Here’s Proof That Sweden Is Like No Other Place in the World

Sweden is a country with a long history that spans over a millennium. With that history, it is no surprise that the entire country is filled with establishments that have been around for hundreds of years. Look at this pharmacy, which has been at this location since the 1800s. Not only has this multi-generational pharmacy been at the exact location all these years, but they have also kept the original decor.

That is correct; the only land-based blue whale in existence is the taxidermied blue whale in Gothenburg, Sweden. Not only is seeing this whale a special occasion since you will never see anything like it anywhere else in the world, but it also comes with a fun story. Once upon a time, the whale’s mouth hung open to show off its impressive jaws, and museum visitors could walk inside. But when a couple was caught making love inside the whale, the museum closed its mouth permanently except for special events.

Blood donations are a great way to give back to your fellow humans. It requires minimal effort on our part to donate something that can help save a life. What is even better about donating blood in a place like Sweden is that you are told when your blood helps someone. After making your donation, you will receive text messages whenever your blood is used. Isn’t that a great way to motivate people to continue giving?

This is a sign in Sweden that means no cars are allowed. In most countries, the “no cars allowed” sign is usually a red sign with a vehicle that is sometimes crossed out, depending on the country. However, in Sweden, they have broken the mold with this street sign. It is a red sign with a yellow center that shows a turned-over car and three people standing over it, holding spears in triumph.

The town of Gothenburg has placed its complaints drop-off box in the only place they thought it should be: a few dozen meters off the shoreline. That’s right – their complaints box is off, floating in the water. This can mean one of two things: either the Gothenburg residents have no complaints, so there is no need for a box, or it’s the exact opposite situation, and there were so many complaints that they threw the whole thing out.

Within the town of Lund, located in Sweden, they have stories of all kinds for everyone, and we mean everyone. Here is an example of a mini records store whose miniature size is geared towards a clientele of mice-sized record lovers. The storefront is superbly well done and looks realistic, with tiny vinyl records on display in the store’s windows. The best part about the store is that it wasn’t even there just a day before this photo was snapped.

Most diaper brands wrap their packaging with images of a baby or a mother and her child. We are not entirely sure why pretty much every diaper brand in the world does the same thing, but Sweden is breaking the mold. Here on this local diaper brand, they show a baby asleep on his father’s chest. The imagery is a nice reminder that dads can (and do) change diapers.

It is always a little fun when authorities or public officials get in on pop culture. It makes them seem more down to Earth and a bit more approachable. Countries like Sweden have artfully accomplished the task of having fun while being efficient. Take, for example, their Subway system. The system works as designed to get people from point A to B, but they also had fun leaving little easter eggs for passengers to find.

In most parts of the world, there are very few, if any, features to your standard shopping cart. The purpose of a shopping cart is simple, and therefore the design is simple. However, in Sweden, they have maps of the supermarkets placed on the shopping carts so people can easily find their way through the stores. This is a life-saving design for anyone who is directionally challenged and has gotten lost in a supermarket.

We’ve all seen at least one corny dating profile where someone writes things such as “Sunrises are so romantic” or how they want to “watch the sunrise with someone.” And we once gagged when we read such lines about the beauty of sunrises – it’s so cliche, after all – but we feel differently now. Now we think that if we lived in Sweden, we’d also include that on our dating profiles. Just look at how stunning this Swedish sunrise is!

There are certain delicacies that only people from that culture will understand and appreciate. For example, in the USA, Twinkies and Pop-Tarts are childhood favorites of many who grew up there. But these treats might not be seen as delicious in other parts of the world – as confirmed by this photograph. Sweden’s “Disgusting Food Museum” has a varied collection of food items that the Swedish feel is gross.

Many countries around the world have made their roads accessible to both drivers and bike riders. And Sweden has been ahead of the game with this change; they’ve come up with some ingenious designs for their bike lanes that other parts of the world haven’t even imagined yet. Just take these Biker Stands located at stoplights in Sweden: these little guys allow bikers to easily halt at a stop light without disembarking.

