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Sweden trivia: 45 questions and answers

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The country at a glance

  1. What is the capital of Sweden?

    1. A. Stockholm
    2. B. Gothenburg
    3. C. Uppsala
    4. D. Malmö
    Show the answer

    Stockholm. Stockholm, built on islands where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea, is the capital and largest city. Gothenburg is the second-largest city.

  2. What currency is used in Sweden?

    1. A. The Swedish krona
    2. B. The euro
    3. C. The Norwegian krone
    4. D. The Swiss franc
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    The Swedish krona. The Swedish krona, divided into 100 öre. Sweden is in the European Union, but voters rejected the euro in a referendum in 2003.

  3. Which two countries share a land border with Sweden?

    1. A. Norway and Finland
    2. B. Denmark and Norway
    3. C. Finland and Russia
    4. D. Denmark and Germany
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    Norway and Finland. Norway and Finland. Denmark is linked to Sweden by the Öresund Bridge and tunnel, but the two countries only share a border at sea.

  4. Sweden became a member of NATO in 2024.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. Sweden applied in 2022, together with Finland, and became NATO's 32nd member on 7 March 2024.

  5. Which of these is one of Sweden's five national minority languages, recognised by law?

    1. A. Meänkieli
    2. B. Norwegian
    3. C. Danish
    4. D. Icelandic
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    Meänkieli. Meänkieli, spoken in the Torne Valley in the far north. The five national minority languages are Finnish, Meänkieli, Sámi, Romani and Yiddish; the Language Act of 2009 names Swedish as the main language.

History

  1. Sweden's National Day, 6 June, remembers which event?

    1. A. Gustav Vasa's election as king in 1523
    2. B. The founding of Stockholm in 1252
    3. C. The end of the union with Norway in 1905
    4. D. Sweden joining the European Union in 1995
    Show the answer

    Gustav Vasa's election as king in 1523. Gustav Vasa's election as king in 1523, on 6 June, which ended Sweden's part in the Kalmar Union. The day also marks the constitutions adopted on 6 June 1809 and 1974.

  2. Which southern province did Denmark give to Sweden in the Treaty of Roskilde in 1658?

    1. A. Scania (Skåne)
    2. B. Uppland
    3. C. Dalarna
    4. D. Värmland
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    Scania (Skåne). Scania (Skåne), together with Halland, Blekinge and Bohuslän. Uppland, Dalarna and Värmland had long been Swedish.

  3. What happened to the warship Vasa on 10 August 1628?

    1. A. She sank in Stockholm harbour on her first voyage
    2. B. She won a great sea battle against Denmark
    3. C. She carried the king to Finland
    4. D. She was burned in a fire at the shipyard
    Show the answer

    She sank in Stockholm harbour on her first voyage. She sank in Stockholm harbour on her first voyage, after sailing only about 1,300 m. She was raised in 1961.

  4. The union between Sweden and Norway ended with a war in 1905.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. False. The union ended peacefully in 1905. Sweden's last war was in 1814, when the union with Norway began.

Food and drink

  1. Which jam is traditionally served with Swedish meatballs?

    1. A. Lingonberry jam
    2. B. Apricot jam
    3. C. Blackcurrant jam
    4. D. Orange marmalade
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    Lingonberry jam. Lingonberry jam, whose tart taste goes with the meatballs, cream sauce and potatoes.

  2. The new season's surströmming, fermented herring, traditionally goes on sale from the third Thursday in August.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. The date was set by a royal order in the 1940s, and shops still keep it. The tins are often opened outdoors because of the strong smell.

  3. Jansson's temptation is a creamy bake of potatoes, onions and which fish?

    1. A. Pickled sprats
    2. B. Smoked salmon
    3. C. Cod
    4. D. Shrimps
    Show the answer

    Pickled sprats. Pickled sprats, sold in Sweden as 'ansjovis'. The dish is a favourite on the Christmas buffet.

  4. Gravlax is salmon that has been hot-smoked until cooked.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. False. Gravlax is raw salmon cured with salt, sugar and dill for a few days. Because it is raw, pregnant women, older people and anyone with a weak immune system should avoid it.

  5. What colour is the marzipan that usually covers a Swedish princess cake?

    1. A. Green
    2. B. Blue
    3. C. Yellow
    4. D. White
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    Green. Green, often with a pink marzipan rose on top. The recipe first appeared in a cookbook in 1948.

  6. Which day is most closely linked with the semla, a cream bun filled with almond paste?

    1. A. Shrove Tuesday
    2. B. Midsummer Eve
    3. C. Lucia Day
    4. D. National Day
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    Shrove Tuesday. Shrove Tuesday, the day before Lent begins, though semlor are sold for weeks before Easter.

  7. What do many Swedes traditionally eat on Thursdays?

    1. A. Pea soup followed by pancakes
    2. B. Fermented herring
    3. C. Princess cake
    4. D. Crayfish
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    Pea soup followed by pancakes. Pea soup followed by pancakes with jam. Schools, workplaces and restaurants still serve it on Thursdays.

