The Newbie Guide to Sweden

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The easiest way to buy or sell a used car in Sweden

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Have you recently moved to Sweden and are on the lookout for a new car? Depending on your situation, you should look for a used car to get the most out of your money. Or maybe you are looking for a buyer for your current vehicle before you trade up? Either way, it is easier than ever before to trade used cars in Sweden. 

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Buying a used car doesn’t have to be a hassle

Many people shy away from buying used cars because it can feel unsafe not dealing with a professional and instead having to deal with a complete stranger. However, with online dealerships like Bildeve, buying a used car doesn’t have to be inconvenient. It is a business that both sells and buys used cars to make it as easy as possible for everyone who’s not looking for a brand-new vehicle.

Turning to a legit dealership instead of to the last user of the car can save you a lot of trouble. Opting for a professional seller, you can be sure to receive all the necessary information about the vehicle you are buying. You also have more payment options. Buying a used car directly from the car owner often requires you to pay the entire price right away, but going through a dealership, you can break up the payment.

Yet another benefit is that you have the option to trade in the current car you’ve been driving when buying a used one, which is both convenient and helps you finance the purchase. Lastly, and maybe most importantly, if something goes wrong or doesn’t feel right with the used car you bought, you can effortlessly contact the dealership to figure out how to proceed. 

Selling should be easy

Selling a used car comes with many of the same challenges as buying one – mainly having to deal with strangers whose primary interest is to get as good of a price as possible, without any regard for your needs. Bildeve and similar businesses eliminate that problem for you. By turning to them, you can quickly get a valuation of the car you want to sell, both online and over the phone, without cost. 

The main benefits of getting help from a professional when selling your car are that it saves you time and, most likely, money. You don’t have to put out ads, deal with paperwork, or schedule test drives with potential buyers – all that is being done for you. It can also be comforting to know that the dealership is legally responsible for the sale instead of you.

The process of selling your car this way is easy: first, you get the car evaluated online or over the phone for free; then, if you want to proceed, you get contacted (usually within a couple of hours) with a price suggestion on the car; and finally, if you accept the price point, you leave the car at one of the many drop-off locations around Sweden.

After that, you can relax and just wait for the car to be sold.

Advent Calendar Dec 7 – Julgodis

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There is no Christmas without julgodis. Christmas just isn’t Christmas without Christmas candy! Throughout the year, as a rule many Swedish children are only allowed to eat candy one day per week. Hence the tradition of “Lördags godis” Saturday sweets.

However, when it comes to the Christmas holiday period, these guidelines are firmly put to one side. Quality time in the kitchen with Mum and Dad is sweet but even better when the resulting goodies can be devoured later.

Check out our list of some of the most yummy  julgodis to get baking right now, but don’t worry if you’re not Sweden’s next master baker, you’ll find all these available to buy in your local supermarket.  

Knäck (Christmas toffee. Be creative these can be made in so many mouth-watering flavours, liquorice, lime, orange, saffron, cinnamon, baileys)

Ischoklad – super easy to make and as there are only 3 ingredients, we thought we’d include the recipe. First of all, to get prepared buy a packet of small aluminium cups (ischokladformar) This recipe will make 60 pieces.

Ingredients to the julgodis Ischoklad

  • 200g dark chocolate, darker the better!)
  • 100g coconut butter
  • 1tsp Cointreau

Method

  • Arrange your ischokladformer on a tray.
  • Melt the coconut butter in a pot
  • Break up the chocolate and stir it in then add the Cointreau
  • Pour carefully into the cups and cool in the fridge. Job done; they are ready when you are!!!

Many julgodis to chose from

  • Smörkola (chewy caramel sweets)
  • Marmeladgodis (cubed marmalade sweets)
  • Brända mandlar (sugar coated almonds)
  • Mjuk pepparkaka (soft gingerbread cake)
  • Chokladdoppade clementiner (clementine dipped in chocolate)
  • Juliga kolasnittar (saffron caramel cookies)
  • Marsipanfigurer (marzipan figurines)
  • Kanderade äpplen (candied apples)
  • Polkagrisar (candy canes)
  • And not forgetting one of our newbie favourites – Skumtomte or Julskum (Bought in bags of fluffy pink gnomes with white beards they have a foamy texture and an irresistible strawberry flavour. Every year a limited edition is released, for fans of julskum the excitement and speculation are just part of the Christmas build up!! So here you have, this year (2022) it’s going to be the refreshing taste of cola!!)

