sponsors to share a meal in a festive atmosphere.

Swedes celebrate their independence from Denmark and the Union of Kalmar on this day in 1523, when Gustav Vasa was elected king. The main official ceremony, which includes a parade and the presentation of Swedish flags to various organizations, is held at Skansen, Stockholm's open-air museum, and is attended by the royal family.

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, a grilled dish and a cheese pie, all washed down with snaps (a form of vodka) and followed by strawberries and cream. In Stockholm, people not leaving for the countryside decorate their homes lavishly, don traditional costumes and enjoy folk music, dancing and drinking. At Skansen, the festivities continue on Saturday and Sunday.

Held every year at Nacka Strand, a beach on the eastern edge of Stockholm, this festival, the largest of its kind in the world, includes tastings, exhibitions, beer and whisky schools, and a vote on the best beer out of some 500 varieties.

Starting each year on the second Friday in October, this 10-day festival featuring performances by both Swedish and international jazz artists is held on the island of Skeppsholmen, opposite Moderna Museet, Stockholm's modern art museum.

CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Stockholm

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
April	1/34	9/48	30/1.2	Good period to go
May	6/43	15/59	30/1.2	Good period to go
June	11/52	21/70	45/1.8	Good period to go
July	13/55	22/72	72/2.8	Good period to go
August	13/55	20/68	66/2.6	Good period to go
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

Stockholm Arlanda International Airport

Stockholm's Arlanda International Airport, the largest in Sweden and the third largest in the Nordic countries, is located about 42 kilometres (26 miles) north of the city centre.

• Four terminals
  • Terminal 1
  • Terminal 2
  • Terminal 3
  • Terminal 4
  • Terminal 5 (Air France)

• By car
  • Accessible via the E4.
  • Several short- and long-term parking facilities are available, in proximity to all four terminals. Hourly rates range from SEK 50 to SEK 80 and daily rates range from SEK 130 to SEK 370.
  • Several car rental companies have counters at Terminal 2. Others have counters at the airport's car rental centre or at the low-price Alfa parking facility, with free bus transfers from Terminals 2, 4 and 5.
• By rail
  • The Arlanda Express connects the airport with Stockholm's Central Station every 15 minutes. The trip takes just 20 minutes and tickets may be purchased at the counter or from the self-service machines (SEK 280 one way and SEK 530 round trip for adults, SEK 150 each way for youths under 26 and seniors, children under 17 travel for free if accompanied by an adult). A supplement of SEK 50 is charged for tickets purchased aboard the trains.
• By bus
  • Flygbussarna buses run between the airport and central Stockholm every ten minutes at most times during the day. These buses make intermediate stops and the trip to the city centre takes about 45 minutes. The adult fare is SEK 119 one way and SEK 215 round trip (SEK 99 each way when purchased online). Discounted fares are available for youths aged 8–17 (SEK 99 one way and SEK 179 round trip) and families (valid for two adults and up to three youths, SEK 349 each way).
• By taxi
  • Taxis are available at the ranks outside the terminals. The maximum price for one to four passengers going to the same address in central Stockholm is SEK 675.

• Services: shops, bars and restaurants, Internet access (Wi-Fi) available in the airport.
• Telephone: +46 (0)10 109 10 00
• Website: http://www.swedavia.com/arlanda

GETTING AROUND Stockholm

The Swedish capital has a public transport system and urban amenities that allow visitors to explore the city easily.

By rail

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 (for the T-bana and all public transport in Stockholm)

• Single ticket valid for 75 minutes: SEK 36 (full fare) / SEK 20 (reduced fare, for youths under 20 and seniors)
• Single ticket purchased with a rechargeable SL Access fare card (SEK 20 card fee, SEK 100 minimum initial travel value): SEK 25 (full fare) / SEK 15 (reduced fare)
• 24-hour Travelcard: SEK 115 (full price) / SEK 70 (reduced price)
• 72-hour Travelcard: SEK 230 (full price) / SEK 140 (reduced price)
• 7-day Travelcard (may only be purchased using an SL Access card): SEK 300 (full price) / SEK 180 (reduced price)

By bus

Stockholm has an efficient network of bus routes offering extensive coverage of the city. Two routes are particularly of interest for visitors: bus 47, which runs from Sergels Torg to Djurgården, and bus 69, which runs from the Central Station to the museums in Ladugårdsgärdet park. The fares listed above for the T-bana apply for the buses as well.

By taxi

Taxis are plentiful in Stockholm. The initial charge is SEK 45, then SEK 10 to SEK 35 per kilometre.

Visitor information

Upon your arrival in Stockholm, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organize your stay.

Stockholm's official tourism promotion agency operates the Stockholm Visitor Center, where you can obtain practical information and many useful recommendations (accommodation, restaurants, public transport, festivals, cultural events, etc.).

• Address: Kulturhuset, Sergels Torg 3-5, 103 27 Stockholm
• Telephone: +46 (0)8 508 28 508
• Website: http://www.visitstockholm.com

Medical information

There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to Sweden.

For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:

• Address: 38 Quai de Jemmapes 75010 Paris
• Website: http://www.vaccinations-airfrance.fr
• Telephone: +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00
• To make a vaccination appointment:
  • online (click here)
  • call the centre at +33 (0)1 43 17 22 00

Tap water is safe to drink in Stockholm.

Administrative formalities

For a stay 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 in Sweden.

As a general rule, all other travellers are subject to visa requirements, although citizens of some countries may enter Sweden for a short stay of up to 90 days without a visa.

To find out whether you will need to obtain a visa for your stay, visit the website of the Swedish Migration Agency:
http://www.migrationsverket.se/English/Private-individuals/Visiting-Sweden/Tourists-visas.html

Essential phrases

Good to know

intl. access code + 46

+ phone number without the 0 (calls to Stockholm)

-3 : 00
of time difference with
Dubai

Start of daylight saving time: last Sunday in March
End of daylight saving time: last Sunday in October

Banks

Usually open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Government offices

Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

230 V / 50 Hz

And what about 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 percent tip.