This needs updating but includes some things that people found useful!
Helpful Swedish and ESI stuff
If you have any questions that you’d like to see added here, let me know!
• Power adapter – don’t forget to bring an EU adapter!!!
• Bed sheets and towels – If you can’t bring your own then you can rent them for 150SEK. (I’m finding out if you need to order this in advance)
•Shampoo and shower gel – bring your own. But there is soap.
•Room Sharing – room space is limited at ESI, so all rooms are sharing twins. Essentially I get to choose who shares with whom – so if you have a request for a room mate, just let me know.
•Alcohol – There is no bar at the Eric Sahlström Institute, you have to bring your own. To buy alcohol in Sweden you have to do it in government shops called Systembollaget. The closest shop is either in Uppsala or Tierp.*
• Shops – there are absolutely no shops in Tobo so either bring everything, or get it at the airport, or try to get a lift with someone with a car.*
• Shoes – In Sweden you don’t wear shoes indoors, shoes are left at the door and then you put your slippers on. So bring slippers!
• Fika – this word means coffee and cake. Very important!
• Currency – the currency is the Swedish krona, this can be written as SEK or as :- so, 50 kronor can be written as 50 SEK or 50:-
* If I had a car again then I could think about making a collection and buying some beer and wine and bringing it. I could do the same for crisps and chocolate
When you get to Arlanda follow the signs for the Trains.
To start with you want to go to Uppsala and then change there and take the train to Tobo. This link should take you to a search for trains on the 18th. The whole journey takes about an hour.
The thing to note is that there are two ways of doing the journey – one with local trains and one with the SJ Intercity. This is like the Heathrow Express and is faster but more expensive. However – if you want to get out of the airport via train there is an airport tax of 130SEK. This price is included in the Intercity price. So for the local train option you have to add 130 SEK into your calculations. Here’s what the airport says. It’s easy. Just remember you are NOT going into Stockholm. You are going to Arlanda.So don’t take the Arlanda Express to Centralen/Stockholm.
The train station is in-between terminals 4 and 5. Keep up and into SkyCity. The train station is on the right. It is easiest to buy a ticket using a smartphone app. You’re looking for SJ and the icon as of today (January 24) looks like the image on the left.
I have an info graphic to help you – it’s quite a big image – so it’s below at the bottom of the page.
Hire Cars
You have to take the airport shuttle to get to the hire car place. Make sure you hire in advance and don’t leave it to luck when you arrive chances are they won’t have any stock. You will get winter tyres as standard. Request studs they may not come as standard, they shouldn’t cost you anymore. You will need them! Don’t go electric. I don’t know how Sweden is set up for Electric and can’t help, I just avoid that option. You’ll arrive at Terminal 5 and the bus to get to the hire car leaves from Terminal 4 (or 2). It takes approximately 5-7 minutes to walk from the bus stop at Terminal 4 to Terminal 5. The walk is indoors via SkyCity. The bus will be labelled P2 Beta Long Term.
The infographic is below.
Helpful Flight Stuff
I have a flying with a nyckelharpa guidance page here.
I also have a page with my experience of flying here. You need a password, it’s: fl1ght
There are also more flight options on the original workshop page.
RYANAIR from Stansted
Last year I flew Ryanair. This is the day I booked my seats, I added a 20kg bag as I am visiting family at the start and the price for the two seats and bags was £150.
Book two seats. At the start don’t add bags. (Do this later so you don’t add bags to both seats).
The nyckelharpa travels as First Name: EXTRA Last Name: ITEM SEAT
Make it the same gender as your passport and when you check in, use your passport number.
The nyckelharpa has to be window seat – so it’s best to pay the £8 per seat per flight to make sure you don’t fall foul of this later.
