Stockholm: Where Tradition Meets Innovation

Upon your arrival in Sweden, you’ll likely begin your journey in Stockholm, the capital city and the epitome of Scandinavian chic. As you step off the plane, the crisp Nordic air greets you with a refreshing embrace. Stockholm, often referred to as the “Venice of the North,” boasts an archipelago of islands that invite exploration. Find an extensive guide to Stockholm on Findingsweden.com.

Start your journey in the historic Old Town, Gamla Stan, where cobblestone streets wind through centuries-old buildings. Visit the Royal Palace and the Nobel Museum to dive into Sweden’s rich history and heritage.

But Stockholm isn’t just about the past; it’s also a hub of innovation. Modern neighborhoods like Södermalm and Norrmalm buzz with creativity. The city’s design and fashion scene is world-renowned, and you’ll find this reflected in its trendy boutiques and concept stores.

Gothenburg: A Coastal Oasis

Heading west from Stockholm, you’ll find Gothenburg, a city that offers a different taste of Swedish life. As you stroll along the city’s picturesque canals, you’ll encounter a sense of tranquility that’s unique to this coastal gem.

Don’t miss a visit to Liseberg, one of Europe’s best amusement parks, where thrilling rides and enchanting gardens await. Gothenburg’s seafood scene is also a must-experience; visit the Feskekôrka fish market to savor the freshest catches from the North Sea.

Gothenburg’s parks, like Slottsskogen and the Garden Society of Gothenburg, provide a lush escape within the city. Take a moment to appreciate the greenery and enjoy a peaceful Swedish picnic.

Malmö: The Gateway to Scandinavia

Continuing south, you’ll cross the iconic Øresund Bridge into Malmö, a city where Swedish charm meets international influences. Malmö’s modern skyline is dominated by the Turning Torso, a twisted skyscraper that’s become a symbol of the city.

Explore Malmöhus Castle, a historic fortress that now houses museums and exhibitions. The city’s diverse neighborhoods offer a taste of global cuisine, reflecting its cosmopolitan vibe.

Malmö’s parks and beaches, such as Ribersborg Beach and Pildammsparken, provide opportunities for relaxation and outdoor activities. Take a leisurely bike ride along the coastline, or simply unwind by the sea.

Swedish Hospitality and Culture

Throughout your journey, you’ll encounter the warm and welcoming nature of the Swedish people. Swedes are known for their friendly and inclusive approach to visitors, making it easy to connect with locals and immerse yourself in the culture.

Don’t forget to experience Sweden’s famed “fika” culture, where coffee breaks are a cherished tradition for socializing and enjoying pastries. Engage in conversations with locals, and you’ll gain insights into the Swedish way of life.

Sweden’s commitment to sustainability, equality, and a balanced lifestyle, known as “lagom,” will leave a lasting impression. It’s a place where modernity coexists harmoniously with tradition, creating a unique and enriching travel experience.

So, as you embark on your first journey to Sweden, be prepared to be captivated by the nation’s natural beauty, cultural richness, and the sense of wonder that this Nordic adventure promises.

Swedish Lapland

First-time visitors will enjoy a breath-taking experience while at Swedish Lapland — the world of the midnight sun. The sun is visible the entire day and gets into the night, providing an extraordinary feeling. However, you need to be careful because it might ruin your sleep pattern.

Abisko, Sweden

Abisko town in the Northern part of Sweden is the epicentre of aurora experiences and the Aurora Sky Station. During summer, the town experiences 24 hours of sunlight every day. It’s one of the places near the north arctic circle. It experiences a wonderful phenomenon: the midnight sun.

Conclusion

Nordic destinations such as Swedish Lapland and Abisko, which are close to the arctic circle, experience an important seasonal phenomenon known as the midnight sun. This is because of the way the Earth orbits the Sun on a tilt. To learn more about the sun in Sweden during summer, read more here.

City life

If your focus is to experience the urban life of Swedish cities, then the period from spring to late summer is absolutely the best time. Many people who travel from more southern countries, and let’s face it, there are a lot of countries farther south than Sweden, would most likely prefer the temperatures reached in these months. 30ºC (86ºF) is considered to be really high during a sunny Swedish summer day.The largest cities in Sweden are found in the southern half and along the coast, but there are cities all the way up to the most northern regions. The further north you travel the better it probably is to wait until summer instead of spring.Hotels are generally not hard to come by even, in smaller cities. Chains like Elite have hotels stretching all across the country and makes it easy to reserve rooms for anyone wanting to do something like a road trip.

