Written by Joshua
21 May 2025
When you get to Sweden, there are going to be days when you don’t have anything to do. Depending on how long you’ve been here, or how acquainted you are with the space, those days may be more frequent at some times than others 😰. In today’s blog post, I’m going to talk about some easy, cheap things that bring me joy when I’m bored in Sweden. Let’s dive right in 😃!
- Go on walks or to a park
We’ve talked about this one so many times before, and I’m going to repeat it again. Going on walks in Sweden is unlike anywhere else I’ve been 😍. There’s nature all around, and you have access to all of it. I can step outside my door at any time of the day or night, any day of the year and enjoy a walk down the open trails of Sweden. Feeling safe is one of the best things about living here. In fact, whenever my friends and I have to stop and ask the question “Are we sure we can go here?”, or “Is it safe to leave my things here?”, or even “I left this at that place, do you think I’ll go back and find it?” the answer is always “Ehh 🤷🏾, this is Sweden, of course!” 😂.
- Go to the end of a train/bus line
With just a student ticket that only costs a few Krona, you can find yourself 50 km away from the city centre where you can explore pretty much anything you want 🌳. On top of that, you have one of the safest and most efficient transportation systems in the world at your fingertips. I’m serious, in the 10 months I’ve been in Stockholm, I’ve never seen a train or bus delayed for more than 5 minutes, and I’ve only ever seen a train be cancelled once 🤯. I suggest you take advantage of this, trust me, you can never get lost, not if you don’t want to that is 😅.
- Rent an e-scooter 🛴
For just 39 Krowna, you can rent a Lime scooter 🛴 in Stockholm for half an hour, and in half an hour, there’s a whole lot to see. I found myself just riding without any specific direction, just going where I felt led. Always be careful though. If it’s your first time riding on an e-scooter, take it easy. I promise there’s nothing to fear, but always stay within your limit. Going on a random e-scooter adventure is always a vibe!
Pro-tip: If it’s your first time on an e-scooter, try riding in the early morning when the roads are less busy. It’s definitely less daunting, but just as fun 😎.
- Jump into a Swedish lake 💧
This one is dependent on the time of year, but I can promise you, you won’t regret jumping into a Swedish lake in the Spring or summer. If you’re anything like me, the thought may be a little daunting 😅, and yes, the water is freezing cold, but when you actually do it, you’ll be more fulfilled than you thought. You probably won’t even stay in for very long, actually, you probably shouldn’t 😅, but the feeling after the fact is very satisfying 😆.
- Go thrifting 🛍️
This one isn’t completely free, but it’s actually very close, and it’s turned out to be one of my favourite things about Sweden. Once I started thrifting here, everything changed. I almost can’t imagine myself buying anything new anymore. What’s fun about thrifting is that you can literally go anywhere. There are so many thrift chains in Sweden – Myrorna, Stockholm Stadsmission, Artikel2 and Red Cross being the big ones – and the fun part is that you get to explore them all. It’s literally like a treasure hunt 🏴☠️, and you never know what you’ll find 😄.
- Go to a club 🪩 or the movies 🎥
If you’re bored in the evening and want to go out, the club or the movies are always good options. In Stockholm, there are a few clubs like Underbron and Backdoor which are free before a certain time on a few nights a week. In fact, the club – or maybe the sidewalk outside – may actually give you a fighting chance to talk to Swedish people 😅. I always say that Swedish people are quiet and reserved during the day, but they become the opposite at night, and believe me, you’ll definitely notice that. The movies are also never far away, and where I come from, it’s rare to go to an empty theatre, but in Sweden, I think they’re pretty easy to find 😆. By the way, the movies are in English 😉.
You will definitely have those moments living in Sweden where you’re feeling a bit lonely, or just find yourself bored, and I hope this post gives a little inspiration for them. Until I post again, keep pushing, we’re almost at the finish line 🥹!
