Hi! Canadian here.

I had met a Swedish boy online and I had stayed with him for two weeks this month in Sweden. We had discussed that we want to take each other seriously and look into ways I would be able to move to Sweden so we can have a future together.

I am still young, I'm under 20 and I haven't gotten a degree yet since I don't have that kind of money as I'm an orphan and financially independent. I have looked into the holiday visa, but I am scared that nobody would take a second look at my resume. I have worked at a pharmacy behind the desk as an assistant and I am working as the primary health and beauty worker right now at a grocery store. Without a college or university degree, I feel a bit hopeless.

We have spoken about a relationship visa, however, I do not want to put all financial responsibility onto him. I do not want him to pay the bills by himself, groceries etc. I truly do want to help and make us a team effort.

I have been learning Swedish for the past 8 months, I have numerous textbooks but I am not up to fluency but I study everyday to get better.

Does anyone have any advice or where to lead us in the correct direction?

Hi everyone!

My partner and I are new to Sweden and have won the bidding on a 5–6-year-old bostadsrätt. The apartment looks well maintained, the BRF owns the land, and our mortgage financing is arranged.

Before signing the contract, we’d appreciate some advice:

1. Inspection: Is a professional inspection worth it for a relatively new apartment? What should we check, especially in the bathroom, plumbing and ventilation?
2. BRF finances: Which figures in the annual report should we look at to assess the association’s financial health and the risk of fee increases?
3. Documents: Besides the annual report, should we review the maintenance plan, statutes or anything else?
4. Hidden costs: What additional expenses should we budget for beyond the mortgage, monthly fee, electricity and insurance?
5. Next steps: What should we do between winning the bidding, signing the contract and getting the keys?

For those who have bought an apartment in Sweden, what do you wish you had known beforehand? Any tips or common mistakes to avoid would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

In the US, we have gifts cards like Visa gift cards that can be used anywhere that Visa is used. Is there an equivalent to such in Sweden? A friend is going through a rough patch and I want to send her a gift card she can use anywhere.

Thanks for any ideas!!

Hi everyone!
I’ll be visiting Stockholm with my girlfriend and a few friends, and her birthday happens to fall during our trip. I’d love to organise a nice birthday dinner followed by drinks somewhere with a good atmosphere.
Ideally, we’re looking for is somewhere that allows you to bring your own birthday cake, or offers the option to order one in advance or a good cocktail bar where we can continue the evening after dinner.
We’re not necessarily looking for fine dining or anything overly fancy, just somewhere with great food, a lovely atmosphere and good drinks that would make the occasion feel special.
**Do restaurants in Stockholm generally allow you to bring your own birthday cake, as is quite common in Turkey?** If so, are there any places you’d recommend? We’d also be happy to hear about any great spots for after-dinner cocktails or wine.
Thanks in advance for your recommendations!

Hello everyone! I'm going on a city break to Stockholm with my cousin, and I'm torn between Fotografiska and the Nobel Prize Museum. Which one do you think is a must-see for tourists? Thank you!

My partner and I (couple in our early 30s, no kids) are flying into Stockholm for around 10 days over Christmas and New Year's. We are trying to decide whether it's worth splitting our time to head up north for 3–5 days or if we should stick to the south (Stockholm, Gothenburg, Uppsala, etc.) and maybe even check out Copenhagen, Oslo, or Helsinki.

A bit about us:

• City & Culture: We love wandering cities, checking out architecture, visiting museums, drinking good coffee, and trying local restaurants/markets.
• Winter Activities: We live in Minnesota in the US, so typical Arctic activities (dog sledding, cross-country skiing, snowmobiling) aren't high on our list since we do those at home.
• Alpine Skiing: We’d love to get a couple of days of downhill skiing in, but we aren't sure how realistic/worthwhile conditions are that early in the season, or where makes the most sense without going out of our way.
• Northern Lights: Catching the lights would be a huge plus, but we aren't sure if that alone justifies making the trip up north.

A few questions for the locals/experienced travelers:

1. Is 3-5 days up North (Kiruna/Abisko/Åre) worth it for us? Aside from the lights, is there unique architecture or cultural stuff up north that makes it worthwhile given our preferences?
2. Skiing? How reliable are ski conditions around Christmas/New Year? Are major resorts (like Åre or Sälen) fully up and running, or is it better to skip skiing entirely on a holiday trip?

Appreciate any advice or recommendations on how to structure this.