In Sweden, they have revolutionized the menstrual hygiene shopping experience by placing their pads next to their store’s chocolate selection. For those unaware, chocolate is a must-have for many people during their monthly period. Instead of hunting down both items separately, the Swedish realized they could place them in the same aisle and save people the hassle. While having a period might never be enjoyable, Sweden makes it a little less unenjoyable.

Everyone is familiar with the horrors of public transportation around the world. And we’re not saying Stockholm’s underground transport is perfect and doesn’t suffer from some of the same issues other countries’ subways struggle with. But there are at least two issues that most of us have to deal with that the Swedes do not: sketchy platforms and slightly horrifying surroundings. In Stockholm, they have transformed their underground station into works of art that transport one to some magical realm.

We would never want anyone to pursue a life of crime, but if you are going to be doing so, then you should probably be doing it in Sweden. Below is one of the prison cells in one of Sweden’s most brutal prisons. We’ll be honest here and say what we’re all thinking: this is nicer than some people’s apartments. It looks like a luxurious college dorm room complete with computer screens, bookshelves, and a twin bed.

This hotel is called the “Icehotel,” and its name is as accurate as it gets. This hotel appears to be a simple snow fort in the middle of an arctic wasteland, but once someone enters, that notion swiftly disappears. The hotel is a high-class luxury escape that has leaned artfully and excellently into the ice theme. Their hallways and walls are art pieces, and the bedrooms feel like an ice king’s throne room.

McDonald’s is back at it in Sweden. You can find all sorts of unique McDonald’s in this country, such as one that is made entirely for bees (more on that later). This one is another unique one, and it is the only one of its kind; instead of having a drive-thru lane, this one has a ski-thru lane. They even changed the name from McDonald’s to McSki to keep with the theme of their one-of-a-kind ski-thru window.

This photograph of a bus stop in Sweden shows two miraculous things. For starters, Sweden has public transportation that is heavily used and sought after by the public. Secondly, the Swedish people know the concept of lines and have excellently implemented it into their society. Look at this line at a random bus stop in Sweden! There are over a dozen people here, all spaced evenly apart, waiting their turn to board the bus. And this was long before any social distancing guidelines.

Throughout the world, there are many different ways for people to donate and gift their used belongings to those in need. However, it has never been easier to help someone out than in Sweden. In Stockholm, there is a wall called the “Wall of Kindness,” and it’s pretty much a coat-hanging wall. The deal is that you can place a coat on one of this wall’s hooks for someone to take.

The Øresund Bridge is an underground tunnel that travels underneath the Øresund strait, a body of water between Sweden and Denmark. This tunnel allows a railway to connect the two countries and provides easy transportation between the two nations. Not only is it efficient, but this underwater underground tunnel is also somewhat magical. Riding on the bridge, you will find yourself seemingly pulled underwater only to emerge on the other side in another country.

Trees are pretty amazing things. However, due to their lack of thumbs or inability to purchase cell phones, it would seem impossible for trees to send texts. However, trees are unique in Sweden because they can do the impossible. Thanks to sensors installed in the trees, they can send texts when running out of water. These moisture sensors send out messages with details about the trees’ moisture levels and their exact location.

IKEA is one of the great inventions of the Swedish. This Swedish company has gone international, and many countries now have their own IKEA, but Sweden was where it was created. It would make sense that the original IKEAs would have some extra features and distinguished guests, but no one expected this one. This IKEA has a permanent reserved spot for their number one customer, Santa Claus, and it makes a lot of sense.

While sleeping under the stars is a beautiful idea that many people would love to do, they have something better in Sweden. Here, captured on camera, is a picture of a neighborhood in Luleå, Sweden. In this neighborhood, the sky is not filled with stars but the Northern Lights. We would be lying if we said that sleeping underneath the Northern Lights was worse than sleeping under the stars.

When people think about the Swedish, they are often not associated with their military power. However, that does not mean that anyone should mess around with them. During the time of the USSR, there was a constant worry that the Russian powers would attempt to attack and invade Sweden. To thwart any attack, the country installed armories that the public could access. These would provide weaponry and supplies to those in the area and allow for the immediate defense of Sweden.

