A B  C  D  E F G H I J K L  M  N  O  P Q R S  T  U  V  W X Y Z

 

A.

Academic calendar

The academic year consists of 40 weeks, divided into two semesters. Please find the academic calendar for each school at the student web, under “Studies External link, opens in new window.”, 

Air Travel

Jönköping Airport is located 9 km from the city centre.

To get to and from the airport there is a regular bus service (route 31) to Jönköping city centre. There are also airport taxis.

There are several international airports with good connections to Jönköping:

  • Landvetter Airport – near Gothenburg on the west coast; the largest and most commonly used airport in the region.
  • Arlanda Airport – located near Stockholm on the east coast.
  • Stockholm Skavsta Airport – near Nyköping, east Sweden.
  • Stockholm Västerås Airport – west of Stockholm, east Sweden.
  • Stockholm Bromma Airport – within Stockholm city area.
  • Malmö Airport (Sturup) – in southern Sweden.

All of these airports are within a few hours of Jönköping by car, train, or bus. Some airports offer direct coach services to Jönköping, while others may require a combination of train or bus connections to reach the city.

Alcohol

In Sweden, you can only buy alcoholic beverages at a store called Systembolaget. Alcohol cannot be purchased in supermarkets or other regular shops. Drinks sold in ordinary stores have very low alcohol content.

To buy alcohol at Systembolaget, you must be at least 20 years old and able to prove your age with a valid ID. Check with your nearest Systembolaget store to see which IDs are accepted, including those from other European countries.

Please note that Sweden has a zero-tolerance policy for drink-driving.

Allemansrätten - "Right of Public Access"

Allemansrätten, or the right of public access, gives everyone the right to access both private and public land and waterways for outdoor activities such as hiking, jogging, boating, and other recreational activities, provided that no damage is caused. You must show consideration for other people and animals, and respect private landowners’ wishes. This means you cannot walk or sail too close to houses or private gardens. It is also recommended to ask the landowner if you plan to pitch a tent for an extended period.

B

Bookshops

Books in Sweden are generally quite expensive, including paperbacks. In Jönköping, you can find a few local bookstores such as Akademibokhandeln and smaller independent shops. However, it is also very common to buy books online, especially course literature. More affordable options are available on websites like Adlibris and Amazon.

Buses

The local buses in Jönköping are operated by Jönköpings Länstrafik (JLT) and serve most areas of the city. A single trip typically costs around 40 SEK for adults.

The main bus stop in the city is Juneporten, close to the railwaystation.

For more information on single tickets, monthly passes, timetables, and ticket dealers please visit the official JLT website. External link, opens in new window.

C

Campus Map

Campus Map Opens in new window.

Cash Dispensers (ATMs)

Cash dispensers (ATMs or "Bankomat" in Swedish) can be found all around the city and they normally accept international cards (e.g. VISA, Mastercard).

Cinemas

Jönköping has three cinemas. Filmstaden is the biggest and it screens most of the newest releases. The price for a ticket there is around 120 SEK. Biograf Fokus and Folkets Bio have smaller screens and the price for admission is normally less than at Filmstaden. These two, however, have a narrower programme and fewer screenings. Movies are usually subtitled in Swedish.

Filmstaden, Juneporten External link, opens in new window.(In Swedish)

Jönköping filmstudio (Biograf Fokus) External link, opens in new window. (In Swedish)

Folkets Bio, Kulturhuset External link, opens in new window. (In Swedish)

Climate

In winter, southern Sweden only gets a few hours of daylight. Around the shortest days in December, the sun rises around 08:30 and sets around 15:00. Around the summer solstice in June, the sun rises around 04:00 and sets around 22:00.

Average temperatures in winter are usually between -3 °C and +3 °C, while summer temperatures typically range from 18 °C to 22 °C, occasionally reaching 25 °C on warm days.

Clothing

Welcome to Sweden! The weather changes a lot during the year, so it’s important to dress accordingly.

  • Spring (March–May): Light jacket, sweater, long pants, and waterproof shoes.
  • Summer (June–August): T-shirts, shorts or skirts, and a light sweater for cool evenings.
  • Autumn (September–November): Warm sweater, water- and windproof jacket, boots, and an umbrella.
  • Winter (December–February): Warm winter coat, hat, gloves, scarf, boots, and layers underneath.

Tip: Sweden can be rainy and windy, so a good jacket and shoes are important all year round. Layering is practical and helps you stay comfortable throughout the day.

