8 Things You NEVER DO to a Swede! Don't Do This in Sweden 

I must be a Swede: personal space, no cutting in the queue, no loud talking, and no shoes in the house...heaven!

Sweden is my love at first sight. I love every aspect of this country containing some little disadvantages. I will never forget my time there. Love from Poland.

🙂As a Swede, I approve of some of these messages: Yes, we do value our personal space. Slush does not belong inside a home. There is a special place in hell for queue-jumpers (I hope, they deserve it). An American is easily spotted: It is the ones you can hear talking a block away. Scandinavia, you are SO right! As for the Vikings, they came from Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The Swedes went mostly east, the Norwegians and Danes mostly west. Nothing strange about that. Meatballs, we don't really care. Sure, others have them as well. No biggie. You haven't tasted mine, though. Actually, we love when someone confuses Sweden and Switzerland as it shows how utterly uneducated the one with the misconception is!

If you mix up Sweden and Switzerland when you talk to Swedes, they won't get annoyed, they'll just assume you're American.

You haven't really seen Sweden if all you see is the big cities like Stockholm! Rent a car, go out on the countryside, take the road less travelled that winds through the little villages. Buy homemade fika from one of the quaint little summer cafés that pop up like mushrooms during the sunny season. Experience the wild of the north, the untamed rivers and creeks. Brave the mosquitoes and gnats on the peat (myren) and pick ripe, golden cloudberries. Beware of sudden cold springs in the moss, peering at you with a sharp silver eye... Sit by a fire in the fir forests of the taiga and listen to the conifers whispering in the wind. Drink your hot, boiled coffee and smell the lichens and the terpentine. If all you see is Stockholm, you have not experienced Sweden. 🤠

Don't refuse an invitation to fika! They won't get mad about it, but as you said, the Swedes like their quiet and personal space, so if they're making an effort to include you and socialize with you, it would be kinda weird to refuse that. Also, be careful if you're from a more direct and blunt culture (like me from Texas). Swedes will bend over backwards to avoid hurting anyone's feelings or saying anything that could possibly be perceived as rude or hurtful, so if you're really direct and blunt, you may come off as quite brash. At the same time, some Swedes will find you refreshing and inspiring because they honestly sometimes want to give a piece of their mind 😂😂

As.a swede I say this is spot on! 🎯 I was smiling while whatching.Too bad you had such bad weather thoigh - Stokholm is beautiful

The meatball comment cracks me up! My whole family is Swedish, on Christmas we make Swedish meatballs. I live in Chicago, and I used to work at Labriola (an Italian restaurant). I love to poke the bear with my Italian-American friends and say that Swedish meatballs are better than Italian ones. I like them both, apples and oranges, but it's a fun rivalry thing we love to do.

As a Brit currently on holiday in Sweden, I can agree on all of these! My husband has a naturally loud voice (even when he whispers it seems!) so I just feel like hiding when he talks over here as everywhere is silent it seems. Luckily I can whisper very well 😂. So far though everyone has been lovely and we’re having a great time 😃🇬🇧🇸🇪….

Two weeks ago I sat on a cliff next to the ocean...it was a beautiful afternoon. Peace and tranquility 🙏 Then a german tourist came...sat down 2 meters from me and my girl. Even if there was a TON of space. And he had the loudest conversation on is phone I have ever heard. There were like 10-15 people when he came...me and my girl were the last of them to leave, about an hour after his arival. After we had walked a little bit I turned around and saw him sitting there, alone. Still blasting away on his phone. I was like...WHY? Very uncool, very unswedish

I'm a 37 year old Swede and this is the first time I've ever heard of Norway having meatballs. Nobody has ever told me this and I'm not even joking lol

I'm Swedish, love Tallinn, the first thing I do is going to my fav cafeteria when I arrive there. Last time a French guy totally spoiled my "fika" at that cafeteria, not the cheapest one in town I must add- he was on zoom/team/skype in a job meeting and he was speaking SO loud, SO much, SO intense and it just went on and on and on and on, for half an hour. It was horrible, terrible annoying! Please, if you're a loud speaker 🔊 📢...keep in mind how disturbing it is in common spaces. Who enjoys it, hold up a hand?

You can regulate the clock by the time they arrive. If event starts at 7 PM, then the bell will ring exactly at 07:00PM. Also, you might see them outside the window, going around the city block to time their arrival.

