Written by Ravindu
14 Dec 2025
Moving to a new country as an international student comes with a lot of uncertainties. For me, fitness was a big one. Back in Sri Lanka, I had already started my fitness journey about a year or two before moving, and it was something I didn’t want to give up on just because I was changing countries.
Before moving, I researched a bit on what fitness looks like in Sweden and quickly realized that it’s deeply woven into everyday life here. I read that people walk a lot, cycle everywhere, train consistently, and treat working out as a normal part of life. That honestly motivated me and made the move feel less scary.
You might be in a similar situation. Maybe you’re trying to continue a fitness routine you already had, or maybe you’re thinking of starting your fitness journey for the first time after moving to Sweden (in which case, GO YOU!). In this post, I’ll share my personal experience, talk about how I decided which gym suited me best, and go through the most common options so you can figure out what works best for you.
My Fitness Journey as an International Student
A few weeks before I moved to Sweden, I already started thinking about how I was going to keep training here. I remember opening Google Maps and literally comparing the distance from my future apartment to every nearby gym. I looked at reviews, prices, opening hours… everything.
In one way, I was lucky: when I first moved, there was a gym literally right in front of my apartment, and it was also within the university premises. Location-wise, it couldn’t have been better. But when I looked at the membership prices, I was honestly shocked. Compared to what I was used to in Sri Lanka, gyms in Sweden felt much more expensive.
Because of that, I didn’t rush into getting a membership straight away. After a few weeks, I sat down and compared gyms again and wondered how realistic it would be for me to go consistently. That’s when I went with the gym right in front of my place. From my own experience over the past few years, I’ve learned something important: the closest gym is usually the best gym. When you walk past it every day, even on days you feel lazy, just seeing the building and watching people train inside can be enough motivation to go in and do something.
Outdoor Gyms and Fitness Culture
However, there’s something else that’s really good to know before rushing into getting a gym membership.
One thing I found very interesting is the outdoor gym culture, something I honestly didn’t even consider when I first moved here. During spring and summer, you’ll find outdoor gyms in a lot of places with many people actually getting the maximum use out of it. Sometimes they have the most useful gym machines, but in a cooler rugged weather proof version, and you can even adjust weights in some of them.
I only really started thinking about this option after meeting a group of German exchange students. They told me that during the warmer months, they mostly trained at outdoor gyms, and only got a gym membership during the colder months. I remember thinking that this was such a clever idea… especially if you’re trying to save money as a student.
Finding the Right Gym in Sweden
As a student living in Skövde, these are the gym options and popular chains that I’ve come across the most, even when traveling between cities. Remember, it can always vary depending on your location:
University Gyms – An Underrated Option
Before looking at big gym chains, the first thing I’d strongly recommend is checking whether your university has its own gym or sports facilities. Many Swedish universities do, and they’re often either completely free for students or significantly cheaper than commercial gyms. University gyms are usually student-focused, less intimidating, and a great place to start, especially if you’re new to the gym or just getting back into a routine.
NordicWellness
NordicWellness is the gym chain I currently go to. In my city alone, there are three different NordicWellness locations, each with their own different strengths. I really like having that flexibility. With a student membership, you also get access to Nordic Wellness gyms all over Sweden, which is something I really appreciate. This is actually quite common with gym memberships in Sweden and makes it easy to train even when you’re traveling.
Fitness 24/7
Fitness 24/7 is extremely popular among students, mainly because it’s affordable and open 24/7. From what I’ve heard, It’s a good option with all the basics, and you get everything you need to train properly. If you’re self-motivated and don’t care much about extras like classes or spa-style facilities, this is a very solid option. It also depends on which of their locations you choose, so always be sure to go inside the gym itself, explore a little and see for yourself.
STC (Svenska Träningscenter)
STC is yet is another common choice, but I’ve never been to one of their facilities nor heard about them from anyone. At least in my city, it is not a very known among students, yet I do see a lot of people with their merch walking around.
Gym Membership Costs and Student Discounts
To give a concrete example from my own experience: at the Nordic Wellness gym on my campus, there is a student discount, but it doesn’t work as a simple monthly membership. Instead, you commit for three months at a time to get the discounted rate. In my case, I paid 987 SEK for three months. That’s a lot of money for me compared to what I was used to back home.
That said, when you look at what’s included, it starts to make more sense. With that membership, I get access to massage chairs, tanning beds, and saunas, all included in the price. I can also access any Nordic Wellness gym across Sweden with the same membership, which I think is really cool, especially if you’re travelling and want to train while you’re away.
Access-wise, you usually get a membership card, but you can also choose a wristband if you prefer. You scan it to enter during opening hours, and in my case, the Nordic Wellness gym on campus is open 24/7, which is incredibly convenient during busy study periods.
Finishing Thoughts
Overall, fitness in Sweden can look a bit overwhelming at first, especially with the prices and the different gym options, but it doesn’t have to be complicated. Whether you start with a university gym, an outdoor gym during the warmer months, or a commercial gym close to where you live, the most important thing is finding something that fits into your daily life. Take your time, explore your options, and don’t feel pressured to do everything perfectly from the start. Consistency matters far more than where you train.
Feel free to share your own experiences in the comments below, or if you have any advice or feel like I missed something, I’d love to hear from you!
