Dating In Sweden: Everything You Need To Know (Tips)

Generally, Swedes don’t date, especially women. And even the ones that do that don’t fancy dinner dates. But that doesn’t mean that Swedish women play hard to get. It is more likely that a Swedish woman will hit it off with a person when drunk. Sex first, and then hook up later, to try something together – but not the regular candle dinner nights. If a Swedish woman agrees to a date, then it will be dates like going for a hike, kayaking, snorkeling, hot air balloon rides, etc. The only issue is that they’ll only accept such dates with someone they are already familiar with, at least for some time. Other than that, the Scandinavian way is: drown in drinks, have sex, and then consider getting to know who you’re in bed with. That is slightly exaggerated, but it is how it is. However, when it comes to marriage, Swedish women are rather conservative. Swedes generally don’t practice open marriages. The only thing unconventional about a typical family home in Sweden is the defiance of gender roles. A majority of Swedish women are feminists, and most of the men are welcoming of it.

Even though sex on a first date or first meet isn’t a biggie in Sweden, it is not the same regarding relationships, especially in marriage. When it comes to relationships, Swedish women don’t expect you to ask them out officially to become your girlfriend. Unlike in countries like the United States, you don’t have to “make the relationship official.” Are you having regular sex? Seeing each other every day? Talking every day? Share things? Yes? Then she’s your girlfriend. Swedish women don’t expect you to ask them out, but they expect you to be loyal and faithful because they are. The Swedish view of relationships and marriage is that they are strictly monogamous. And even though there’s a stereotypical perception that Swedes don’t show emotions, you’ll see a lot of it when you cheat. Swedish women don’t cheat, but divorce is a major issue, especially in marriages between locals and foreigners. Martin Dribe, a Professor of Economic History at Lund University, revealed in his study that marriages or relationships between a Swede and a foreigner are about two-and-a-half times more likely to end in a break-up than those between two Swedes.

Swedish women are highly independent and often want to hook up without attachments. But just like every other woman in other countries, they have their own expectations. First, being macho is a sure way NOT to start dating a woman in Sweden. If you approach a Swedish woman as though you’re showing ‘dominance’ or with all other things relationship pundits advise about showing masculinity – it’s a NO. That doesn’t mean the Swedish women hate masculinity; they are only sensitive to any manner that might seem sexist. They don’t want to feel like you’re talking to them in some way because they are a woman. Simply put, you talk to a Swedish woman, not at her. They also expect you not to pay for their drinks or dinner. So, you don’t ask to buy a Swedish woman a drink; you ask her to join you for a drink. And while at it, you can offer to pay and watch her insist on paying, at least for hers. As for pick-up lines, they detest it, so just be yourself and be direct. A Swedish woman also expects you not to treat her as a “snowflake.” That said, you can tell that Swedish women don’t really expect much from their men – they just want to be treated as equals. And yes, Swedish women are feminists.

The dating scene in Sweden is quite different compared to other countries, even neighboring countries such as Denmark, Finland, and Norway. Swedish women enjoy genuine connection and good communication, so smooth-talking and pick-up lines don’t work. They see it as cheesy and will often not appreciate your direct approach, and thus being yourself is a better approach when dating in Sweden. Also, most Swedish women aren’t materialistic since they’re strong advocates of women’s financial independence. However, that doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate simple chivalries like buying a woman some flowers. But, avoid imposing your values or opinions on a Swedish woman too strongly; she might get defensive. Also, you have to respect a Swedish woman’s personal space. Swedes as a people pay a lot of attention to personal space. They are often reserved and formal, both men and women. Yet, they are also straightforward – very straightforward. So, if a Swedish woman so much as gives you a listening ear, she is most likely into you. And if she agrees to meet up later on, then she definitely likes you and is a possible dating prospect.

When you’re on a date with a Swedish woman, she doesn’t expect you to pay for everything. She’ll most likely insist that you split the bill with her equally. Some might even go as far as asking to pay for the date themselves. Swedish women don’t appreciate the idea of gender roles, and if they’re meeting you for the first time, they’ll make a point to let you know their stance. However, splitting the bills for dinner dates isn’t the only way Swedish women demonstrate gender equality; they are also known for making the first move. Playing hard to get isn’t the Swedish way. Unlike women in most countries, if a Swedish woman doesn’t like you, she’ll be very direct telling you so. She’ll most likely not give you any attention or will just tell you straight ahead that she’s not into you. Swedish women are often shy, and being standoffish only provides a wall between you and the woman you want to date. But just like with every other woman, a little persistence can get you through that wall; patience might just be all you need.

A great number of Swedish women are more attracted to older men, especially those aged 25 and below. The Local SE, a Swedish news agency, reveals that about 22.6% of Swedish women between 18 and 55+ of age see 40 as the ideal age for a man they want to date. Even though the survey was a long time ago, nothing much has changed, as more Swedes are only more interested in committed relationships as they get older. However, this is not the case for all of them. The younger Swedes are less likely to engage in a committed relationship. They just want to hook up with no attachments, that’s if they like you. So, if you’re looking for a long-term relationship, older Swedish women are your best bet. From the age of 35 and above, most Swedes, both men, and women find a need for marriage. This is so because Swedes, even though they start living alone earlier in their lives than most countries, see marriage as somewhat outdated and often get into committed relationships later in their late 30s. That’s if they ever do.

