World Country Guide

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Food & Drink
Swedes like straightforward meals, simply prepared from the freshest ingredients. As a seafaring country with many freshwater lakes, fish dishes are prominent on hotel or restaurant menus. The Scandinavian cold table, called smrgsbord, is traditional. First pickled herring with boiled potatoes, then perhaps a couple more fish courses, smoked salmon or anchovies followed by cold meat, pt, sliced beef, stuffed veal or smoked reindeer. The hot dishes come next, for instance, another herring dish, small meatballs (kttbullar) or an omelette. A fruit salad and cheese with crispbreads round off the meal. Other dishes to look out for are smoked reindeer from Lapland; gravlax, salmon that has been specially prepared and marinated; wild strawberries; and the cloudberries that are unique to Scandinavia. Once on the open road the traveller is well catered for with picnic sites on the way, often with wooden tables and seats. Top-class restaurants in Sweden are usually fairly expensive, but even the smallest towns have reasonably priced self-service restaurants and grill bars. Many restaurants all over Sweden offer a special dish of the day at a reduced price which includes main course, salad, soft drink and coffee. Waiter service is common although there are many self-service snack bars.
Snapps, the collective name for aquavit or brnnvin, is a Swedish liqueur which is traditionally drunk chilled with smrgsbord. It is made under a variety of brand names with flavours varying from practically tasteless to sweetly spiced. Swedish beers are lager- and pilsner-type brews and come in four strengths. The minimum age for buying alcoholic beverages is 20, although alcohol can be consumed in bars from restaurants from 18 onwards. Wine, spirits and beer are sold through the state-owned monopoly, Systembolaget, open during normal shopping hours. Before 1300 on Sundays alcohol cannot be bought in bars, cafes or restaurants. After midnight alcohol can only be bought in nightclubs that stay open until between 0200-0500. In a restaurant or a nightclub, the minimum age for buying alcoholic beverages is 18. Stiff penalties are enforced for drinking and driving.

Nightlife
Stockholm has pubs, cafes, discos, restaurants, cinemas and theatres. In the more rural areas evenings tend to be tranquil. From August to June the Royal Ballet performs in Stockholm. Music and theatre productions take place in many cities during the summer at open air venues. Outside Stockholm in the 18th-century Court Theatre of the Palace of Drottningholm there are performances of 18th-century opera.

Shopping
VAT (Moms) is refundable to visitors who are resident in non-EU countries on goods bought at shops participating in the Tax-Free Shopping scheme. The refund is payable to the customer when departing from Sweden at either airports or customs offices at ports. Special purchases include glassware and crystal, ceramics, stainless steel and silver, hemsljd (cottage industry artefacts) and woodcarvings. Women’s and children’s clothes are good buys, especially handknitted Nordic sweaters. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800, Sat 0900-1600. In larger towns, some shops have longer opening hours and are also open Sundays. In rural areas, shops and petrol stations close by 1700/1800.

Special Events
For details, contact the Swedish Travel & Tourism Council (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of special events occurring in Sweden in 2005:
Jan 27-30 Kiruna Snow Festival; The Nordic Antiques Fair, Stockholm. Feb 3-6 Jokkmokks Winter Market. Mar 4-13 Stockholm International Boat Show. Mar 16 World Cup Sprint, skiing event, Gteborg. Mar 24-28 Easter celebration at Skansen. Apr 7-10 Stockholm Art Fair The Nordic Gardens, Stockholm. Apr 30 Walpurgis Eve. Jun 3-12 Restaurants Festival - 'A Taste of Stockholm'. Jun 4 Stockholm Marathon. Jun 16-18 Hultsfreds Rock Festival. Jun 24 Midsummer Eve/Solstice Celebrations. Jun 27-Jul 3 re Adventure Festival. Jul Music at Lake Siljan. Jul 8-9 Hlsinge Hambon. Jul 14 Victoriadagen. Jul 16-23 Stockholm Jazz Festival. Jul 17-31 Skoklosterspelen, historical event. Aug 3-7 Stockholm Pride. Aug 5-13 Gteborgskalaset. Aug 19-26 The Malm Festival. Nov 10-20 Stockholm International Film Festival. Dec 13 Lucia, the coronation of Lucia, bearer of light, nationwide.

Social Conventions
Normal courtesies should be observed. It is customary for the guest to refrain from drinking until the host makes a toast. The guest should also thank the host for the meal with Tack fr maten. Casual dress is acceptable for everyday occasions; smarter wear for social occasions, exclusive restaurants and clubs. Evening wear (black tie) will usually be specified when required. Smoking is prohibited on public transport and in most public buildings. Tipping: Hotel prices include a service charge. Service in restaurants is not usually included in the bill; around 10 per cent should be added. Late at night the service charge is higher. Taxi drivers should be tipped around 10 per cent.