5 Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving to Sweden - Just a Brit Abroad

What should you know before moving to Sweden? What are some of the things I wish I had known before I moved to Sweden? What is it really like to live in Sweden? Today, we're talking about moving to Sweden! In particular, what are some of the things that I wish someone had told me about Sweden, the culture and the country before I made the decision to move. We'll be covering cultural differences, holiday habits, the darkness in the winter and lots more. So stick around for the full video and then let me know what you think in the comments below. Do you think these are important things to know before you move to Sweden? And did I miss anything? Let me know down below!

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The 5 Things I Wish I Had Known Before Moving to Sweden:
1. Being active in Sweden is not a lifestyle choice - its the way of life! And don't get me wrong, not everyone is super active all the time, but people train and look after their bodies on a whole different level to in the UK!
2. It gets dark - no, seriously! You've heard Swedish winters are filled with long, cold and dark days, but did you know that the light pollution is so low in Sweden that you'll need to prepare to experience dark nights like you've never seen before! No wonder its possible to see the Northern Lights!
3. Coffee is basically a human right in Sweden - almost every workplace you go to will offer you free coffee throughout the working day. Same at popular public spots and institutions. Wave goodbye to all that money you've thrown at Starbucks over the years!
4. Everything shuts down in July! - you've heard of the Swedish summer, I'm sure, but did you know that Sweden basically closes down in the month of July? By law, employees are entitled to FOUR weeks of paid vacation back-to-back and you'll find lots of people take up this opportunity!
5. Swedes love to queues! - I thought I knew my fair share about queuing because us Brits are famous for our love of queues as well. But we seriously have NOTHING on the Swedes! Prepare to need to get a kölapp in basically every food, clothes or utilities store you visit! No kölappar - no purchase!! So look out for those red machines!

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#movingtosweden #livinginsweden #thingstoknow #lifeinsweden, #swedishculture #howtomove #moveabroad

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[JustaBritAbroad]

So here's 5 of the things that I wish I'd known before I moved to Sweden🇸🇪😱but I know I'm not the only one whose new to this fantastic country, so let me know below if you think I've missed something which deserves its place on this list😆what do you wish someone had told you? Or if you're Swedish, what can you imagine might be a little bit foreign to someone setting foot in Sverige for the first time😳can't wait to hear what you all think! have a fantastic Sunday🙌🏻

[jetaustin]

On a trip to Sweden and Finland I entered a post office to mail a card. I was the only person in the lobby, so I approached the counter and told the clerk that I wanted to purchase a stamp. She told me to take a number, then she would help me. I looked around the lobby… No one there but me. So I demurely snatched a number ticket, returned to the counter and finally got my stamp.

[Lee-wulv]

Sweden is so gorgeous during the summer. There's a Right to Roam law, you can swim in most lakes and camp anywhere appropriate. Plus, with a land mass almost twice that of the UK but only a fraction of the population, you can easily find a quiet spot. Most of my Swedish friends take a long hemester (staycation) in the summer (very many have a sommarstuga (holiday cottage) in the countryside, then fly to the Canaries, Portugal or mainland Spain for a Winter break from the dark & cold. Magic!

[hastip.]

I am in the category of "I am from somewhere else but lived in Sweden for 2 years when I was young".
I have nothing but good memories and would love to re-visit some day. Your page brings back so much good memories

[Asa...S]

I think the kölapp-system was invented because we really don´t like to stand close to other people, like you sometimes have to do in a queue, by using kölappar people can stand more spread out (and go around while they wait, and perhaps buy something more they (don´t) need.

Another thing that you touched about vacation is that the employer can demand that you take up to three weeks off during a specific period during June to August. And you as an employee have the right to get four weeks in a row during the same period.

[brightspacebabe]

Exercise, coffee, and shut down in July: this American says yes to these aspects!!! No wonder Swedes are more happy!

[tommylundholm]

Yes i agree as a Swede. We drink coofee and work out and stand in line. One things that changed the last decade we have scanners when we shop for groseries/food and many shop from internet a get it delivered to your home.

[giorgioortiz]

I'm moving there soon, and I'm so looking forward to seeing stars again. I think I've only seen stars properly only once or twice in the last 18 years or so.

[saratiger]

hahaha I laughed so much while watching this video. I have been living in England for 9 years and I never think of myself as a typical swede apart from the importance of personal space. if you're not invited don't be up in my face. I do love coffee and I find it funny how every time I mention that I am Swedish people mention 4 things, IKEA, VOLVO, ABBA and polar bears in the streets. Also they were often mistake Sweden for Switzerland as you have mentioned in a video before. Why did you move to Sweden? Have a lovely Sunday :D

[SqueamishNerd]

Queueing to the queue is so common here, when I went to get my Covid vaccine there was a whole system of queues, and it wasn't possible to skip one of the queues because they had blocked off all possible shortcuts.

Here is how it played out:
1. Queue-ish for everyone whose booked time hadn't been shouted out yet (from time to time they shouted out "Everybody who has their appointment booked at [XX:XX] can go stand in the queue to the masks and hand sanitiser!")
2. Queue to the masks and hand sanitiser
3. Queue to the health declaration forms and pens
4. Queue to get indoors
5. Queue to the registration machines
6. Queue to getting vaccinated

[ghostfjdgcsusvsgsj]

I'd move there for the simple reason that they value physical exercise. I do work out a lot and where I come from, Morocco, people sometimes still look at you in a puzzled way if they see you run outside! Thanks for the vid!

[wyastonhypatia]

I've never seen a queue for the kölappar, but I have played hunt the machine quite a lot. I think some places deliberately make them hard to find.

[Chisszaru]

We Swedes love work out and i don't drink coffee. Yes. I'm a Swede and i don't drink coffee, i drink tea and soft drinks instead

[onomatopoetisk]

A thing I think may surprise people is that more and more shops/cafés don’t even accept cash as payment anymore. I can’t even remember the last time I had cash on me. And that is probably more common among younger people. We updated our bills and coins years ago and I can still be surprised by not ”recognising” the coins, if I get hold of any.

[chalphon]

So about the summer vacation. Five weeks is the legislated minimum but a lot of us have more, you also get extra weeks with age. Me myself I have seven and a half weeks paid vacation so I can both get five weeks off during the summer and have scattered vacation days spread across the rest of the year.

Never seen kölappar at Åhléns but at the Pharmacy or the local Deli there always are.

[lindatisue]

Yep, Swedes are really puzzled when I say after dinner is too late for coffee.

[RKMa]

As usual you are Spot on/på pricken om allt speciellt kölappar, I somtimes forget about Them. 😎

[SinaFarhat]

How else are we supposed to survive the long and dark winters without coffee?
There is a nice organisation with kö lappar, i can do something else if my number is far from being served!
Ha en fin söndag!

[nyllet]

I like the dark winters my favorite time of year. I'm not a summer person far too hot all the time