The most beautiful cities in Sweden

Sweden is a country of rare beauty, even amid its starkest northern landscapes. Its cities and towns testify to 1000 years of urban life, but there are precious places offering glimpses into even older traditions of human settlement.

Communications

Wi-fi access

Swedish wi-fi access is common at transport hubs, libraries, museums, many urban parks, cafes, convenience stores and supermarkets. Many trains and most accommodation providers offer access. One count finds more than 2,500 free fixed access points in Stockholm, more than 1,100 in Gothenburg and several hundred in Malmö. Most cities have 100 or more access points.

Mobile phone networks

Three mobile phone networks – Telia, Telenor and Tele2 – claim coverage of 99% of Sweden’s population. These main, Scandinavia-wide networks offer 4G LTE coverage of all urban areas. Telenor and Tele2 operate a joint network. The Tre (Three) network constitutes a fourth national phone network.

Urban coverage is generally strong, but in remote areas good-quality signals should not be expected.

European mobile users can expect to use their own data in roaming mode. Prepaid SIM cards or eSIMs are an affordable option for other phone users.

Public telephones

Few functioning public telephones remain in Sweden. They have disappeared from most public places, although the likelihood of finding them at transport hubs is higher. Phone cards are available online at Phonecards.se, but there are few opportunities to use them.

Telephone numbers

Most Swedish telephone subscriber numbers vary between eight and 10 digits. Numbers beginning with 07 are mobile.

Emergency numbers

Police – 112 (dial 11414 for non-urgent police matters)
Ambulance – 112
Fire brigade – 112
Europe-wide general emergency number – 112
National helpline for women subjected to physical, psychological or sexual violence – 020-505050

Area codes

Sweden’s national dialling code is 46. The area dialling codes are preceded by a zero, which is excluded when dialling inward from abroad. Sweden’s international access code is 00.

City area codes, plus Öland and Gotland, are: Stockholm 08, Uppsala 018, Västerås 021, Örebro 019, Karlstad 054, Norrköping 011, Linköping 013, Vadstena 0143, Jönköping 036, Huskvarna 036, Kalmar 0480, Öland 0485, Gotland 0498, Karlskrona 0455, Gothenburg 031, Malmö 040, Lund 046, Helsingborg 042, Gävle 026, Falun 023, Mora 0250, Sundsvall 060, Östersund 063, Umeå 090, Luleå 0920, Kiruna 0980.

Toll and toll-free numbers

Swedish numbers beginning in 020 and 0200 can be dialled toll free.