Go on! Indulge! Spoil yourselves!

Advent Calendar Dec 6 – Julmust

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Julmust is most definitely a must try Christmas drink! Swedes are crazy about this dark coloured, rather sweet soda that tastes like a mixture of Coca cola and root beer. In most Swedish supermarkets it starts filling the soft drink aisles as early as November. Research reveals nothing, this recipe is a heavily guarded secret.

Although we see Julmust gracing our supermarket shelves during advent, its close relative påskmust hits supermarket shelves on the run up to Easter. There seems to be no shame at all in re branding this wonderful drink. Let’s face it, a winning recipe is a winning recipe whatever time of year!

Created by Swedish chemist Harry Roberts in the early 20th century as a non-alcoholic alternative to beer, it became extremely popular here when the sale of alcohol was rationed in the 1920’s.

Now it’s estimated that Swedes drink about 40 litres per person per year. Can this really be true? In fact Julmust is drunk so much during Christmas that Coca-Cola’s sales may drop as much as fifty percent as julmust is generally considered the essential and, sometimes only acceptable, non-alcoholic holiday drink. So the big question for newbies is of course – is it worth trying? Well, if these statistics are anything to go by then YES! Of course, it is.

Advent Calendar Dec 5 – Nubbe

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Nubbe is (for good and bad) a strong part of Swedish holidays. Tis the season to socialize, so a little tipple here and there is hard to avoid during this festive period. We’ve talked about the popularity of Glögg, but some Swedes like to drink to Christmas with something a little bit stronger. 

We are possibly more familiar with the name snaps. You can get nubbe in many tastes and forms. But Svenska nubbar are a collection of spiced aquavit or snaps. Why choose between Halland’s Fläder; Herr Gårds or Skåne aquavit when with this special pack, you can test them all! A small shot (or two) of snaps is often served alongside beer and is a very ‘Swedish’ pastime whilst sitting around the Christmas table with family and friends.

Our advice to all of you newbies, would be to swot up on your ‘snapsvisor’(drinking songs!) It’s crucial on these occasions that you can cheerfully sing along in celebration with your fellow Swedes. A nubbe is not a nubbe unless accompanied by a Swedish drinking song. 

If you are only going to learn the lyrics to one snapsvisa this year, the most classic of all is known as ‘Hej tomtegubbar’ Listen here and sing along!

Hej, tomtegubbar,slå i glassen och låt oss lustiga vara!
Hej, tomtegubbar, slå i glassen och låt oss lustga vara!
En liten tid vi leva här, med mycket möda och stort besvår.
Hej, tomtegubbar, slå i glasen och låt oss lustiga vara!
The lyrics roughly translate to Life is hard and short, so let’s get drunk!!

Have fun! Drink in moderation, but celebrate like a Swede…..Skål!

Advent Calendar Dec 4 – Pepparkakor

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Let’s get baking pepparkakor! Today we light our second candle of advent, perhaps the perfect time to invite over family, friends or neighbours to join us for a little Advent fika. After all, if you know Swedes, then you’ll know they don’t need any excuse to fika!

Bakeries/ Cafes and Supermarkets right now are brimming with super Christmassy, mouth-watering baked goods. Lussebullar; mandelmusslor; kanelbullar and pepparkakor to name but a few. 

Just so you know, this country really does know how to bake! Whilst home baking is making a resurgence worldwide, it’s fair to say it has never lost its popularity here in Sweden.

If you are feeling creative, Sweden holds an annual gingerbread house building competition, read more here. Entry dates have been and gone for this year sadly but there is always 2023! 

Practice makes perfect, so today, we’d like to treat you to one of our tried and tested newbie recipes for pepparkakor, these spicy, clove scented cookies will bring Christmas to your kitchen!! Have fun, we’d love to see your results!!

