½ûÂþÌìÌÃ

What are the activities everyone must try at least once in Sweden?

To discover Laponia fully is something one never be able to do in one lifetime but should start from somewhere Ìý

Dog sledding and winter markets like thisÌý will be something one never forget, not to talk about Northern lights. Ice hotel which I still haven't been a guest yet is the first ice hotel in the world.

There are many mines to see from north to south I have the privilege through my work to be here many timesÌý

Some say Stockholm is Venice of Northern Europe, since it is surrounded by water of Mälaren Sweden's third largest lake from one side and the Baltic sea from the other side and also Stockholm as a city really is several islands attached together by several bridges. So best way to see the city is by water namely by kayaking around and through the city, an activity that makes you to a modern time adventurer.Ìý

Stockholm's archipelago is more than 24000 islands which many of them to experience and sail through another activity that hard to finish in one lifetime.Ìý

Another must activity is From Stockholm Nynäshamn take the ferry to Gotland, the largest island in Sweden, where you easily can think that you are not in Sweden anymore after you landed to the place, It has it's own nature and architecture. Ìý

There are many to do in Sweden driving over the Baltic sea about six km long bridge to Öland and discover the second largest island is also something.

Southern Sweden is like a combination of Germany and Denmark with some own Swedish varieties so drive through the landscape is also something, while you are there
if you have children who like Pippi Longstocking they would appreciate a visit to this place

Travel to Gothenburg through Göta Canal is an endless way since you have the largest and the second largest lakes of Sweden Vänern and Vättern on your way, take many vacations to discover fully but there are small trips you can take from every part of the canal to get an idea about it.Ìý Ìý

I never have enjoyed Malmö and Gothenburg the way one should do, only have driven through, been there through my work and to play away cricket matches so someone else has to take over from here.

And remaining three other questions will also be answered later.

Ok, I agree on Stockholm, Gotland; Lappland and Gota kanal but you'll have to try the archipelago in Gothenburg. I've published some pictures on . Other places in the west is these ancient carvings you'll find in Vitlycke Tanum. Some of our first writings here in sweden. You'll see a couple of pictures on Other things that is quite strange in Sweden is the food. You'll have to try the swedish smorgasbord. You often see it served during the christmas or December. The midsummer in Sweden is also quite strange for foreigners. Then we run around a pole, sit and eats pickled herrings(matjesill) with sour cream and chive. If you get to Harnosand or hoga kusten you'll have to try another quite strange dish called fermented herring. Check it out on I wish you a niceÌý visit to Sweden and I hope I have not scared you too much.

What are the activities that one should partake in if they want to discover the local culture?

Today's date is good to know and try to partake any activity near you, namely 6th of June is the National day of Sweden. I just read about a survey done by an international organisation and according to them "non European expats in Sweden are more in to this specially expats from Somalia and Afghanistan celebrate National day of Sweden greater than Swedes themselves."Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý Ìý

Very soon comes one of the highest moments that people in Sweden have longed for since last year, Midsummer celebration. It has everything a celebration should have and also everything has a very long history and tradition. It's better if @wuxi-city can take the time to explain it to details.

Then 13th of December the day of Lucia, darkest day of the year since Sweden has very few sunshine hours that day and also there are many legends connected to this day and to Lucia herself. Many activities even a variation of a beauty contest which the base idea is to find a young (virgin) girl who is a Lucia look alike.

Christmas and new year celebrations probably the highest event in Sweden.

The day before 1st of May is "Valborgsmässoafton" (Walpurgis Night). An evening full of activity associated with fire and other sub activity around the country, there is no way one can miss this.

Hi ,
that is a fantastic information ,am a jordanian vet.doctor working with the jordanian ministry of health.
on preventive medicine and public health. marital status is separate.
Kindly would you please tell me how to relocate to sweden, and how to find a job vacancy, how to get marry a swedesh woman....etc.Ìý Ìýcan you provide me the answers ?
your prompt response will be highly appreciated.

