Sweden Tips

English is widely spoken in Sweden, but the quickest way to befriend a local is to learn a few phrases of Swedish such as “hej” for “hello”, “tack” for “thank you”, and “ursäkta” for “excuse me.” That said, be careful: many Swedish words have similar spellings and pronunciations – “gift” pronounced “yeeft” means “married” and also “poison”.
(www.nordiska.su.se/komloss)

Visiting friends in Sweden? Remember that it is customary to take shoes off when entering a Swedish home. Leave your soles by the front door even if your host insists you leave them on.

Fika, which means “to drink coffee,” is a custom essential to Swedish social life. Usually practiced several times a day, it means taking a break and sharing coffee with colleagues, friends, and family. Fika is often accompanied by an assortment of cookies, pastries, and/or Kanelbullar - cinnamon buns.

If a native nods neutrally as you boast about your accomplishments, you may need to practice some “lagom.” Difficult to translate into English, “lagom” denotes moderation in everything, and Swedes live their daily lives in a state of “lagom.” (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lagom)

Don’t be fooled by the Swedes’ laid back approach to fashion. They pay a lot of money for that effortlessly casual look – think formfitting dark jeans/leggings with boots and oversized tops. If you’re on a budget, the best place to pick up some of these swanky modern duds is at Hennes & Mauritz (H&M). (www.hm.com)

Sweden still uses its own currency, which called the Swedish Krona (SEK) - (plural form is kronor). You can get about 6 SEK for 1 USD. Exchange money using ATMS or currency exchange centers for the cheapest rates.

Unless you’ve received exceptional service and are feeling quite generous, it is okay to put away your wallet. Tipping is not required in Sweden and is not expected.

A word of warning – if you’re craving red meat, steer clear of buffet-style restaurants. A Swedish smörgåsbord (buffet) rarely serves meat, instead the focus is on hot and cold fish dishes such as herring and salmon in various pickled forms.

Always strive to be on time to appointments in Sweden. Swedes frown upon tardiness. Walk around the block a couple times if you show up early, and then be at your meeting spot at the precise meeting time.

Your best bet for moving around expensive Sweden is to stick to its excellent and punctual train system. Most of the underground lines  (tunnelbana) connect and transfer through T-Centralen - Stockholm’s central station. (www.sl.se/Templates/SubStart.aspx?id=1906)