Ingredients for pepparkakor

  • 150 gr of butter
  • 250 gr of white sugar
  • 50 gr of honey 
  • 100 ml of water
  • 450 grams of all-purpose flour
  • A teaspoon of cinnamon and a teaspoon of ground cloves
  • 1 large teaspoon of ginger
  • A teaspoon of cardamom
  • A teaspoon of baking powder

How to bake them

Mix the butter, granulated sugar and honey. Add the seasoning and water. Finally add the flour. Knead this rigidly and let it rest overnight in the refrigerator.

Sprinkle a little flour on the work surface and roll out the dough until it is about half a centimetre thick. Now you can use heart or star shape cutters, whatever you decide.

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees and let the cookies bake for five minutes. Cool on a wire rack and keep in a sealed tin.

Advent Calendar Dec 3 – Julmarknad

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Julmarknad! It’s time to embrace the dark, cold Swedish winter, wrap up warm and head to your local Christmas market.  Browsing open air stalls, fire-pits, listening to Christmas music with a hot chocolate or steamy mug of glögg in hand. The perfect aroma of grilled sausage, freshly baked pastries and waffles makes snacking just impossible to resist! Isn’t that just the ultimate Christmas feeling?!

Although originally a German concept, these markets are now popular world over. Each country thriving on their opportunity to showcase handicrafts, decorations, native foods and traditions unique to their own cultures. Candles, Smoked deer, meats, mustards, high quality handicrafts, jewellery and knitwear are some of the Swedish specialities to look for!

The first Christmas market in Stockholm’s old town (Gamla Stan) dates right the way back to 1837 and bigger and better every year it is still operating today. Nowadays, these markets are held throughout advent in all Sweden’s major cities, scaled down versions are also held in smaller towns and villages.

Although all have the right ingredients to fill you from head to toe with Christmas cheer, they do all have a totally different vibe.

 You can decide on medieval style, like that of the Gamla stan in Stockholm or for the more adventurous thrill-seeking shoppers Göteborg’s theme park Liseberg hosts its own market and is never more popular than at Christmastime.

Another newbie favourite, is the cosy, picture-perfect Gustav Adolf square in Malmö. However, our favourite with kids in mind has been a calendar highlight since 1903. You find it in Stockholm’s open-air museum Skansen and it’s a beauty.  Alongside all that is traditional, children relish the opportunity to meet the resident animals and participate in craft workshops.

So, whether you are city or country folk there is sure to be a julmarknad near you this weekend. Christmas markets near you.

The best locations for a cabin vacation

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For many in Sweden, owning a cabin is part of the culture. A lot of people own summer houses or smaller vacation homes in addition to their traditional houses or flats. If you live in an urban area, that could be one way of getting closer to nature, which is why you can find so many cabins in remote or idyllic places such as the mountains, archipelagos, or woods. 

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Even for those who don’t own their own, renting a cabin for vacations is not uncommon. At websites like Stugknuten, you can find quaint houses to rent for shorter stays. If you are planning a cabin vacation, here are a few places worth your consideration.

Åre or Sälen

If you like skiing, high altitudes, and snow, few things are cosier than renting a cabin close to the mountains. There are several well-known ski resorts in Sweden, and Åre and Sälen are perhaps the most popular. 

Both locations offer downhill and cross-country skiing opportunities suited for beginners and more seasoned skiers. One thing that is good to know, if you are travelling to either of them by car, is that Åre is located much further north than Sälen.

Öland or Gotland

Sweden’s two largest islands, Gotland and Öland, are popular vacation destinations among Swedes and tourists from other countries. Borgholm, located on Öland, is one of the places in the country where most people want to rent a summer house. 

Öland is, without doubt, one of the most picturesque spots in Sweden, but so is neighbouring Gotland. Sweden’s largest island is arguably just as beautiful as Öland but perhaps better suited for tourist activities. Both islands are popular among tourists, but in the summer, they flock to Gotland more extremely than to Öland.

Smögen

Many people fall in love with the Swedish west coast, and it’s not hard to understand why. The archipelago, the cliffs, and the atmosphere are as idyllic as it gets. If you find a cabin with a sea view, it honestly can’t get much better. 

