Sweden Neighbouring Countries and Nordic Region
Sweden’s Neighboring Countries
Snuggled up in the Nordic part of the world, Sweden rubs shoulders with a few of its nearby pals, both by dry land and across the wavy seas.
Land Borders
Sweden cozies up with two countries on land:
- Norway: To the west, Norway sprawls alongside Sweden with a hefty border filled with mountains and dense forests. It’s like the two countries are taking a stroll through a nature park together.
- Finland: This friend to the northeast shares a line marked by rivers and forests. It’s a little scenic getaway that keeps Sweden and Finland connected.
Check out the border stats:
| Country | Border Type | Border Length (km) |
|---|---|---|
| Norway | Land | 1,630 |
| Finland | Land | 614 |
Maritime Borders
When it comes to water, Sweden’s got quite a few buddies just beyond the waves in the Baltic Sea, making it a hot spot for trade and culture swapping.
- Denmark: Just a hop, skip, and a jump southwest via the Öresund Strait.
- Germany: Hanging out due south across the Baltic.
- Poland: Kicking it to the southeast across the Baltic.
- Russia: To the east, keeping things spicy across the sea.
- Lithuania: Earning its spot to the east across the water.
- Latvia: Also chilling to the east across the Baltic.
- Estonia: Sharing the eastern vibes across the Baltic.
Here’s a peek at those sea connections:
| Country | Border Type | Approximate Distance (km) |
|---|---|---|
| Denmark | Maritime | 90 |
| Germany | Maritime | 310 |
| Poland | Maritime | 550 |
| Russia | Maritime | 435 |
| Lithuania | Maritime | 330 |
| Latvia | Maritime | 300 |
| Estonia | Maritime | 300 |
These sea lanes are Sweden’s highways for shipping and mingling, opening doors for business and friendships. Curious about the backstory? Check out articles on how Sweden and Denmark get along across the water and dive into the history with the Baltic States.
Positioned just right, Sweden’s mix of land and sea borders makes it a social butterfly in this part of Europe. Want to see how it fits with its northern neighbors or the Nordic clan? There’s more to explore with tales of borders up north and Nordic friendships.
Sweden and Norway
Border Details
Sweden and Norway share quite the stretch of land, meandering for around 1,630 kilometers. This boundary snakes from the Skagerrak Strait down south right up to the part where the globe gets really chilly—the Arctic Circle. Thanks to the challenging Scandinavian landscape, with mountains and thick forests playing gatekeepers, this border has a bit of history. Let’s just say, once upon a time, it saw some shifts, but in the last few centuries, it’s been as steady as a rock.
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Length | 1,630 km |
| Terrain | Mountains, Forests |
| Notable Features | Arctic Circle, Skagerrak Strait |
Transportation Links
If you’re thinking of hopping over from Sweden to Norway, or vice versa, there’s no shortage of ways to make it happen. Top of the list is the railway, offering a picturesque ride between the two countries. The tracks from Stockholm to Oslo aren’t just about getting from A to B—they’re a visual treat.
| Route | Mode | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Stockholm – Oslo | Train | ~6 hours |
| Gothenburg – Oslo | Train/Bus | ~4 hours |
| Stockholm – Oslo | Flight | ~1 hour |
If you’re not the train type, buses and flights will also get you around. Sweden’s transport system is top-notch. The Stockholm Metro might mainly buzz around the city, but it sure makes catching those intercity trains a breeze.
Want to read more about borders? Check out our pieces on senegal neighboring countries, slovakia neighboring countries, and saudi arabia neighboring countries.
Sweden and Finland
Let’s take a peek into the friendship between Sweden and Finland. These two neighbors have a long history, a lot in common, and they certainly know how to keep connected.
Border Stuff
Sweden is cozied up next to Finland on the northeast. They share a long line stretching over 380 miles. This stretch is filled with forests and waterways, marking a significant divider in the area. Over the years, changes like the old Treaty of Fredrikshamn in 1809 shuffled Finland around – from being under Sweden to a part of Russia, before it got back on its feet as an independent country.
Here’s a quick look at the border:
| Country A | Country B | Border Type | Length (mi) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sweden | Finland | Land | 380 |
| Sweden | Finland | Sea | Have to follow the coordinates |
How to Get Across
Sweden and Finland have a great setup of roads, railways, ferries, and flights making it easy to pop over from one to the other, boosting both social ties and business.
Road and Rail
They’ve got several roads and some railways that make hopping back and forth a breeze. A standout is the Haparanda Line. It links up the Swedish town of Haparanda with Tornio in Finland. This track is a workhorse for both people traveling and cargo moving from one country to the other.
Ferry Fun
The ferry services rock the boat, quite literally, by operating routes like the one from Stockholm to Helsinki. Companies such as Viking Line and Silja Line ensure these scenic trips across the Baltic Sea are available like clockwork. Trust me, the views from these ferry rides are really something.
Fly High
Planes are at the ready for those short on time. Several airlines offer direct flights between the countries, connecting cities like Stockholm to various places in Finland. Major airports like Stockholm Arlanda and Helsinki-Vantaa act as the link hubs.
All this traveling and trading amidst Sweden and Finland is a testament to how tight-knit and cooperative these neighbors are. For a bit more on how Sweden keeps things buzzing with its neighbors, you might want to take a gander at our piece on Sweden’s border pals.
Sweden and Denmark
Öresund Bridge
The Öresund Bridge is a pretty cool link between Sweden and Denmark. Connecting Malmö, the third-largest city in Sweden, to Copenhagen, Denmark’s lively capital, this bridge is like the best kind of shortcut between two neighbors who are always borrowing sugar from each other (Wikipedia). This long stretch of road and rail covers about 5 miles (8 kilometers) across the Öresund Strait. It even features a 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) tunnel on the Danish side—talk about taking a dip without getting wet!