Ok Finnbo. I'll try to make some more descrition on Midsummer in Sweden. The tradition is very old and, like in other countries, celebrate the sun. In the north of Sweden the sun never goes down. The arctic circle you'll find in .
More south like in we maybe are getting one hour slight darkness during midsummer night.
In sweden there is a lot of people doing kind of games on the midsummers evenings day and after that they all celebrate. With, as I mentioned before, pickled herring or matjessill with sour cream and chives. I prefer making this sour cream the day before so the chives get time to give some taste to the cream. The potatoes should be harvesetd not longer then ten minutes before they get cooked. Just rinse them with shell and let them boil for maybe ten minutes or a quarter(you should use the small ones). Matje-sill is made of Abba in Sweden(no, no, no, not the pop group) and are sold in small flat/round cans with the name "matjes" on top. With fresh potatoes and sour cream they just taste like heaven. Many also make a kind of barbeque with sausages, steak and chicken during the evening. Then there are also many that gets drunk during midsummer in sweden and that is also a many thousand years old tradition. Another tradition is that all unmarried girls should place seven different flowers below their pillow when they go to bed. They should then dream about the one they will marry later on. If you are in sweden during midsummer I suggest you voluntair for building the midsummer pole. an easy way to get more friends. On Brannoe in Gothenburg archipelago they are asking for help with this. Register on their
I have written some more suggestions for midsummer in Gothenburg on I wish you all a happy weekend.
The the next question from emadjet "Kindly would you please tell me how to relocate to sweden, and how to find a job vacancy, how to get marry a swedesh woman"
If you would like to relocate in sweden I suggest you use some of our bus or train connections. It is actually quite affordable to go by bus on longer distances in sweden. I give you some suggestions
How to find a job vacancy is like in most other countries. Use or
To get good contacts you'll need to learn the language first. Marry a swedish woman. In sweden we are not to keen on marrying any longer but, you do like in other places. Give flowers, take her out to a restaurant, treat her kindly and so on. Another idea could join different social activities loike midsummer pole, join a society or similar. I hope it gives you some idea. Welcome to sweden btw.

Are there any activities that are characteristic of Sweden?

I don't know exactly but I couldn't find anything characteristic of Sweden since almost everything happens here happens in whole northern Europe at least in whole Scandinavia that's three to five countries. As it says in Swedish national anthem "Jag vill leva jag vill dö i norden" meaning I want to live I want to die in the North, word Sweden doesn't mention in the national anthem so obviously there is nothing characteristic of Sweden but surely to all the region of Northern Europe.

Do you have an anecdote to share about any of the activities listed above?

All the activities I have suggested were one way or the other associated with nature. I have cried many times when I was amazed by those, specially when I was deep in the nature. Sometimes I was with other individuals and they thought I cried because of other reasons so they tried to comfort me. Almost all of them were personal moments but I can share one.

One time I was with an ex girlfriend and because of some reasons I can't tell we started to fight in the middle of no where in Lappland, I was too young and naive so I started to move faster, she had to scream louder while she tried to catch up with me, she was falling behind further more and more, however I came to an amazing place that made me shocked, took only few moments now I was crying, she came right after and thought I was crying because of our fight and was so happy about me crying, it made me even more mad at her but luckily we were attacked by an huge wave of mosquitoes, it made us to a one team again when we tried to save us from them. In summertime in northern Sweden mosquitoes normally make very big problems to people, this maybe the only time mosquitoes solved a problem.

I would say "Fika". I think the suedes are the highest coffee consumers in the whole world. I think just the finns are drinking more. With "Fika" it means that people are taking a break with a coffee and maybe a bun, sandwich or coffee. It is also a rule amongst some proffessions to take a coffee break at a determined time. Like painters and carpenters. Here you have to take a coffe break by 9 o'clock or similar. If you don't take your break other carpenters, painters or other proffessions do not talk to you. They do not help you when you need help.
People also go out drinking coffee on small cafées to solve al kind of problems. is very famous for al their cafées. You also got plenty of them in . Please correct me if you think I am wrong.

Of course the famous Swedish "fika" is something characteristic of Sweden and also as an activity something to enjoy specially in places like cellar cafes in Gamlastan (the old town), some of them are in cellars of buildings that were established in 1600th century.

Hello emadjvet,

You better start a new thread to ask those questions so that we can try to give you feedback without going off topic from this thread.

You are right Finnbo. There are wonderful places to experience in this part of town. I also remember a very famous cafe near slussens subway station. I remember you sat on second or third floor and had a wonderful view over the water. The name of the café was something like flemmingsberg or similar. Another amusing trip could be go out in the archipelago round stockholm for a "fika".
Another important thing about this fika by carepenters, painters and craftsmen where that it was strictly forbidden to talk about work when you had your coffee break. You could talk football, blaim the politicans, complain about prices for cars but not about your work.

You forgot to mention complaining about the weather, either it is too cold, too hot, too rainy, no rain hardly ever be "lagom"

It sounds like the cafe you mention at Slussen is Gondolen.

Yes there are wonderful cafes in many islands. There are boat transportation from Slussen and Nybrokajen to several islands, some of those boat lines are entitled through SL public transportation ticket. Some boat sightseeing tours has places they stop by for a "Fika" and some serve a "Fika" on board.