Here you can buy fresh fish and shellfish, more or less off the boat, swim in the ocean, and bathe in the sun. 

Smögen is also just one of many beautiful places you can visit in Bohuslän and along the west coast. Other popular destinations include Marstrand, Malmön och Grebbestad, just to name a few.

Dalarna

If skiing or the archipelago isn’t your cup of tea, don’t worry, you can look for a cabin deep in the forests of Dalarna instead. Dalarna is the spot for those who dream of something secluded where all you can hear is the rustling of the leaves in the wind.

A popular spot to rent a cabin in Dalarna is Rättvik or somewhere else near Siljan, the nearby lake.

Österlen

The last place you must consider is Österlen, in the southeastern part of Skåne. The region is known for its beauty, shaped by the sea-front and the inland, where you can find vast, yellow grain fields, poppy fields, and even something as unusual as Swedish vineyards. 

Close to the town of Simirishamn is one of the most popular spots to look for a cabin.

If you haven’t entertained the idea of a cabin vacation, now is the time to do so. There is an abundance of beautiful places in Sweden where you can find cabins to rent.

Advent Calendar Dec 2 – Julmys

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It’s all about julmys! When it comes to getting their homes `Christmas ready’ Swedes excel. The concept of ‘mys’ put simply, making things cosy, seems to come effortlessly, especially at Christmas.

Whether home is a city apartment or a countryside villa it will be dressed to impress. Windows across this beautiful land, are furbished with huge paper stars (julstjärnor) representing the stars of Bethlehem and advent candles (adventsljusstakar) signifying the arrival of the much-anticipated advent season. 

Front doors adorn pretty, often homemade wreaths, window boxes are filled with ever green branches, berries and pine cones and candlelit porches offer the warmest of welcomes. 

Of course, we need to mention the star of the show, the Christmas tree! Many believe in a country the size of Sweden, with roughly 70% of her total land area covered by forest, it should be easy to just pick out your favourite. Right? Wrong! Before you go wandering off into your local forest. Always, always ask the landowner for permission.

Often, Swedes decorate (julpynta) their homes in line with the first advent. More so than other European countries, they also keep them lit a little longer, into January. For Swedes, julmys is an important and nice way to light up this dark time of year.

Advent Calendar Dec 1 – Julkalendern

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Today we are going to talk about julkalendern. Every year on this day, children the length and breadth of Sweden eagerly anticipate the launch of SVTs very own annual Christmas series. Airing one adventure packed 15-minute episode every day on the countdown to Christmas Eve.

Julkalendern is loved by both kids and adults alike. It’s been a tradition here in Sweden since the 1960s, showing a completely new action-packed adventure series every year. This year’s is titled the prince who disappeared “Kronprinsen som försvann” it promises to be a fast paced, exciting winter fairy-tale, jam packed with interesting characters and good humour.

If you have children who are old enough to enjoy Julkalendern, it can be a good idea to introduce them to it . It is common that kids in daycare and school talk and re-enact the show. And don’t be surprised if your colleagues start discussing the day’s episode during work lunch. Julkalendern truly is for both young and old.

If you are a newbie in Sweden and need a little support with the language, we recommend watching on SVT språkplay where subtitles with translation options are available.

This year’s calendar will be broadcast every day 1-24 December on SVT Play and weekdays on SVT1 and SVT barn at 07.15 and 18.45 and at the weekend 08-45 and 18.45. Of course, it also appears on SVT Barn’s website and in its app.

If you do nothing else today, be sure to watch this year’s first exciting episode!! And if you want to know what you are getting yourself into, you can have a sneak peak here.

Photo rights: SVT, Show: Julkalendern: Kronprisen som försvann. Photographer: Johan Paulin

Teams That Failed to Qualify for the FIFA World Cup in Qatar

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It’s hard to believe that the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar has already started. For us fans, it almost feels like it was yesterday that France was crowned the world champion of the FIFA World Cup 2018. But time flies, and even though we are so excited to follow this world cup and prepared by reading guides to live betting, there are teams and players that we miss.

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Here are four teams that failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup and that we will miss in Qatar.