Cities

  1. Which city is home to the oldest university in Scandinavia, founded in 1477?

    1. A. Uppsala
    2. B. Lund
    3. C. Gothenburg
    4. D. Stockholm
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    Uppsala. Uppsala. Lund University, founded in 1666, is also old, but Uppsala University is older.

  2. Since 2000, the Öresund Bridge has linked Malmö with Copenhagen in Denmark.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. The bridge and tunnel opened on 1 July 2000.

  3. Which town, just north of the Arctic Circle, has held a famous winter market, important in Sámi life, since 1605?

    1. A. Jokkmokk
    2. B. Kalmar
    3. C. Lund
    4. D. Östersund
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    Jokkmokk. Jokkmokk, whose market is held in early February. The town also has the Ájtte Sámi museum.

Landmarks

  1. What can you see in the Vasa Museum in Stockholm?

    1. A. A 17th-century warship raised from the harbour
    2. B. The crown jewels
    3. C. A Viking village
    4. D. The Nobel Prize medals
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    A 17th-century warship raised from the harbour. A 17th-century warship raised from the harbour: the Vasa, which sank in 1628 and was brought up in 1961.

  2. The Icehotel near Kiruna is rebuilt each winter from ice taken from the Torne River.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. Since it first opened in 1990 it has been rebuilt each winter, and in spring it melts back into the river.

  3. Which palace near Stockholm, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is the home of the King and Queen?

    1. A. Drottningholm Palace
    2. B. Kalmar Castle
    3. C. Uppsala Castle
    4. D. Malmöhus Castle
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    Drottningholm Palace. Drottningholm Palace, on the island of Lovön. The King and Queen have lived in its southern wing since 1981.

  4. In the Laponian Area, a World Heritage Site in the far north, which people still move their reindeer herds between winter and summer lands?

    1. A. The Sámi
    2. B. The Finns
    3. C. The Inuit
    4. D. The Norwegians
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    The Sámi. The Sámi, the Indigenous people of northern Scandinavia. Laponia is listed for both its nature and its Sámi culture.

  5. King Gustav Vasa is buried in Uppsala Cathedral.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. Several chapels of Uppsala Cathedral hold royal tombs, including that of Gustav Vasa.

Fun facts

  1. The name IKEA comes from the initials of its founder and which two places?

    1. A. The farm Elmtaryd and the village Agunnaryd
    2. B. The town Älmhult and the city Stockholm
    3. C. Eskilstuna and Arvika
    4. D. Enköping and Alingsås
    Show the answer

    The farm Elmtaryd and the village Agunnaryd. The farm Elmtaryd and the village Agunnaryd, in Småland, together with the initials of Ingvar Kamprad, who founded IKEA in 1943.

  2. With which song did ABBA win the Eurovision Song Contest in 1974?

    1. A. Waterloo
    2. B. Dancing Queen
    3. C. Mamma Mia
    4. D. Fernando
    Show the answer

    Waterloo. Waterloo, on 6 April 1974 in Brighton, England. It began ABBA's path to worldwide fame.

  3. The Nobel Peace Prize is presented in Stockholm, like the other Nobel Prizes.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. False. The Peace Prize is presented in Oslo, Norway, as Alfred Nobel's will asked for a committee chosen by the Norwegian parliament. The other prizes are presented in Stockholm on 10 December.

  4. On Anders Celsius's original scale of 1742, water boiled at 0 degrees and froze at 100.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. His scale ran the other way round and was turned the right way up after his death.

  5. What changed in Sweden on Dagen H, 3 September 1967?

    1. A. Traffic switched from the left to the right side of the road
    2. B. The krona replaced the old currency
    3. C. Women gained the right to vote
    4. D. Shops began opening on Sundays
    Show the answer

    Traffic switched from the left to the right side of the road. Traffic switched from the left to the right side of the road. 'H' stands for 'högertrafik', right-hand traffic.

  6. Why is the centre of Kiruna, including its famous wooden church, being moved?

    1. A. The iron ore mine is making the ground unstable
    2. B. The town is flooded by the sea every spring
    3. C. A new airport is being built there
    4. D. The river is changing its course
    Show the answer

    The iron ore mine is making the ground unstable. The iron ore mine is making the ground unstable. In August 2025 Kiruna Church was moved in one piece about 5 km to the east.

  7. On which date do Swedes celebrate Lucia, with candlelit processions and singing?

    1. A. 13 December
    2. B. 6 June
    3. C. 24 June
    4. D. 1 May
    Show the answer

    13 December. 13 December. 'Lucia' leads the procession in a white gown, wearing a crown of candles.

Words

  1. What does the Swedish word 'lagom' mean?

    1. A. Just the right amount
    2. B. Very cold
    3. C. Far too much
    4. D. A small lake
    Show the answer

    Just the right amount. Just the right amount: not too much and not too little.

