The old Swedish village
by dave_21
Take a trip up to the "North City Mountain", a small village is located there who has an fantastic history, every timber cottage is orginal and it really takes you back 700 years in time. It's very cosy and there are also a very cosy café with homemade bread and cakes.
Be sure to visit this place when you visit Sundsvall.
The best accomondation is also located here, STF vandrarhem. Very cheap.
This photo is on a Timber Cottage that was built year 1310.
It's an great example how to conserve old houses and buildnings by just let it stand on the originally place and not move it!
Little cultural things
by fairy_dust
Swedes in general are very tolerant and accepting of foreigners and different cultures. Most Swedes speak English fluently and like practicing their English. They can seem reserved and shy at first but they're also friendly.
If you have to meet up with a Swede, be on time! That means that if you're supposed to be there at 5:00, you have to be there at 5:00 on the dot. Not earlier or later. Swedes are very punctual when it comes to time.
If you enter a Swede's house/apartment, take your shoes off when you come in. So remember to not wear grungy socks with holes in them!
Swedes are big coffee drinkers. I think Sweden is the second-biggest coffee consuming country in Europe (Only Finland drinks more coffee). As for other typically Swedish non-alcoholic drinks, there is also saft - a fruity-tasting syrup diluted in water. You can buy it in any grocery store, and it's absolutely yummy!
If you go to a Swedish party, bring your own alcohol. You can buy it at the Systembolaget, or you can get light beer (3.5% alcohol) at any grocery store.
Smoking is illegal in all public buildings except bars, so Swedes sometimes put snus (chewing tobacco) on their teeth if they crave a cigarette while in a public building.
Hockey games
by fairy_dust
Hockey is very popular in Sweden, and many Swedes are hard-core hockey fans. I've experienced a few funny moments where when Swedes found out I was Canadian, the first thing that came out of their mouth had to do with hockey: "Where are you from?" "Canada" "Ice hockey!", or "Where are you from?" "Canada" "You like hockey do you?" If you're Canadian, some Swedes will want to talk hockey with you...
If you want to see hockey games in the winter, you can take the bus to Timra and root for the local team - the Red Eagles. Hockey merchandise and souvenirs (hockey sweaters, t-shirts, scarves, little mascots, etc) are available for sale at the arena, and food is available too, but like in most sports events, everything is overpriced. There are cheerleaders at the game, and a light show when the players enter the rink.
Gustav Adolfs Church
by fairy_dust
The main religion in Sweden is Lutheran, and Gustav Adolfs Church is the main Lutheran parish in Sundsvall. I think the Church started as a Catholic parish but then switched to Lutheran. It's a beautiful Church, and the inside looks more like a Catholic parish rather than a Protestant church, in my opinion. Sometimes they have small concerts and shows going on there - I went to see a classical music concert on the Passion during Easter time in the church.
Welcome to SUNDSVALL
by Leipzig
Sundsvall was founded in 1621 west of the current position. In 1649 to 1650 during the reign of Queen Kristina the town was ordered to move closer to the mouth of the river Selånger. This was because the river carried to much sediments and shipping was not longer possible. The town was granted its town charter in 1684 and so it could develop to a commercial town. The town became the centre of one of Sweden's largest timber production areas. Today, Sundsvall has 95.000 residents.
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Gatufesten street festival
The river in Sundsvall
Two Dutch party animals at a house party
In the main square
