Discover Sweden, a Scandinavian gem blending stunning natural beauty with modern design and rich Viking heritage. From the cosmopolitan streets of Stockholm to the Northern Lights in Lapland, Sweden offers diverse experiences year-round.
Local currency: Swedish Krona (SEK).
Daily budget by traveller style
Typical per-person daily spend in Sweden.
Cost breakdown
Typical price ranges across major spending categories.
Accommodation
- Hostel
- $25-35 (dorm bed)
- Budget
- $60-95 (budget private room)
- Midrange
- $120-200 (mid-range hotel)
- Luxury
- $300-1200+ (luxury hotel)
Food
- Street
- $5-8 (hot dog, kebab, fast food)
- Local
- $12-18 (casual lunch, konditori meal)
- Midrange
- $25-45 (sit-down restaurant, lunch), $45-80 (dinner)
- Fine
- $100-350+ (Michelin restaurant)
Transport
- Bus
- $4 (single SL ticket Stockholm)
- Taxi
- $15-25 (short city ride)
- Airport
- $15-32 (Arlanda to city)
- Daytrip
- $12-20 (Uppsala or Vaxholm return)
Activities
- Museum
- $15-20 (average Stockholm museum)
- Sites
- $10-15 (Gamla Stan free, Royal Palace $18)
- Tour
- $55-80 (walking or boat tour)
- Excursion
- $100-200 (archipelago day trip, Lapland)
Trip budgets by length
What a typical trip to Sweden costs end-to-end.
Budget traveller
$420-560/week (hostel, supermarket food, free attractions)
Midrange traveller
$1050-1540/week (mid-range hotel, mix of restaurants, museums)
Luxury traveller
$2800-4200+/week (luxury hotels, fine dining, exclusive experiences)
Money-saving tips
Practical ways to stretch your budget further.
Buy a Stockholm Pass for 1-5 days if visiting multiple paid attractions — covers Vasa Museum, ABBA Museum, Skansen, and 60+ attractions plus public transport
Eat a main meal at lunch (dagens rätt) — Swedish restaurants typically offer a complete lunch special for $12-16 including salad, bread, coffee, and main course
Stock up at supermarkets (ICA, Lidl, Netto) — Swedish supermarkets have excellent prepared foods at a fraction of restaurant prices
Use SL public transport cards rather than single tickets — 72hr and 7-day passes offer excellent value
Visit Gothenburg instead of Stockholm for a comparable but significantly cheaper Scandinavian city experience
Travel in shoulder seasons (April-May, September-October) for 30-50% lower hotel prices than peak summer
Book train tickets on SJ at least 3 weeks ahead for 'Tidig' (early bird) prices — Stockholm to Gothenburg from $20 vs $90 peak
Free things to do
Memorable experiences that cost nothing.
Gamla Stan (Old Town)
Wander Stockholm's medieval heart free of charge — cobblestone streets, Stortorget square, and the narrow Mårten Trotzigs gränd are all free to explore.
Monteliusvägen Viewpoint
Elevated walking path in Södermalm offering Stockholm's best free panoramic view over the Old Town, City Hall, and Lake Mälaren waterfront.
Stockholm Tunnelbana Art Tour
The world's longest art gallery is free with a transport ticket — T-Centralen, Rådhuset, and Solna Centrum metro stations are spectacular underground art installations.
Skansen Open Grounds (Winter free)
The outer grounds of Skansen open-air museum are freely accessible outside peak season — a beautiful green hill on Djurgården with great views.
Djurgården Island Walk
The royal park island of Djurgården is free to walk through year-round, with beautiful waterfront paths, rose gardens, and views of Stockholm's harbor.
Moderna Museet (Free Tuesdays)
Stockholm's world-class modern art museum offers free entry on Tuesday evenings — includes works by Picasso, Dalí, Warhol, and prominent Swedish artists.
Uppsala Cathedral
Scandinavia's largest Gothic cathedral in Uppsala is free to enter, containing the tombs of King Gustav Vasa, Linnaeus, and the shrine of St. Erik.
Stortorget Christmas Market
Stockholm's Old Town Christmas market is free to browse, with traditional crafts, glögg (mulled wine), and an atmospheric festive setting in late November-December.
Haga Park, Stockholm
The royal Haga Park in northern Stockholm is freely accessible with beautiful landscape gardens, the butterfly house, and the stunning Copper Tents pavilions.
Vattenmuseet (Water Museum), Uppsala
Free museum in Uppsala exploring Sweden's extraordinary water quality and relationship with water resources. Educational and impressive for water technology exhibits.