Sweden

country code: SE
continent: Europe
capital: Stockholm
languages: Swedish

EU membership: yes
NATO membership: no

GSM: 900/1800/3G
GPS: 62 00 N, 15 00 E
electricity: 230V/50Hz

currency:
Swedish Krona: SEK
1SEK = 0.1378 USD
1SEK = 0.1088 EUR

phone code: +46-8

Travel advices and warnings Sweden

Tourism	The Arctic wilderness of the far north; ultra-cool urban fashion shows; five-star culinary adventures – tourism is Sweden’s fastest-growing sector. "Nature tourism" remains Sweden’s biggest attraction, with visitors from around the world drawn by the country’s stunning nature and untouched wilderness. Top of many travelers’ wish list is Lapland, with its unique scenery and once-in-a-lifetime experiences such as the midnight sun, the aurora borealis (northern lights), winter’s deep, pure Arctic chill and a mystical silence. Contrasting with the solitude of the north is the buzz and bright lights of Sweden’s cities. The capital, Stockholm, has long been famed for its idyllic setting – sprawled across 14 islands – and its rich cultural heritage. Today the city has also built a reputation as a global center of dynamic design, cutting-edge fashion, and innovative cuisine, music and art. On the west coast, Sweden’s second-largest city, Gothenburg, has plenty to offer with its own flavor of entertainment and cultural experiences. Cosmopolitan and bustling Malmö, in the far south of Sweden, forms part of a thriving metropolitan region together with the Danish capital, Copenhagen, with which it is linked by the mighty Öresund Bridge.
Lifestyle	The Swedish lifestyle brings together a love of nature, good housing, environmental thinking and lots of culture – all tied up with awareness of health and a strong sense of equality. Efficiency is combined with a laid-back attitude, and old traditions blended with openness for new technologies. Swedes in general work hard but treasure their free time and enjoy long relaxing holidays. <br /> <br /> The Swedish lifestyle varies greatly with the seasons. During the darker winter months, there are lights in the windows, evenings in the cinema, and winter sports during the day. In spring and summer, life is lived outdoors: music festivals, outdoor theatres and open-air museums are popular. Not only are the flowers blooming, the Swedes themselves are too. <br /> <br /> Traditions such as June’s Midsummer and December’s Lucia are of great importance to Swedes and are celebrated just as enthusiastically today as they have been for generations. This sense of heritage is mixed with an open-mindedness for other cultures, due to the facts that one-fifth of the population has roots in other countries, that Swedes travel a great deal, and that they speak other languages. The most innovative country in the world, as highlighted by numerous reports, is not only the home of inventors and entrepreneurs but also a creative hub for fashion, music and food.
Shopping	If you want to know where to shop in Stockholm, follow the city’s sweet young things to find the hot spots. They bypass Drottninggatan– the city’s main pedestrian shopping street – except possibly to make an afterwork visit to the turn-of-the-century bathhouse at Central Badet. ($16 will buy you a daypass to old-world luxury with three types of saunas – steam, wet and dry – and elegant swimming pool. ) Oh. . . and if you need a bite before dipping into the shops, read my thoughts on Stockholm's best restaurants. Read more at Suite101: Shopping in Stockholm Sweden: Best shopping hot spots in Sweden's Capital: Stockholm \| Suite101. com http://cindymcglynn. suite101. com/shopping-in-stockholm-sweden-a17248#ixzz1YfwJfOHa
Costs	The cost of living can vary greatly depending on where in Sweden you plan to live. In the larger cities, prices can be significantly higher than in other areas of the country. It is also important to note that although most people will find the cost of living to be higher in Sweden than in their home countries, the average Swedish income is also relatively high. To get an approximate idea of average prices in Sweden, the following estimates for goods and services apply for much of the country: 1 liter of milk (not UHT-treated) – SEK 8 Bananas – SEK 14-18 per kilo Movie ticket – SEK 80-100 1 liter of gasoline – SEK 12 + Monthly commuting costs on subways, buses and trains – SEK 690-1, 100
Language	Swedish is the official language of Sweden and is spoken by the vast majority of the nine million inhabitants of the country. It is a North Germanic language and quite similar to its sister North Germanic Languages, Danish and Norwegian.
Eating	Whilst not necessarily known for its food, Sweden can nevertheless boast some famous food and drink… Absolut vodka, Pickled herring and Gravlax (or gravad lax) salmon, are just three names that will be familiar to many. Indeed, with a huge coastline and a multitude of rivers, lakes & fjords, Swedish menus will almost always feature plenty of fish.

	Stockholm, Sweden Tuesday 23, April
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From wikipedia about Sweden

Sweden, is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden shares borders with Norway to the west and Finland to the east, and is connected to Denmark by the Øresund Bridge.

At, Sweden is the third largest country in the European Union by area, with a total population of approximately 9. 4 million. Compared to continental Europe, Sweden has a relatively low population density of with the population concentrated to the southern half of the country. Over 85% of the population live in urban areas.

A region inhabited by a Germanic tribe called Swedes was documented before AD 100. Sweden emerged as an independent and unified country with the consolidation of the Geatish and the Swedish Kingdom during the Middle Ages. In the 17th century, the country expanded its territories to form the Swedish Empire. The empire grew to be one of the great powers of Europe in the 17th and early 18th century. Most of the conquered territories outside the Scandinavian Peninsula were lost during the 18th and 19th centuries. The eastern half of Sweden, present-day Finland, was lost to Russia in 1809. The last war in which Sweden was directly involved was in 1814, when Sweden by military means forced Norway into a personal union. Since then, Sweden has been at peace, adopting a non-aligned foreign policy in peacetime and neutrality in wartime. Sweden has been a member of the European Union since 1 January 1995 and is a member of the OECD.

Today, Sweden is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy of government and a highly developed economy, having long been one of the most affluent countries in the world. An industrial and technological leader in several fields, Sweden had the fastest economic growth the highest innovation,. (PDF). World Economic Forum (2010). Geneva. ISBN 92-95044-87-8. Retrieved on 2011-08-17.

Description above from the Wikipedia, licensed under CC-BY-SA full list of contributors here.