Credit Cards

All major credit cards are widely accepted in Sweden, often requiring a passport or other form of ID, and in some cases, a chip and PIN. Credit cards can also be used at selected ATMs for cash withdrawals.

Culture

Spira is Jönköping’s main cultural arena, offering music, theatre, performing arts, and good food.

Other cultural highlights in Jönköping include:

  • Jönköpings Teater – Historic theatre with plays and concerts in the city center.
  • Jönköpings Konserthus – Modern concert hall by Lake Vättern.
  • Jönköpings Läns Museum – Art and history exhibitions.
  • Tändsticksmuseet (The Matchstick Museum) – Showcasing Jönköping’s matchstick industry and local history.
  • Kulturhuset – Cultural center with theatre, dance, film, and creative workshops.
  • Elmia – Large venue for exhibitions and festivals, including DreamHack.

Currency

The Swedish currency is the Swedish krona (SEK). 1 Swedish krona equals 100 öre. The denominations for coins are 1, 2, 5 and 10 kronor.

Notes are 20, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1,000 kronor.

Exchange office in Jönköping: Forex Bank, Västra Storgatan 6. You can find the latest exchange rates at Forex website External link, opens in new window..

Cycling

Jönköping is an ideal city for cycling since there are many cycle paths running through the city and its suburbs. Round, blue traffic signs with a white bicycle indicate the paths. If you cycle after dark you must have lights, both front and back, and also reflectors. If you don’t, you could be fined by the police. Also remember that we drive on the right-hand side of the road.

If you want to buy a cheap second-hand bicycle, you can look in the small ads in the local papers. You can also rent a bike at a few places in the city.

D

Dates

Dates are often written in the following order: year, month, day, e.g. 12 October 2015 is written 2015-10-12 (or just 151012); or day, month, year 12/10 2015. Dates are never written in the order of month, day, year as in the United States.

Dental Care

Before leaving for Sweden it might be wise to have a thorough check-up at your dentist's. It can be both difficult and expensive to get an appointment with a dentist in Sweden. Should you still need to see a dentist during your stay in Jönköping, the public dental service is Folktandvården External link, opens in new window. (in Swedish). There are also private dental clinics. If you need urgent dental treatment, call any dental clinic and ask for advice.

Please note that dental care is not included in the social benefits.

Driving in Sweden

If you are over 18 and hold a driving license from your home country, you may use it in Sweden for up to one year. Driving licenses issued in EU and EEA countries are valid in Sweden and do not need to be exchanged for a Swedish license.

Licenses from Switzerland and Japan can be exchanged for a Swedish license without taking a driving test. For more information, visit the Swedish Transport Agency External link, opens in new window. (Transportstyrelsen).

In Sweden, driving is on the right-hand side of the road. All passengers must wear seat belts at all times. Dipped headlights or special daytime running lights must be used at all times, even during the day.

Sweden has strict drinking and driving laws. The police can stop any vehicle at any time and perform a breath test. Drinking and driving is not tolerated in Sweden.

When driving in wooded areas, watch out for wildlife such as moose, deer, and wild boar. From 1 December to 31 March, it is mandatory for passenger cars to be equipped with winter tires when winter road conditions apply (snow, ice, or frost).

Drugs

The Swedish police take the use and possession of illegal drugs very seriously. According to Swedish law, using or possessing narcotic drugs is a criminal offence and can result in fines or imprisonment.

Swedish society does not tolerate the use of drugs, including marijuana, cannabis, and stronger substances such as cocaine. Drug use is strictly prohibited and socially unacceptable in Sweden.

E

Electricity

Sweden uses 220 volts and 50 Hz, which is the European standard. You may need a voltage converter and/or plug adapter for your electrical devices, as Swedish outlets differ from those in countries such as the United States or the United Kingdom.

Embassies and Consulates

Swedish embassies and consulates around the world External link, opens in new window.

Embassies and consulates in Sweden External link, opens in new window. (in Swedish)

Emergency

In Sweden the emergency phone number is 112 (no area code needed) for ambulance, police, fire department etc. If you use a telephone booth your call is free of charge when you press the emergency button and then dial 112.

Event Tickets

Tickets for different theatre, concert and sporting events in Jönköping and Sweden can be found at

J

JU Card

With the JU card, you can access the university’s buildings, borrow books from the University Library and log into printers/copying machines. The card gives you access to buildings that you are authorised to enter. Your authorisation is based on your organisational belonging.