1. Sweden

As one of the best teams in Scandinavia and the country with the most dedicated fans, many were disappointed to see Sweden not make it to Qatar’s World Cup. It was difficult for Sweden to qualify for the Qatar Games after a series of disappointing performances. Although it looked positive at times – it was disappointing in the finals, as our country lost 2-0 to Poland and officially missed the World Cup.

Sweden did not show its best game in this match, among other things it was clear that the team:

  • Made several mistakes during the match and failed, among other things, with several passes.
  • Was clearly under a lot of pressure and exhausted.
  • Had poor communication between the players.

Poland simply had a fantastic team, filled with talented players, and was slightly better than Sweden this time.

2. Italy

Italy has proven to be one of the most successful national teams in world football by winning four World Cups. But on the big stage in Qatar, we won’t be able to see famous footballers like Federico Chiesa, Marco Verratti, and Giorgio Chiellini. The southern European country failed to qualify for the 2022 World Cup dramatically by losing a match against North Macedonia.

Before qualifying for the World Cup, the country had several weak performances, including two draws against Switzerland and a goalless draw against Northern Ireland. In the playoffs, however, things looked promising, given that the country was drawn against North Macedonia. Which is a country that is significantly lower ranked than Italy.

But poor communication combined with a lack of flow in the match meant that there were far too few opportunities for Italy. It is thus the second time in a row that Italy misses the WC.

3. Colombia

If we miss Italy in this World Cup, it was a bigger scandal when the South American country Colombia missed the World Cup. Colombia has reached at least the quarter-finals in every World Cup they have participated in since 1998. Although Colombia won the final against Venezuela 1-0, they narrowly missed out on qualifying for the World Cup as Peru beat Paraguay – finishing a point ahead of Colombia in the table.

Their supporters are no doubt disappointed that they will not be able to cheer on their favorite players, such as James Rodriguez and Radamel Falcao.

4. Chile

Chile’s team was on the rise for a long time. Among other things, they qualified for the Copa America finals twice in a row – winning the latter – and also secured a place at this summer’s Olympic Games in Tokyo. But the country suffered a severe setback in qualifying for Qatar 2022, missing out on CONMEBOL’s final automatic qualification spot by just two points. Famous footballers such as Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal will thus not be present at Qatar 2022. Just like Italy, it is the second time Chile misses the World Cup.

Conclusion

There you have it! Four teams that failed to qualify for Qatar 2022: Sweden, Italy, Colombia, and Chile. While this is a huge disappointment for many fans, missing out on qualifying is part of the sport. But despite this, there is a lot to look forward to in this time’s world championship in Qatar.

The Ultimate Newbie Advent Calendar for newbies

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Welcome to our Newbie advent calendar. The ultimate guide to embracing all that is unique when celebrating this Christmas season like a true Swede.

So, Christmas is just around the corner and it’s quite possible you’ve heard people at work or school talking about Advent. But what is Advent?

Advent comes from the Latin word ‘Adventus’ and simply means ‘arrival’. It’s celebrated here by lighting a candle every Sunday, beginning 4 weeks before Christmas. The candles are said to represent HOPE, LOVE, JOY & PEACE… Exactly what our world needs right now!!

For most Swedes there is so much more to advent than lighting candles however. Join us over the next 24 days, as we unveil some of the time honoured and often quirky traditions that are symbolic of Sweden at this truly magical time of year.

Swede’s do things differently, but how? We’re going to consider everything from music, food and drink, recipes and fun facts to customs and festivities both old and new. Even when it comes to the main event, Christmas is actually celebrated here on December 24th!

Are you curious as to what makes Christmas in Scandinavia so special? If you are visiting Sweden, moving to Sweden or just interested in how you can Swedify your Christmas keep a look out for our daily advent calendar newbie insights.

Hobbies To Try During The Swedish Winter

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The Swedish winter is well-known for its cold, rainy, and snowy weather. But that doesn’t mean you have to be miserable. One great way to warm your cold bones and brighten your spirits during the Swedish winter is to keep some hobbies and pastimes handy. 

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Whether snow-blowing, sledding or just having a blast making snowmen, there are plenty of free activities to keep yourself busy when it’s too cold outside to go out. Read on to find out hobbies you can try during the Swedish winter.

