Well not me but my wife is going on a Scandanavian tour + Finland from Korea next week. Is there anything she should know about before going. I’ve been to Europe myself a few times but not the northern part and I’m just worried bout her even though it is relatively safe up there.
That said, anything she should know good or bad? local customs? warnings? tourist traps?
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The original was posted on /r/sweden by /u/BobbyBacala9980 at 2023-07-25 06:55:33+00:00.
mavehe at 2023-07-25 08:57:53+00:00 ID:
jtd0zw4
It still stays light very later here in Sweden (10pm) and the sun is up at around 4 am so I would recommend bringing a sleep mask!
grimexp at 2023-07-25 06:59:29+00:00 ID:
jtcs6aw
Beware of the polar bears roaming the streets.
BobbyBacala9980 (OP) at 2023-07-25 07:55:19+00:00 ID:
jtcwehu
I grew up in Canada… saw them everywhere so I’m used to them.
Paws_On_Keyboard at 2023-07-25 08:18:47+00:00 ID:
jtcy4je
Never been there, but I’ve often gotten the feeling that we’re quite similar in a lot of ways.
BobbyBacala9980 (OP) at 2023-07-25 08:54:19+00:00 ID:
jtd0qpp
Actually reading peoples replies here I find Koreans and Sweden very similar
BeardedUnicornBeard at 2023-07-25 07:02:52+00:00 ID:
jtcsfym
You can drink the tap water.
Keffpie at 2023-07-25 08:41:50+00:00 ID:
jtcztry
…and it tastes really good, is the biggest thing I think to stress.
You can drink the water in London or Malaga too, but it tastes like pool water.
deppkast at 2023-07-25 11:44:28+00:00 ID:
jtdeybh
The only tap water I’ve tasted that is better than Swedish tap water was fresh mountain water from the tap, it tasted sweeter in a way
Cookiest0mper at 2023-07-25 13:20:23+00:00 ID:
jtdq95r
Your milage may vary, a lot. Tap water in Stockholm? Generally good as long as the pipes aren’t ancient(which they may be). Tap water in Gävle? Disgusting.
deppkast at 2023-07-25 14:11:54+00:00 ID:
jtdxb53
I am indeed from stockholm, born raised and living, still got nothing on mountain water imo. Stockholm tap water just tastes like nothing in the best way, but that mountain water was sweet and so clean
ComprehensivePea269 at 2023-07-25 09:00:32+00:00 ID:
jtd16u6
Tasted Uppsala water didn’t taste as great as Dalecarlian water.
MrOaiki at 2023-07-25 07:26:50+00:00 ID:
jtcu9kb
Who in the western world can’t? Except maybe people in parts of Detroit.
Baljeep- at 2023-07-25 08:34:41+00:00 ID:
jtczaxu
By swedish tap water standards, most of the US and large parts of europe would have what we consider otjänligt/unfit water
MrOaiki at 2023-07-25 08:52:32+00:00 ID:
jtd0m0a
I know some of us Swedes tend to believe that’s the case, but it’s not. The EU tap water standards are as high as the Swedish ones used to be before we implemented the EU standards too. (https://www.boverket.se/sv/byggande/halsa-och-inomhusmiljo/regler-om-dricksvatten/samhallskrav-pa-dricksvatten/#:~:text=Relaterad%20information-,EU%3As%20dricksvattendirektiv,senast%20den%2012%20januari%202023.)
UncouthMedia at 2023-07-25 07:36:00+00:00 ID:
jtcuy6u
Have you traveled at all? American water is definitely not drinkable and the rest of Europe’s water does at the very least taste really bad.
MrOaiki at 2023-07-25 07:41:33+00:00 ID:
jtcvddi
I’ve travelled a lot, yes, and European tap water is perfectly safe to drink. As for the taste, that’s subjective. I find the water tasted better in Malmö where I grew up than in Stockholm where I live, but I know native stockholmers don’t agree.
