Ten Things That Will Shock You on Your Sweden Vacation
Hey there, fellow travelers! Today we’re posting from Sweden. We love to help travelers prepare for their vacations, and other than telling you the best things to do, we love to share the things that will shock you upon arriving in a new destination. Today we’re sharing the top ten travel shocks when you visit Sweden.
Sweden Vacation Shock #1: Buying Alcohol
If you want to buy alcohol in Sweden, you have to go to a special store, called the System Bolaget. You can buy beer at convenience stores, but liquor in Sweden is only sold at the government-run stores, which have very inconvenient hours. Don’t wait until evening or the weekends to buy alcohol in Sweden.
Sweden Vacation Shock #2: Swedish People Aren’t Actually Reserved
At first, the people in Sweden seem so reserved, but once Midsummer arrives, or any festival, the Swedes go crazy and love to sing along at festivals. The Swedes really loosen up at the festivals, which is a shock if you are used to the normally reserved nature of Sweden’s culture.
Sweden Vacation Shock #3: Natural Beauty of Sweden
As you travel around Sweden, you will be shocked at the natural beauty of Sweden. From the archipelagos to the forests, lakes and summer homes, Sweden has so much natural beauty. So, make sure you leave the cities during your Sweden vacation, and see all that Sweden has to offer.
Watch: Five Things You Will Love & Hate About Visiting Sweden
Sweden Vacation Shock #4: Extremes of Daylight in Sweden
Depending on when you visit, you’ll notice an extreme of daytime and nighttime in Sweden. If you visit Sweden in the summer, the sun is up before 5am and it stays light out until 10 or 11pm, even midnight around Midsummer. The flip-side is that winter in Sweden is very dark. The payoff for all that darkness, though, is the chance to see the Northern Lights.
Sweden Vacation Shock #5: Quiet Public Transport
If you take public transportation in Sweden, it’s shocking how quiet it is. People don’t really talk on the trains and buses in Sweden, and if you are being loud, locals may ask you to be quiet.
Sweden Vacation Shock #6: Attractiveness of the Swedes
It is really shocking how attractive everyone in Sweden is. The men and the women in Sweden are gorgeous. They also have a really keen fashion sense, and Sweden is known for cool design. So don’t be surprised if you feel like a schlub when walking amongst the beautiful people of Sweden.
Sweden Vacation Shock #7: Nudity is Normal
The Swedes are not prudes; they will often strip down nude to jump into the lake or the sauna. Obviously, this is more common in the summer, when it’s warm, but expect that you might see some nudity in Sweden.
Sweden Vacation Shock #8: Safety in Sweden
Sweden is such a safe country; we never worry about our safety when we visit Sweden. Unlike some other European countries and cities, you don’t have to be on high alert for pickpockets all the time, because nobody will bother you in Sweden. Of course, there are urban areas to avoid, and common travel sense must be used like anywhere else, but in general, Sweden is super safe.
Sweden Vacation Shock #9: Shopping on Sundays
A big shock for many travelers to Europe is finding many stores closed on Sundays. However, there are actually stores open on Sundays in Sweden, which is a nice surprise if you’ve gotten used to European shop hours.
Sweden Vacation Shock #10: Swedish Service
People in Sweden are very reserved, and it can be hard to get to know them. Likewise, the service in Sweden isn’t great. Servers in Sweden are paid very well, so they aren’t going above and beyond to get a tip from you. However, once you do get to know the Swedes, they are super friendly and helpful. (Knowing a few words of Swedish really helps!)
Watch: Tipping in Sweden
Sweden Vacation Shock #11: Swedish Line Culture
Queuing up in Sweden is a unique part of Swedish culture. When you get in line for something, you need a ticket just to wait in line, or your spot won’t count. Also, when you are in line, you really want to be right up next to the person in front of you. If you leave too much space, someone will fill it!
We hope these ten tips help you prepare to visit Sweden, and lessen the shocks you have upon arrival. Have you been to Sweden? We’d love to hear what shocked you; just leave a comment below! For more Wolters World travel tips, check out these blog posts and videos: