Christmas and Advent traditions in Sweden Explained
Christmas and Advent in Sweden. Is it your first Christmas away from home or are you experienced to the Swedish way of advent and Christmas by now? Few things can...
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Christmas and Advent in Sweden. Is it your first Christmas away from home or are you experienced to the Swedish way of advent and Christmas by now? Few things can...
So you are moving to Sweden with your family? A moving house event is stressful, so add to that the fact your children are moving abroad and you have a...
The northern lights (also known as Aurora Borealis) are the holy grail of skywatching. Magical and mystical. You never really know when, where or if you are going to see...
Shopping stuff for kids. Eeeerm? My son is almost three and when I got pregnant I was such a novice to all things pregnancy, baby and kid related. I’ve just...
Pavel is an artist, photographer, translator, travel writer, PR consultant, blogger and navel fluff collector who’s lived in Sweden for 6 years
Oh, Swedish summer is that part of the year when we try to fit in a million activities in 3 months to compromise with dark winter evenings and Netflix. In...
How do you find craftsmen in Sweden? The internet is flooded with the news of IKEA’s purchase of startup TaskRabbit, an on-demand platform for hiring people to do everything from...
If you have lived in Sweden for a while, you have probably noticed the typical Swedish red houses and cabins. They are everywhere, from north to south, by a lake...
How do you celebrate halloween in Sweden? The night when the veil between the worlds of the living and the dead is the thinnest is approaching. The most magical time...
Neil met a Swede and moved to be with him. The idea was to come for one year but one year became two, then 5 and now 20!
All women have a legal right to abortion in Sweden and it is the woman’s right to decide if she wants to have an abortion or not.
Emergency contraception is a pill you can take after you’ve had unprotected intercourse, to reduce the risk of pregnancy
Need a mortgage in Sweden? If you have recently moved to Sweden and considering buying property – then the answer is probably yes. Faced with one of the world’s most...
There are four very important phone numbers in Sweden that cover all emergencies and that you should know by heart.
Before you innocently suck on your first kräftor… take the time to read these 5 facts about the do’s and don’t of Kräftskivor. At the bottom of this article, we’ve...
Typical Swedish habits are quite useful to know – even if you don’t adapt them. Living in a new country brings its own excitement and challenges. The first years are...
How to prevent tick-borne disease in Sweden? That is definitely a big and important question. Finally, summer and time to enjoy the outdoors! But it is also time for protection....
Learn the lyrics of Swedish midsommar songs in English. We’ve translated the 3 most commonly sung midsommar songs around the midsommar pole.
You are moving to Sweden! Well, obviously we don’t know this for sure but it is an educated guess since you are reading this article. Or perhaps you have moved...
What is the best home insurance for renters in Sweden? Can you have insurance if you are living as a subtenant? What are your insurance possibilities when you are renting...
Weird Swedish foods is something you will come across when you are in Sweden for a longer period of time. Every country has its own food peculiarities, foods that you...
Gardening in Sweden is a bit more challenging that in warmer climates. But totally doable. What plants can you grow in Sweden? Plants are a great way to decorate your...
May is soon ending, bringing us closer to the summer months. But it is not over yet. Do you know what is celebrated in Sweden at the end of May?...
Medical help online in Sweden. What is that? Well, in the last few years, there has been an explosion of digitally offered medical services. Basically, it means you will see...
Where you do you find an electricity supplier in Sweden? If you are living in a second hand rental, chances are that your landlord is handling the electricity. However, if...
One of Sweden’s many traditions; Valborg is celebrated on the 30th of April. The significance of the event has changed dramatically over the years and yet it is still an...
Parking in Sweden can be tricky if you don’t understand the Swedish parking signs and rules. Learn what the colours, symbols, and words mean in this easy-to-follow guide and avoid...
Recycling in Sweden is a common practice. However, it may come as a culture shock to a newbie. You will notice that the bins at your home, office, school, or...
Are you moving to Sweden? Or have you already moved and feeling a confused? Here are 5 great posts to make your Swedish life much easier.
Home insurance in Sweden, or insurance in general, is probably not on the 10-ten-list of hottest things you want to think about when you are planning your move. But it...
Ever experienced a Happy Birthday Swedish style? I recently celebrated a big birthday party and discovered the various ways to congratulate someone in Swedish. There is, in fact, an array...
Sports associations in Sweden can be just the thing for a newcomer to make Sweden feel like home. Sport is a great way to meet people. And it is especially...
I know what you’re thinking…why the fuss about laundry? Well, washing your clothes in Sweden is a big deal. Apartment living: No washer/dryer? Options: buy or use a communal laundry...
