Living in Stockholm: A Perfect Blend of Nature and Urban Life

In many ways, living in Stockholm is like living in a forest. Over a third of the city is covered by parkland. Another third is made up of inlets and waterways connected to the Baltic Sea. The rest consists of shops, streets, houses, apartments, and historic buildings, some dating all the way back to the 13th century.

With so much greenspace, it’s no surprise people here are so relaxed. Stockholm offers a lot of ways to escape the urban grind. There are fields, fountains, hiking paths, bicycle paths, and pedestrian avenues lined with linden trees and cherry blossoms. Residents can play on one of the many public basketball courts, volleyball courts, climbing walls, and skateparks tucked away amid the forested hills and shimmering lakes.

In summer, people head out and explore the seaworn cliffs, pine forests, and fishing villages in the Stockholm Archipelago, which provide ample opportunities for swimming, sunbathing, and bird watching. (130 species of birds live in and around the city, including swans, herons, and lapwings.) During winter, the ponds are full of ice skaters while kids barrel down nearby hills on their toboggans or battle it out at the city’s hockey rinks.

But Stockholm’s artful blend of natural and urban spaces isn’t the only reason people come here. Its standard of living is one of the best in the world. Along with its robust economy, compelling nightlife, and warm, cozy culture, it provides incredible opportunities for people interested in the simple, sustainable, and inclusive Nordic lifestyle.

Competitive Job Market

Stockholm is currently adding jobs faster than they can be filled. As a result, innovative industries such as technology, engineering, medicine, education, and life sciences are “crying out for staff,” in the words of the Swedish Labour Minister. The skill shortage has been a boon to foreign workers, many of whom experience a significant salary bump after moving here.

But working in Sweden has other benefits as well. Work-life balance is highly respected. The standard work week is forty hours and strictly adhered to. Swedes rarely put in overtime. Many companies also offer flexible schedules or remote work options, to make it easier for employees to meet their personal and professional obligations. What’s more, by law, all employees are entitled to 25 days of vacation every year.

There are also generous family leave policies (up to 480 days, shared by both parents), as well as company sponsored fitness and wellness programs. Businesses don’t require workers to slave away at their desks all day either. The country's Fika tradition encourages people to slow down, relax, and connect with their colleagues throughout the day over food and coffee, reflecting the value placed on community.

Livability

Living in Stockholm gives you access to Sweden’s social infrastructure. Unlike American social programs, which target segments of the population, Swedish social programs are open to everyone, including foreigners. This includes:

• Medical Care. The Swedish health system is publicly funded. Insurance policies not only cover primary care, but preventive care, specialist care, emergency services, and hospital treatments as well. Though visits are subsidized, patients are responsible for a small copayment, around 100-300 Swedish Krona ($10-$30) for an ordinary doctor’s appointment and up to 400 Krona ($40) a day for a hospital visit.
• Education. Swedish schools are free and all children living in Sweden are eligible, regardless of their national background. Though most children attend neighborhood schools, they have the right to apply anywhere they like. The curriculum is set by the Swedish National Agency for Education. Besides focusing on traditional subjects like reading, writing, and science, schools also foster emotional skills, democratic values, and critical thinking. Stockholm has a particularly large number of bilingual schools, designed to help integrate younger students into their new country, though older students may prefer an international school, which teaches classes in their native language.
• Public Transit. Stockholm is linked by an extensive network of buses, boats, subways, and commuter trains. You can purchase a ticket for a single journey, an entire day, 72-hours, or the whole month. Tickets are valid across all forms of transportation, so you can hop off a train, grab a bus, and then transfer to a water taxi without paying a separate fare. In addition to their extensive public transportation system, Stockholm also features a large number of footpaths and bicycle paths, enabling you to get around downtown without relying on a car or public transit.

Mysa

People living in Stockholm generally don’t brag about the weather. Winters are long, cold, and dark. The sun only shines for around six hours a day during winter, but nonetheless, people here aren’t generally sad or despondent, thanks to the Mysa mindset.

