Basics - The Rough Guide to Sweden - page 27

utensils, but not sheets. Self-catering in cabins is a
good way to keep costs down. Cabins start around
500kr per night for a two-bed number. As usual, it's
wise to ring ahead to secure one. Sweden also has a
whole series of cabins for rent in spots other than
campsites, often in picturesque locations such as in
the middle of the forest, by a lakeshore or on the
coast. For information and to make a booking,
contact the local tourist o ce.

either warm or cold, and a mainstay of any Swedish
smorgasbord worth its salt. Herring is mostly served
marinated, but don't let that put you off as it tastes
surprisingly good. Sauces feature prominently in
Swedish cooking, often flavoured with dill or
parsley; alternatively there are many delicious
creamy concoctions too.
Wild berries appear in many dishes, especially
the lingonberry, which is something like a
cranberry, and makes a good accompaniment to
Swedish meatballs, a combination praised by many
a Swede as a delicacy of the country. You'll also be
able to taste orange-coloured sweet cloudberries,
which grow in the marshes of Lapland and are
delicious with ice cream.

Food and drink
There's no escaping the fact that eating
and drinking is going to take up a large
slice of your budget in Sweden - though
no more so than in any other northern
European country. Note that although
tipping in Swedish restaurants is not
expected, it is customary to round the
bill up to the nearest 20kr or so.
Swedish food - based largely on fish, meat and
potatoes, and very varied in preparation - is always
tasty and well presented and, at its best, is delicious.
Unusual specialities generally come from the north
of the country and include reindeer, elk meat and
wild berries, while herring and salmon come in so
many different guises that fish fiends will always be
content. Vegetarians too should have no problems,
with plenty of non-meat options available, especially
in the bigger towns; elsewhere the choice may be
limited to pizzas and salads. Alcoholic drinks are
available in most establishments, with lager-type
beers and imported wines providing no surprises;
the local spirit akvavit , however, is worth trying at
least once. It comes in dozens of weird and
wonderful flavours, from lemon to cumin-and-dill.
Eating well and eating cheaply needn't be
mutually exclusive aims in Sweden. The best
strategy is to fuel up on breakfast and lunch, both
of which offer good-value options. A good way to
keep costs down when eating out is to resist the
temptation to order a starter - throughout Sweden
portions are generous and most main dishes are
large enough to fill even the emptiest stomach.
Breakfast is often included in the cost of a night's
accommodation, and most restaurants have
lunchtime specials ( dagens rätt ) that time and
again are the best-value meals you'll find.

Breakfast
Breakfast ( frukost ) is almost invariably a help-yourself
buffet in the best Swedish tradition; you can go up to
the serving table as many times as you like and eat
until you're fit to explode. Youth hostels charge
around 50kr for breakfast; if you stay in a hotel, it'll be
included in the price of your accommodation.
Cofee is something the Swedes excel at, and is
always freshly brewed, strong and delicious. A
coffee costs around 25kr and the price will often
buy you more than one cup. For coffee, head for
the local konditori , a coffee and cake shop of the
first order.

Snacks and light meals
For snacks and light meals you're really looking at
the delights dished up by the gatukök (street kitchen)
or korvstånd (sausage stall). A gatukök is often no
more than a hole in the wall - generally conspicuous
by the snaking queue and gaggle of teenagers it
attracts - serving sausages, burgers, chips, soft drinks
and sometimes pizza slices or chicken pieces. Chips
with a sausage or burger generally comes to around
75kr. The korvstånd usually limits itself to sausages
(hotdogs are usually around 25kr), though some have
chips and burgers as well.

Self-catering
For the cheapest eating it's hard to beat the super-
markets and market stalls. Of the supermarket
chains, ICA and Coop have the biggest range of
produce but most supermarkets in Sweden are
small local affairs selling just the basics and a few
other bits and pieces. Alternatively, head for the
indoor or outdoor markets, which often have fresher
produce than the supermarkets, and at lower prices.
Fish is always excellent value, especially salmon.
Pork and beef aren't too bad either, but chicken is

Food

Sweden's various salmon dishes are among the
very best the cuisine has to offer - they're divine