 Sweden (Sverige)
Picturesque landscape in Örebro, Sweden
Author: Peterappelros (public domain)
Sweden is a country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in northern Europe. It is known in Swedish as Sverige. Sweden is considered one of the Nordic countries along with Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. Covering 450,295 sq km (173,860 sq mi), Sweden is the largest of the Nordic countries. It is also the third largest country in the European Union behind France and Spain.
Guide to Sweden Hotels
Here's a list of hotels in Sweden that you can book online, listed by city, with full description, star rating, address, location map, evaluation, and prices as offered by different booking sites.
More on Sweden
Sweden shares a border with Norway to the west and Finland to the northeast. It is located across the Öresund from Denmark to the south. Sweden has a stretch of coastline with the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Bothnia to the east. Its highest point is Kebnekaise, at 2,111 m (6,926 ft).
Norr Mälarstrand as seen from Söder Mälarstrand, Stockholm
Author: Holger.Ellgaard (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
Despite its size, Sweden is a sparsely populated coountry with a total population of just 9.4 million (2011 estimate). 85% of Sweden's population are concentrated in the urban areas, with the bulk living in and around its capital and largest city, Stockholm, a city of 1.3 million inhabitants.
Sweden became a unified country in the Middle Ages. In the 17th century, it created the Swedish Empire by taking over neighboring territories. The territories it conquered outside the Scandinavian Peninsula were however lost in the 18th and 19th centuries. Finland was also part of the Swedish Empire until 1809, when it was lost to Russia. During the last war fought by Sweden, it forced Norway into a personal union.
Drottningholm Palace, Sweden
Author: Mastad (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
In the 19th century, Sweden industrialized late compared to other countries in Western Europe. Even as Denmark was industrializing, Sweden was still an agricultural country. There was widespread poverty, particularly in the late 19th century. This led to mass emigration of Swedes to America, settling in the American Mid West, in states such as Minnesota. Today there are more ethnic Swedes in Chicago than in Gothenburg, Sweden's second largest city.
Sweden tried to maintain a face of neutrality during the Second World War, although this is easier said than done. Geographically cut off from the rest of the world by Nazi blockades, Sweden had to make concessions to the Germans such as supplying steel and machine parts to Germany. At the same time, it supported Norwegian resistance and helped rescue Danish Jews from being sent to concentration camps.
Today Sweden is a highly developed country. Its GDP stands at 443.7 billion (2010 estimate) and its per capita GDP stands at US$47,934. It is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democratic form of government. Sweden is a member of the European Union since 1 January, 1995.
Castle on Kastellholmen, Stockholm
Author: Markus Bernet (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
Going to Sweden
As Sweden is a member of the Schengen Agreement, nationals of EU and EFTA only need to bring an approved ID card (or passport) to gain entry. As of January 2011, nationals of the following countries do not need a visa for entering the Schengen Area: Albania, Andorra, Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Israel, Japan, Macau, Macedonia, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Saint Kitts and Nevis, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, United States, Uruguay, Vatican City and Venezuela, provided they do not stay more than three months within half a year, and are not allowed to work while in the Schengen Area.
By Plane
The two main international airports in Sweden are the Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) and Göteborg Landvetter (GOT) airports. You can also arrive at the Copenhagen Kastrup Airport (CPH) and cross into Malmö in Sweden.
By Train
Sweden is connected by train to Denmark and Norway. Due to their proximity, there are shuttle trains going between Copenhagen and Malmö every 20 minutes, costing SEK100. There are also trains from Oslo to Gothenburg and Stockholm. You can also take a train from Berlin through Denmark to Malmö.
By Road
The Oresund Bridge connects Copenhagen in Denmark with Malmö in Sweden. It comprises a twin-track railway line and a dual carriageway bridge-tunnel across the Øresund Strait. The bridge is 7.845 km (25,738 ft) in length, making it the longest road and rail bridge in Europe.
Landscape of Visjöån in Jämtland, Sweden on a winter morning
Author: Lars Falkdalen Lindahl (Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported)
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Main Cities of Sweden
- Stockholm - capital
- Gothenburg
- Helsingborg
- Kiruna
- Linköping
- Luleå
- Malmö
- Umeå
- Uppsala
- Örebro
Counties of Sweden
- Blekinge County
- Dalarna County
- Gävleborg County
- Gotland County
- Halland County
- Jämtland County
- Jönköping County
- Kalmar County
- Kronoberg County
- Norrbotten County
- Östergötland County
- Skåne County
- Södermanland County
- Stockholm County
- Värmland County
- Västerbotten County
- Västernorrland County
- Västra County
Tourist Attractions of Sweden
- Åre
- Gotland
UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Sweden
- Royal Domain of Drottningholm
- Birka and Hovgården
- Engelsberg Ironworks
- Rock Carvings in Tanum
- Skogskyrkogården
- Hanseatic Town of Visby
- Church Village of Gammelstad, Luleå
- Laponian Area
- Naval Port of Karlskrona
- Agricultural Landscape of Southern Öland
- High Coast / Kvarken Archipelago
- Mining Area of the Great Copper Mountain in Falun
- Varberg Radio Station
- Struve Geodetic Arc
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