“Mysa” is Swedish for “cozy.” It’s the feeling of sitting under a furry blanket in front of a roaring fire, drinking a mug of hot chocolate, watching your favorite TV show. Mysa is why even though the city is blanketed with snow six months out of the year, it still seems warm and inviting. You can travel throughout the city without feeling particularly chilly or damp, because the buildings are designed to trap warmth and shut out the cold.

Mysa extends beyond mere comfort, however. It encourages people to spend time with family, friends, and loved ones ‒ relaxing and strengthening their relationships. Fredagsmys (Friday coziness) is a long-standing tradition where people gather together with close relatives to share snacks and enjoy a movie.

Rather than pine for the sun, Mysa helps people slow down and live in the moment, savoring the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and feel of their surroundings. Many Swedes heighten the experience with candles, lamps, and rustic accents to help connect them to nature, even when it’s too cold to go outside.

Culture

As the center of Swedish political, cultural, and commercial life, Stockholm is a grand and dynamic city. In addition to its bright, picturesque architecture, it has a wide array of historic attractions ‒ almost all of which can be enjoyed free of charge, thanks to the generosity of the Swedish government. Some of the most popular include:

• Gamla Stan (Old Town). Stockholm’s original city center, founded during the Middle Ages. Cobblestone streets, winding alleyways, and tall, colorful buildings abound. It’s also where you’ll find Stockholm Cathedral, the Swedish Parliament, and Royal Palace, not to mention a whole host of charming cafes, pubs, and restaurants.
• The Vasa Museum. After sinking on her maiden voyage, the 64-gun warship Vasa was raised and salvaged from the bottom of the ocean before being hauled on land and turned into a museum, complete with rigging. According to curators, it’s the most popular museum in Scandinavia.
• ABBA Museum. Relive the group's history and music with interactive exhibits and tours from the band’s costume and production designers. Fans can delve into the group’s origins, see their costumes and recording equipment, and sing along to their biggest hits at the hologram stage.
• Nordiska Museet (Nordic Museum). Journey back to the age of the Vikings in this comprehensive look at Nordic culture. Trace the country’s lineage, from its earliest settlements all the way to the modern era, reliving the art, mythology, and conflicts that shaped the region.
• Drottningholm Palace. Located just beyond the city limits, Drottningholm is one of the best preserved royal castles in the world. In addition to its grand staircases and Baroque gardens, its ornate interior features intricate Chinese motifs, libraries decorated in white and gold, and Europe’s oldest working theater, complete with original stage machinery.

Entertainment

Swedes might prefer to stay in on Friday, but that doesn’t mean they don’t go out on Saturday. During summer, people take advantage of the long days to stay out and party until all hours of the morning. Clubs like Cafe Opera, Slakthuset, and Trädgården keep the crowd hyped throughout the year with multiple levels and dance floors where the DJs blast killer tracks all night long. Crowds here are always lively and diverse, with people from across the city grooving to epic beats.

In the summer, the city opens up. There are rooftop parties, park concerts, and a huge number of gastropubs where you can chat and mingle. Enjoy a dinner cruise on the S/S Stockholm, a steamship built in 1931 for King Gustav V. Catch a show at the Royal Dramatic Theatre or attend a masked ball at the Royal Swedish Opera. Buy a ticket for your favorite artists at Tele2 Arena, a 400,000 seat stadium that’s played host to some of the biggest musicians in the world, including Pink, Green Day, and Justin Timberlake. Or head underground to the metro and experience the world’s longest art gallery. (Ninety of the city’s subway stations are decorated with themes reflecting Swedish history.)

In December, you can tour the Christmas markets around the city. Check out the twinkling lights, festive ornaments, and traditional Swedish decorations, like Dala ornaments and Tomte figures. While you’re at it, sample some holiday treats, such as glögg (spiced mulled wine), pepparkakor (gingerbread cookies), and lussebullar (saffron buns).

Stockholm is a vibrant and varied city. It never slows down, regardless of whether it's sunny or snowy, giving adventurous residents plenty to do and plenty to see.

Moving to Stockholm

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