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WHAT'S ON IN SWEDEN

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Seven ways to beat wet weather in Sweden

Here are our top tips for making the most of Sweden during drizzly weather, alongside our regular interactive guide to events around the country.

Published: 23 July 2015 07:09 CEST
Updated: 16 September 2015 11:05 CEST
Seven ways to beat wet weather in Sweden
Wet weather in Sweden. Photo: Emilie Asplund/Image Bank Sweden
1. Snuggle up in a Swedish library
 
Sweden has more than 1200 public libraries for its population of just under 10 million. It's completely free to borrow books and plenty also offer cosy spots where you can sit and read them or flick through Swedish newspapers or magazines. If you're learning Swedish, why not consider taking out some children's literature?
 
Need a taste of home? Most locations have a selection of books in English and other major global languages. Gothenburg City Library announced earlier this month that it had seen “significantly more visitors” coming through its doors this summer. Recently renovated it offers 3000 square metres of book shelves, study areas and reading rooms. In Stockholm, Kulturhuset, right opposite the central station includes a beautiful wooden children's playground and regularly hosts talks and events in English.
 

Stockholm public library. Photo: Simon Paulin/Image Bank Sweden
 
2. Enjoy a “fika” in a cosy coffee shop
 
There's nothing more Swedish than spending a gloomy afternoon in a cosy coffee shop enjoying a hot drink and a bun, or having a “fika” as the Swedes call this national institution.
 
If you're in Gothenburg check out The Local's guide to some of the city's coolest affordable cafes. In Stockholm our top tip is the very hip ilCaffe outlets around the capital. Or for a coffee shop, gallery and clothing store rolled into one, head for Snickarbaken 7, in the elite Östermalm disrict. Up north? Don't miss Bokcafe Pilgatan in Umeå, an incredibly friendly spot which doubles as a book and craft shop.
 
 

Swedish students enjoying a fika. Photo: Susanne Walström/Image Bank Sweden
 
3. Seek sanctuary in a stunning church or cathedral
 
Despite being one of the most secular nations on the planet, Sweden has some 3500 churches. Uppsala Cathedral is among the most stunning, welcoming around half a million tourists a year. In Stockholm, the beautiful yellow dome of Katarina Church is unmissable, with free live music events held inside twice a week. Declining church attendance means that if you head out to the suburbs you could find a pew or ten all to yourself.
 

Uppsala Cathedral during sunnier weather. Photo: Samir Hadi/Image Bank Sweden
 
4. Marvel at modern art
 
Sweden's global reputation for art and design is much deserved and there are some fantastic contemporary exhibition spaces around the country.
 
Umeå's Bildmuseet is the kind of place that would be rammed if it existed in Paris, London or New York, but rarely gets too packed for comfort thanks to its location in the northern Sweden's highly cultured but chilly city. A work of art itself, with sweeping views of the river from the ceiling-high windows, its summer 2015 exhibitions include nominations for the the best Swedish picture book of the year and contemporary art from Vietnam. Elsewhere, check out Sweden's biggest photography museum (Fotografiska) in Stockholm and Malmö's newly renovated Moderna Museet.
 

Visitors arriving at the Moderna Museet in Malmö. Photo: Miriam Preis/Image Bank Sweden
 
5. Exercise in the rain
 
In Sweden there's a famous expression which roughly translates as “there's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes”. So do like the Swedes do and get outside and exercise the long days away, even if they are a bit wet. At least it's not getting dark at 2pm at this time of year.
 
You'll find outdoor gyms in most major downs and cities and plenty of safe outdoor swimming spots. Or if you need a bit more motivation why not join one off the many free running clubs up and down the country, or even start your own with friends or colleagues. Take a look at Göteborg Running Club or Ssideline City or Lululemon in Stockholm for inspiration. The latter also offers free yoga and pilates classes.
 

