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How to Get Wifi in Sweden: Guide for Tourists
17 June 2024
pocket wifi
Joseph Philipson
How to Get WiFi in Sweden for Your Holidays
Are you going to Sweden? Are you excited to visit one of the major cities like Stockholm, Gothenburg, or Malmö? Have you decided to do something away from an urban center, like visit Lapland, stay in an ice hotel, or hike along the Kungsleden?
Sweden offers something for every kind of tourist, but to make the most of your trip, you need to stay connected with a good internet connection.
Even if you’re looking to disconnect during your time in Sweden, an internet connection can help with directions, making reservations, brushing up on your Swedish, or just streaming your favorite shows at the end of a long day exploring.
So, what are your options as a tourist? Should you choose pocket WiFi or stick with your mobile carrier’s data roaming service?
Still trying to figure it out? Here’s what you need to know.
The Best Ways of Getting WiFi in Sweden
There are many ways to stay connected in Sweden. The mobile network connection is fairly fast, with Swedes enjoying the 30th fastest mobile connection in the world.
Sweden’s four leading mobile network operators, Telia, Telenor, Tele2, and Tre (3), cover 99 percent of the country’s population.
So, how can tourists benefit from this fast coverage?
There are five main ways to get an internet connection while visiting Sweden: pocket WiFi, prepaid travel SIM cards, eSIM cards, international data roaming, and public WiFi. Public WiFi is widely available in Sweden, especially in major cities and tourist areas, but the speed and coverage can vary, and there may be limitations on data usage.
Here are the pros and cons and costs of each of them to help you make your decision.
Pocket WiFi
Pocket WiFi is a convenient way to enjoy a fast and stable internet connection while you travel. A dedicated portable hotspot, MiFi, or pocket WiFi connects to the mobile data network and creates a WiFi network for you and your devices, ensuring you stay connected without any hassle.
Most devices allow up to 10 simultaneous connections, and even more if you choose a premium device, you and your entire group or family can stay connected.
Rather than buying such a device, travelers can rent one during their stay, have it delivered before they travel, pick it up once they’re in the country at an airport or parcel shop, or send it to their accommodation.
Pros
Offering the fastest and most stable connections, pocket WiFi works well in urban areas and Sweden’s many popular rural destinations, such as Dalarna, the Swedish Archipelagoes, and Lapland. Lapland actually spans three countries, Sweden, Norway, and Finland and if you find yourself in border territories, you can always rent pocket Wifi for the whole of Europe.
Pocket WiFi is also great for groups. While smartphones can tether their connection to other devices, this quickly drains the battery. Since pocket WiFi is a dedicated device, most devices will last all day and have innovative battery-saving features.
Cons
The only real downside to pocket WiFi is bringing an extra device everywhere. Since most devices are no bigger than smartphones, this is fine. You can even get tiny pocket WiFi dongles about the size of a USB drive.
Cost
Hippocketwifi costs between €4.90 and €7.90 a day for 1GB of data per day. For unlimited data, the cost is between €6.90 and €9.90. The longer you rent, the cheaper it becomes. When you consider how much pocket WiFi costs, Hippocketwifi is the best value for money.
TravelWiFi’s portable hotspot rental costs are between €8.25 and €12.25 per day, with daily limits between 1GB and 10GB.
MyWebspot charges €9.50 per day with the option of spending an extra €2.90 daily for an unlimited high-speed connection.
RentConnect costs $6.99 a day for unlimited mobile data.
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SIM Cards
A popular option with solo travelers is a prepaid SIM card offered by local mobile carriers Telia, halebop (by Telia), Comviq (by Tele2), Telenor, and Lyca Mobile.
In Sweden, like other countries, you can buy a prepaid SIM card to make calls, send messages, and access the internet. However, you will be required to register your SIM using your name and ID (typically a passport).
You can use it once you have the SIM registered and in your phone. You can buy these SIM cards from network carrier stores and convenience stores like Coop, ATG, 7-Eleven, Circle K, Hemköp, and Pressbyrån.
Pros
The advantage of a SIM card is that as long as your phone isn’t locked to a single carrier (check first!), you can enjoy the same mobile data connections as locals through your everyday phone.
Cons
If your phone only has one SIM card slot, you must remove your everyday SIM. You won’t be reachable on your usual number without your usual SIM. Instead, people must contact you using the new number associated with your travel SIM or via web-based apps like WhatsApp, Messenger, etc.