About meatballs: IKEA does not have that good meatballs. Also, every meatball is slightly wrong, not matter who made them. Except, off course mums meatballs. There are about as many meatball recepies as mums.

I'm a swede and it's always fun with these generalized vids on Swedes and Sweden. I think you did a pretty good job. Thank you 🙂

I think I will love Sweden! Love space and quiet

Sweden - Switzerland, now try Austria and Australia.

I live in USA but Swedish ancestry and it’s amazing how much I’m like them. I’m chill, like my space, love peace and quiet, love meatballs haha!!

Finland (or at least part of it) is a part of the Scandinavian Peninsula together with Norway and Sweden but not Denmark. But Scandinavia is Denmark, Norway and Sweden. And then we have the Nordic countries, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. These 5 countries have since 1952 had open borders, no passports needed and you could move freely between them, way before the EU.

1. Very accurate 2. Very accurate 3. Accurate, although this is thrown out the window when it comes to entering buses, trains, subways etc. 4. No comment, probably accurate, but we know Denmark's got nothing going for it except Lego so we'll give it to 'em. ;) 5. There's definitely time for talking, be it at a bar or whatever, but it's usually not loud in the sense that everybody is involuntarily a part of the conversation. But otherwise, especially on a commute, yeah very accurate. 6. I think we recognize Italian meatballs as their own thing, but otherwise we're probably all accustomed to there being, ehm, inferior versions abroad. Perhaps that's calmed a bit now that we've opened Ikea missions all over the world? 7. Yes but we're not too offended by that all in all today I'd say. To be fair, we have our own prejudice against Americans so we're not surprised nor do we hold it against you too much. ;) 8. I dunno about that to be honest. Finns are the biggest foreign ethnicity here and we have a love for them and their culture (more so than Denmark, let's swap!), I think a lot of people here even just assume that Finland _is_ a part of it. Honorary participant! Two things you DON'T want to do, in particularly Stockholm: * If there's a crossing, hit the button if the light right under it is not glowing. Don't just assume that it'll turn. * Never, ever, stand on the left-hand side of an escalator. Just take note of everybody else and it'll be clear.

As an introvert from a very crowded city, personal space & quiet sound like a great change of pace!

I think there are other unwritten rules not often talked about. Don’t try to pick up women, let them show interest first. Don’t litter. Don’t mess with nature and the allemansrätt. Actually, I have a few favourite things in Sweden that you may be interested in looking into. 1) Kallbadhus. 2) Folkhögskola 3) Allemansrätt. It’s not just about meatballs.

I remember when I - as a Swedish national - were studying in Paris and a girl turned to me in class and asked me why I would attend a French class when French is a national language in Switzerland. :)

Another thing you should NEVER do as a tourist in Stockholm: Stand in the bike lanes!

Denmark is also not Scandinavia, denmark is located on the Jutland peninsula just like Germany, both are on the same peninsula, there are only two Scandinavian countries Sweden and Norway.

You never wear your shoes inside the house probably in the whole Europe... not only in Sweden.

Meatballs are the highlight of a trip to IKEA. Between you and me, I've gone there just for the restaurant. Many times.

As a swede, this is mostly spot on. Agree with earlier comments. But - I don’t know anybody who would get upset about Vikings from Denmark, that Meatball issue or Finland not being part of Scandinavia. That’s silly. But the rest is so, so true.

My dad used to say "you can always tell a Swede, but you can't tell him much".

Do not brag! Swedes really do not appreciate hearing bragging.

Almost all the things are applicable to other countries like Japan, no loud talking esp on trains, they value their personal space, and don’t wear outside shoes in their house, or in any room that has tatami mats.

I worked with a Swedish tech team and they were off all summer ( 2 months). Rest of the year, they work really hard. Love ❤️ Sweden. The people are so polite. Love ❤️ their music 🎶- Avatar is one of my favorite metal bands! - Amy

When I took a tour in Gamla Stan in Stockholm, the guide did say that the word for carpet in Ikea was Copenhagen.... That was hilarious. Haven't been to Denmark though.

Foreigners being loud is not that bad because you understand there's cultural differences between countries. Loud locals is beyond annoying.

Off to Sweden in about a month! Thanks for the advice.

Funny it is true. Norway also like that ❤.