Hunting The Northern Lights

Hunting the northern lights is a great way to experience the beauty of Sweden in winter. The aurora borealis can be seen anywhere in Sweden, but it is most common in the north. The northern lights are seen from anywhere in Sweden, but it is most common in the north. The best time to go hunting for northern lights is from December to March when the sun is below the horizon and the weather is clear.

Hunting for northern lights requires more planning than just looking out your window at night and hoping you see something amazing. You need to know when and where you’re going to be during each night so you can plan your route accordingly. If you’re traveling outside of Iceland or other places with known aurora activity, some apps will help you find out where it will be visible near you.

Dog Sledding

Dog sledding is a fun activity you can do in the winter to enjoy the snow and spend some time with your dog. It is a very relaxing activity, where you can see beautiful nature and enjoy the snow. And you can take cute pictures with your dog, which will be great memories for you.

There are many places in Sweden where you can go on dog sledding tours. Some are near lakes, rivers, or forests, but there are also places where you can go on sledding tours from major cities like Stockholm or Gothenburg.

Online Casino Games

Online casino games are a great way to pass the time. You do not need to get up early in the morning and risk frostbite or freeze your feet on a cold winter’s day. You can bet on games all year round without worrying about the weather. Online casinos are also a great place to learn how to play casino games when you have little money. The best way to play online casino games in Sweden is with a casino utan svensk licens no deposit bonus.

Swedish online casinos offer slots, video poker, and table games. Many of these games have mobile apps that can be used on your smartphone or tablet. The casino-utan-svensk-licens.info also offers live dealer games without license where you can interact with other players worldwide! This is especially fun if you play with friends or family over Skype or Google Hangouts.

Online casino games are a great option for people who want to play without leaving their home. There are thousands of titles available online, from classics like Roulette and Blackjack to newer games like Keno and Video Poker. Some of the best online casino sites like  Överraskande teknologier som kommer fram till online spelandet are available for Swedish players. They offer a wide range of casino games, including slots and table games, with no minimum deposit required.

Baking

The way to stay warm and cozy in the winter is by baking. Plenty of different recipes for cookies, cakes, and pies can keep you warm when it’s cold outside. There are also different ways to bake. You can use a stovetop, an oven, or even a microwave. The best thing about baking is that it doesn’t take much time and energy. All you need is some ingredients such as flour, sugar, and butter.

If you’re looking for something more elaborate, try making your bread! It’s simple, but it takes some skill to get the right texture and flavor. You can also try making other baked goods like muffins or scones.

Experience Sami Culture

The Sami people are the indigenous inhabitants of northern Scandinavia and Lapland. Besides their ethnic identity, they have traditionally been involved in other cultures and traditions. For example, the Sami were traditionally active in the reindeer herding business in Sweden.

During this event, you can learn about the history of the Sami people and the traditions they have lived with for centuries. You will also be able to try out traditional handicrafts and make your items using natural materials such as wood and snow.

You can experience a different way of life by staying with a Sami family in their home. Not only will you enjoy the culture, but you will also experience living with nature like never. Staying with a family like this will allow you to see how they live their lives and what they truly value most.

Snowmobiling

Snowmobiling is one of the most popular winter activities in Sweden. It’s a great way to get out into the wilderness, see some amazing scenery and enjoy the company of fellow snowmobilers.

Snowmobilers in the Swedish winter are a different breed of a snowman. They are more than just people with vehicles and a few yards of snow to get out and play in. They are an army of joy machines that constantly seem on the move, whether going for a ride through the woods or trying out some new terrain.

The thrill of riding a snowmobile is like being a kid again, but with one major difference: you don’t need to go anywhere. You can stay in your backyard, just as long as it’s covered with snow!  Snowmobilers can be everywhere during winter – from small towns to big cities, Sweden’s south to its north, and Stockholm to Gothenburg.

Bottom Line

It’s easy to get frustrated during the winter months in Sweden. The short days and long nights can sap your energy, both physically and mentally. But there are ways to fight back against seasonal depression! Try out a few of these hobbies this winter to see if you can beat the winter blues and get in a positive mindset by the time March rolls around.