Raising a multilingual child in Sweden, or anywhere for that matter, is a long, but rewarding adventure. Many newbie families in Sweden consider it a challenge, but in lots of...
Pharmacies sell both non-prescription and prescription medicines both online and in physical shops around Sweden.
How to save money in Sweden. Is it even possible? It’s a common knowledge, I think, that living in Sweden is not cheap. According to a data from Numbeo (February...
How to rent a house in Sweden. Finding a home in Sweden can frankly be difficult. A lot more people are looking for housing than there are available places. But...
Pet insurance is quite common in Sweden. In fact, Agria estimates that over 90% of dogs and over 50% of cats have some sort of insurance. This makes Swedish pets...
How to get cheap electricity in Sweden is a common question during the last couple of years. Electricity prices in Sweden and the world at large are a bit nuts....
Good mobile broadband plans in Sweden will give us Netflix, video calls, work, study and a whole bunch of other things. And when we are far away from home and...
Have you recently moved to Sweden and are on the lookout for a new car? Depending on your situation, you should look for a used car to get the most...
Do you want good tips on learning to speak Swedish? Then you’ve come to the right place. With this article, we want to help you achieve your goals with TV....
Are you visiting Stockholm for the first time and wondering what to see? Or have you just moved to the Swedish capital and need tips on fun things to do...
How just a year in Sweden changed my relationship with the sun, and turned Midsummer from a holiday into a religion. Summers, really now?! For as long as I can...
What are the important rules for cycling in Sweden? There is no doubt that Sweden is an amazing place for riding a bicycle. The urban areas have plenty of extensive...
Do you need sunscreen in Sweden? With Sweden’s reputation for being dark and cold, it’s easy to get relaxed about sun protection. But once spring and summer come around you...
Sweden’s Outdoor Access Rights (‘Allemansrätten’) gives you the right to roam in Swedish nature. That means that you can camp anywhere in Sweden that is not on or nearby private...
Is it expensive to study in Sweden? Well, let’s look into that. With so many top-ranking universities, Sweden is a fantastic and popular destination for international students from all over...
Wireless internet in your student housing is vital. Right? And so once you are in Sweden to study, one of the first things you need to do is set up...
Tips for lazy Swedish learners, admit it, this is what you are looking for 😃 During my years of studying languages, I’ve learnt how to make the learning process simple...
If you are new to the cold climate of Sweden, you might not know that you are legally required to use different tyres in summer and winter. In Sweden, winter...
Congratulations! You are accepted to a university in Sweden. Now, what’s next? Many of you wonder what to do after receiving the notification of selection results from universityadmissions.se. Here are...
Sweden is a beautiful country rich in historical relevance and proud people. It makes for a very attractive option for nomads looking for a new experience, or to get away...
‘Can I use all-season tyres in Sweden for the whole year?’ Trust us, that is a common question from newbies. The short answer is that there are rules and laws...
Hej Hej! So you’re new in Sweden and probably already have a checklist on what you’ll have to do. These are my top 6 essential suggestions that I wished I...
In this digitalized era, everything is handy. You just need to click and scroll everything through your mobile phone to operate everything. Some essential things can be done remotely by...
“The world is too big to stay in one place. Life is too short to do just one thing.” I love to hear about people’s journeys, their life choices, the...
In the middle of uncertainty, fate decided that I would study in Sweden, a country that was not my top priority. I could tell you my rollercoaster story of applying...
It was always my dream to study a master’s program abroad. At first, I was undecided about which country to choose, but after much deliberation and research, I settled for...
What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you talk about Sweden? I bet it’s snow, the northern lights, cold weather, and darkness. For me, it was exactly...
As I said in many articles, I lived in Sweden for 5 months as a volunteer. I moved from south to north, north to west and west to the south...
Sweden has come a long way architecturally from the classic ‘Falu Röd färg’ red houses. From tree & Ice hotels to a twisted skyscraper. Sweden boasts an eclectic variety of...
Learning a language can be a hard process, but it can also be a rewarding one. Swedish is no exception whatever your aims. Whether you are learning for fun, work...
Look around you. In your office, in your bedroom, in your kitchen or bathroom. How much plastic can you identify? Probably most of the objects you own have some plastic...
Scandinavian design, what images do you get? Many people around the world turn to Sweden & Scandinavia when it comes to design, and it’s clear to see why. As a...
We all know what Sweden is most known for. Or, let’s put it this way – we all know what Sweden is not known for: SUN! But you might be...
Hej! I’m back, after my article about Sweden through an Argentinian’s eyes, I’m here to share my experience visiting a doctor in Sweden as a tourist. Unfortunately, I visited him...
