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.

Health & medical care

Swedish medical care is among the world’s best. Most countries recommend travellers to Sweden take out comprehensive travel insurance.

EU or EFTA citizens can present a European health insurance card to avoid paying the full cost of treatment. Some countries have reciprocal health care agreements with Sweden, but these citizens should carry their national health insurance card.

A vårdcentral (sometimes hälsocentral, husläkarmottagning or familjeläkarmottagning) is a local health centre providing treatment during normal weekday hours. Treatment will not usually be free of cost. See Raven Guides’ destination guides for local facilities.

From March to November, ticks are common in rural areas. Tick bites have been on the rise in the southern half of Sweden in recent decades and cases tend to be concentrated around central lake regions and some coastal stretches. They bring the risk of tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease. Vaccination against TBE is possible. Always consult a qualified physician for personal health advice.

Precautions include staying away from tall grass, shrubby areas or woodland and checking the body to remove any ticks as soon as possible. Effective removal involves grabbing the tick firmly as close as possible to the skin and lifting upwards. Wash the bite with antiseptic or soap and water. Redness that appears one to four weeks after a bite requires medical advice or treatment.

Pharmacies

A pharmacy (apotek) fills prescriptions and sells legal painkillers. Paracetamol is available without prescription at pharmacies. Opioids such as codeine require a prescription. Pharmacists cannot by law issue or extend prescriptions.

Common opening hours for pharmacies are 10-18 M-F and 10-14 Sa.

Medications

Sweden allows visitors to bring a three-month supply of medicine for personal use into the country. It is always advisable to carry prescriptions and a doctor’s letter explaining the need for the medication and the dose.

Paracetamol is not available in Swedish supermarkets or other retail outlets.

Importing narcotic medicines and medicines classed as doping agents requires a doctor’s certificate or a pharmacy label on the package. There are five classes of classified narcotic drugs that are controlled. Painkillers containing a dose of less than 100mg of codeine or 135mg of dextropropoxyphene or not generally considered narcotic but checking before import is advisable.

Emergency care

The Swedish ambulance telephone number is 112. In case of illness or injury, the 1177 Vårdguiden emergency telephone number can provide advice or information in English on how and where to get treatment. Information in some other languages is available during certain hours of the day.

A jourmottagning is a centre providing treatment out of hours and an akutmottagning is a hospital emergency casualty department. See Raven Guides’ destination guides for local facilities.