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Sweden
City Guide
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Sweden Travel Guide
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
Official name: Konungariket Sverige (Kingdom of Sweden)
Capital: Capital of Sweden: Stockholm is the capital of Sweden, and consequently the site of its Government and Parliament as well as the residence of the Swedish head of state, King Carl XVI Gustaf. Stockholm has been Sweden's political and economic center since the 13th century [1] and is currently the largest municipality of Sweden, with a population of 776,000. The populations of the Stockholm urban area and Metropolitan Stockholm are roughly 1.2 and 1.7 million, respectively. This makes Stockholm the largest city in the Nordic countries.
Language: Swedish
Religion: Religion: about 78% people in Sweden belong to the Church of Sweden (Lutheran), but the number is decreasing by about one per cent every year, and Church of Sweden services are sparsely attended (hovering in the single digit percentages of the population). Some 275,000 Swedes are today members of various free churches (where congregation attendance is much higher), and, in addition, immigration has meant that there are now some 92,000 Roman Catholics and 100,000 Eastern Orthodox Christians living in Sweden. Also of significance are the 500,000 Muslims in Sweden.
Currency : Swedish Krona (SEK
Sweden Sights and Museums
WHAT TO SEE: Gothenburg with it’s funpark (Liseberg) and magnificent harbour!
Stockholm is worth the visit and if it is just for a walk through the city-center, along the waterways and parks. The city is also lively and very international with 15% immigrants you can hear all languages in the streets.
In Visby the medieval port, the 40 towers and ruins of great churches are fascinating reminders of the city’s hanseatic past. The island of Gotland, where Visby is located, can be reached by plane from Stockholm or by ferry from various cities.
The Royal Palace of Sweden is in Stockholm. After the old castle burned down in 1697 the new castle was built (1697-1754) on the remains of ‘Tre Kronor’. It was the largest single construction of this time and still is, with it’s 600 rooms, the largest of the Europeans Royals. Changing of the Guards ceremony takes place Wednesdays and Saturdays at 12.00 and on Sundays and public holidays at 13.00.
Sarek National Park (Lappland, only for experianced hikers) & Tyresta National Park (close to Stockholm)
Sweden Entertainment
EVENTS : Events and Celebrations: Midsummer, held at summer solstice, is Sweden's most enthusiastically celebrated festival.
The Lucia Festival (13 December) has only been celebrated for about 60 years but has become very popular. Christmas trees are decorated with straw animals and stars & cookie baking begins. New Year's Eve is a highly social time when friends get together, often setting off fireworks.
For Easter Kids dressed up as witches door-knock houses in their neighbourhood, scamming lollies in exchange for drawings.
Walpurgis Night (30 April) is a pagan festival celebrating the end of winter with bonfires and fireworks.
May Day (1 May) is observed by marches and labour movement events.
Sweden Transports
HOW TO GET THERE: Air The international airport of Sweden is located half an hour bus-ride from Stockholm. Coming from North-America or Asia you probably have to change plane in Copenhagen
Train, bus and ferry timetables are linked to provide convenient connections from and to Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Germany, Poland, Estonia and the UK
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