US tap water is also perfectly safe to drink, with the exception of temporary contaminations. The bottled water you buy there often comes from municipal water supplies.
Lokkuri at 2023-07-25 08:08:10+00:00 ID:
jtcxcm3
Taste isnt subjective when the water is full of contaminations,safe to drink sure, but still full of unwanted flavor
Also half of US tap water is contaminated with PFAS.
MrOaiki at 2023-07-25 08:10:00+00:00 ID:
jtcxhdu
safe to drink sure…
So that’s the end of discussion about the safety standards of tap water. Next time we’ll talk about the culinary experience of tap water.
Lokkuri at 2023-07-25 08:14:43+00:00 ID:
jtcxtrj
Yes, but he did say drinkable…not about safety
And did you just skip the PFAS ?
MrOaiki at 2023-07-25 08:21:06+00:00 ID:
jtcyaxa
He said safe, which it is. American tap water is safe with strict safety regulations in place. You’ll find PFAS in ground water all over the world, including Sweden. Tap water in Sweden is perfectly safe to drink. So is tap water in the US.
UncouthMedia at 2023-07-25 07:43:44+00:00 ID:
jtcvjbu
The differences between cities in southern Sweden isn’t comparable to e.g. swedish vs french water though.
Plenty of European countries highly advice against drinking the tap water.
MrOaiki at 2023-07-25 07:44:43+00:00 ID:
jtcvm0r
Really? What European countries highly advise against drinking tap water?
Snusandfags at 2023-07-25 07:53:21+00:00 ID:
jtcw970
Greece
Lance-theBoilingSon at 2023-07-25 08:04:38+00:00 ID:
jtcx33w
Parts of Spain, mainly the south and especially the islands, like Mallorca, has a heavy mineral content (limestone, “hard water”) and like many places in the world,it is heavily chlorinated so the locals lug plastic containers home from stores, not so great for the environment. In addition many expats and locals have a filtering system in place, like my mother does.
Maybe Spain is worse than other southern European countries, i’m not sure.Spain certainly has the worst drought problem in Europe.Large parts of the country(center and southeast) is more or less a steppe.
UncouthMedia at 2023-07-25 07:54:14+00:00 ID:
jtcwbkk
Currently in Greece. That’s one.
I remember Cyprus, Andorra and Bosnia are places where they highly advice against it, but in pretty much all the rest of them the locals still buy water bottles.
ImToxic00 at 2023-07-25 07:59:57+00:00 ID:
jtcwqp5
Bosnia? Everyone i know drinks tap water There. I buy water from the store but only because i want to support the country A bit more
Aggravating-Ad1703 at 2023-07-25 07:41:35+00:00 ID:
jtcvdgq
When you are Scandinavian everything outside of here taste like shit
bATo76 at 2023-07-25 08:03:28+00:00 ID:
jtcx02c
All tap water safe in Europe and US? This guy diarrheas.
Elhiar at 2023-07-25 07:30:25+00:00 ID:
jtcujbq
Lots of places, discouraged in London and Rome for example
throwaway666_999_555 at 2023-07-25 08:26:26+00:00 ID:
jtcypbt
I’ve drank the tap water in London for two decades, you’ll be fine
BobbyBacala9980 (OP) at 2023-07-25 08:05:24+00:00 ID:
jtcx53x
I grew up in Toronto and travelled everywhere across the states… I would only drink tap water if there was no other option and it was the last resort, that’s what I was always told to do. However ironically it would later come out that some of these water companies would just bottle local tap water…
MrOaiki at 2023-07-25 08:12:08+00:00 ID:
jtcxmw7
Yep, both Pepsi and Coca Cola taps from municipal water supplies and sells it as bottled water..
Pastejkoket2023 at 2023-07-25 06:58:05+00:00 ID:
jtcs2eq
I would recommend asking the same question to bings chat-AI. Set it to creative and you will get good tips.
defronde1 at 2023-07-25 06:57:40+00:00 ID:
jtcs18j
Where are you guys going?
