| |
|
|
| |
Home
>
World
> Europe
> Sweden
|
Social Profile
Food & Drink: Swedes like straightforward meals, simply prepared from the freshest ingredients. As a seafaring country with many freshwater lakes, fish dishes are prominent on hotel or restaurant menus. The Scandinavian cold table, called smörgåsbord, is traditional. First pickled herring with boiled potatoes, then perhaps a couple more fish courses, smoked salmon or anchovies followed by cold meat, pâté, sliced beef, stuffed veal or smoked reindeer. The hot dishes come next, for instance, another herring dish, small meatballs (köttbullar) or an omelette. A fruit salad and cheese with crispbreads round off the meal. Other dishes to look out for are smoked reindeer from Lapland; gravlax, salmon that has been specially prepared and marinated; wild strawberries; and the cloudberries that are unique to Scandinavia. Once on the open road the traveller is well catered for with picnic sites on the way, often with wooden tables and seats. Top-class restaurants in Sweden are usually fairly expensive, but even the smallest towns have reasonably priced self-service restaurants and grill bars. Many restaurants all over Sweden offer a special dish of the day at a reduced price which includes main course, salad, soft drink and coffee. Waiter service is common although there are many self-service snack bars.
Snapps, the collective name for aquavit or brännvin, is a Swedish liqueur which is traditionally drunk chilled with smörgåsbord. It is made under a variety of brand names with flavours varying from practically tasteless to sweetly spiced. Swedish beers are lager- and pilsner-type brews and come in four strengths. The minimum age for buying alcoholic beverages is 20, although alcohol can be consumed in bars from restaurants from 18 onwards. Wine, spirits and beer are sold through the state-owned monopoly, Systembolaget, open during normal shopping hours. Before 1300 on Sundays alcohol cannot be bought in bars, cafes or restaurants. After midnight alcohol can only be bought in nightclubs that stay open until 0200, 0300 or 0500. In a restaurant or a nightclub, the minimum age for buying alcoholic beverages is 18. Stiff penalties are enforced for drinking and driving.
Nightlife: Stockholm has pubs, cafés, discos, restaurants, cinemas and theatres. In the more rural areas evenings tend to be tranquil. From August to June the Royal Ballet performs in Stockholm. Music and theatre productions take place in many cities during the summer at open air venues. Outside Stockholm in the 18th-century Court Theatre of the Palace of Drottningholm there are performances of 18th-century opera.
Shopping: VAT (Moms) is refundable to tourists or visitors who are resident in non-EU countries on goods bought at shops participating in the Tax-Free Shopping scheme. The refund is payable to the customer when departing from Sweden at either airports or customs offices at ports. Special purchases include glassware and crystal, ceramics, stainless steel and silver, hemslöjd (cottage industry artefacts) and wood carvings. Women’s and children’s clothes are good buys, especially handknitted Nordic sweaters. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0900-1800, Sat 0900-1600. In larger towns, some shops have longer opening hours and are also open Sundays. In rural areas, shops and petrol stations close by 1700/1800.
Special Events: For details, contact the Swedish Travel & Tourism Council (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of events celebrated in Sweden in 2003:
Jan 24 2003- Feb 3 Gothenburg's 25th Film Festival Jan 28-Feb 3 Kiruna Snow Festival,(the biggest snow festival in Europe). Feb 6-8 Great Sami Winter Market, Jokkmokk. Mar 2 Vasaloppet Cross Country Ski Race, between Sälen and Mora. Apr 30 Walpurgis Night (advent of spring festivities), countrywide. Jun 12-14 Hultsfred Rock Festival. Jun 20-21 Midsummer Celebration, countrywide. Jun 28-Jul 6 Music on Lake Silja. Aug 3-10 Medieval Festival Week, Gotland. Aug 15-22 Malmö Festival. Sep The Start of Lobster Season, (opportunities to go out and catch your own lobster on a safari). Sep 5-14 Eurobasket 2003 (European Basketball Championships). Nov-Dec Christmas Markets, Skansen and Liseberg. Dec 10 Nobel Prize Day, Stockholm. Dec 31 Lucia Day, The coronation of Lucia, the bearer of light, is celebrated all over Sweden on the darkest night of the year. On this date a young woman is chosen to lead the annual procession of light at Skansen open-air museum, Stockholm; New Year's Eve Celebrations, Skansen.
Social Conventions: Normal courtesies should be observed. It is customary for the guest to refrain from drinking until the host makes a toast. The guest should also thank the host for the meal with ‘Tack för maten’. Casual dress is acceptable for everyday occasions; smarter wear for social occasions, exclusive restaurants and clubs. Evening wear (black tie) will usually be specified when required. Smoking is prohibited on public transport and in most public buildings. Tipping: Hotel prices include a service charge. Service in restaurants is not usually included in the bill; around ten per cent should be added. Late at night the service charge is higher. Taxi drivers should be tipped around ten per cent.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
Terms and Conditions apply.
|
|
|
|
|