Curious about where the spices that infuse your favorite fika buns are from? First and foremost, I’ll need to give some context to this. When I had my first cardamom...
How do you restart your career in Sweden? Swedes like to describe their country as modern, equal, neutral, and ready for the next cup of coffee. Likewise, international professionals who...
Hej and welcome, this is my first blog post at the Newbie Guide to Sweden. I hope you will enjoy it. Now let’s go into it! I want to start...
I think it’s time to bury the myth and tell the truth. Europeans are not cold as Argentinians are not warm, at least not all of them. If there is...
There is a lot to consider when you are buying a home and a mortgage. It’s tricky business anywhere on earth and Sweden is no different, although a lot is...
Is it important to find the right phone plans in Sweden? You probably have a phone with you right? However, your phone bill will soon be astronomical if you keep...
Network coverage in Sweden – how does it work? Sweden is a long country and a lot of it is covered by forest and mountains – where famously phone coverage...
Could this be the beginning of a new era? Five years have passed since I first landed in Sweden with all my belongings. A mix of excitement and nervous energy...
It’s time for winter! Lots of children are expecting it enthusiastically as well as parents. They want to go out and play in the snow. But winter is not only...
It’s here. The season of searching for the light. Many newbies and long term expats remember their first winter season in Sweden. As we all more or less have experienced...
The clocks have gone back, the winter tyres are going on, Christmas is some way off – how best do you get through December which can be the most challenging...
Food plays a major role in human health and it is an important part of cultural identity as well. However, what we eat and how we eat has a big...
I am intrigued by the concept of comfort food, and I had to ask several native English speakers, native food comforters about the topic. In Swedish, there is one seemingly...
A full week of Teams-Zoom-Hangouts-Meet-Skype-Slack and Friday is coming up. Time to slow down, you think, but your Swedish colleagues have a different opinion. Friday is the very culmination of...
For a person with a non-Scandinavian background, with no knowledge of the Swedish language, coming to Sweden and settling down could be a bit difficult. Especially if you are coming...
Whether you’ve purchased your plane tickets and started packing, or you’re just thinking about it, moving to Sweden is a big deal. If you have children, it’s an even bigger...
I have all the Mexicans, and all other sensible people out there, screaming at me through their screens now, but I’m afraid Sweden has claimed and appropriated tacos. This is...
Autumn is here and soon it will be winter. To several, this is a time to make subscriptions to new services like gym, to compensate for the changing seasons. With...
If you are a Newbie in Sweden you may want to read up on Nobeldagen. It is a major annual event here and has been since 1901. Every year, recipients...
Well done! You made it through the first step of the recruitment process and have secured an interview. How do you prepare? What can you expect? Based on discussions with...
The summer is almost over in Sweden. However, trust me the fun is still not over. You still have time to enjoy nature before winters approach. Yes, friends enjoy the...
Have you read Tove Jansson’s Moomin books? If you haven’t, you must, and if you have – re-read them. Not only are they beautifully written, subtly philosophical and thoroughly entertaining...
Have you read Tove Jansson’s Moomin books? If you haven’t, you must, and if you have – re-read them. Not only are they beautifully written, subtly philosophical and thoroughly entertaining...
August is a poignant time in Sweden. As elsewhere the nights begin to draw in, the scent of the evening air turns heavier and more reflective, the sceptre of autumn...
Summer is the time when most people in Sweden (if not all) take a break and travel to their favourite summer destinations: Thailand, Greece Spain and so on. But that...
The Stockholm archipelago in summer is nothing sort of dreamy. Step – or rather swim, glide or sail – back into a world seemingly untouched by the hustle and bustle...
Ride yourself to happiness. There’s something about riding that makes me happy. It doesn’t require as much effort, as say running, and you get to enjoy the landscape around you...
Midsummer eve (midsommarafton) is one of the most celebrated days in Sweden. So let’s play one step forward, one step back. Fast forward one day Fast forward one day, the...
In a world which has, until recently, moved at an ever-faster pace, there is something very reassuring and peaceful about the way in which Sweden adheres to a well-established calendar...
What do you miss the most when you’re living far from home? For me, it’s 3Fs: Families, Friends and Food! Coming from a country known for its distinctive and rich-in-flavour...
Are you looking for a job in Sweden? Then, it’s worth knowing that most openings are filled through relationships, and not formal applications. Trust and credibility are two essential components...
The historical day has come: I am holding in my hand two passports, a Russian and a Swedish one. In an earlier post, I wrote about the journey to obtaining...
Swedish pets are amongst the most insured in the world. In 2018 it was estimated that an approximate 57% of pets were insured in Sweden.