How to shop and haggle in Stockholm

Q Kan jag hjälpa dig med något?Can I help you with anything?

• A Jag bara tittar, tack.I'm just looking, thanks.
• A Ja, jag letar efter [SAK].Yes, I'm looking for [ITEM].

They'll say Säg till om du undrar.Just say if you're wondering about anything.

Q Vad kostar den?How much is it?

• A Tvåhundranittionio.Two hundred and ninety-nine.

Q Har ni den i större storlek?Do you have this in a bigger size?

• A Jag kollar i lagret.I'll check the stockroom.

Q Kan jag prova den?Can I try it on?

• A Provrummen är där borta.The fitting rooms are over there.

Q Tar ni kontanter?Do you take cash?

• A Nej, bara kort.No — card only.

Sweden is as close to cashless as anywhere. Plenty of shops, cafés and every city bus have not handled a note in years.

Q Vill du ha en påse?Would you like a bag?

• A Ja, en påse tack.Yes, a bag please.
• A Nej, det behövs inte.No, there's no need.

They'll say Den kostar fem kronor.It's five kronor.

Q Hur länge har ni öppet?How late are you open?

• A Till sex, söndagar stängt.Until six — closed Sundays.

Q Kan jag byta den här?Can I exchange this?

• A Med kvitto, ja.With a receipt, yes.

Q Stänger ni tidigt på lördagar?Do you close early on Saturdays?

• A Tre på lördagar, söndagar stängt.Three on Saturdays — closed Sundays.

This catches out every visitor exactly once. Shut all day Sunday, and the shutters come down at 15:00 on Saturday.

Q Var ligger närmaste Systembolaget?Where's the nearest Systembolaget?

• A Två kvarter bort.Two blocks away.

The only place in the country selling anything above 3.5%. Nowhere else, at any price, at any hour.

Q Kan du rekommendera något?Can you recommend something?

• A Den här är populär.This one's popular.

Systembolaget staff are not on commission and will give you a straight answer. Ask them.

Q Vad är skillnaden på folköl och starköl?What's the difference between folköl and starköl?

• A Folköl är 3,5 — resten finns bara här.Folköl is 3.5 — everything else is only sold here.

Q Har ni något svenskt?Have you got anything Swedish?

• A Hela hyllan där.That whole shelf there.

Q Måste jag beställa i förväg?Do I have to order in advance?

• A Bara för det ovanliga.Only for the unusual things.

Q Har du legitimation?Do you have ID?

• A Ja, här är mitt pass.Yes — here's my passport.

They'll say Tack så mycket.Thanks very much.

The limit here is 20, not the 18 that gets you served in a bar, and they ask anyone who looks under 25.

Q Får man dricka öl i parken?Are you allowed to drink beer in the park?

• A Officiellt nej, men ingen bryr sig.Officially no — but nobody minds.

Banned in most municipalities and quietly tolerated in parks all summer. Keep it calm and tidy and nothing happens.