10 things you really shouldn’t do in Sweden (and probably will anyway)
Sweden is fantastic: endless forests, cosy red cottages, unbelievably good cinnamon buns and a sense of peace that instantly puts you in a zen state. But beware: it’s also a country with a subtle etiquette that you, as a loud and clumsy Dutch person, can easily trample all over. And believe us, Swedes really don’t like that. Don’t want to be known as ‘that annoying tourist’ within five minutes? Then especially avoid these 10 things you absolutely shouldn’t do in Sweden.
Tourist in Sweden? Don’t do this
From having fika far too loudly to thinking that surströmming is a tasty snack; don’t say we didn’t warn you. Save this list, and your holiday in Sweden will be even more enjoyable—for the Swedes too.
1. Mistaking the right of public access for ‘anything goes’
It sounds like a dream: pitch your tent wherever you want, pick flowers as if you were a Swedish fairy and go skinny-dipping in a lake. Welcome to Allemansrätten, in other words: the right of public access.
But beware: this isn’t a free pass to turn someone’s backyard into a campsite. Always check the rules with the local tourist office or read up on the right of public access. And above all, do NOT jump into the pond belonging to a private home. Swedes are polite, but that stoic look means: “Go away.”
2. Not making time for fika: cultural sacrilege
Fika isn’t a coffee break; fika is a lifestyle. A social ritual. A moment with coffee and something delicious, during which you really connect. Fika is just as Swedish as ABBA. ‘Let’s have fika’ is one of the most frequently heard phrases. It’s so deeply embedded in the culture that some companies even include it as a right in employment contracts. Coming in for takeaway and a quick espresso shot? Then you haven’t understood fika, my friend.
3. Expecting drinks to be cheap
A glass of wine for €4? Nope. Swedes love control, and that applies to alcohol too. Anything above 3.5% ABV may only be sold at Systembolaget, the state-run alcohol shop. In Sweden, you can easily pay €10 for a glass of wine. And that’s the starting price.
So: plan your alcohol shopping wisely and make sure you’re at “Systemet” before closing time. (And yes, it closes at 18:00 on Saturdays. Cheers.)
4. Thinking after two drinks: I can still drive
Wrong! Sweden has a blood alcohol limit of 0.2 per mille. That’s practically sober. Even half a Radler can be too much. The police check frequently and show no mercy.
So: arrange a designated driver, take the bus, or happily ride a little scooter to your cabin in the woods.
5. Skipping the queue: just don’t
There’s one golden rule in Sweden: you wait in silence and in an orderly queue. Swedes are calm, organised and allergic to queue-jumpers. You’re simply taking someone else’s turn. At the bus stop, in the supermarket, at the buffet: join the queue neatly and leave your cheeky Dutch habits at home.
6. Arriving fashionably late
Having dinner at 19:00? Then you’ll be there at 18:58. Swedes are time-obsessed in the best possible sense. Being late is seen as uninterested, rude or, even worse: antisocial. They even have a word for it: tidsoptimist (someone who chronically thinks everything will still fit into five minutes).
7. Being too loud
How do you recognise Dutch people at the beach or swimming pool? Those loud voices. But Swedes really don’t like that kind of noise. Swedes speak softly, laugh discreetly and hate it when your conversation ends up at their table. Want to make friends? Turn down the volume.
8. Getting too close: personal space is sacred
In Sweden, never stand too close in a queue, at the bar, at the checkout or on a bench. Not even with the best intentions. One metre of distance is standard. More is even better. That nod from your Swedish neighbour means: “You’re okay, as long as you stay there.”
9. Calling Swedish beer “watery”
Okay, Swedish beer is lighter than Heineken. But don’t go around shouting that it tastes like sparkling water. They actually do like it themselves. Besides, you can always pick up a bottle of vodka at Systemet if you want something stronger. And don’t laugh loudly at this silly oven dish either; it’s a Swedish cult classic.
10. Thinking surströmming is a tasty snack
Surströmming is fermented herring in a tin and smells like sweaty feet, sewage and unrelenting heartbreak. And yet it’s a delicacy. Well, for Swedes, anyway. Honestly: the taste is less bad than the smell, but be prepared. And then there’s another Scandinavian dish you might want to avoid. Räkost: shrimp cheese from a tube. Delicious on crispbread, they say. We think we’d rather join the table at restaurant Frantzén in Stockholm, run by Swedish three-Michelin-star chef Björn Frantzén.
Being Swedish means staying quiet, planning and having fika
Being a tourist is fine, but keep your volume down, your planning tight and your fika sacred. Swedes love peace, order and a good cup of coffee; if you do too, you’re guaranteed a lagom-lovely holiday. Skål!
Also read:
- 6 things you shouldn’t do when you’re in Spain and probably will anyway
- This is once again the happiest country in the world (and the Netherlands has climbed one place)
- This is the IKEA kitchen gadget everyone is raving about right now
