Most trips to Sweden start in Stockholm, a city built across fourteen islands, and many continue to Gothenburg, Malmö or the far north to see the northern lights. With an EU SIM, Sweden is covered by Roam Like at Home; visitors from outside the EU usually pay roaming by the day. Sweden is also one of the most cashless countries in the world, so your phone matters for paying as much as for maps.
Key facts for Sweden
- EU roaming: covered by Roam Like at Home
- Local networks: Telenor, Three, Telia, Tele2 (depending on the plan)
- Emergency numbers: 112; police non-emergency 114 14; health advice 1177
- Embassies: in Stockholm
A country that rarely uses cash
Many shops, cafés, museums and buses in Sweden do not accept cash at all, so bring a card that works abroad and set up Apple Pay or Google Pay before you travel. Swish, the payment app Swedes use with each other, needs a Swedish bank account and a Swedish BankID, so visitors cannot use it.
Stockholm and getting around
In Stockholm, the SL network accepts contactless bank cards and phones at the metro gates and on buses and trams, so you do not need to buy a ticket in advance. The Arlanda Express train links the main airport with the city centre in about 20 minutes. Ferries to the archipelago leave from the city centre, with the most departures in summer.
The Öresund Bridge and Copenhagen
Trains from Malmö reach Copenhagen in about 35 minutes over the Öresund Bridge, and phones switch to Danish networks on the way. With an EU SIM, nothing changes. A travel plan for Sweden alone does not include Denmark, so choose a Scandinavia or Europe plan if you will cross. Carry your passport or national ID card, as border checks are possible.
Lapland, hiking and the northern lights
Around Kiruna and Abisko, the northern lights are usually visible from September to March on clear, dark nights. Coverage is reliable in towns and along main roads, but it fades in the mountains and on long trails such as the Kungsleden, so download maps and tell someone your route. The right of public access, allemansrätten, lets you hike and camp on most land as long as you respect nature and people's homes. Cold drains phone batteries quickly, so keep your phone in an inside pocket and carry a power bank.
Driving and wildlife
Stockholm and Gothenburg charge a congestion tax that is recorded automatically from number plates, and rental companies usually pass it on to you. Moose and deer often cross roads at dawn and dusk. If you hit one, Swedish law requires you to mark the spot and report the collision to the police on 112, even if the animal runs away.
Getting connected
With an EU SIM: there is nothing to set up, as Sweden is treated like home. Consider a travel eSIM only if your plan's EU data allowance is small.
From outside the EU: add a travel eSIM at home with its QR code. Its validity begins on its first connection in Sweden, and your own number stays active for calls, texts and bank codes.
Swedish prepaid SIMs are sold in convenience stores such as Pressbyrån and 7-Eleven, and they must be registered with an identity document.
Consular protection: who to call in Sweden
- 112 is for the police, an ambulance, the fire service and mountain or sea rescue.
- 114 14 reaches the police when it is not urgent, for example to report a theft afterwards.
- 1177 gives medical advice around the clock; from a foreign number, call +46 771 11 77 00.
- During a major incident, 113 13 gives official information.
- Embassies are in Stockholm. The Telcomia app shows yours, with address and phone.
- The app has emergency phrases in Swedish, ready to show on screen.
Questions travellers ask about Sweden
Do I need cash in Sweden?
Rarely. Most places take cards and phones, and many accept nothing else.
Does a Sweden plan work in Copenhagen?
No. For both countries, choose a Scandinavia or Europe plan.
Which networks does a Telcomia eSIM use in Sweden?
Telenor and Three, and on some plans Telia or Tele2, with 4G and 5G where available.
What should I do after hitting a moose?
Mark the spot and call 112 to report it to the police, as the law requires.
The short version
Bring a card and set up phone payments before you go, choose a Scandinavia or Europe plan if you will cross to Denmark, download maps for the north, and save 112.
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