Visiting Sweden in March – is March a good time to visit? The weather in Sweden in March is changeable. So it could snow one day and be sunny the next. March begins with a skiing competition in the heart of Stockholm! Other activities include a film festival, a Brazilian carnival, and celebrations of beer, champagne, and whiskey. And since March is off season in Sweden, you might score a discount on hotels!
In This Post
Top Events in Sweden in March
Easter is one of the most important holidays of the year in Sweden. And many of the Swedish Easter customs are quite fascinating. In addition, there are other important holidays as well as several interesting festivals. A short list of Sweden’s top events at this time of yearfollows.
Easter Weekend
Easter offers Swedes a rare four-day weekend. While both Friday and Monday are official holidays, many Swedes get an early start, celebrating Maundy Thursday with some uniquely Swedish customs.
In addition, many Swedes have roots in the countryside. Consequently, many families have country cottages, where they can reconnect with nature.
And this is where many Swedes will spend their Easter Weekend!
Maundy Thursday – 28 March 2024
Known as Skärtorsdag in Swedish, Maundy Thursday celebrates the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with his disciples. And it falls on the Thursday before Easter.
According to traditional Swedish beliefs, witches flew off on broomsticks to the legendary island of Blåkulla on Maundy Thursday. Once there, they had a feast and danced with the Devil.
So what is the connection with Swedish Easter? Because Judas betrayed Jesus on this day, evil was released into the world.
In some parts of Sweden, children dress up as Easter witches on Maundy Thursday. And they go door-to-door asking for candy. It is a bit like trick-or-treating in the United States on Halloween.
In other parts of Sweden, children do this on other days. For example, the practice often takes place on Easter Sunday itself.
Maundy Thursday is not an official holiday. However, some businesses shorten their hours.
Future Maundy Thursday Dates
- 2025 – 17 April
- 2026 – 2 April
- 2027 – 25 March
- 2028 – 13 April
Good Friday – 29 March 2024
Known as Långfredagen in Swedish, Good Friday is a public holiday in Sweden. Schools and most businesses are closed.
Future Good Friday Dates
- 2025 – 18 April
- 2026 – 3 April
- 2027 – 26 March
- 2028 – 14 April
Holy Saturday – 30 March 2024
Known as Påskafton in Swedish, Holy Saturday is not an official holiday in Sweden since schools and most businesses are usually closed on Saturday anyway.
Future Holy Saturday Dates
- 2025 – 19 April
- 2026 – 4 April
- 2027 – 27 March
- 2028 – 15 April
Easter Sunday – 31 March 2024
Known as Påskdagen is Swedish, Easter Sunday is the most important holiday for the Church of Sweden.
While Easter has religious roots in Sweden, for most Swedes it has become a secular holiday.
Family gatherings are popular on Easter, and that usually means a mouthwatering smorgasbord. And the same dishes usually served at Christmas and Midsummer are served on Easter.
For example, typical dishes includes pickled herring, potatoes, gravad lax, meatballs, eggs topped with fish roe, and Jansson’s temptation. The latter is a combination of potatoes, onions, and anchovies in a cream sauce.
And it is all washed down with spiced schnapps!
Future Easter Sunday Dates
- 2025 – 20 April
- 2026 – 5 April
- 2027 – 28 March
- 2028 – 16 April
Easter Monday 1 April 2024
Annandag Påsk in Swedish, Easter Monday is an official holiday in Sweden. Schools and most businesses are closed.
Future Easter Sunday Dates
- 2025 – 21 April
- 2026 – 6 April
- 2027 – 29March
- 2028 – 17 April
Other Key Events in Sweden in March
What to do in Sweden in March? A list of some of the most important and/or interesting events in Sweden in March follows.
Sparkling Stockholm – 8 to 9 March 2024
Time to bubble up and sample Champagne, Cava, Prosecco, Spumante, Sekt, and other sparkling wines at Sparkling Stockholm.
