20+ Habits of the Swedes that may be unusual for other peoples

In many homes, windows do not open the way we are used to, sliding them to the sides, but under and out. If the topic is “interior of the house”, we can still mention the stairs: it is more common to find them in the form of spirals than straight.

If someone compliments you, such as your professional accomplishments, you don’t need to say thank you out loud. The Swedes, in their place, would say something like: “No, imagine, I’m just an ordinary, average employee”. Standing out, whether by look or intelligence, is not a recurring practice.

As it is not common to stand out, many may dress similarly. As you walk through city streets, you may have the impression that you are seeing the same people passing by. But wait, it’s just an impression.

Although sometimes similar, the clothing style of the majority is quite sophisticated and modern. Also, many Swedes like to be in shape and show it in public. This style can cause two reactions in tourists. First: admiration. Second: frustration—if they aren’t dressed as well.

The queues have a special “what”. At least in Stockholm, there are machines to pull numbers all over the place. Let’s say you walked into a bakery. How to take the queue? If you think it’s enough to stay behind the last person, you’re wrong. You have to get a number from the machine and wait to be called.