BobbyBacala9980 (OP) at 2023-07-25 07:31:52+00:00 ID:
jtcun4m
Dunno her itinenary… assume just the touristy areas. It’s with a big travel tour group. That’s how Koreans travel… always by tour groups lol
defronde1 at 2023-07-25 07:49:49+00:00 ID:
jtcvzms
In that case I don’t think there will be any issues. They should stay away from any dangerous areas.
Pudding5050 at 2023-07-25 08:49:10+00:00 ID:
jtd0cvl
Oh ffs, there are no “dangerous areas”. And if she’s travelling in a group they’re going to move from one tourist attraction to the other.
defronde1 at 2023-07-25 09:48:17+00:00 ID:
jtd4q10
Tell that to several of my friends who have been mugged in these areas. I had youth gangs throw rocks at me and my girlfriend and was mugged once when I lived there. And that was one of the “safer” areas.
Sticking your head in the sand does not change reality.
Joz43 at 2023-07-25 13:55:01+00:00 ID:
jtduxd3
Since you no longer live there, can you say where specifically you encountered these youth gangs that threw rocks at you? Around what year, and was it a Friday night with lots of drunk people?
ajangvik at 2023-07-25 08:31:36+00:00 ID:
jtcz2v7
If she’s with a big group nothing will happen. The only dangers are for people who are alone in sketchy areas at sketchy times.
Threaditoriale at 2023-07-25 09:36:30+00:00 ID:
jtd3tuc
Sketchy 1 = leaving a night club, after a few hundred meters when the crowd has thinned out
Sketchy 2 = close to the closing time of night clubs
Snusandfags at 2023-07-25 07:55:25+00:00 ID:
jtcwerl
Why do you do that?
BobbyBacala9980 (OP) at 2023-07-25 08:16:36+00:00 ID:
jtcxyus
Why do Koreans travel in big tour groups? I think it’s mainly for the older folks. They prefer it. Having all the schedule pre planned by someone else and not having to worry about small details (car, hotel).
Also, travelling overseas is still relatively new for the average Korean citizen. Interestingly enough, they weren’t allowed to travel internationally until 1988 because the president believed travelling to be a luxury too rich for a poor country. I believe he also didn’t allow daytime TV because his reasoning was that people should be busy doing things and not watching TV.
xSayZ at 2023-07-25 08:32:39+00:00 ID:
jtcz5mr
Based
eolisk at 2023-07-25 09:00:35+00:00 ID:
jtd16zh
Today I learned South Korea was a dictatorship in 1988?! Did your president really personally decide on these kind of things? 😧
SweetVarys at 2023-07-25 08:24:01+00:00 ID:
jtcyiwj
It’s comfortable if you don’t speak any relevant language and can’t even really read signs. It’s common for Europeans visiting China for example
kba334 at 2023-07-25 08:14:59+00:00 ID:
jtcxufl
If approached by someone offering something on the street, it’s most likely a scam.
BobbyBacala9980 (OP) at 2023-07-25 08:32:07+00:00 ID:
jtcz481
Does Scandanavia suffer from alot of those scam artists/pick pocketters found in other parts of Europe?
Keffpie at 2023-07-25 08:48:35+00:00 ID:
jtd0bc8
Not as many, but they do exist since they literally tour Europe during the summer.
FHmange at 2023-07-25 08:56:27+00:00 ID:
jtd0w5j
Not as much as the larger tourist cities in Europe (London, Paris, Barcelona, Rome etc), but it exists here as well.
It’s mostly Gypsies who will attempt these street scams but it’s extremely easy to not fall for it. Swedes almost never come up to you in the street to ask for something or try to small talk randomly, so if someone would do that, just walk away or at least make sure there is no way that they or anyone else around you can take anything from your pockets or bag. Don’t give any money to the gypsy beggars either, if you do you’re pretty much just giving money to organized crime.