There are a few more. Swedish punctuality, Our informal tone, Restaurant behavior, tipping and sharing the bill. Children, when they get loud and how you correct them. There have been tourists arrested by the police for grabbing their own children to hard.

What most people outside Scandinavia don't know is that Sweden & Finland was one nation for over 700 years. This is why Finland is two language spoken country by the Finnish constitution. The dissolution of the union between the kingdoms of Sweden and Norway under the House of Bernadotte, was sinde in 1905. And half of what this days are Sweden once was Denmark. In fact not that long ago the entre Baltic Sea area was under Swedish government and rule. And yes we the Swedes do indeed love our meatballs, but it's not the only thing we eat and it's not the only Swedish dish we truly deeply madly love!

Who on earth mixes up Sweden and Switzerland

As a swede I agree with most of your points, the meatballs however is not a huge thing imo. An important part of the "julbord" (christmas buffé) but I'd say I eat them max once a year. It's more of a kids thing. Another thing to add to the list I'd say is being loud and "taking up space" is frowned upon. People walk around in their own personal "bubbles" and don't like to be disturbed 😀However, if you as a tourist would come up and ask something I'd be more than happy to help. It's also considered rude in general to discuss your salary amongst swedes. Can probably think of more things but most of the stuff has already been mentioned in other comments 🙂

Not wearing shoes in a Swedish house? Well, I have diabetes and my endocrinologist advised me years ago never to go barefoot, even in my own home. Puncture wounds being a concern, you see. No worries. This helpful upload tells me to decline the invite!

Another hate of Sweden might be the joking attitude the Danes have toward them. When we were in Copenhagen, the professor taking us around said: "in Denmark we have a saying: keep Denmark clean, take a Swede back to the harbor."

I'm Swedish, and I've always thought Finland was part of Scandinavia. Haha, the more you know. LOL

😮Personal Space 😊Yes Everywhere în the World 😅

Am a small city swede and I approve. Have met alot of Americans abroad talking very loud, being rude and making fun of european dialects. This is the most frustrating thing you got right. Also goes for big city people (stockholm perhaps mostly) when they low-key brag about career and money. This is no 1. Scandinavian Jantelag, do not think you are above anyone.

I am from Switzerland (nope, I am NOT FROM SWEDEN ! - and nobody is actually better at confusing both countries than peple from the US :-)). And most of the rules that apply to Sweden, apply to Switzerland as well. Apart from viking, meatballs and Scandivia of course.

I’d really love to go to Sweden someday! My father’s family is Swedish

At least a person mentioning Denmark knows it's another country. The truly annoying thing that all people from the nordic countries can agree upon is surely when someone says that they ALMOST went to Sweden because they went to Denmark. Many similarities yes, but definately different, separate countries with a long history of rivalry.

Stockholm - on my top 5 places in the world.

That thing about wearing shoes inside isn't entirely true. You can also bring your "inside shoes", not slippers real shoes. If you're wearing a suit for instance, you don't walk around barefoot, looks ridiculous.

Native Swede here, and I agree with all but two points raised here, but the rest is spot on accurate. Here's what I don't quite agree about: 1. Vikings being Danish. Might depend on the person, but to those of us that actually know more than the basics about the Vikings; yeah, most of them were Danish. At least when it comes to what most people think to be Vikings. We have less information about the Norwegian Vikings, and the least amount of information about the Swedish Vikings. In Sweden specifically, Vikings were likely less popular due the fact that Swedes at that time were more spiritually inclined in comparison to the rest. At most we mostly only know of the Rus, but by the time anything is documented about them, we have little idea of how well they represented the typical Swedish Viking. 🤷‍♂️ At least from what I am concerned; I don't particularly care if someone says the real Vikings were Danish. 2. Finland being part of Scandinavia is definitely something we will correct as there is a difference between Scandinavia and the Nordics. However, Fennoscandia does exist as a geographic term for the peninsula that Norway, Sweden, and Finland inhabit which Denmark doesn't. So if you're referring to that then you are correct. If you aren't, you are wrong and confused.

You’re spot on! Greetings from 🇸🇪😁

All so true!! ❤😂

Swede here. Most of these are correct, but we're not THAT obsessed about our meatballs. If you say that you think Norway or Finland have better meatballs, we're just gonna go with it without arguing. As for Denmark, there's A LOT of friendly rivalry between our countries. If you say Denmark is the real home of the Vikings, we're most likely not gonna get angry, just point out that Sweden and Norway had them too. As for saying Finland is part of Scandinavia, we won't get angry about it, but we will tell you that it's not the case. But we do get annoyed at Americans quite a lot, as you can often hear them from a mile away. Not to mention, if you mix up Sweden and Switzerland, people are gonna think you're an idiot and refuse to talk to you. Hope this clears a few things up, and Välkommen till Sverige!

