American Express -- For local 24-hour customer service, call tel. 08/429-56-00.

Area Code -- The international country code for Sweden is 46; the city code for Stockholm is 08. (If you're calling Stockholm from abroad, drop the 0.) You do not need to dial 8 within Stockholm; do so only if you're outside the city.

Babysitters -- Stockholm hotels maintain lists of competent babysitters, nearly all of whom speak English. There is no official agency; rather, it's a word-of-mouth system. Your hotel reception desk can assist you.

Bookstores -- For a good selection of English-language books, including maps and touring guides, try Akademibokhandeln, Mäster Samuelsgatan 28 (tel. 08/402-11-00), open Monday to Friday from 10am to 7pm, Saturday from 10am to 4pm, and Sunday from noon to 4pm.

Car Rentals -- In Stockholm, some of the big car-rental companies include Avis, Ringvägen 90 (tel. 08/644-99-80), and Hertz, Vasagatan 24 (tel. 08/24-07-20).

Currency Exchange -- There's a currency exchange office, Forex, at the Central Station (tel. 08/411-67-34), open daily from 7am to 9pm. It's fully approved by both the Bank of Sweden and the Swedish tourist authorities, offers some of the best exchange rates in town, and takes some of the lowest commissions for cashing traveler's checks. Several other offices are scattered throughout the city.

Dentists -- Emergency dental treatment is offered at St. Eriks Hospital, Fleminggatan 22 (tel. 08/545-512-20), open daily from 8am to 5pm.

Doctors -- If you need 24-hour emergency medical care, check with Medical Care Information (tel. 08/320-100). There's also a private clinic, City Akuten, at Apelberg Sq. 48, 1st floor (tel. 08/545-291-85).

Drugstores -- C. W. Scheele, Klarabergsviadukten 64 (tel. 08/454-81-30), remains open 24 hours a day.

Emergencies -- Call tel. 112 for the police, ambulance service, or the fire department.

Eyeglasses -- The Nordiska Kompaniet, Hamngatan 18-20 (tel. 08/762-80-00), a leading Stockholm department store, has a registered optician on duty at its ground-floor service center. The optician performs vision tests, stocks a large selection of frames, and makes emergency repairs.

Hospitals -- Call Medical Care Information at tel. 08/32-01-00 and an English-speaking operator will inform you of the hospital closest to you; operators are available 24 hours daily.

Internet Cafe -- A convenient cybercafe is Dome House, Sveavägen 108 (tel. 08/612-61-10), open daily 11am to 3am, charging 19SEK ($4/£2) per hour.

Lost Property -- If you've lost something on the train, go to the Lost and Found office in the Central Station, lower concourse (tel. 08/762-25-50). The police also have such an office at the police station at Kungsholmsgatan 37 (tel. 08/401-01-00). The Stockholm Transit Company (SL) keeps its recovered articles at the Klaraostra Kyrkogata 6 (tel. 08/600-10-00).

Luggage Storage & Lockers -- Facilities are available at the Central Station on Vasagatan, lower concourse (tel. 08/762-25-95). Depending on the size of your baggage, the cost of storage ranges from 30SEK to 80SEK ($6-$16/£3-£8) per day. Lockers also can be rented at the ferry stations at Värtan and Tegelvikshamnen, at the Viking Line terminal, and at the Central Station.

Police -- Call tel. 112 in an emergency.

Post Office -- The main post office is at Centralstationen 10126 (tel. 08/781-24-25), open Monday to Friday 7am to 10pm, and Saturday and Sunday 9am to 6pm. If you want to pick up letters while you're abroad, they should be addressed to your name, c/o Post Restante, Post Center, Central Station 11120, Stockholm, Sweden.

Shoe Repair -- In the basement of Nordiska Kompaniet, Hamngatan 18-20 (tel. 08/762-80-00), a leading Stockholm department store, there is a shoe-repair place, which also may be able to repair broken luggage.

Telephone, Telex & Fax -- Instructions in English are posted in public phone boxes, which can be found on street corners. Very few phones in Sweden are coin-operated; most require a phone card, which can be purchased at most newspaper stands and tobacco shops.

Post offices throughout Stockholm now offer phone, fax, and telegram services. Of course, most guests can ask their hotels to send a fax. All but the smallest boarding houses in Stockholm today have fax services.

Toilets -- Public facilities can be found in the Central Station, in all subway stations, and in department stores, as well as along some of the major streets, parks, and squares. In an emergency, you can use the toilets in most hotels and restaurants, although generally they're reserved for patrons.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.