Creating a social life
As a new arrival in Sweden, your social network is probably quite limited, but there are lots of opportunities to meet new people. Here you will find a list of websites and social networking groups where you can start building your social life.
Where to start?
Meetup
Meetup is a website where you can both find and organise local meetup events.
Kompisbyrån
An initiative where you can "meet a new Fika friend and practice Swedish" or meet new people through music.
Thisisgothenburg.com
Hosts a range of social events, from straightforward meetups to speed dating and secret dinner parties.
The American Women's Club of Gothenburg
A Gothenburg based group that arranges activities such as talks, meetups and playgroups.
Mirrabooka Club in Gothenburg
A Facebook group for Australians and New Zealanders and their friends and fans.
The International Women's Club of Gothenburg
A club for international women that organises a wide range of activities for its members.
Anglo Swedish Society Göteborg
A group that welcomes people of all nationalities. It arranges, among other things, group visits to English language theatre, guided walks and an English language book club.
The British Club
A social club for Brits living in West Sweden.
Les français / francophones de Göteborg
A Facebook group for French people living in the Gothenburg region.
Gothenburg Expats
An active Facebook group for expats in Gothenburg who want to meet new people. They regularly organise get-togethers and nights out.
Expats in Gothenburg
A Facebook group for both expats and Swedes in Gothenburg.
InterNations Gothenburg
Global expats network with monthly get-together events and activities in Gothenburg.
IndiaPoint
A community for Indians, Swedes and other expats with an interest in Indian culture and food.
Expat.com
A global expat network where you can get in touch with other internationals in Gothenburg.
Good to know
Search the various social networking sites, such as Facebook, to find many more groups that you may find of interest.
Take classes
Taking classes is a great way to learn new skills and meet new people while you are at it. Two good options are Folkuniversitetet and Medborgarskolan, which have schools in most major towns and cities, including Gothenburg, Borås and Trollhättan. They both offer a wide range of courses, some of which are in English.
Visit our other pages for information on university studies or learning Swedish.
Libraries and other meeting places
Some municipalities arrange activities which are designed to bring people together. These are often held at local libraries and include things such as book clubs, homework assistance, exhibitions, seminars and courses. A popular activity for internationals is språkcafé (language cafe) where you can practice talking Swedish. Contact your local library or municipality for more information.
Good to know - Språkcafeet
In Gothenburg, there is also an actual cafe called Språkcafeet - the language coffee shop. It has language themed evenings where you can meet new people and practice your conversational skills in various languages, including Swedish.
DO YOU HAVE YOUNG CHILDREN?
Many municipalities have something called öppna förskolor (open preschools). These are an excellent opportunity for you and your child to meet new people. Open preschools are generally free of charge and you and your child can visit them when it suits you. They are designed for babies and young children up to about five or six years old.
You can often find listings of open preschools on municipality websites (e.g. Gothenburg, Trollhättan and Borås. Otherwise, you can contact your municipality for more information.
International House Gothenburg
The activities and events will increase your knowledge and understanding of how things work in Sweden, and they are also a great way to grow your network.
Photo Credits:
Happy Visuals/Göteborg & Co
International House Gothenburg