Stockholm Business City Guide: practical information
Off-licences (systembolaget) are run by the state and open limited hours only. The legal age for buying alcohol here is 20. Age restrictions vary in different bars, clubs and restaurants and ID is often requested. Sweden has a low crime rate, but beware of pickpockets in the streets and subways.

To pronounce Swedish names, you’ll need to come to grips with the accented characters. Å sounds like "awe", Ä like AI in "fair" and the most difficult one, Ö like EA in "earn". Finally, winter can be severe – pack plenty of warm clothes.

Stockholm taxis & rentals

Taxis
Taxi Stockholm
08-15 00 00

Taxi Kurir
08-30 00 00

Taxi 020
020-20 20 20

Car rentals
Avis
020-78 82 00

Statoil
020-25 25 25

Hertz
020-21 12 11

Good to know

Business hours
Banks are open weekdays 9.30am–3pm (Thu until 5.30pm). Shops, weekdays 9am–6pm, Sat until 2pm or 4pm. Department stores are open later. Some shops are open Sun.

Money
All major credit cards are widely accepted. ATM machines are plentiful.

Electricity
Standard European 220–240V, 50-cycle AC voltage. Standard European 2-pin plugs; overseas visitors will need an adaptor.

Time
GMT+1. Daylight saving adds one hour in summer (GMT+2).

Public holidays
New Year’s Day (1 Jan 2004), Epiphany (6 Jan 2004), Good Friday (9 Apr 2004), Easter Monday (12 Apr 2004), Labour Day (1 May 2004), Ascension Day (20 May 2004), Whit Monday (31 May 2004), National Day (6 Jun 2004), Midsummer's Day (26 June 2004), All Saints’ Day (6 Nov 2004), Christmas Eve (24 Dec 2004), Christmas (25 Dec 2004), Boxing Day (26 Dec 2004). Note: shops often close early the eve of a holiday.

Further reading
www.stockholmtown.com, www.sweden.com, www.sverigeturism.se, www.gosweden.org, www.stockholmnew.com