Importers will offer beverage tastings and tastings of beverages paired with delicatessen.
- Sparkling Stockholm – Stockholm Waterfront Congress Centre – Stockholm Nils Ericsons Plan 4, 111 64 Stockholm, Sweden.
The Nordic Gardens – 21 to 24 March 2024
Nordiska Trädgårdar, a.k.a. the Nordic Gardens, ) is the meeting place for garden enthusiasts. Activities will include lectures, inspirational displays, exhibitions, greenhouses, ground coverings, ponds, pools, barbecues, books, magazines, seeds, and more.
Nordiska Trädgårdar – Stockholmsmässan – Älvsjö, Stockholm, Sweden.
Pending Events in March 2024
Not all organizers have announced dates for events usually taking place in March. Dates will be added when they become available.
Hammarbybacken 2H – 2024 Date Pending
Hammarbybacken 2H is a competition to see who can make the most trips up and own a 90-metre high hill on skis.
There will be solo as well and two- and three-team races. And the competition will last two hours.
In fact, Hammarbybacken offers most of the facilities that you would find at a ski resort. For example, there is a ski school, ski rentals, and a restaurant.
Moreover, there are lifts and slopes for every age. Finally, there is a fun park for skiing enthusiasts.
- Hammarbybacken 2H – Stockholm Hammarby Fabriksväg 111 120 33 Stockholm, Sweden.
Tempo Documentary Festival – 2024 Date Pending
More than 100 documentaries from around the world will be shown during Tempo Documentary Festival, Sweden’s largest documentary film festival of the year. And most will have English subtitles.
In addition to film, other events will include audio documentaries, master classes, photo exhibitions, transmedia projects, and experiential forms of expression.
Finally, cocktail parties will offer great networking opportunities.
- Tempo Documentary Festival – at 15 venues across Stockholm, Sweden.
Malmo Beer & Whiskey Festival – 2024 Date Pending
Malmö Beer & Whiskey Festival is a celebration of beer and whiskey.
And everyone from established suppliers to tiny start-ups will showcase their wares.
In addition, drink and food pairings will be offered. And it is open to the trade and the general public.
- Malmö Beer & Whiskey Festival – Mässgatan 6, 215 32 Malmö, Sweden.
Stockholm Carnival – 2024 Date Pending
Stockholm Carnival is the biggest indoor Brazilian festa in Scandinavia. With four dance floors, 1,500 fans of samba, salsa, reggae, and Afrobeat will get down as 100 musicians perform and 10 DJs spin discs at Bar Brasil.
- Stockholm Carnival – Stockholm Torkel Knutssonsgatan 2, 118 25 Stockholm, Sweden.
Waffle Day – 2024 Date Pending
Waffle Day started out as a religious holiday, Our Lady’s Day, a.k.a. Feast of the Annunciation. And it slowly evolved into a celebration of waffles.
So how did this come about? The Swedish name of the holiday is Vårfrudagen, which sounds a bit like waffles in Swedish. So Swedes started eating waffles on this day to celebrate.
And nobody makes waffles as delicious as the Swedes!
The Licorice Festival – 2024 Date Pending
Swedes love licorice because of its distinctive sweet yet salty taste.
Not only that, licorice is also thought to be healthy. In fact, it was used as medicine as early as 4,000 years ago.
During the Licorice Festival, suppliers will offer tastings and workshops. Included will be old favourites and new products.
- The Licorice Festival – Fotografiska, Stadsgårdshamnen 22 116 45 Stockholm, Sweden.
Tattoo Meltdown – 2024 Date Pending
Tattoo fans will have the chance to get under the needle at the Tattoo Meltdown. More than 150 skilled tattoo artists from all over the world will be on hand. Piercings, tattoo supplies, and other products will be on sale. Meanwhile, tattds and CJs will provide background music for the exotic event.
- Tattoo Meltdown – Trollhättan, Kungsgatan 25 461 30 Trollhättan, Sweden.
