You may have heard that the Scandinavian countries are incredibly expensive. In a recent World Economic Forum report, Sweden appears at number 8 in the top ten most expensive countries to visit (Norway and Denmark are also close by). But this does not mean that you can not enjoy the Swedish fiction, fjords and Gavle goat as much as someone with a much larger savings account. Here are some ways to cut your expenses and enjoy a budget trip to Sweden.
Low cost airlines are your friends
Low cost airlines are becoming much more popular and make more flights: you can fly to smaller Swedish airports at the lowest prices on Ryanair or Easyjet. Check also nearby airports: for example, Copenhagen Kastrup Airport is 30 minutes by train from the third largest Swedish city of Malmo and is an excellent starting point for many low-cost airlines, including WOW Air. Check the weight limits for baggage and be creative. It turns out you can easily travel, avoiding additional costs.
Also check the price aggregators for flights, such as Skyscanner or Google, and also check your options for flexible dates: for example, mid-week flight or fly off-peak season.
Book cheap hotels and AirBnbs
This seems like a simple rule, but if you leave your reservation until the last minute before your trip, you will be left with the most expensive options. Consider reservations outside the main urban areas: Airbnb in the center of Stockholm starts with more than $ 100, plus fees, while some of the Södermalm or Norrmalm regions cut prices by almost half. Public transport in Sweden is excellent, and you can easily take the train or bus and go from where you left off to any tourist attraction you can imagine. There are also cheap hotels and hostels in all major cities, and if you book them in advance, you can get great deals.
Outside major cities, you may be more limited in options, but don't give up! Small cities still have budget options, and if you feel particularly fearless, you can consider camping. Allemansrätten (“the right to vagrancy”) is part of Swedish law and means that you can even stay on private land for free, until you stay there for too long.
Limit alcohol consumption or buy in the "source"
A bottle of baileys costs 12 euros in Germany and almost twice as much (equivalent to 23 euros) in Sweden. This means that mark-ups in bars are extortion: a cocktail fee is not uncommon at 120 SEK (about $ 13 USD). The state alcoholic monopoly System Bolaget is the only place where you can buy 3.5% cheaper drinks (beer is even cheaper, which is usually called “folklore”, you can buy at the grocery store). So you save on the purchase of alcohol, compared with the bars, if you know about the time when the "primary sources" are closed: on Saturdays Systemet closes its doors at 15:00.
If you are in a part of Sweden that is close to Finland, you can join the “drinking cruise” in Swedish waters to enjoy much cheaper alcohol prices. This option is used by many Swedes, which obviously includes the advantage of a little tourism along with a good discount on drinks. If you are arriving in Sweden by plane, you may want to pre-buy alcohol in Duty Free at the airport at the best prices if you agree to take it with you.
The cheapest option, of course, is not drinking so much. However, many Swedes find it difficult to relax without a bottle or two. Therefore, if you are going to the club with new local friends, plan a preliminary "warm-up" before you get to the dance floor. Successful hours can sometimes give huge discounts on drinks at the bar, so think about the time of taking alcohol in the early evening.
Avoid sedentary restaurants as much as possible.
It is believed that food in restaurants is more of a ruin than a common occurrence. It’s hard to find a Swedish restaurant that wouldn’t be 100% delicious, but a meal can be expensive, especially if you add a glass of wine or dessert (it can take 4 hours to make it), especially in Stockholm. Therefore, you better explore more budget friendly options.
Buy food at grocery stores (the cheapest are ICA, Netto and Lidl) and cook where you left off; Airbnbs and hostels usually include access to the kitchen. Eat takeaway: Malmo has a joke that true Swedish food you can buy is falafel roll. Enjoy a delicious halloumi tallik (a fried cheese platter with fries and a side dish) for about 55 SEK or about $ 6. Many restaurants have a breakfast “frukost” and buffets at discounted prices, and if you are creative, you can fill your tummy by making a couple of sandwiches and put them in pockets for later. Thrift is also a Swedish trait. However, do not ask for a pouch for a dog; In accordance with food safety laws, most restaurants are forbidden to provide containers to take away. You can bring your own if you feel truly motivated and thrifty.
Definitely bring a plastic water bottle, although water in restaurants is usually free, but bottled water can cost you 20-30 SEK apiece, and tap water in Sweden is so clean that it doesn't really need water filters.
Free Wi-Fi and / or buy a local SIM card
Most cafes, restaurants and public places have free Wi-Fi, often with access codes placed in a prominent place. Instead of paying for expensive overhead fees or fashionable international roaming, use public Wi-Fi to publish Instagram stories about yourself in the Vasa Museum. You can also contact local low-cost providers of SIM-cards Comviq or Hallon and ask for a temporary payment when accessing the SIM-card. Cellular connectivity in Europe is known to be cheaper than in the United States, and you can pay for service at fairly low prices without having a Swedish identification number (personnummer).
Finagle - your public transportation
Arlanda Express (transfer from the airport to Stockholm's largest airport) can cost up to 300 SEK, and the local bus Flygbussarna costs only 99 SEK. If you will be in any city for more than one day, consider a travel card option. For example, in Skåne, you can buy a Jojo card for 20 SEK, which then gives you discounts on all public transport tickets. When you download it, it will be cheaper than buying individual tickets for each bus ride. These travel cards can also operate on local ferries. You can participate in the good Swedish tradition of “stripping” or jumping through turnstiles, but beware: the fines for stealing public transport can be quite high, so in the long run it will cost you a lot more.
Many cities are incredibly bike friendly and have local bike rentals with several stations throughout the city. See options for any city you visit and see if it works. You don't need a helmet, but know: Swedish cyclists are more reckless than North American bikers. You are more likely to see how people ride bicycles with one hand and write each other SMS or use a bicycle to transport their children to kindergarten than spandex-wearing road warriors.
Free things to do throughout the day
Most of the major cities in Sweden are full of free museums, and even those that are not free often have access to free exhibitions. In Stockholm alone, you will not pay a single crowns for entry into the National Museum, the Medieval Museum and the Museum of Modern Art.
In the botanical gardens and parks there are beautiful walking paths that are open year round. You can take a self-guided walking tour or a free walk with an audio guide to see all the sights you might have missed by just wandering around yourself (although this is also fun).
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