Sweden in Camping-Car: advice, areas, routes

Are you going to visit Sweden this year? What if you opt for a road trip in camper or van? Discover all our tips and routes!

Visit Sweden by motorhome, its vast expanses of nature of the Lapland to the Øresund , will surely offer you an unforgettable road trip experience. This country of Scandinavia is no longer fascinating nature lovers and amateurs. Sweden are lakes by thousands, vast forests, multiple traditional fishing villages, typical red houses and areas where a singular tranquility reigns. Sweden has one of the lowest population densities in the continent: only 23 inhabitants/km2 for a population of 10,31 million inhabitants. The country enjoys its rich Viking past, the beauty of its landscapes, its rich heritage and its influential culture.

Are you planning to go to Sweden on a camper or in a furnished van? Well, it’s a fabulous country to go on travelling, without worrying about hotel availability. Here is our mini-guide on itineraries, driving and service areas to visit Sweden on motorhome.

Ideas of itineraries in Sweden by motorhome

The fastest point of entry by land from South Europe and France is the bridge of the Øresund. Built between 1996 and 2000, this bridge of 7.85 kilometres connects Copenhagen (Denmark) to Malmö crossing the Strait of Øresund. It is logically in the south of the country that your route in Sweden will begin. Unless you arrive in Sweden by plane, where you can rent on site a motorhome and leave Stockholm, Malmö, Göteborg , Linköping, Norrköping or Jönköping. Sweden is the fifth largest country in Europe, with 449 965 km2. You can't visit Sweden by camping-car in three or five days. At least, you will only have a few thin glimpses. Your routes will logically depend on the duration of your stay.

You don't know where to start to miss any must? Here are our ideas of some possible routes to do:

• South Sweden: Stockholm (Gamla Stan, downtown), the Baltic Islands (Vaxholm, Grinda), Norrköping, Linköping, Jönköping, the lakes of the centre-sou (Vänern, Vättern), Karlstad, Göteborg, the west coast with Fjällbacka, the coast of Halland, Malmö, the south coast of Kristianstad
• Visit Sweden on motorhome in the north: Stockholm, Uppsala, Siljan Lake in Dalécarlie, Östersund, Arjeplog, Kiruna and Abisko National Park in Lapland, Skellefteå, Umeå and the Gulf of Botnie, Sundsvall, Gävle and Värmland.

These steps take Sweden’s turn over water, lakes, rivers and the Baltic Sea. They are only indicative. Free to you of course to adapt this program according to your desires and abilities. There are many possibilities in Sweden: if there are few major axes, you will have the choice in terms of escapades. There are more than 220,000 islands in Sweden, about 1,000 of which are inhabited. Just around the Stockholm archipelago, there are more than 30,000 islands! Yes, you've read... Take a boat with the motorhome in a ferry to visit some of these islands, including Öland and Gotland.

Driving in Sweden by motorhome: traffic rules to know

Some generalities

The rules applicable to the Swedish road code are singularly the same as in France. To drive and visit Sweden by motorhome, the driver must always be on the right side of the road. Exceeding is done as in France, by the left.

On the other hand, it is mandatory to respect a long safety distance before pulling you off, especially in front of a truck. Of course, it is necessary to have the driver’s license, the insurance certificate and the grey card of the vehicle.

Attention: the vehicle registration country shall be identifiable at the back of the camper. Make sure to apply a self-adhesive that teaches nationality if it is not on the registration plate. It is recalled that all occupants of the camper or the fitted van must have Closed their safety belt when the vehicle is in operation.

Some Swedish specificities

Here are now some specificities for driving in Sweden and motorhomes: driving in Sweden is said "defensive" . It is based on the goodwill of road users, to limit the risks. And cyclists are priorities . We are therefore far from the habits of driving to Italian or French... The ignition of the passing beams, from day to night, is mandatory . And the rate of legal alcohol in blood is more restrictive than in France: less than 0.2 g/l . In other words, it is forbidden to drink only a drink before driving.

1 November to 30 April , it is mandatory to ride with snow tyres . You may be responsible for insurance in the event of an accident without this equipment. You're driving alone in the forest? Be sure to ride in the middle of the road, to avoid hitting wild animals. In terms of speed limitations, they are:

• 50 km/h in town,
• 70 km/h out of town,
• and 80 km/h On the highway.

Also think of having:

• One. gvre scraper and one snow shovel if you travel winter in Sweden.
• You'll also need one long start rope To get out if you're stuck.
• Think about it starting cables, in case of cold-related battery weakness.
• Well, have one. gasoline bidon. This can be salvator if you drive to remote areas in the north where service stations will be more rare.

Motorway to Sweden: what fare for your motorhome category?

Here is a good news: there are very few tolls in Sweden because the highways are free . Two bridges are nevertheless paying in Sweden. These are the bridges of Motala, Sundvall and Øresund.

The payment is made automatically by recognition of the registration plate, 24/7. The cost is 5 SEK (0,50 €) in Motala and 9 SEK (1 € approx.) at Sundsvall. The invoice will be sent to the owner of the motorhome.

Attention to fraud: the Swedish government, via Epass24, does not exempt the foreign plates from payment delays. Penalties up to 500 SEK (53 €) may be claimed. Two points of entry in Sweden are also paid: the Øresund bridge and the Svlnesund bridge (frontier between Sweden and Norway on E6). The Øresund bridge marks the border between Denmark and Sweden. The toll costs 470 SEK or 50 €. The border toll between Sweden and Norway costs 20 NOK (Norwegian tour), or 2,10 €.