Sweden Weather in March
Spring arrives in Sweden in March. Consequently, the weather in March in Sweden is quite changeable.
While one day, it might rain, the next day could be sunny. And then there is a chance of late-season snow.
While the temperature might be pleasant, icy winds could still blow in from the coast.
But spring is in the air! Even in the north, there are the first signs of spring. For example, the days are getting longer. But you still might catch glimpses of the Northern Lights.
Which raises an important question. Can you go skiing in Sweden in March? Generally speaking, you can. In fact, ski season doesn’t usually end until mid-April to 1 May. But there are exceptions. In fact, some ski resorts remain open well into May.
Stockholm Weather in March
Stockholm is Sweden’s largest city and the nation’s capital. Because it is built on a series of islands, Stockholm is a stunningly beautiful city. For example, it has countless lakes, bays, canals, and wetlands.
So how is the weather in Stockholm in March? The average high temperature in Stockholm, Sweden, in March is 3 degrees Celsius, or 37 degrees Fahrenheit. And at night, the temperature drops to an average low of minus 3 degrees Celsius, or 27 degrees Fahrenheit.
There is an average of 4 hours of sunshine in Stockholm in March. And there is an average of 13 rainy days in Stockholm in March. In fact, it is the least rainy month of the year.
Gothenburg Weather in March
Gothenburg, or Göteborg, is the second largest city in Sweden. Situated on the west coast, the city is home to Volvo. In addition, it has two major universities.
Gothenburg is a popular destination for tourists. In fact, it has many important cultural and architectural attractions. Moreover, it holds several major cultural and sporting events each year.
So how is the weather in Gothenburg in March? The average high temperature in Gothenburg in March is 5 Celsius, or 41 Fahrenheit. And the average low is minus 2 degrees Celsius, or 28 degrees Fahrenheit.
There is an average of 3 hours of sunshine in Gothenburg in March. And there is an average of 12 rainy days.
Malmo Weather in March
Malmo is Sweden’s third-largest city. And it sits at the southwestern tip of Sweden. Most importantly, it is directly across the Oresund River from Copenhagen, Denmark.
So how is Malmo weather in March? The average high temperature in Malmo in March is 3 degrees Celsius, or 37 degrees Fahrenheit. Meanwhile, at night, the temperature drops to an average low of minus 3 degrees Celsius, or 27 degrees Fahrenheit.
While the chance of rain is 33%, there is 0% chance of sunshine.
Uppsala Weather in March
Uppala is Sweden’s fourth largest city. And t is 71 kilometers, or 44 miles, north of Stockholm.
So how is the weather Uppsala in March? The average high temperature in Uppsala in March is 4 degrees Celsius, or 39 degrees Fahrenheit. At night, the temperature drops to an average low of minus 4 degree Celsius, or 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
There is an average of 6 hours of sunshine in Uppsala in March. It is the fifth sunniest month of the year. There is an average of 11 rainy days in Uppsala in March. The average humility is 75%.
Umea Weather in March
Umea is Sweden’s 13th largest city. More importantly, it is the gateway to Swedish Lapland.
So how is the weather in Umea in March The average high temperature in Umea in March is 4 degrees Celsius, or 39 degrees Fahrenheit. At night, the temperature drops to an average low of minus 4 degrees Celsius, or 25 degrees Fahrenheit.
There is an average of 5 hours of sunshine in Umea in March .
What to Pack for Sweden in March
Spring lasts from March to May. And the weather can be very confusing, making packing difficult.
In fact, the weather in Sweden in March can be as warm as summer or as cold as winter. Consequently, you should bring windproof and rain apparel as well as t-shirts and sweaters.
The landscape in Sweden is quite beautiful in March. For example, flowers are just beginning to bloom across Swedish landscape.
One of the advantages of visiting Sweden in March is that it is off season. So you might get discounts at hotels in Stockholm, Gothenborg, Malmo, and other cities. And you won’t have to fight crowds at tourist attractions!
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