If the kids can do it, why can't you? Photo: Emilie Asplund/Image Bank Sweden
 
 
6. Take Sweden's most popular history lesson
 
One Sweden's top tourist attractions is the Vasa Museum, which traces the history of the country's best known ship, which sunk on its maiden voyage in 1628 and was salvaged in the 1960s. Trust us, even if the words maritime and history usually send you to sleep this is a fascinating place where you can step back in time and learn about some of the cutting edge techniques being used to preserve the vessel. Plus you get to spend time on the beautiful island of Djurgården where you can also take a short walk down one of the city's most stunning streets. Just don't forget your umbrella.
 

The Vasa Museum. Photo: Melker Dahlstrand/Image Bank Sweden
 
7. Munch on some meatballs in Ikea
 
The world leader in flatpack furniture was born in Sweden and Stockholm is home to one of the largest Ikea stores in the world. Summer best is the time to head to branches in Sweden's major cities, while huge chunks of the population are away on their annual July vacations. Ikea is also the place to enjoy some of the best value meatballs you'll find on Swedish soil, with 12 costing just 39 Swedish kronor ($4.50) or 16 for 49 kronor ($5.74) for 16. Veggie balls have been on the menu since last month.
 

Ikea meatballs. Photo: Heiko Junge/TT

For more tips on what to do in Sweden this week, check out the interactive calendar below.

 

 

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TRAVEL NEWS

German train strike wave to end following new labour agreement

Germany's Deutsche Bahn rail operator and the GDL train drivers' union have reached a deal in a wage dispute that has caused months of crippling strikes in the country, the union said.

Published: 26 March 2024 09:55 CET
German train strike wave to end following new labour agreement

“The German Train Drivers’ Union (GDL) and Deutsche Bahn have reached a wage agreement,” GDL said in a statement.

Further details will be announced in a press conference on Tuesday, the union said. A spokesman for Deutsche Bahn also confirmed that an agreement had been reached.

Train drivers have walked out six times since November, causing disruption for huge numbers of passengers.

The strikes have often lasted for several days and have also caused disruption to freight traffic, with the most recent walkout in mid-March.

In late January, rail traffic was paralysed for five days on the national network in one of the longest strikes in Deutsche Bahn’s history.

READ ALSO: Why are German train drivers launching more strike action?

Europe’s largest economy has faced industrial action for months as workers and management across multiple sectors wrestle over terms amid high inflation and weak business activity.

The strikes have exacerbated an already gloomy economic picture, with the German economy shrinking 0.3 percent across the whole of last year.

What we know about the new offer so far

Through the new agreement, there will be optional reduction of a work week to 36 hours at the start of 2027, 35.5 hours from 2028 and then 35 hours from 2029. For the last three stages, employees must notify their employer themselves if they wish to take advantage of the reduction steps.

However, they can also opt to work the same or more hours – up to 40 hours per week are possible in under the new “optional model”.

“One thing is clear: if you work more, you get more money,” said Deutsche Bahn spokesperson Martin Seiler. Accordingly, employees will receive 2.7 percent more pay for each additional or unchanged working hour.

According to Deutsche Bahn, other parts of the agreement included a pay increase of €420 per month in two stages, a tax and duty-free inflation adjustment bonus of €2,850 and a term of 26 months.

Growing pressure

Last year’s walkouts cost Deutsche Bahn some €200 million, according to estimates by the operator, which overall recorded a net loss for 2023 of €2.35 billion.

Germany has historically been among the countries in Europe where workers went on strike the least.

But since the end of 2022, the country has seen growing labour unrest, while real wages have fallen by four percent since the start of the war in Ukraine.

German airline Lufthansa is also locked in wage disputes with ground staff and cabin crew.

Several strikes have severely disrupted the group’s business in recent weeks and will weigh on first-quarter results, according to the group’s management.

Airport security staff have also staged several walkouts since January.

Some politicians have called for Germany to put in place rules to restrict critical infrastructure like rail transport from industrial action.

But Chancellor Olaf Scholz has rejected the calls, arguing that “the right to strike is written in the constitution… and that is a democratic right for which unions and workers have fought”.

The strikes have piled growing pressure on the coalition government between Scholz’s Social Democrats, the Greens and the pro-business FDP, which has scored dismally in recent opinion polls.

The far-right AfD has been enjoying a boost in popularity amid the unrest with elections in three key former East German states due to take place later this year.

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