Making the most of Sundsvall
Use these notes to shape a realistic day ashore, then confirm any time-sensitive information for the date of your call.
Arriving at the port
The industrial port, where cruise ships dock is about 5 km from town. Use taxis or ship provided transportation.
On the one hand you have Sundsvall, a beautiful town with a rich and clearly vibrant range of culture and entertainment, on the other there is the magnificent natural beauty that is such a key feature of the town. The town center is one of the most beautiful in the country, with long boulevards and richly decorated buildings in neo-Renaissance style, built as the town rose from the ashes of a devastating fire in 1888 that made 9,000 people homeless. Today, future architects and town planners regularly visit Sundsvall to study the listed town center.
Food and shopping
Serious shoppers may find their biggest problem is deciding what to buy. The epithet "Norrland's shopping Mecca" is well deserved. With just over 200 stores-from exclusive, personal boutiques to all the major chains, department stores and a handful of galleries-Sundsvall definitely takes its shopping seriously. The choice is vast, perhaps with a slight emphasis on fashion and interiors.
Money
The national currency is the Swedish krona (SEK, plural kronor). 1 USD is about 5.91 SEK, 1 EUR is about 9.43 SEK and 1 GBP is about 12.28 SEK.
Automatic teller machines take major credit cards. Most stores, restaurants and bars accept all major credit cards, although in some cases there is a SEK 5 fee or a lowest purchase limit (between 50 - 100 SEK).
Staying connected
Swedish is the national language of Sweden, but you will find that people, especially those below the age of 70, also speak English very well - an estimated 89% of Swedes can speak English.
112 is the phone number to dial in case of fire, medical or criminal emergency.
Opening Hours and
Most shops, at least downtown, are open all week, even on Sundays.