As a Swede I actually don't care about who has the best meatballs or which country had the coolest vikings. To brag about our country is very unswedish. But showing a horned helmet when talking about vikings, that really upsets me! Vikings didn't wear horned helmets!

List is spot on and Finland should retroactively become a Scandinavian country (if they want to). Four brothers...

You got me going mate. Scandinavia is the name of a peninsula. Sweden, Norway and a small portion of Finland is located on that peninsula. Denmark is not. They have their own peninsula, Jylland which is not shared with any other countries.

Please, don't forget that you _never_ ask a swede how much money they make. *Never!*

The only time its ok to cut a line, is when a new line opens... Or when its an empty cashier, its ok to cut a line... Also, meatballs... Swedish cant beat, but turkish meatballs, is a close second...

You've understood us quite well, all these things are very true, the only one I'd say I don't fully agree with is Finland, where I'm from we always include them in Scandinavia.

I'm Swedish and..... You really hit the nail! 😊

If it includes lingonberries, it’s great! 🇺🇸🇸🇪

If someone offers you coffee (especially when interviewing for a job), you must either accept or ask for tea. If you ask for tea, first check that they do have tea. The best option is to just accept the coffee and then if you don't drink it, that is fine. Just have a small sip or pretend to when sitting down. Not accepting is awkward.

Thank you for this really interesting video! Sweden is just lovely! And has the most handsome & elegant gentlemen in the world.

I love Sweden. Delicious Toblerones, beautiful cities (Geneva being my favourite), low taxes and direct democracy. My Scandinavian friend, Halko from Helsinki isn't a fan though.

What does concern me are the idiots online hating on Sweden for soe eweird reason. We are not a dicatorship, if you don't like it leave or go where you prefer instead.

One more thing. If you set a time. So it applies. If you don't arrive on time, you'll be kicked out. It is considered very impolite not to be on time.

Hey man you look healthy and hope you enjoyed Sweden lookin sharp as always you 100% correct in youre assessment of most Swedes😂❤

It isn't cool to wear shoes inside of someones home regardless of the locale. I'm surprised the Swedes don't really get ticked if you say that either Norway or Denmark are nicer. I was in Stockholm many years ago and it happened to be July 4. Now the Swedes don't celebrate this holiday, but it happened to be on a weekend and my daughter and I were at the Skansen open air museum. They had a jazz band playing 50s and 60s US jazz. I went up to talk to one of the band members and surprise, he didn't speak English but had all the lyrics to the songs memorized. They also had a guy making hamburgers in a Big Green Egg. Altogether a great way to spend the holiday.

3:58 Same thing with Austria and Australia, 😁

🏒 Top meals to eat in Sweden: Janssons Frestelse, Smörgåstårta, Korv Stroganoff, Julbord/Swedish Christmas table, Eating at IKEA, Eating a Hot Dog outside Åhléns in T-Centralen, Kanelbulle, Semla, Waffles with cream and jam, Pancakes with cream and jam, knäckebröd/crispbread, grab an apple from an tree and eat it, grab an pear from an tree and eat it.

Fennoscandia: Norway, Sweden and Finland. Finland can also be regarded as a part of Scandinavia for historical reasons. Finland was a part of Sweden for 600 years, Finland has two official languages, Finnish and Swedish. The name Scandinavia comes from the mountain ridge on the border between Norway and Sweden. However, it's also a part of the geography of the northern part of Finland, their mountains. So yeah, Finland is a part of Scandinavia.