Also just make sure no one can pickpocket you in crowds. I’ve only been pickpocketed once in my entire life of living in Stockholm, and I was very drunk and young when that happened and didn’t pay attention (plus it obviously made me an easy target). Just be somewhat smart about where you keep your valuables and you’ll be completely fine.
Stockholm (and all of Sweden and the rest of Scandinavia) is very safe, and you’ll be unlucky if something happens. But it’s still always good to just pay a bit of attention to your surroundings.
PrinceOfFucking at 2023-07-25 08:51:12+00:00 ID:
jtd0idc
It happens, in larger cities like sthlm or gothenberg atleast
Just dont stop and watch those street magicians with cups and a dice/ball, they have friends who “win” so you think youll have a chance and theres a chance there are pickpockets among the audience
Also obviously dont bother with any charity where you have to sign anything as a tourist
Pudding5050 at 2023-07-25 08:49:34+00:00 ID:
jtd0dza
Not really no. There have been people trying to offer a rose (and then demand cash) or asking for you to sign petitions, but I haven’t seen those in years. Definitely nothing on the same level as in the more famous tourist cities.
KaffeMumrik at 2023-07-25 08:08:31+00:00 ID:
jtcxdi6
Respect. Lines. And. Queues.
Comprehensive-Bee252 at 2023-07-25 10:14:37+00:00 ID:
jtd6tiq
Coming from S Korea I don’t this will be a problem!
FHmange at 2023-07-25 12:34:09+00:00 ID:
jtdnfhd
Also, let people get off the metro/tram/train/elevator etc before you try to get on. And when you let people get off, step away so you stand to the side of the doors. Don’t just stand right in front of them.
And on escalators you stand still on the right and walk on the left. And you don’t stand two people beside each other, even if you’re a couple or whatever. You never stand still on the left (assuming the escalator isn’t empty).
And when you go through the ticket gate in the subway for example, don’t stop immediately after you’re through to figure out where you are going. Take a few more steps so people behind you can get past. And have the ticket readily available before you step up to the gate; don’t go up to it and then start looking for your ticket, causing an unnecessary line behind you.
This is all unfortunately something that even many locals need to be reminded of every day.
Buppadupp at 2023-07-25 07:17:54+00:00 ID:
jtctlhe
Stay atleast 2 meters away unless it’s the queue to Systembolaget.
Short-Departure3757 at 2023-07-25 07:30:40+00:00 ID:
jtcuk16
From what I’ve heard, the danish speak gibberish, and the norweigan are not particularly bright. So I would stick to Sweden.
eolisk at 2023-07-25 09:01:14+00:00 ID:
jtd18p9
Norway has the most beautiful nature tho 😭
coolbond1 at 2023-07-25 09:20:08+00:00 ID:
jtd2mj4
Norway for the natue swden for the history and denmark for the booze
kiiviin at 2023-07-25 12:38:10+00:00 ID:
jtdkxsu
Denmark also had the best pastries.
sixpencecoin at 2023-07-25 09:56:55+00:00 ID:
jtd5eda
Damn right, I might need to use that description at some point xd
exForeignLegionnaire at 2023-07-25 08:01:52+00:00 ID:
jtcwvwj
Kom igjen’a svenskefaen… Skal vi sloss?
maxxxahoes at 2023-07-25 08:25:07+00:00 ID:
jtcylsf
Brightest norwegian right here^
exForeignLegionnaire at 2023-07-25 08:26:36+00:00 ID:
jtcyprf
-_- Magnoff Kalfen!
It’s generally very safe there, so not much to worry about. If you are planning on doing a lot of hiking in unpopulated areas make sure you do your due diligence. The weather is pretty nice in the summer. Nearly everyone speaks good English, with the exceptions of some older people and those in rural areas. Enjoy your time there, the people are friendly and the land is breathtaking.