Everywhere else, the motorway network is free . It consists of 1,600 kilometres of separate roads. In all, there are about twenty highways, which are sometimes just extensions of a national road. It is therefore not to circulate in camping-car in Sweden that will cost expensive, except fuel.

How and where to rent a motorhome in France?

Would you like to go to Sweden with your Camping-Car or van for example? It is now easy to rent a motorhome in France. How? The best way is to use interpersonal linking platforms, such as the fact Yescapa For example.

How does it work?

• At first, you have to choose the motorhome in your city (For example Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse, Paris, Montpellier or Marseille).
• Be careful choose unlimited mileage, to check the number of beds available and if travel abroad is possible.
• Do your work online rental request and share your travel information (dates, rental options, mileage, etc.) to the owner.
• If your request is accepted and after payment, you will have access to the owner's contact information to organize a First meeting.
• Day J, present your driver's license and pour bail.
• One. status of premises is executed and a lease is signed between the two parties. When you return, after squashing Swedish roads, sign the state of the return places and the tour is played!

How and where to rent a motorhome in Sweden?

As Sweden is a very tourist country, it is not complicated to rent a camper. However, waiting for your arrival in Sweden to rent a vehicle can be risky. You may not be able to take the most suitable vehicle for your needs. This is why it is recommended to book in advance on the internet. Many platforms offer this possibility.

On this type of site, the rental is very simple. Enter your travel dates as well as the city where you want to rent your camper. Search among those offered by number of seats, price and vehicle type. Then make a request and pay online if accepted. You'll receive a confirmation email, and that's it! All you have to do is go get it and visit Sweden in a fitted van or camper!

Camping-car areas in Sweden: where to park?

Here is a major question for anyone who comes to visit Sweden on motorhome. Since it is presented as an unmissable nature destination, as a dream land of travelling travelers, where to park? Know first of all that in Sweden there is an unknown concept in France: it is “free passage” ( Allemansretten ).

It is a right that guarantees universal access to nature. Parking where you seem will be so Authorized , subject to compliance with the legal provisions. And these are pretty strict. And yes, Scandinavian countries are often a mixture of liberal leave-making coupled with strong state interventions.

First, it is prohibited to travel outside the road, in national parks and natural reserves. However, there are some parking areas where you can park and spend the night. You can solicit a landlord to ask him if he accepts that you settle on his property. This is also practiced in France and other countries. If you stay less than 150 metres from the accommodation, it is tolerated to park for the night on the public space, even if it is a private property.

Besides, we count three types of places where to spend the night in Sweden:

• ♪ campsites,
• ♪ camping-cars,
• And the service areas.

There are many campsites in the country: this is the best option to spend the night in your vehicle.

Are you looking for isolated spots to install? With the Park4night app, you will no longer need to ride to find a spot to sleep. This is an application for sharing spots between travellers. There are all types of places (campings, service areas for campers, car parks, isolated places in the middle of nature). To sleep on the edge of a lake, in an isolated forest or on the side of the road, it is a very useful travel tool. The small plus is that you have access to the GPS coordinates of the places. Campercontact and Caramaps websites can also help to find where to sleep.

How to get to Sweden on a motorhome?

If going to Sweden on a camping-car is long enough, it remains quite easy. For those who wish secure roads with rest areas and without paying attention to the wallet, it is possible to take only the highway. The countries crossed are, according to your city of departure, the Belgium or Switzerland , then the Germany and Denmark . Total budget: around 500€ for tolls and gasoline.

If you want to start in northern Sweden, you have the opportunity to cross a large part of Norway to Narvik and cross the border near Abisko in Swedish Lapland. This involves taking a ferry between Hirtshals in Denmark and Kristiansand in Norway for a cost of about 150€ for a single ride and by vehicle.

Beginning with the south of Sweden is accessible via the town of Malmö, which is reached from Copenhagen thanks to the Øresund bridge. The crossing is expensive: 108€ for a camping-car ( 100€ online ).

What is the best time to travel by motorhome in Sweden?

Sweden is a North European country, crossed by the Arctic Circle north of the country. In the northernmost areas, the sun never goes down in the summer.

On the other hand, winter is a permanent night. Lapland is the ideal region where to observe Northern In winter. However, Sweden has a relatively temperate climate thanks to the Gulf Stream. The territory of the country is so wide in latitude that there are different climates:

• Subpolar Lapland,
• Montagnard the Scandinavian Alps,
• Semi-continental by the Baltic Sea,
• And Ocean climate south.

Winter can be rigorous , especially by currents from Russia, with temperatures -20°C , or -40°C North. Winter is less rough and less long south than in Lapland.

Summer is globally soft even warm: it is logically the best season to visit Sweden by motorhome. The South, Scania, Gothenburg and Stockholm can even know peaks of heat to 30-32°C In summer. June presents the longest days, and July is the hottest month.

But if you want to visit Sweden on a camping-car in winter, choose February : the country is covered with snow and the days are longer than in December.

You know everything about how to visit Sweden on a motorhome! You can now enjoy the Nordic landscapes and marvelled your pupils! Good road!