All you need to know about Swedish Fish (the fruity kind)
Swedish cuisine is full of fish – preferably freshly caught. However, this post is not about crayfish and pickled herring,…
Language and culture
Swedish girl names: The most popular Swedish girls’ names in one place
We all know how popular all things Scandinavian – and Swedish, in particular – are at the moment, and that…
16 ways to embrace hygge in Denmark
The word hygge is distinctively Danish, yet it has gained popularity beyond Denmark’s borders in the past decade. It means…
Great reads: the best books set in Scandinavia
We’ve all been doing lots of reading and armchair travelling this summer, and some of our favourite books here at…
Pea soup and pancakes – Sweden’s Thursday favourite
Did you know that pea soup and pancakes are culinary compatriots in Sweden? Well, as strange as it sounds, they…
Tips for learning Swedish
Let’s be honest: Swedish isn’t the most useful language to learn. It’s spoken by fewer than 10 million people around…
Swedish for tourists
As we’ve written on Routes North before, Swedish isn’t the most useful language to learn. But foreign tourists who make…
Surviving Sweden’s alcohol monopoly
Smartly dressed staff, the gentle clinking of glass bottles… and the strange feeling that you’re doing something naughty: welcome to…
Gnomes and trolls: inside John Bauer’s world
When you look at a piece of John Bauer’s art, you fall into his mythical world of deep northern forests….
Tipping in Sweden
Wondering how much you should tip when travelling around Sweden? Keen to avoid a cultural faux pas? Our guide will show…