Go, but pay attention.
Sweden's safety score rose to 81 today, but US and Canadian advisories remain at level 2 while a global measles notice is active.
Governments, one trip
What they're telling their own citizens about Sweden
The real score
The breakdown
See it from your perspective
Go, but pay attention.
The general Sketch Score, unweighted for any specific traveler.
Don't fall for it
Scams to know
Pickpocketing
Pickpockets operate in high-traffic areas like airports, rail stations, public transport, shops, and festivals. Keep your belongings secure to avoid theft.
Don't do this
Laws that jail tourists
Detention for intoxication
Police can detain overly intoxicated individuals overnight if they pose a danger to themselves or others. There is no option for bail.
Relocation for disorderly conduct
Police possess the authority to relocate individuals who behave in a disorderly manner, even if no crime is suspected.
Staying healthy
What to watch out for, health-wise
Active notices
- • Global Measles
Vaccines
Recommended:
From people who've been there
Local know-how
Staying safe
- •Sweden is generally a safe place to travel.
- •In metalworking districts such as Bergslagen, mining holes are a particular risk factor.
- •Crime and law enforcement: Road traffic is generally safe, though common sense should be used.
- •Violent gang crime has been an issue since the 2010s, making headlines abroad, and causing an intense debate in Sweden.
- •Although there is a significant police presence in the city centres, especially on weekend nights, the countryside is quite weakly policed; especially Norrland, where the nearest patrol car…
- •Pickpockets usually work in tourist-frequented areas, such as airports, rail stations, public transportation, shopping areas and festivals.
Staying healthy
- •Certified pharmacies carry a green cross sign and the text Apotek.
- •Swedish health care is usually of high quality, but can be quite challenging for foreigners to receive.
- •Tap water in Sweden is of great quality, and contains close to zero bacteria.
- •There are few serious health risks in Sweden.
- •Pests: Mosquitoes (myggor) are a serious nuisance particularly in the north and during wet summers.…
Adapted from Wikivoyage, CC BY-SA — edited by travelers, not us.
Pack this, know this
The little things that trip people up
Plug & voltage
C / F · 230V
Driving side
right
Emergency
police: 112 / ambulance: 112 / fire: 112
Zoom in
4 Sweden cities on SKETCH.WORLD
Real, resident-submitted Numbeo crime data at the city level — the same national picture above, with crime swapped for what people who actually live there report.
Show the receipts (11 sources)
- us-state — observed 2026-07-12
- uk-fcdo — observed 2026-07-12
- ca-gac — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-political — observed 2026-07-12
- worldbank-policeTrust — observed 2026-07-12
- cdc-health — observed 2026-07-12
- wikivoyage — observed 2026-07-12
- reddit — observed 2026-07-12
- unodc — observed 2026-07-12
- acled-hdx — observed 2026-07-12
- lgbtq-legal-wikipedia — observed 2026-07-12