Skiing

Anyone wating to travel to Sweden to ski, is already going to understand that you’d have to travel there in the winter, that much is a given. The snow usually arrives in some of the most popular locations around mid October or early November, and it stays put even in the most southern places well into the following year; skiing in March or April is in no way unusual in Sweden. You can find a lot of information about these at Skiresorts.info.

Mikkel Bigandt / Shutterstock.com

Nature

Anyone who loves to go hiking in woods and mountains will have no problem finding fantastic places to do this in Sweden. The southern most part is mostly split between cities, small towns and farmland, but the further north you go, the more hilly, mountainous and wooded regions you’ll come across.Since you’re traveling further north it’s again recommended to visit either late spring or during the summer. That way you won’t get as cold when sleeping outside in a tent.  VisitSweden.com can suggest several wonderful hiking trails.

Iron Maiden is right in the middle of their The Book of Souls World Tour, and for everyone that happens to be in Sweden this June, they will be performing live in Gothenburg at the Ullevi Stadium Friday June the 17th.

…The last time we played at Ullevi was in 2011 so we are all excited about coming back to Gothenburg. The whole Maiden vibe whenever we play here is always fantastic, we get such a warm welcome from our Swedish fans!

And that’s no real surprise for those who know how big metal actually is in Sweden, and then take into account that this is Iron Maiden we’re talking about, a giant in the music industry and one of the forerunners in the popularization of metal throughout the world.The Book of Souls is the bands first album in five years and the fans are ecstatic to hear the new material and to see them perform that once more!

BasicsUsually the first thing that comes up when people think about Swedish cuisine is meatballs. For anyone who doesn’t know, it is basically mincemeat made into small balls – thereby its name. Another typically kind of food is the Falukorv who is a bit more unique for Sweden, as well as Filmjölk and Crisp bread.The most common complimenting ingredient to the meals are the potatoes. Other ones commonly used components are the rice, macaroni and spaghetti.  The most common meats in Sweden are most likely chicken and pork. Annually the average swede consumes 15 kilogram of bird meat, 14 kilogram of pork and 10 kilogram of beef. Another typically occurance, especially in the northern part is meat from the moose.Do swedes also have a sweet-tooth you may ask? – Indeed they do! The most common sweet thing must be the cinnamon buns (Kanelbullar). Anywhere you go you can find these little delicaties – even at petrol stations. If there is a birthday coming up I can guarantee that you will also find something with such a fancy name as the princess cake (prinsesstårta). These are not seldom eaten during Fika. Fika could be described as a Swedish social institution. It can take place at home, at a café or any place else possible. Be sure there will be at least fika break per day. Basically it means to see someone for a cup of coffee and a snack/something sweet.TimesCulturally it’s most common with three to four meals daily. And the normal way is to start with a breakfast early in the morning, followed by lunch around mid-day. Dinner which usually is a heavier meal is being eaten in the late afternoon. That is something that might be different for people from other parts of the world as dinner often are eating in the evening there. It is also common to eat something inbetween the lunch and dinner. Except that you can also have in count the manditory coffee breaks.Unexpexted swedish food cultureSweden is commonly associated with food as such mentioned above, but what probably is less known is that a number of foods that origins from other cultures has become part of the Swedish food culture due to its huge popularity. Foods such as kebab, pizza and tacos. As an example you do not rarely hear of something that has almost become like a weekly tradition – taco friday! 

Civil registering

When you live Sweden you need to let the state know about it. If you are a citizen within the European union you can make your civil registration from the date of your arrival. This is important because it decides where you are socially insured. The civil registration entitles you medical care at the place you are located.In case you are just staying for a shorter period for work or  such, you do not have to register until after three months.  That is because the state wants you to show that you can make your living.The registration is being made at Skatteverket (The Swedish tax agency).If you are a citizen from a country outside the European union you will have to apply for residence permit if you plan to stay for more than a year.

Work

As a citizen from an EU country you do not need a permission to work here. But you need to register to Försäkringskassan within three months.To get a work-permit if you come from outside the EU there are a few things you need to have in mind before you come to Sweden.You need…

• A valid passport.
• To have been offered a job with approved working conditions as well as a collective labor agreement that accords to Swedish standards.
• Been offered a job with the ekvivalent salary of at least 13 000 SEK pre-tax.

There are online real estate offer services

The solution here is to find an offer service and there are a few. Our recommendation is going to Stockholm Real Estate Service and just fill out the form if you have trouble reading the Swedish (they are asking for Name, Email, Phone and the Adress of the apartement/house). What they will do is they will contact all the realtors and ask for a quote for you. They wont charge you anything and you’re not commited to anything (until you actually find and sign with a realtor). Another thing that is important, Swedish law is rather tough on real estate agents and you want to select only from the authorized ones, this service does that.