  2. In Swedish, 'fika' can be used both as a noun, 'a coffee break', and as a verb, 'to have a coffee break'.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. You can 'ta en fika', have a fika, or simply 'fika'. It usually means coffee with something sweet, and good company.

  3. What does 'tack' mean in Swedish?

    1. A. Thank you
    2. B. Hello
    3. C. Goodbye
    4. D. Please wait
    Show the answer

    Thank you. Thank you. 'Tack så mycket' means thank you very much.

  4. In the Swedish alphabet, the letters å, ä and ö come after z.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. The Swedish alphabet has 29 letters, and å, ä and ö are the last three.

Phrases

  1. What do Swedes say when they raise their glasses?

    1. A. Skål!
    2. B. Hej då!
    3. C. Förlåt!
    4. D. Varsågod!
    Show the answer

    Skål!. Skål! means cheers. Hej då means goodbye, förlåt means sorry and varsågod means here you are.

  2. Which phrase politely asks 'Do you speak English?'

    1. A. Talar du engelska?
    2. B. Var är toaletten?
    3. C. Hur mycket kostar det?
    4. D. Kan jag få notan?
    Show the answer

    Talar du engelska?. Talar du engelska? The others ask where the toilet is, how much something costs and for the bill.

  3. When does a Swede say 'Varsågod'?

    1. A. When handing something over, or answering 'thank you'
    2. B. When saying goodbye at night
    3. C. When apologising for a mistake
    4. D. When asking for the bill
    Show the answer

    When handing something over, or answering 'thank you'. When handing something over, or answering 'thank you': it means 'here you are' or 'you're welcome'.

  4. 'God kväll' means 'Good morning'.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. False. 'God kväll' means good evening. Good morning is 'God morgon'.

Local customs and tips

  1. What is the official emergency number for police, ambulance and fire brigade in Sweden?

    1. A. 112
    2. B. 999
    3. C. 000
    4. D. 110
    Show the answer

    112. 112, the same emergency number as in the rest of the European Union. The call is free.

  2. How old must you be to buy wine or spirits at Systembolaget, the state-run alcohol shop?

    1. A. 20
    2. B. 16
    3. C. 18
    4. D. 21
    Show the answer

    20. 20. Systembolaget is the state-run chain that sells almost all drinks stronger than 3.5 percent alcohol, and its shops are closed on Sundays.

  3. Some shops, cafés and restaurants in Sweden take cards but do not accept cash.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    True. True. Most people pay by card or with the mobile app Swish, so a bank card is the easiest way to pay.

  4. In Swedish restaurants, a tip of 20 percent is expected on the bill.

    True or false?

    Show the answer

    False. False. Tipping is welcome but not expected. People often round up, and adding about 10 percent is generous.

  5. What is the simple rule of allemansrätten, the right of public access to the countryside?

    1. A. Do not disturb, do not destroy
    2. B. Always ask the landowner first
    3. C. Stay on marked paths only
    4. D. Pay at the nearest farm
    Show the answer

    Do not disturb, do not destroy. Do not disturb, do not destroy. You may walk, pick berries and camp for a night, but keep away from homes and crops.

  6. In many Swedish pharmacies, how do you wait your turn to be served?

    1. A. Take a numbered queue ticket
    2. B. Ring a bell on the counter
    3. C. Write your name on a list
    4. D. Wait by the door to be greeted
    Show the answer

    Take a numbered queue ticket. Take a numbered queue ticket from the machine and wait until your number is shown.

Answer key

The country at a glance

  1. A. Stockholm
  2. A. The Swedish krona
  3. A. Norway and Finland
  4. True
  5. A. Meänkieli

History

  1. A. Gustav Vasa's election as king in 1523
  2. A. Scania (Skåne)
  3. A. She sank in Stockholm harbour on her first voyage
  4. False

Food and drink

  1. A. Lingonberry jam
  2. True
  3. A. Pickled sprats
  4. False
  5. A. Green
  6. A. Shrove Tuesday
  7. A. Pea soup followed by pancakes

Cities

  1. A. Uppsala
  2. True
  3. A. Jokkmokk

Landmarks

  1. A. A 17th-century warship raised from the harbour
  2. True
  3. A. Drottningholm Palace
  4. A. The Sámi
  5. True

Fun facts

  1. A. The farm Elmtaryd and the village Agunnaryd
  2. A. Waterloo
  3. False
  4. True
  5. A. Traffic switched from the left to the right side of the road
  6. A. The iron ore mine is making the ground unstable
  7. A. 13 December

Words

  1. A. Just the right amount
  2. True
  3. A. Thank you
  4. True

Phrases

  1. A. Skål!
  2. A. Talar du engelska?
  3. A. When handing something over, or answering 'thank you'
  4. False

Local customs and tips

  1. A. 112
  2. A. 20
  3. True
  4. False
  5. A. Do not disturb, do not destroy
  6. A. Take a numbered queue ticket

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