Sweden as you don’t know it: 10 surprising facts about a country where silence is gold

For most people, Sweden is associated with IKEA, ABBA team or reindeer. But this peaceful country in northern Europe hides many other secrets.

Here are 10 interesting facts about Sweden that you may not know!

„Fika” – coffee break is a national holiday

In Sweden, the „Fika” or coffee break is mandatory! It’s more than an espresso — it’s a moment to relax, talk and sweet buns with cinnamon (kanelbulle).

In many companies, fik is on a schedule — twice a day.

Ice hotel

I think many of you don’t know that in Jukkasjärvi, 200 km beyond the Arctic Circle, there is a hotel built of ice and snow, renewed every winter for over 30 years. Everything, i.e. beds, walls and glasses are made of pure ice from the Torne river.

Silence is gold

Swedes are famous for their love of peace.

They do not interrupt others, they do not scream and what may surprise you… they like the silence in the company.

For them, the lack of conversation is a comfort;-)

Right of all people – Allemansrätten

All Scandinavian countries also have the Allemansrätten rule in Sweden (Right of all people), everyone can walk in the forests, collect berries and camping almost everywhere – even in private areas, unless the owner protests, but with the rules that apply in a given area and respect for nature!

Swedes… import garbage!

I think this will surprise many people, because Sweden has such a sophisticated recycling system that it lacks its own waste.

That is why it imports waste from Norway and the UK to power zero-waste heat and power plants.

Reindeer have priority

On the roads of Lapland, it is not a pedestrian or a car, but a reindeer determines the pace of traffic. In northern Sweden, there are around 250,000 of them, and some of them belong to the Sami people. Drivers really have to be careful – animals are in no hurry.

The studies are free for EU citizens

In Sweden, education is seen as an investment in the future.

EU students do not pay tuition fees at public universities, and many programs are offered in English.

ABBA is an economic power

There is probably no person who does not know at least one song of the legendary Swedish band ABBA! ABBY’s music brings Sweden revenues comparable to Volvo’s car exports!

Swedish bands have dominated world pop music for decades – from Roxette to Avicia.

A day without the sun… and a day when it doesn’t set

So night and polar day. In northern Sweden, for part of the winter the sun does not look out over the horizon at all, and in the summer it does not set for many days.

This phenomenon, called the polar night and the polar day, is something completely normal for residents, and for tourists it is an unusual attraction

Sweden is a country where silence does not mean distance, minimalism is not boring, and technology harmonizes with nature.

It is a society that shows that you can live modernly — but peacefully.

Silence, coffee and clean water – these are the true riches of Sweden.