You know that sooner or later you will have to use the bathroom in Sweden. But often, foreign toilets are different from what you are used to. It’s best to go over some bathroom tips before your first trip to the bathroom in Sweden.
Advantages of toilets in Sweden
Toilets in Sweden are modern and sometimes have fun Scandinavian designs to keep you entertained. There are many public baths near popular attractions, which are easily accessible to tourists. (This is especially the case in the capital city of Stockholm). Public toilets in Sweden are self-cleaning (rotating toilet seats) or are manually cleaned on a regular basis, especially the toilets in shopping malls and sit-down restaurants, so you don’t have to worry about a dirty situation when you go to do your business.
Sweden doesn’t have many squat toilets either.
Cons of bathrooms in Sweden
One of the biggest disadvantages of using the public toilet in Sweden is that it can cost money. When you enter, you may have to pay two to five crowns (around 25 to 50 US cents), and it has to be in exact change, which can be a bit inconvenient. These pay-per-use potties aren’t expensive, but they can come as a surprise to travelers. With this in mind, it’s smart to bring coins in case you need to get the bathroom running. Similarly, fast food restaurants also tend to charge a small fee, and some have locks to keep uninvited people out.
If you’re dining at the restaurant, just ask your server for the bathroom lock code. Either way, it’s a common courtesy to pay for something, be it a small item or a drink, before asking to use the bathroom.
Also, the train station is one of the few places in Sweden that tend to have dirtier bathrooms. If the train station is near your hotel, you can wait to use the bathroom there.
Finding toilets in Sweden
All the toilets in Scandinavia bear the symbol of the ladies and gentlemen’s restroom, making them easy to identify. Even if it is an emergency, men should never use a bush or a tree to do their business. In Scandinavia, that can quickly earn you a large fine.
If you are taking trips to other Nordic countries, such as Finland and Iceland, you may also want to check your bathroom etiquette. It may differ a bit from Sweden.
