Sweden is famous around the world for its openness and its culture. Right after the UK and USA, Sweden is the biggest exporter of music around the world. Sweden is one of the cleanest countries on earth. There is a high emphasis on recycling and nature protection. The beautiful landscape and incredible nature reserves offer many hiking trails which allow witnessing wilderness of Scandinavia at its best. Visit Stockholm during summer to experience the white nights where the sun shines 24 h and do not forget your eye mask if you can’t sleep during the day. Sweden boasts many attractions however there are many risks and hazards that tag along.

Travelling info

Because Sweden is a member of the Schengen convention all citizens of the member states of this agreement may move freely to Sweden for tourist, business, starting a new life or any other purpose without the requirement to obtain any sort of a visa document. The only document required to cross the border is an ID card. There are several countries who are outside of the European Union however they are a part of the Schengen convention. These are Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Switzerland. Nationals of countries which are not part of this convention are required to obtain a Schengen visa that will allow them to move freely within the boundaries of the Schengen convention nations. Schengen visa is normally admitted once per half a year for a duration of 90 days. Schengen visa holders can not work or study during their stay within the Schengen boundaries. Tourists who are willing to drive in Sweden must always carry their national driving permit, certificate of insurance and car registration documents whilst driving. An international driving permit is not a requirement in Sweden however it may be very useful to have one if the national driving permit is written in non-roman scripture. Fines in Sweden are treated very seriously. Swedish police issue fines on the spot. If the driver is unable to pay the fine, he or she will be escorted to the nearest ATM and if that also fails, the vehicle will be impounded until the driver pays the fine. In cases of drunk driving and other serious offences, the drivers will receive a summons to the court. Winter tyres must be worn from 1st of December until 31st of March.

Travelling hazards

Driving in Sweden is safe. Roads are in excellent condition however secondary roads might get narrow in certain parts of the country, particularly in old urban areas. When driving far from urban areas in the country it is advised to drive carefully as wild animals often wander onto the road creating an additional hazard. When travelling up north it is also advised to fill the tank up as distances between gas stations are great in the less densely inhabited areas. Public transport is widely available and modern however it might get a little dangerous at night around cities.

Environmental hazards

Sweden has vast swaths of unpopulated land where animals are free to roam. That land is inhabited by some of the most fierce European predators. Brown bears are quite well established in the country. Their population reaches 2500 and it is not uncommon to see one while hiking in the north of Sweden. These animals may or not find interest when spotting a human. Although attacks are rare, running away from this apex predator is like inviting it to chase you. These animals generally avoid humans therefore while hiking it is advised to make surroundings aware of your presence by loud talking and making a lot of noise. This will generally discourage animals from staying in the area even before spotting you. Wolves are present in Sweden however spotting them is extremely rare with only about 500 present in the country. Coastal waters of Sweden are generally safe. Only a single shark attack has been recorded which happened over 2 and half centuries ago.
Sweden does not experience dangerous seismic activity nor does it have any volcanoes. Sweden, however, suffers from floods, coastline storms and landslides in the mountainous areas.

Health hazards

There are currently no outbreaks of any diseases nor are there any vaccination requirements in order to enter Sweden. There are several vaccines which will help to avoid any unwanted diseases that could possibly be encountered during the trip. These vaccines are the routine vaccines, hepatitis A and B and rabies vaccine. Sweden boasts some of the finest healthcare systems in the world. Public healthcare is universal and has the best record for treatment outcomes. The staff of the hospitals are mostly bilingual speaking Swedish and English. Private hospitals and clinics also provide excellent services however these come at a price. Free healthcare, however, is not accessible for the expats who are expected to pay for their services. Citizens of EU countries may apply for European health insurance cards which will allow them to receive free or discounted price services. All others who may not apply for the EHIC or are from outside of the EU should consider purchasing health insurance that will cover the costly expenses of medical services.
In case of an emergency dial 112.

Crime

Crime in Sweden is often underreported. There has been a significant rise in crime since the influx of immigrants from outside of Europe. The Swedish government, however, refuses to gather statistical data based on ethnicity. Violent crime is much more common in areas with a high population of migrants. An official list of dangerous zones in Sweden has been posted by the Swedish police force however due to political pressure it has been taken down. Small towns are rural areas are generally safe however neighbourhood of Stockholm and Malmo with large populations of migrants who usually do not speak Swedish spark tensions and should be avoided by tourists and particularly by solo female travellers. Sweden experiences a severe problem with migrant gangs were hand grenades are used. There have been over 45 seized grenades and over 20 detonated grenades. Sweden is a medium threat location for terrorist activity as many migrants who previously left Sweden to fight for ISIS have returned to Sweden with some even receiving protected identities. Contrary to Swedish migratory policies, the country practices zero tolerance policy on narcotics. Possession, cultivation, transportation etc usually result in prison sentences.

Summary

Sweden is certainly a place to visit. There is an incredible amount of lakes with some of them having crystal clear waters. Over 10% of the country is covered by freshwaters. Remember that planning your trip with Travset.com will give you the quickest information about nearest emergency services and will also help you purchase indispensable travel insurance for the trip of your lifetime. Please feel free to comment and share the experiences of your travels with Travset.com.

Sources

(Visa)
https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/sweden-visa/
(Vaccinations)
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/traveler/none/sweden
(EHIC)
http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559