Muted_Sprinkles_6426 at 2023-07-25 07:58:01+00:00 ID:
jtcwllw
Just so you know what to do if you encounter trolls…watch this documentary :
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1740707/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_7_tt_8_nm_0_q_troll
/s
RiiluTheLizardKing at 2023-07-25 07:11:55+00:00 ID:
jtct59q
Swedes dont like small talk with random strangers, they also dont like random strangers sitting next to them unless every other neighbor-free seat is full, if you end up sitting next to a random swede on the bus or train you should very much keep to your side and avoid eye contact and not try and talk to them.
Sweden has unfortunately gone down the road of “cashless society” so you’re unlikely to be able to pay with cash in restaurants, hotels and such, so you really need a credit card you can use internationally since it’s mostly grocery stores and some street vendors that still accept cash, it’s tragic but true.
BobbyBacala9980 (OP) at 2023-07-25 07:37:02+00:00 ID:
jtcv10j
Honestly… everything you said about Swedes holds true for Koreans 100%. lol
Mmm_daifuku at 2023-07-25 08:04:32+00:00 ID:
jtcx2v5
There are more social people in Sweden as well. Stockholm is like that but if you go to smaller cities and the country side, then people are more calm and friendly.
Emperor_Owl at 2023-07-25 07:48:55+00:00 ID:
jtcvxb1
How is that tragic? Carrying cash is extremely inconvenient both for stores and people in general
RiiluTheLizardKing at 2023-07-25 07:53:05+00:00 ID:
jtcw8gd
It’s tragic because a lot of people still use cash and it makes it hard for them to function in society, especially migrants who dont have a personnummer yet who literally dont have any other option. Carrying cash isn’t hard, stores make record profits so they can spare the little expense to handle cash, and for people, well no one is forcing anyone to use cash, you can continue using card all you want and never touch a bill again in your life, I just think it was better if it remained a viable alternative to people who prefer to use it.
BobbyBacala9980 (OP) at 2023-07-25 08:40:42+00:00 ID:
jtczqtf
I can understand… moving from Canada to Korea where they are pretty much cashless like Sweden, it felt weird for me. Korea is a pretty intrusive country in my opinion. CCTVs everywhere, need to scam my personal card getting on and off the bus… sounds good for safety but it feels intrusive to know all my spending habits via credit card.
Emikzen at 2023-07-25 10:36:40+00:00 ID:
jtd8n1c
Privacy is a lot more protected and respected in Sweden than it is in Korea.
cemilanceata at 2023-07-25 07:31:59+00:00 ID:
jtcunfk
You should be worried, we are the most beautiful people on this earth.
EasyLengthWise at 2023-07-25 08:21:44+00:00 ID:
jtcycp8
This guy has been to one country in the world
cemilanceata at 2023-07-25 11:46:39+00:00 ID:
jtdf6g4
I actually prefer a little more flavour myself, but that doesn’t change the fact how we are perceived among the masses.
BobbyBacala9980 (OP) at 2023-07-25 07:59:25+00:00 ID:
jtcwpbp
Honestly, I can’t disagree… come World Cup time the Swedish WAGs always get me…
Quick Question: Do Scandanavians share the same ethnicity? I don’t know much about northern Europe. Are they pretty much the same ppl more or less separated by borders?
Axxx69420 at 2023-07-25 08:05:46+00:00 ID:
jtcx66g
Yes basically. You won’t notice that much of a difference as a foreigner. There’s just slight differences in culture that you might notice.
ravyalle at 2023-07-25 08:05:20+00:00 ID:
jtcx4yj
Its pretty much the same ethnicity in northern and central europe but people do look sliiiighly different in different countries, its pretty cool. I for example am from germany originally but always immediatey get spotted because i dont really look like the average swede. We are all caucasian but the faces are different somehow. I have even noticed some differences between eg sweden and denmark
Common-Wish-2227 at 2023-07-25 09:11:11+00:00 ID:
jtd1z1e
We fucking aren’t Caucasians! Please. That entire terminology is bullshit. We’re north Germanic.
andre-lll at 2023-07-25 08:06:29+00:00 ID:
jtcx84c
I’d probably say that we are more or less the same people. We all see ourselves as brothers and would fight for each other, same with Finland.
gullijan at 2023-07-25 08:06:16+00:00 ID:
jtcx7ji
Yeah, people in Sweden, Norway and Denmark share the same ethnicity. We also understand each others language but I have to say I struggle with Danish (am Swedish).
