Sweden (SE)
Sweden is a constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy in Scandinavia, the largest Nordic country by area, renowned for its breathtaking archipelago and lake-dotted landscapes, groundbreaking design and innovation culture (IKEA, Spotify, Volvo, H&M), one of the world's most generous welfare states with 480 days of paid parental leave per child, world-leading gender equality, and a deeply held philosophy of lagom — the art of balance and moderation — that permeates every aspect of Swedish society.
Getting Around
Transport options for living in Sweden.
Public Transport Overview
Sweden has an extensive public transport network. In Stockholm, the SL (Storstockholms Lokaltrafik) system covers T-bana (metro), pendeltåg (commuter trains), tunnelbana, tram, and bus under a single ticket system. Gothenburg uses Västtrafik; Malmö and Skåne use Skånetrafiken. Nationally, SJ (Statens Järnvägar) operates intercity trains including the high-speed X2000. Regional operators connect smaller towns. Resplus enables seamless ticketing across regional operators for long-distance travel.
🎫 Transit Passes
Unlimited travel on all SL services: T-bana, pendeltåg, tram, and local buses within Stockholm County.
Intercity trains including X2000 high-speed routes.
All Västtrafik buses, trams (Spårvagn), and ferries in Gothenburg and Västra Götaland.
Buses, Öresundståg (Malmö–Copenhagen), and regional trains in Skåne.
Taxi & Rideshare
Taxis are unregulated on price in Sweden (unlike many European countries) — meters must be used but the tariff is set by the company. Always check the price list (taxa) posted in the front window. Reputable companies: Taxi Stockholm (Tel: 08-15 00 00), Uber is fully legal and widely used. Bolt also operates in major cities. Expect SEK 250–500 for a typical city journey.
Rideshare (Long-distance)
Uber and Bolt operate in Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Malmö. Samåkning (carpooling) apps include Skjuts and BlaBlaCar for intercity travel. Sweden has a strong carpooling culture for commuting (samåkning i jobbet).
Cycling
Cycling is very popular, especially in Stockholm, Gothenburg, Uppsala, Lund, and Malmö. Many cities have dedicated cykelbanor (bike lanes). Bike sharing: Stockholm CityBikes (seasonal, Apr–Oct), Voi and Lime e-scooters available. Swedish law requires front and rear lights on bikes after dark. Helmets are mandatory for children under 15; recommended but not required for adults. Theft is common — use a quality lock.
Intercity Trains
SJ operates the main intercity network. The X2000 (Snabbtåg) runs Stockholm–Gothenburg (3h), Stockholm–Malmö (4h30), Stockholm–Sundsvall (3h30), and other routes. Night trains (Nattåg) serve northern Sweden to Luleå, Narvik, and Östersund. MTR Express offers a competing Stockholm–Gothenburg service at competitive prices. Book via sj.se or the SJ app.
Driving
Sweden drives on the right. Speed limits: 30–50 km/h in towns, 70–100 km/h on rural roads, 110–120 km/h on motorways (E-roads). Winter tyres mandatory 1 December–31 March (earlier/later if conditions demand). Trängselskatt (congestion charge) applies in central Stockholm and Gothenburg — payable online. Toll roads: Øresundsbron (to Denmark), some passages. Dipped headlights mandatory at all times.
Airports
Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) — main international airport, 40km north of Stockholm. Served by Arlanda Express train (20 min, SEK 330 one-way), Flygbussarna coach (45 min, SEK 119), and taxi (SEK 500–700 fixed price). Stockholm Bromma (BMA) — domestic flights. Gothenburg Landvetter (GOT) — Gothenburg's international airport. Malmö Airport (MMX) — south Sweden. Copenhagen Kastrup (CPH) — easily accessible from Malmö via Öresundståg (35 min train from Malmö Centralstation).