Jönköping

Jönköping is the ninth largest city in Sweden with around 147,000 inhabitants. The city is located in a region characterized by innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit. Jönköping is easily accessible by train, plane, bus or car. There are excellent links between Jönköping and the other major cities in Sweden as well as with the continent.

For more information please visit Jönköping Municipality’s website External link, opens in new window. or Destination Jönköping External link, opens in new window.

Map of Jönköping External link, opens in new window.

L

Laundry

There are few laundrettes in Sweden, as most private homes and apartment buildings have laundry facilities on-site. Check where the laundry room is located in your building and ask the landlord for help if you are unsure how to use it.

Dry cleaning can be quite expensive in Sweden, so always check the prices before using the service.

Library

Jönköping University has its own library facility where you can find all the help you need such as course literature, foreign newspapers, computer databases etc.

There are also several city libraries, "bibliotek", where you can borrow books free of charge. In order to borrow books you will need a library card. The library staff will help you acquire one if you bring your passport with you the first time you borrow books.

The main library is at Dag Hammarskjölds plats 1. It has books, newspapers and magazines in foreign languages.

M

Museums

There are many museums in Jönköping which you should try to visit. For more information contact the Tourist Information office, Juneporten, or visit Destination Jönköping External link, opens in new window.

N

Newspapers

Jönköpings-Posten is the local newspaper, published six days a week (Monday to Saturday). Major national morning newspapers include Dagens Nyheter and Svenska Dagbladet, while evening papers include Aftonbladet and Expressen.

For international newspapers, you can visit the University Library or one of the city libraries. Pressbyrån at the railway station also sells some international newspapers and magazines.

Swedish news in English is available on The Local's website External link, opens in new window..

O

Opening Hours

Shops in the city centre are normally open on:

  • weekdays 10 a.m. - 6 p.m./7 p.m.
  • Saturdays: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m/4 p.m.
  • Sundays 12 noon - 4 p.m. (some shops)

Asecs Shopping Centre is open on:

  • weekdays 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
  • Saturdays 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  • Sundays 11 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Banks are usually open weekdays 10 a.m. - 6 p.m, however visiting hours may vary.

Post offices and pharmacies are open the same hours as most shops.

P

Pharmacy

At the pharmacies (apotek) you can buy prescription and non-prescription drugs as well as health-care products. The staff can also give you general medical advice. Some non-prescription drugs can also be bought at supermarkets.

There are pharmacies at the health care centres, in the city centre, at Asecs Shopping Centre and in connection to various supermarkets. The opening hours may vary, however most of them are open during weekdays as well as weekends.

The pharmacy at Ryhov County Hospital is open weekdays 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Police

In case of emergency, call 112.

If you want to report something stolen, have any questions about passports, etc., you can visit the local police station on Vallgatan 3-5 or contact them by phone: +46 (0)36 - 114 14.

You can find more information at the Police website External link, opens in new window..

Post Office

Sweden's Postal Service has pick-up and drop-off points in shops containing post offices ("kiosk"), shopping centres and petrol stations, as well as yellow mailboxes in many convenient locations. In the post office you can buy stamps and envelopes and also register your mail and send express mail. Post-services are normally available during the shops' opening hours.

Public Holidays

New Year's Day (Nyårsdagen) 1 January

Epiphany (Trettondagen) 6 January

Good Friday (Långfredagen) in March or April

Easter Sunday (Påskdagen) in March or April

Easter Monday (Annandag Påsk) in March or April

May Day (Första maj) 1 May

Ascension Day (Kristi Himmelfärdsdag) a Thursday in May

National day (Nationaldagen) 6 June

Midsummer's Day (Midsommardagen) a Saturday towards the end of June

All Saints' Day (Alla helgons dag) a Saturday in early November

Christmas Day (Juldagen) 25 December

Boxing Day (Annandag jul) 26 December

In addition to these official holidays, Midsummer's Eve, Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve are holidays for most government employees and many others.

S

Ski Slopes

There are several smaller ski slopes around Jönköping. At slalombackar.se External link, opens in new window. you can search for a ski slope near you

Smoking

Smoking is not allowed inside buildings. This includes public buildings, companies, restaurants, pubs, schools and even your accommodation. If it is allowed to smoke in a building, you will find signs indicating where. You should normally go outside if you want to smoke.

Sports

Jönköping has many sports centres and gyms in the city

HV71 is Jönköping’s professional ice hockey club. Founded in 1971, the team has won the Swedish national championship several times. HV71 plays in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL), the country’s top division. Ice hockey is very popular in Jönköping. For more information or to buy tickets for HV71 matches, visit their official website External link, opens in new window..

