I often hear people complaining about how expensive Sweden is or that, the reason they don’t travel to Scandinavia is the prices. I’ve decided to make to this “Sweden on a budget” city guide here. Hope you all enjoy it and remember that the tips here, can and must be used in any other expensive country you might like to go.
Where and How to Eat Cheap
The first chapter is, of course, how to eat in Sweden without spending too much money. And the answer to this question you can find just following those easy steps here:
- Ask locals for tips on the best restaurant away from tourist areas – Keep in mind that tourists prices do go together with local places.
- Always go for local beverages, they tend to be cheaper and tastier than a bottle of Coca-Cola – Try something new! The worst that could happen is you not liking a drink, big deal!
- If there’s a waiter outside, stay outside – Those magic deals with 3 courses for a fixed price that you see inside those places, are usually crappy choices. Leftovers, unfresh and not tasty at all.
- Worst case scenario, go to places you know that is cheap and ~good~ – I hate going to Burger King or KFC, but I don’t mind that much if my option is a Subway, but in any case, those crappy places are almost everywhere, and at least you know what to order.
- Whenever you can, by your food at local markets – Fresh food at an affordable price, could life be better than this?
- Always have something in your bag to avoid spending long hours with no food – Since you’re already at the supermarket, why not get something for the long walks you’ll do around the city? You’ll avoid that headache and will never feel that monster hunger that sometimes will make you go to the first place you’ll find (usually ends up being the most expensive option)
With that in mind, here are a few photos of the prices in a local supermarket in Sweden:
Where and How to Drink for Less
That’s the line that separates the men from the boys: the difficult task of finding cheap booze in Sweden! But since I’m A-MA-ZI-NG, I’ll explain to you where the magic lies and which path to follow to endless happiness (and hangovers!).
Well, the secret to eternal plenitude is: plan your trip ahead! Forget surprises! Know what you’ll drink and how much you will drink!
That means this, if you’re spending three days in Gothenburg, on the first day you must reserve a few minutes to go to your local Systembolaget and buy your three day worth of alcohol. Bring your bag, your passport, and your money and find yourself in the cheap alcohol’s paradise (where the grass is green, and the girls are pretty). Here are some of the examples of how much you’ll spend in one of those great stores. Keep in mind that I’ve only found beer in Swedish bars for 5€ a pint minimum.
And I’m not saying that you should avoid bar in Sweden forever, I’m saying that is cheaper to drink at home first.
Finding a Place to Sleep for Cheap
Remember my post about traveling more for less? Over there you can find really good tips on how to save mad money on your trip and a few pieces of advice on how to make money with your trip. This part of the post will be just a small overview of what is written over there, ok?
Remember that a bed is a bed and there is no need for a luxurious hotel if the idea is to travel on a budget. Airbnb has loads of offers in almost every city, and it has always been my No. 1 choice when I’m booking my accommodation. For me, the best part of staying in an apartment is that I will always have access to a kitchen and this is mandatory if you’re saving money going to the supermarket. But if you can not find anything suitable for your needs over there, check hostels. Usually, the private room is cheaper than usual hotels and, if you’re not traveling alone, a shared place of 4 or 6 is the best deal ever!
Last August me and Felipe went to Gothenburg for a wedding, and we found Annika’s house the best place there! The apartment is lovely, and they have the cutest cat ever! Check them out if you’re going there =D
And before I forget: There are loads of photos with products and its prices on my Flickr, so you can check how much it costs food and drinks in Sweden. For more tips like this one, check this post on how to travel Scandinavia cheaply.
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