BobbyBacala9980 (OP) at 2023-07-25 08:42:38+00:00 ID:
jtczvvv
I always assumed that Finland was Scandanavian too… until I googled info on this trip for my wife…
Paws_On_Keyboard at 2023-07-25 08:15:16+00:00 ID:
jtcxv6o
Yes, except the sámi in the north, though they were there before modern borders and cross all three countries. Then of course we have had a lot of immigrants in later years.
TheWolfwiththeDragon at 2023-07-25 08:23:53+00:00 ID:
jtcyije
As a Swede, our sense of ethnicity is much more based on language and nationality. Since Swedes, Danes, Norwegians and Icelandic are all descendants of the same Norse people, we are all very similar. We can also understand each others’ languages fairly well.
The odd one out is Finland, since their linguistic roots are completely different from any other Nordic languages. Swedish is more closely related to Persian or Hindi than it is to Finnish! Despite us being neighbours. But Finland was part of the Swedish empire for 700 years so there has probably been quite some mixing between the two.
There is also the Sami people to the north, which are a semi-nomadic group of people not ethnically or linguistically connected with the Norse. If you ever see reindeer herding while traveling here, it is run by them as that’s their privilege.
BTW, as the term ”Scandivania” is sometimes only used to refer to some of the countries in the region, you could just use the term ”The Nordic countries” to refer to Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland and Iceland all together. Explanation.
BobbyBacala9980 (OP) at 2023-07-25 08:49:58+00:00 ID:
jtd0f0j
Wow a lot of info to unpack here. I always assumed Finland was apart of Scandanavia until I did research for this trip. Watching that youtube link… thanks!
kadunkulmasolo at 2023-07-25 09:31:17+00:00 ID:
jtd3fsr
No offense or anything but since I have seen you calling it “Scandanavia” several times in this thread (so its unlike to be a typo), I feel like I need to point out that the actual spelling is Scandinavia with an i.
BobbyBacala9980 (OP) at 2023-07-25 10:59:25+00:00 ID:
jtdan47
Duly noted… thanks!
MawrtiniTheGreat at 2023-07-25 11:46:41+00:00 ID:
jtdf6lx
The Finns (and the Sámi) are originally north Siberian nomadic steppe people, originally more culturally similar to say the stereotypical medieval Mongolians than to the old Norse/current Scandinavian cultures. However, thousands of years of proximity and hundreds of years of Swedish rule has brought the Finns culturally a bit closer to the rest of us. The language is still completely different from the Scandinavian languages.
The Sámi are still a lot closer to their original roots, although in a modernised form the last hundred years (less horseback archers, more snowmobiles for herding deer). Here is an example from early 20th century: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File%3ASaami_Family_1900.jpg
Rising_Spirit at 2023-07-25 09:55:56+00:00 ID:
jtd5bo6
Finland is similar culturally but not in terms of language
eloktro at 2023-07-25 08:28:28+00:00 ID:
jtcyulo
Convenience stores, supermarket and such does not sell alcohol above 3.5%.
If you want to buy alcohol (outside of a restaurant or bar) you need to go to Systembolaget which isn’t open on sundays and closes early on saturdays.
(This is Sweden)
Low_Key_Giraffe at 2023-07-25 11:36:19+00:00 ID:
jtdexpg
If your in Gothenburg, by all means avoid the (previously) white hatted people, also known as the ticket controllers. I do not care if you have actually bought a ticket, per principle you leave the tram when they enter.
HawocX at 2023-07-25 09:23:55+00:00 ID:
jtde4jc
In Sweden, you are allowed to hike anywhere in nature outside of house plots. The risk of encountering dangerous animals are slim.
All but the oldest of Swedes can speak basic English.
