Hej Hej! Are you considering studying abroad in Växjö, Sweden? Let me show you around the city so you can get a better grasp of what Sweden is like.
I would describe Växjö as a relatively small town that still has big opportunities. The people of Växjö actually call this the greenest city in Europe! So biking is a must if you want to save some money and not have to use the bus. There are plenty of bike paths that are safe and very well cleared in the winter.
Växjö is surrounded by lakes and great hiking spots. There is a lake right in the middle of town and one by campus. They both are surrounded by parks with walking paths that are very popular.
Walking paths in Växjö
The lake by campus is very special because it has the Teleborg castle right on the edge. This castle also operates as a hotel and event space. They host a big dinner for students there at the beginning of the year and in general it is a great place to check out.
Teleborg Castle in Växjö
If you explore around the Teleborg castle there are several hiking spots. One path in particular will lead you to one of my favorite spots on campus, it’s a place in the forest where students have built a swing and a little hangout spot to get away from their studies. This special place is on no map so it’s up to you to follow some paths!
Swing built by students in the forest
The average Swedish adult drinks 8 cups of coffee a day! Coffee is very important in Swedish culture, so much that they have a word just to describe taking a break from work to drink coffee and chat. “Fika” is personally one of my favorite things about Swedish culture. Some of the best places for fika in town are: Condeco, Espresso House, and Askelyckan. All of these places offer some great coffee and even “kanelbulllar” a Swedish cinnamon roll.
The Espresso House
If you are interested in shopping and eating there are some good spots in town. If you are wanting to splurge I would recommend Pinchos, a restaurant that is carnival themed and you actually order everything on your phone. I will warn you though eating out is pretty expensive in Sweden. Usually the cheaper options are places that sell kebab, indian, or chinese food. Going out for lunch is always the best option in Sweden as well because restaurants will often offer some sort of lunch deal.
There are plenty of restaurants to try
Another place in town to check out is the Växjö cathedral. This is the landmark that the town is known for. It’s a beautiful building and right by the lake.
The Växjö Cathedral
Lastly I want to point out that while Växjö is a fairly small town, the public transportation in Sweden is excellent! You can hop on a train or bus without too much preparation and explore other towns very easily. I would recommend visiting Stockholm, Malmö, Gothenburg, and Kalmar. There is also an airport in Växjö that regularly offers cheap flights to places like Poland.
Växjö bus station
I hope you enjoyed this little tour around Växjö and consider it for your future study abroad. I promise you’ll love it here!
Emily Hutchison is an alumni of the Växjö, Sweden program. She studies at Eastern Kentucky University and served as a digital communications intern during her time abroad.
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