Summer vacation in Sweden
Hi everyone and welcome to my weekly blog, vacation edition! That’s right, the Swedish midsummer celebration is now behind us, which means that many Swedes are in vacation mode for the next few weeks. Even here at Learn Swedish Now, my online language school, we are noticing the change of pace. Many of my students are using their vacation time to visit Sweden and practice their newfound language skills, and I am planning a short break to visit family in the old country. This time of year is a great time to visit; since it is common practice in Sweden to take vacation in the 4-5 weeks following Midsummer (around June 25) you will find many family activities, exhibitions, concerts and other fun things scheduled around this time.
In Sweden, just like in many other European countries, most workers have a relatively large number of paid vacation days and are good about using those vacation days. In fact, by law everyone get 25 days (5 weeks) paid vacation in Sweden. However, many employers will also provide additional vacation time based on age and years of service. It is not uncommon to have six, or even seven weeks of vacation every year. On average, though, people in Sweden have 28 days of paid vacation and use 25 of those per year. It is fairly common to take much of that time off during the summer, and also to take much of it during consecutive weeks. So don’t be surprised if you meet a Swede that is taking all of July off from work!
So with all that time off how do they actually spend it? Well, that varies obviously, but there are some common themes in Sweden. Many will have their “smultronställe” (smultron=wild strawberries, ställe=place), their favorite place to vacation. Since winter is long, dark, and cold in Sweden people tend to be outside a lot in the summer and soak up the sun. And with the high latitude of the country the summer days are long, especially in the northernmost part. This can be somewhat disorienting for visitors; people are out around town or at someone’s house enjoying a nice summer evening only to all of a sudden realize it is 11 at night! And sleeping in can be difficult when the sun rises again at 3 am.
Many people don’t realize how popular Swedish beaches are. Depending on exactly where you are there are some great options for sunbathing and cooling off by jumping into the water. Stockholm is known for its clean water and you will find sand beaches in and around the city. In fact, there are great beaches all along the east coast of Sweden where the Baltic sea warms to (relatively) comfortable temperatures in the summer. The west coast of the country has popular summer spots as well, with a coastline rich in beautiful rock formations to dive into the North Sea from. So if you come here in the summer make sure to bring your swimwear!
Sweden is a big country with plenty to offer in terms of outdoor activities, and hiking is another popular pastime in the summer. You can find interesting hiking almost anywhere, from the flatland in the south to the mountain regions in the north. One of the best known places to hike in Sweden is Kungsleden (“king’s trail”), a 270 mile (440 km) long trail in the northern part of the country. Kungsleden takes visitors through beautiful landscapes in the Swedish mountains, and there are huts all along the trail where you can stay overnight for a small fee. The trail is divided into sections to make it easy to do as much or as little as you are comfortable with. If you are into hiking and mesmerizing landscapes I would highly recommend a visit.
Of course, I have only scratched the surface of the things Swedes like to do on their vacation, and all the opportunities for having fun during summertime in Sweden. If you want to learn more about Sweden and the Swedish language please sign up for one of my free trials or consultations below. You will be discovering your inner Swede and having fun doing it!