Since its grand opening back in 2000, the Öresund Bridge has really changed the game for travelers and shippers bouncing between these two spots. Whether you’re a workday warrior, a curious wanderer, or just moving some stuff, this bridge makes what used to be a hassle now a breeze.
Transportation Options
Getting from Sweden to Denmark—or the other way around—has never been simpler, thanks to this bridge and its many travel modes. You can hop on a train, jump into your car, or catch a bus for some wheel-spinning fun.
Train:
One fan-favorite for making the crossing is the Öresund train service. These trains hustle between Malmö Central Station and Copenhagen Central Station, and you can plan on the trip taking a quick 35 minutes. Talk about speedy!
| Transportation Method | Journey Time | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Train (Malmö – Copenhagen) | ~35 mins | Every 20 mins |
Car:
If you’re more of a road tripper, driving over the bridge along the E20 European route is the way to go. This direct path usually takes around 40 minutes, barring any pesky traffic jams.
| Transportation Method | Journey Time | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Car (Malmö – Copenhagen) | ~40 mins | Personal Schedule |
Bus:
Buses also make the trek, offering a budget-friendly change-up from trains and cars. If you’re counting coins, these buses—running anywhere from 45 to 60 minutes—are your new best friend.
| Transportation Method | Journey Time | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Bus (Malmö – Copenhagen) | 45 – 60 mins | Hourly |
With these options laid out, you’re free to pick your travel style and coast across the bridge between Sweden and Denmark. For a peek at more hopping over borders, give Serbia Neighboring Countries or Slovakia Neighboring Countries a look.
Sweden and Russia
Tripoint Location
Where Norway, Finland, and Russia converge, you’ll find a spot called Treriksrøysa, a stone landmark near Muotkavaara. This tripoint isn’t just a pile of rocks; it’s where three nations nod to each other. At the southern end, the border wraps up on the shores of the Gulf of Finland, ending in a tight sliver of sea between Finland and Estonia (Wikipedia).
Border History
Sweden and Russia boast a border tale as twisty as a spy novel, adjusting with every treaty and power shuffle through the ages. Back in 1323, Sweden (which Finland was part of) and the Novgorod Republic shook hands over the Treaty of Nöteborg. It was all about drawing lines where their territories touched.
A few other agreements did their part in this drawn-out dance:
- The Treaty of Teusina (1595): Nudged the border a bit east.
- The Treaty of Nystad (1721) and the Treaty of Åbo (1743): Tugged it west (Wikipedia).
The early 1800s brought some headline-worthy changes:
- The Treaty of Fredrikshamn (1809): After the Finnish War, this one switched Finland over from Sweden to the Russian Empire, kicking off the era of the Grand Duchy of Finland under Russian oversight.
- In 1812, they did a bit of a rewind, setting the Finnish–Russian border back to its pre-1721 lines, letting the Grand Duchy reclaim “Old Finland,” which had been under Swedish wings (Wikipedia).
During Cold War days:
- This border became part of the Iron Curtain, which wasn’t so much of a curtain as a heavily-guarded fence. Crossings were few and far between, and in some places, neighboring cities felt more like distant pen pals. The Soviet side was all about securing the line, with buzzers and patrols to keep any cross-border hi-jinks at bay (Wikipedia).
In recent chapters:
- Finland was the Schengen visa champ in 2011, handing out the most to Russian folks. By 2015, the border was like a busy coffee shop with 9.1 million people—about half of them popping through Vaalimaa and Nuijamaa (Wikipedia).
Peeking at Sweden’s neighbors is like flipping through a history and mystery novel; it’s all about the stories and places that shape the land. Want to know more about who shares borders with Sweden? Dig into our detailed guides on places like Serbia neighboring countries or Sierra Leone neighboring countries to fill up on all the fascinating details.
Sweden and Baltic States
Shared Maritime Borders
Who knew the sea could be such a busy place? Sweden’s got its toes dipped in the Baltic Sea, creating watery boundaries with some pretty interesting neighbors. We’re talking about Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia here.
| Country | Sea Neighbor |
|---|---|
| Denmark | Open waters |
| Germany | Open waters |
| Poland | Open waters |
| Russia | Shared sea |
| Lithuania | Shared sea |
| Latvia | Shared sea |
| Estonia | Shared sea |
Basically, the Baltic Sea is Sweden’s hallway, connecting it to its maritime kin. Don’t just think trade here, there’s a good dollop of cultural swapping and everyone looking out for one another when it comes to staying safe and sound out at sea (Wikipedia).
Historical Relationships
Long story short, Sweden and the Baltic States have been doing the neighborly dance for centuries. Back in the day of the Swedish Empire (1611-1721), Sweden was the big kid on the block, owning chunks of where Estonia and Latvia sit now. But then came the Treaty of Nystad in 1721, where Sweden handed over quite a bit of this land to Russia after the Great Northern War.
During the Cold War, Sweden played the role of Switzerland (minus the alps), staying neutral while the Baltic States were under the Soviet thumb. Sweden turned into sort of a chat room between the east and the west (Wikipedia).
Nowadays, Sweden and the Baltic States are high-fiving over EU cooperation, tackling fishy problems together and making big plans to protect their piece of the Baltic Pie. They’re all in on making sure the sea is healthy and buzzing with life, while they keep it as the friendly neighborhood meeting point it’s always been.
Curious about other countries and their sea buddies? Check out how Serbia and Slovenia are keeping it cool with their neighbors at serbia neighbouring countries and slovenia neighbouring countries.