Swede here. The thing that gets me here and gets my blood boiling and I’ll no longer stay quiet is line skipping. You get to the back of the line or there will be… trouble

Well guess they are quite accurate on a scale. I'd say some other countries are way more sensitive though like France, US etc

Worst was an American I met is a party in UK who did not believe me that I was from Switzerland because I’m white. After I insisted, he asked me « then what is your King’s name? » He was confusing Switzerland with Swaziland. I pointed out the error, but he never changed his opinion that I was a liar. He spent the evening criticizing me, encouraged by very British « really? » and « oh, that’s interesting », making a galactic-class fool of himself 😂 I wonder how he would have fared with a Swede…

Wow! You are actually right, good work man, respect!👍 And Swedes DO make the best meatballs! (and pancakes and coffe😉)

I know how you can get them super angry😅 if you visit stockholm - tell them gothenburg is better and vice versa if you are in gothenburg, one time a whole table left when i said that, it was fun

In the winter, here in Sweden I bring indoor shoes with me when I visit someone's home. I don't want to walk around in my stockings. Doesn't look good if you are dressed up. The meatballs actually came from Türkiye. And we know that.

As a Swede this is 100% true except: Vikings came from Denmark, no we all know they were "mostly" Norwegian. Finns and Scandinavia: Me born of finnish parents in Sweden, we share a lot of the same culture, but since Finland was once rule by Sweden without consent of their people I understand their aversion to Sweden in particular. But we still share a lot of culture... (a lot!) My mother was a "war child" sent to Sweden at the age of five, my father was from Närpes, I was born in Sweden by "Finnish" parents...

Wait! When did you visit Sweden again? I'm a big fan of you and have been following you from the very beginning. Have been waiting to meet you in Stockholm and I wasn't aware you are here?!?!?! 😢

Ha ha ha... You are right Thank you for sharing. But I really still love to live here - people is kind when you learn to know them a longer time. You can trust them for sure. Best Wishes from STOCKHOLM - SWEDEN 🌲🌼🌺🌺🌺🌲🌲🌲🌲

Just bought a shirt from you guys. I will wear it everytime I travel on the plane. Maybe I'll see you hehe

I'm from Canada, and the first 3 suggestions are the same for here!

You missed a big one! “Walk on a bike path”. Let the handlebar bells ring!!! 🛎️🛎️🛎️

Mark you look incredible. Also its so funny your vid poped up the same time im searching vaca in Sweden

And don't have that horn-helmet in blue yellow around. We never had horn-helmets, it's a tourist thing.

what swedes also hate (especially nonstockholmers) is that tourists think that stockholm is all that sweden has to offer and not even considering going to the countryside

As a Swede myself I don’t appreciate this information getting out there, getting taunted with “vikings only come from Denmark” and more… not cool! Great video otherwise

This is the most accurate description of swedes that i seen for a long time . But personal space its not required in public transportation. But dont stand in our faces outher times then the viking can get loose 😂😂😂

I loved Sweden when I visited in 2016.

Köfte and cevapcici are great meatballs too!

If a swedish person gets friendly with you and says, ”come by anytime!”, they do not mean it. Ohh, come by, but give them at least a weeks warning. Edit: If you just show up at the door, you wont be welcome. If you are really friendly with them and bring some cinnamon buns and dont mention any mess, you might be welcome to drop by with shorter notice (hours)for a ”fika”. Ohh, and Wolter, next time you are in Sweden, come by anytime!

People talk about the "rivalry" between the 3 countries. Having spent time there, I notice the countries culture and people seem the same. People that have spent some time between these countries will point out differences. However, People that live there and have that have to go between these countries alot, a lot of them will marry someone from another Nordic country, will say there isn't a big differnce. They do joke around about the other countries, but it is just ribbing. Especially between Norway and Sweden, there is a history of conflict- I can think of few countries that had more wars between them, but that was 100s of years ago. When it comes to football or hockey rivalry, that is a whole other story.

Swedish meatballs are not only the best meatballs, they are the only ones worth eating! 🇸🇪🇸🇪🇸🇪

Never say that fika is just a coffee break (even though it is)

Worth noting, "Northern Europe" doesn't actually mean northern Europe. It means the Nordics but that's usually a difficult to translate term for most swedes and ends up as "Northern Europe" more often than not

I'm Danish; that's enough; I don't have to do anything but whisper a bit of Danish. Nah, we love each other deep down.

Hahaha! Well researched! This is extremely accurate!!

Swede here to confirm, all correct

No big deal with meatballs - we now there is other types of dishes with meatballs in other countries. But to be called swedish meatballs you need to fry the meatballs (not boil them, as you do with frikadeller). They should also be served together with brown sauce and lingonberry jam (or "rårörda lingon") and sweet sliced pickled cucumber (or swedish "pressgurka" is fine too!) - of course together with potatoes and nothing else!. Smaklig måltid!