Cost
Telia’s prepaid starter pack, “Telia Kontantkort Startpaket,” is available for free online and in Telia stores. You can also buy it in the aforementioned convenience stores, though you need to register it before you can top it up. Data-only packs called “Surf” can be bought for between 49 SEK and 499 SEK for 500MB and 30GB.
The Halebop Kontantkort is also available for 100 SEK at many other stores and outlets at Telia stores. Again, you’ll need to register this at a Telia store. “Fastpris” bundles are available for between 129 SEK and 429 SEK for 2GB and 100GB.
Comviq and Lyca Mobile offer comparable rates and needlessly long and complicated lists of prices and data amounts. If you can be bothered, feel free to look through them all.
eSIM
An eSIM is a digital SIM that’s embedded in certain newer smartphones. Instead of using a physical SIM card, you can buy and configure SIM cards in the phone through the settings.
This allows you to use multiple SIM cards without needing to physically swap them out, making it a convenient option for frequent travelers.
Users can use multiple SIM cards without needing to physically swap out SIM cards. Travelers can contract services in other countries even before they land.
Pros
This is particularly useful for those whose phones are eSIM compatible and is as quick to set up and configure as international data roaming.
Cons
You can only get an eSIM if your phone is compatible. Much like SIM cards, an eSIM still uses your phone to connect to the internet, which isn’t as fast or as reliable as renting a dedicated pocket WiFi device in Sweden. So, if you’re traveling to Lapland or any other remote parts of Sweden, this mightn’t be the option for you.
Business travelers may also want to avoid an eSIM connection. When connecting devices like laptops and tablets, you need to tether them to your phone. This makes the connection slower and will drain your phone’s battery more quickly.
Cost
Airalo, Ubigi, and Holafly provide Sweden’s most popular eSIM options.
The Airalo Vän range of local eSIMs ranges from $4.50 for 1GB over 7 days to $32 for 20GB over 30 days.
Ubigi charges $7 for 3GB of data over 15 days or $15 for 10GB over 30 days. This service uses the Telia network.
Holafly charges $6 per day for unlimited data in Sweden through their eSIM solution.
Data Roaming International Plan
Suppose you don’t get pocket WiFi, a prepaid SIM, or an eSIM. In that case, you can always contact your domestic mobile carrier and set up data roaming.
Using partner networks will allow you to connect to Swedish data connections.
Pros
This is one of the simplest options to set up. If you don’t do anything, you’ll likely receive an SMS from your domestic carrier telling you how to set it up
when you land in Sweden.
Cons
International roaming connections are slow and unreliable since your connection is through a partner network.
Cost
Roaming is notoriously expensive in certain circumstances. For unplanned roaming, some providers have charged users thousands!
Check the cost of roaming provided by your domestic carrier before you travel anywhere.
Use Free WiFi
Suppose you don’t have any other option. In that case, you can always connect to WiFi networks in towns and cities, certain public places, and local businesses like coffee shops.
Pros
This is an option for those who have no other options. If you’re stuck without internet, you can go into a local business, buy something, and ask for their WiFi password.
Some public places also offer free WiFi.
Cons
Public WiFi networks are typically slower and less reliable but can also be dangerous. Scammers and hackers can exploit unsecured public WiFi networks to steal sensitive information, so always be careful when using them, and don’t ever connect to an unknown network.
Cost
Typically, these networks are free. However, some may charge for limited use.
How to Choose the Best WiFi Option for Your Sweden Trip
So, how can you choose the right solution for accessing the internet in Sweden? While pocket WIFi is typically the best option for travelers, especially in groups, there are still a few things you should consider before deciding.
Rental Duration
Pocket WiFi gets cheaper the longer you rent the device. Longer packages for SIM cards and eSIM options also become more affordable over extended periods.
However, data roaming might be more straightforward if you’re spending a few hours in Sweden.
Data Limit
Some people use different amounts of data. Check how much data you typically use to know how much you need to pay for.
Prepaid SIM cards offer many different data options and prices, but most solutions provide both limited and unlimited connections.
Connectivity
Suppose you visit any of Sweden’s national parks like Abisko or Sarek. In that case, you’ll likely want a solution that provides a high-speed and reliable connection. Again, pocket WiFi is your best bet here.
Usage
In Sweden, 2G and 3G connections are no longer available, but 4G and 5G connections are. The former is more than fast enough for most users, especially those too busy enjoying Sweden to care too much about their internet connection.
However, 5G is 100x faster than 4G and much better for business users who need to make video calls or anyone sending or downloading large files while traveling.