Swedes do get married from dating, but they do so later compared to other Western and Asian countries. About 3.4 million of the Swedish population are married, and most likely, most couples dated before getting married. Yet, the average age for marriage for Swedish women is 33 years. And there’s a reason for that, which is that most Swedish women under 30 are not looking to get before they have finished their further educating and have started a career. Living an independent life is a major issue in Sweden, while marriage is seen as “overhyped.” However, this wasn’t exactly the case for older generations. Sweden wasn’t always a country where people wait till later on in their lives to get married. While a lot of Swedes still get married at a younger age, most of them don’t even consider any long-term union until they are in their 30s and feel it is time to settle down.

Divorce is also another major issue in Swedish marriages. While several studies reveal that couples that married late are less likely to divorce, that’s not the case in Sweden. For people that enjoy an independent life a lot, you can guess how intolerant most Swedish women will be regarding marriage problems. In 2019, Sweden boasted 55.5 divorces per 100 marriages. That means in every two Swedish weddings you see; one is statistically likely to end in divorce. However, why is the divorce rate so high in Sweden? And what is the cause of the trend? A major cause for the high divorce rate in Sweden is because Swedes don’t see getting a divorce as a big deal, and today children are used to living with parents that are not together anymore.

Swedes date and live together for a relatively long time and eventually get married if the relationship lasts and common ground can be found. Yet, there is a trend to abandon a marriage if things become problematic, and instead of working things out, it is easier to get a divorce. That doesn’t mean that marriage isn’t valued in Sweden. The Swedish people can be pretty conservative regarding many social matters, but dating, sex, and marriage aren’t one of them. Another major reason Swedes get divorced easily is that their divorce laws aren’t as difficult as in other countries. As long as you and your partner have agreed on getting divorced, all you have to do is pay the court fee, and you’re done. However, the case is different if you’re filing for a divorce alone. Here, you’ll be asked to return sometime in the future to be certain you want to go along with it. Nonetheless, Sweden’s high divorce rate is not that uncommon. In most Western countries, the general divorce rate is about 50% of all marriages.

First, regardless of where and how you meet a Swedish woman, the time of day is very important. Swedish women are very reserved during the day and more social and welcoming at night (over a drink). You could meet a woman during the day and show interest in her, but going further with asking for a date or her personal phone number will likely receive a negative response. When a Swedish woman doesn’t know you or doesn’t have any business with you, she won’t see any reason to give you her number or agree to a date. The only exception to this norm in Sweden is social events. When you meet a Swedish woman at a social event, chances are she’ll give you her number if she finds you interesting. But asking a Swedish woman for her number on the bus, subway, sidewalk, or in a grocery store is a bad idea. They want to socialize in a social gathering – when they feel like it – and not just randomly, with a random stranger.

Therefore, since finding a Swedish woman for dates at night is more fruitful, where to find them at that time can be a little obvious. Nightclubs, Bars, and any night social event is a sure bet. Nevertheless, some cities improve your chances of finding a Swedish woman who is responsive to dating talks. Malmö, Linköping, and Norrköping are ranked as some of the major cities where you can find dates in Sweden. Here, you can always find single Swedish women in bars and nightclubs. So, the next time you visit, you’ll want to get a hotel in one of these cities. Even though Stockholm and Gothenburg are bigger cities in Sweden, the before mentioned cities are better when you desire to start dating Swedish women and have a pretty good nightlife.

The best nightclubs to meet single ladies in Malmö is Etagegruppen at Stortorget 6, Babel at Spångatan 38, Slagthuset at Jörgen Kocksgatan 7, Malmö Brewing Co & Taproom at Bergsgatan 33, and Inkonst at Bergsgatan 29. They are often stuffed with single Swedish women, usually in groups, looking to socialize and have fun. You’ll also want to visit Innergården in Linköping. It is 120 steps from Stora Torget, and yet it is so incredibly easy to miss. Like a well-kept secret, a courtyard is enclosed within four house facades. Here one is met and seduced by aromas, tastes, sounds. Harry is another fantastic place you’ll want to visit. It is a nightclub with a great atmosphere every weekend! Strandgatan två is one of Linköpings’s best restaurants, with 14 bowling lanes from world-leading Brunswick, bar, and lounge. You can enjoy a drink at the bar or just enjoy some great music while on the lookout for a pretty single Swedish woman. Every day after 4 pm the atmosphere changes to the disco bowling. Lastly, you’ll want to try Shotluckan. Shotluckan is Sweden’s first, best, and only shot bar, which offers shots in all their forms, fire shows, edible shot glasses, and entertainment.