Best Time to Visit Sweden

The best time to visit Sweden is during spring and autumn. So, keep reading before you make your travel plan.

Sweden is a well-known Scandinavian nation which has numerous inland lakes and coastal islands. This is a great place to plan your next vacation as it has a lot to offer to its visitors. Plus, many Indian tourists haven’t visited this country, which gives you some bragging rights.

Spring Season

• Time Period: March to May
• Average Temperature: -3 to 15 degrees Celsius
• Annual Rainfall: 27.94 to 33.02 mm

In Sweden, the first part of the spring season is generally quite chilly, and summer starts approaching towards the end of May. Finally, the sun begins to appear in the sky in mid-April. If you travel to Sweden from India during this time, be prepared to experience temperatures below zero degrees Celsius.

Sweden's spring is a shoulder season because most people start visiting this country only after mid-April. However, there are many excellent things to do this season and many places you can visit. These are:

1. Attend the Walpurgisnacht festival

2. Celebrate Easter with Swedish locals

3. Spend your evenings in one of the many boho-style cafes at Uppsala

4. Walk down the iconic cobblestone streets of Stockholm

5. Visit Hornborgasjön to look at exotic cranes

6. Go hiking on the Kungsleden Trails

7. Visit the blossoming beech forests in Sweden during spring

8. Take a trip to admire the flat mountain plains at Kinnekulle

9. Admire the rapeseed fields at Skåne

10. Check out the numerous museums in Stockholm

Summer Season

• Time Period: June to August
• Average Temperature: 11 to 23 degrees Celsius
• Annual Rainfall: 55.88 to 58.42 mm

In Sweden, the longest days can stretch up to 24 hours during the summer season. People often travel to Sweden to experience this magical phenomenon. This is the best time to visit Sweden, and also the peak season which means many tourists travel here during this season.

Here are some more fun things you can do in Sweden during the summers:

1. Try delicious food and drink exotic wines at one of Sweden's biggest food festivals called "A Taste of Stockholm."

2. Enjoy classical music concerts at the Drakamöllan Opera Festival

3. Visit the Käringön islands to admire the summer landscape

4. Attend the Stockholm Early Music Festival

5. Bop your head to some hard rock, classic rock, blues and heavy metal at the Sweden Rock Festival

6. Enjoy the Malmo Festival, which is one of the oldest festivals in Sweden

7. Listen to some Nordic music at the Nordic Song Festival

8. Admire the splendid lavender gardens at Österlen

9. Visit Höga Kusten, which is Sweden's only UNESCO World Heritage Site

10. Go hiking at Kungsleden

Winter Season

• Time Period: November to February
• Temperature Range: -3 to -22 degrees Celsius
• Average Rainfall: 12.7 to 40.64 mm 

Winter isn't a trendy season in terms of tourism. The weather is extremely cold, and most tourists might find it challenging to go around and explore the country properly. Due to this extreme weather, you will find many tourist places in Sweden practically empty or crowd free.

However, if you visit during this time, you can witness the magical Aurora Borealis, also known as the Northern Lights. You can easily book a glass ceiling hotel at a ski resort and enjoy this mesmerising view, which will be a one-of-a-kind experience.

You can also celebrate Christmas and New Year in Sweden if you plan your trip around this time of the year. It is advisable to carry heavy coats, jackets, scarves, mufflers, caps, gloves and mittens to stay warm in the harsh weather.

Autumn is the best season if you want to plan a trip to Sweden at affordable prices. However, ensure to carry warm winter clothes if you plan to visit the country during this time of the year. Autumn is quite cold in Sweden, though not as harsh as the winters.

Late August and early September are the best time if you want to explore the most beautiful places in Sweden with a minimal crowd. The temperatures can drop as low as 1 degree to 15 degrees Celsius during this time, which lets you enjoy outdoor attractions.

Flight ticket prices to Sweden also tend to be far cheaper than in any other season in Sweden. You will also be able to witness the Northern Lights in October. Furthermore, you will get to book resorts and glass igloos at a lower price.

Tourists can easily enjoy outdoor events like music festivals and food festivals. Some exciting events include Stockholm Jazz Festival and other music festivals like the Statement Festival.

Knowing certain things will help you have a memorable time as you go to the famous places to visit in Sweden. Here are some essential things that you must know before visiting Sweden:

• Many places in Sweden do not accept cash so remember to enable international transactions for your debit and credit cards.
• Sweden takes recycling very seriously, so make sure you follow all the recycling guidelines while visiting.
• Liquor shops in Sweden close pretty early, so make sure you purchase your alcohol on time if you plan to drink at your hotel or Airbnb. According to guidelines, the liquor stores close at 6 PM on weekdays and 3 PM on weekends.
• Sweden is an archipelago, so make sure you plan a trip where you can go island hopping.
• If you are a vegetarian, you need not worry because you will find plenty of vegan and vegetarian restaurants to dine at.
• It is a great idea to rent a car and explore the Scandinavian country because the roads are well maintained, and there isn’t much traffic here. However, while driving, beware of elks passing by on the road.
• Remember to buy some glass work while visiting this country because they sell these at factory prices. Moreover, this country is home to some artisans like Orrefors and Kosta Boda.

Below we listed down some tips for you which will come in handy while you travel across Sweden:

• Accommodation prices are pretty high in Sweden, and some places might even charge you for bed linens, so be prepared with funds in your bank accounts.
• It would help if you always kept a few change coins at hand because, in Sweden, you must pay around 5 to 10 kroners before you can use the loo.
• Avoid wearing eye-catching and flashy clothes because the locals do not like them.
• You must maintain a queue and wait patiently for your time to enter places like restaurants, clubs, museums, etc. Never try to cut lines, as it will anger the locals.

People in Sweden speak English so you will not have any problems while travelling here. However, knowing specific terms and places to travel to this country will help you immensely. In addition, you will be likeable around locals because they will see you are trying to make an effort.

Here are some of the most useful Swedish phrases for visitors:

• Hello- Hej
• What is your name?- Vad heter du?
• Do you speak English?- Talar du engelska?
• I do not understand- Jag förstår inte
• Thank you- Tack
• You're welcome- Varsågod
• That's fine- Det är bra
• How much is it?- Hur mycket kostar den?
• Yes- Ja
• No- Nej
• Goodbye- Adjö/Hej då

While you try to speak a few words in Swedish, remember to be respectful to people. This way, you will be able to bond quickly with the locals and might even find yourself a company to join you for a "Fika”.

This blog has explained the best time to visit Sweden. Now that you know the seasons and the things you should prepare for, you can go ahead and start arranging for the trip. Make sure to have a sufficient budget and plenty of warm clothes for your trip.

Furthermore, it is a good idea to purchase comprehensive travel insurance policies because they will come in handy for an international trip. These insurances will cover unforeseen expenses during your trips like medical emergencies and loss of luggage and passport.