Jönköpings Södra IF (J-Södra) is a professional football club based in Jönköping. Founded in 1922, the team currently plays in Ettan Södra, the third tier of Swedish football. Home matches are held at Stadsparksvallen, which has a capacity of 6,295 spectators. For more information and ticket sales, visit their official website External link, opens in new window..

Swimming

In summer, the beach of lake Vättern is a very popular place but there are countless other small lakes in and around Jönköping which are good for bathing and swimming.

In winter there are two public swimming pool complexes:

T

Taxi

A taxi ride from Jönköping Airport to the city centre takes about 10 minutes and costs around 200–300 SEK. The cost depends on and is adjusted according to various factors, such as the time of day.

Telephones

In Sweden, many people use mobile phones with prepaid SIM cards from Swedish providers, which can be topped up online or at various retail outlets such as convenience stores and newsagents. If you prefer not to purchase a mobile phone in Sweden, it's often possible to use a phone from your home country with a Swedish SIM card, provided the phone is unlocked.

To call Sweden from abroad, dial your country's international exit code (e.g., 00 in most European countries), followed by +46, and then the area code without the leading zero (e.g., 36 for Jönköping).

To call abroad from Sweden, dial 00 followed by the country code and the local number.

Television

In Sweden, most foreign-language TV programmes are shown with Swedish subtitles rather than being dubbed. The most popular Swedish TV channels include SVT1, SVT2, and TV4. Most residential areas have access to multiple TV channels.

Theatres

The main theatres in Jönköping are:

  1. Smålands Musik och Teater – a regional cultural institution offering a diverse range of performances, including theatre, music, and dance, primarily at Kulturhuset Spira in Jönköping. Kulturhuset Spira
  2. Jönköpings Teater – a historic venue located at Hovrättstorget in central Jönköping, hosting various performances such as theatre, music, and comedy. jonkopingsteater.se

For information on current performances, you can check the local newspaper Jönköpings-Posten, which provides listings and reviews of cultural events. jp.se

For more information about theatre and other events, visit Ticketmaster External link, opens in new window. or the official websites of the theatres mentioned above.

Time Zone

Sweden operates on Central European Time (CET), which is UTC+1 during standard time. Daylight Saving Time (DST) is observed from the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October, during which clocks are set forward one hour to Central European Summer Time (CEST), UTC+2. Wikipedia

Time is typically written using the 24-hour clock system, and it's common to use a full stop (period) as a separator between hours and minutes, such as 13.00 for 1:00 PM. However, colons (:) are also used in some contexts.

Tourist Information

Tourists in Jönköping can obtain information and tips about the city and its surroundings from Destination Jönköping, the official visitor organization. There are also InfoPoints at hotels, museums, and shops where visitors can get maps and advice from knowledgeable staff. In central Jönköping, tourist services provide information on events, shopping, and activities, and additional digital information and inspiration are available through official websites and social media.

Travel within Sweden

The railway station is located in the middle of Jönköping city centre. The train company SJ runs most of the railway lines in Sweden. For information about tickets or national arrivals and departures, please visit SJ’s website External link, opens in new window.. Tickets can also be bought at the railway station.

There are a number of coach companies which connect most parts of Sweden. Here are a links to few of them:

U

University Chaplaincy

There are many places of worship in Jönköping. Some conduct services in languages other than Swedish. If you have questions regarding religious groups or traditions, please contact the University Chaplaincy External link, opens in new window..

V

Visa

Citizens of certain countries require a visa to enter Sweden. A Schengen visa allows stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period across the Schengen Area, which includes Sweden. Applications should be submitted to the Swedish embassy or consulate in the applicant's country of residence, and you must receive an approved decision before traveling.

Vaccinations

While Sweden does not require vaccinations for entry, travelers may be advised to have certain routine or travel-related vaccinations depending on their health and travel plans. It is recommended to consult a healthcare provider or travel medicine specialist well in advance.

For up-to-date guidance, visit the Public Health Agency of Sweden.

W

Water

Tap water in Sweden is of very high quality, tastes good, and is safe to drink. The water comes from clean lakes and groundwater and undergoes extensive purification and continuous quality control before reaching household taps.

However, it is recommended to use cold tap water for drinking and cooking, as hot water from the tap may contain metals from the plumbing system.

Wireless Internet

Jönköping University has wireless internet available on campus. Wi-Fi is also widely available at public places, such as cafés, and restaurants throughout Sweden.

Websites