Banks are usually open Monday to Friday between 9.30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Certain banks stay open till 18.00. All banks are closed at weekends and on public holidays.
Chemists' shops
Chemists' shops in Sweden are indicated by the sign "Apotek" and are open during normal shopping hours. Chemists in Sweden do not normally sell items like cosmetics. An all-night pharmacy is available in Nordstan.
Credit cards
All major international credit cards are widely accepted in Sweden. Shops and restaurants generally display signs indicating which cards they accept.
Currency
One krona (1 SEK) is split into 100 öre. Coins are issued to the value of 50 öre, 1 krona, 5 and 10 kronor. Bank notes are printed in values of 20, 50, 100, 500, and 1.000 kronor.
Currency Exchange
You can get the best Exchange rate at branches of FOREX, which pays about 3-18% more for your currency than the banks when you change it into Swedish kronor. FOREX has an exchange office at the central station.
Driving in Sweden
You drive on the right in Sweden. The driver and all passengers must use seat belts. Sweden's laws on drinking and driving are strictly enforced and heavy fines are imposed on motorists who are under the influence of alcohol or other stimulants. You can be prosecuted even if you have drunk only the equivalent of less than a can of beer and police make frequent spot checks.
Eating
During your working days you will probably eat your lunch at the company. If the company doesn't have canteen facilities you have to go to a restaurant or bring your own meal. The lunch break is between half an hour and one hour long. If you eat at a restaurant (lunch or dinner) the service is always included in menu price.
Emergency calls
Dial 112 anywhere in Sweden if you require emergency assistance from the police, fire brigade or ambulance etc. You don't need to insert any money if you dial 112 from a payphone.
Festivals and Parties
The Swedish year is punctuated by many traditional festivals, so it's always worth inquiring about special events in the area which you are staying. At midsummer, for instance, there are festivities with dancing round the village maypole. There are also folk-music and folk-dancing festivals in many places during the summer. In August the start of the crayfish season is greeted with traditional outdoor parties at which the delicious shellfish are served with hot buttered toast and caraway cheese, accompanied by schnapps or beer. The highlight of the run-up to Christmas is on 13 December, when the traditional Lucia celebrations take place. Spring is marked on 30 April by the Walpurgis Night celebrations, with bonfires in many parts of Sweden.
Post Offices
Post Offices are generally open during normal shopping hours and on Saturdays until 1 p.m. Stamps and aerogrammes are on sale at post offices and also at most bookstalls and at stationers' shops. Foreign exchange facilities are available at larger Post Offices.
About Göteborg
About the city
The City of Göteborg is the second largest city in Sweden. Out of a total of around 470,000 inhabitants, almost 50,000 are students from the Universities situated in the city.
Göteborg is a city with a long history (founded in 1621) and is well known in Sweden for its nightlife, pubs and cafés. One should try out the many pubs situated in the central part of the city, along the parade street "Avenyn" and Vasagatan, exchange work experiences and tell each other about encounter the "crazy" Swedes.
Among many other things to do in Göteborg one can visit the amusement park called Liseberg. The Park is open during the summer and also a month around Christmas when there is a lot of Christmas decorations - quite beautiful. On weekends during the summer, more or less famous artists usually perform. Göteborg has got a newly built national science centre called Universeum, which is open through out the year. They have everything from sharks and rainforest to high-tech and hands-on experiments.
Climate
The Climate in Göteborg during the summer is nice and the temperatures usually stay above 20 degrees Celsius. Autumn and spring often hold a lot of rain, but you will get used to it. Although it doesn't snow much in the winter it tends to get quit cold usually between +5 and -15 degrees. Due to the proximity to the sea, it often rains and the wind can sometimes be quite strong
Events
Events this year is going to be great. We try to get together Thursday nights every week at some cosy pub. In the weekends we often arrange activities such as sports, trips to the archipelago, parties etc.
Among the bigger events you will find the Midsummer party, which is arranged for all IAESTE members in Sweden. The event takes place every year at the end of June.
Another big event in Göteborg is "Göteborgskalaset" ("The Göteborg party"), which takes place in the beginning of August. It is a big party in the city with a lot of different things to do. And there is also "the Göteborg Film Festival" which is Scandinavia's biggest film festival and takes place in the end of January every year.