If you're new to Sweden and single, it can be even more difficult, mainly due to cultural and language barriers. We've listed 7 ways to meet a partner in Sweden and rated factors like chance of success, requires knowledge (prerequisite skills) and safety (safety aspect of dating) on a scale 1-5. So e.g. 1 for "Safety" means it is a very insecure way to find your date and 5 for "Chance of success" means it probably can lead to a lasting partnership.
1. Through friends and acquaintances
Perhaps the best and safest way to find a partner. If you're introduced by a friend or acquaintance, it's likely someone you can trust more than someone you meet on a dating app. However, this can be more challenging for someone who has recently moved to Sweden and doesn't have a large social circle.
Chance of success: 4 / Requires knowledge: 2 / Safety: 4
2. Meeting through a hobby or club
This method combines a hobby you enjoy with trying to meet a partner. It can be anything from taking dance classes to improving your skills in a particular instrument, singing, or playing a sport. There are many courses and clubs in Sweden that cater to various interests and hobbies.
Chance of success: 4 / Requires knowledge: 3 / Safety: 4
3. Meeting someone at work
Some workplaces may have policies against dating or being in a relationship with a colleague. However, if you work for a large company, the rules may not be as strict. Remember not to try to date coworkers you work closely with, as it can affect your job even if the date doesn't lead anywhere or if things get complicated. The recommendation is not to let your dating life interfere with your job.
Chance of success: 4 / Requires knowledge: 2 / Safety: 3
4. Meeting someone at a bar or club
It's quite common in Sweden to try to meet someone at a bar or club. Here, it's often the men who take the initiative to approach and start a conversation, but in recent times, women have also become more confident in doing so. Be careful not to be too drunk when trying to meet someone at a bar, and be cautious of drinks being spiked with drugs to facilitate unwanted advances. It's also an art to be able to approach someone at a bar, especially if you don't speak Swedish fluently. However, English is widely spoken in bars.
Chance of success: 3 / Requires knowledge: 4 / Safety: 2
5. Meeting through dance band events
A very Swedish cultural phenomenon where people gather to dance to live music played by a dance band. These events can be a great way to meet someone, but it may be challenging if you're not familiar with traditional Swedish dances like the bugg or foxtrot. Here, it's essential to know your moves, as the men who are good at dancing are often the ones who get the attention. For someone new to Sweden, attending a dance band event can be a great way to experience the culture and atmosphere. You can find bigger dance band evenings with popular bands performing at Ticketmaster.
Chance of success: 3 / Requires knowledge: 4 / Safety: 3
6. Meeting someone spontaneously
Meeting your dating partner e.g., at a grocery store is difficult. It's not very common in Sweden to strike up a conversation with a stranger in a queue or while shopping. However, it does happen that people meet their partners by talking to someone spontaneously. Be careful what you say and don't come across as creepy when approaching someone you don't know. It's safer to approach someone you've seen several times before and have made eye contact with. Respect people's boundaries, as they may take offense if you approach them out of the blue.
Chance of success: 1 / Requires knowledge: 5 / Safety: 2
7. Dating apps
Perhaps the most common way to try to meet someone is through a dating app. It's easy to browse through profiles and try to match with a partner using your mobile phone. However, dating apps can also be challenging, and some apps have been classified as being only for casual hookups and not for serious relationships. With the ease of use and the abundance of options, there are also risks involved. You may have heard of the Tinder swindler who scammed several women out of large sums of money. There was even a documentary about it on Netflix. Recently, a Swedish man was caught scamming women out of over 4 million SEK using various dating apps. Be cautious about the information you share about yourself and only meet in public places for the first few dates.
Chance of success: 3 / Requires knowledge: 3 / Safety: 2
There you have it – the most common ways to meet a partner in Sweden. If you have any thoughts or experiences about dating, feel free to share them with our editorial team at [email protected].