Sweden is not the first country one thinks of when it comes to art, but after a thousand years of history, they have made a name for itself. If you have any doubts, you can look around Sweden and see some unique artistic installments. Look at this one of a pixelated Indiana Jones. The imagery is iconic of Indiana Jone’s famous moment where he switched a precious artifact for a bag of sand in “The Raiders of the Lost Ark.”

There are some pretty nifty and unique places out there that have been formed into excellent venues for concerts and other activities. Sweden is no exception to this practice of turning what is already there into something special. Take the Dalhalla venue, for example. This theater was once an old limestone quarry that, after being finished, was transformed into a massive, open-air theater. This theater even has international recognition for its outstanding acoustics.

It is not what you think. It would appear in the streets of Sweden, specifically in the town of Malmö, mice have opened a replica of the restaurant Noix De Vie. On the sidewalk, right underneath the original Noix De Vie, is a miniature version of the restaurant that appears to be geared towards a clientele of significantly smaller stature. Fortunately, for our sanity, mice aren’t doing this. Instead, it is an art piece.

Learning a new language is a beautiful thing. There are so many languages out there, and within these languages, there are unique words that one wouldn’t usually find in their native language. Take the Swedish word “Fika.” This word, translated to English, means “To Have Coffee, Cake, And Chit-Chat.” We have never had more need for a word to be incorporated into English than now. How have the British not come up with this word?

While the North Pole is not located anywhere in Sweden, the town of Kiruna is giving some North Poles vibes. The entire town is filled with colorful buildings covered with a layer of snow, and it is not hard to believe that Santa Claus might be living here during his off months. So while it might never have elves living there, and you will never be neighbors with Santa Clause, it isn’t such a bad place to live.

One of the great parts about traveling the globe is the potential to see world-famous stars. You would be surprised to discover that many movie stars and celebrities live worldwide. Take the world’s most famous cartoon Dad (and we are not talking about Peter Griffin). This cartoon family’s father is a bit more yellow. That correct! It is Homer Simpson from the all-American cartoon, The Simpsons. He is spotted here hiding in some bushes off a roadway.

Mcdonald’s is a restaurant chain that has seemingly opened up everywhere. We would not be surprised if it were discovered that a functioning Mcdonald’s was at the bottom of the ocean. Therefore, it is no surprise that they have successfully landed in Sweden. However, this particular Mcdonald’s appears to be focused on a different clientele, bees! That is right; this is a picture of a miniature Mcdonald’s with a drive-through and everything, but it also serves as a beehive.

Very often, when corporations and officials look to the public to make a decision, they create an open invitation to the internet’s trolls. This is especially true when it comes to anything conducted over the internet, such as this Swedish railway’s decision to ask the people for the name of their new train. The public voted on the name “Trainy McTrainface,” Instead of canceling the vote, the railways decided that the people had voted and officially named the train “Trainy McTrainface.”

In Sweden, the sky is not only graced with stars, beautiful sunsets, and the Northern Lights. Sweden has also had some stunning clouds. Pictured here are Nacreous Clouds, a phenomenon where clouds form at extremely high heights. The result is beautiful rainbow-colored clouds that look like the child of a packet of skittles and your standard white, fluffy clouds. The results are pretty majestic and make the skies of Sweden even more attractive.

Sweden has an artist named Manfred Kielnhofer, known for his art series known as the Guardians of Time. He believes that humanity is watched and protected by mysterious creatures or people. Based on this belief, he has built statues of the god-like beings he believes watch over us all and sometimes come down to visit. These statues can be seen all over, and here is one such exhibit of his sculptures. It is three robed figures sitting around a campfire.

Every country has some weird flex or maybe a few odd flexes. Sweden was already entering the game with a bizarre flex in the meatball department with Swedish Meatballs. However, that is not the only one. The country has some of the fastest internet speeds. The countries with the highest speeds usually have internet speeds in the 200s Mbps, but Sweden is showing speeds of nearly 700 Mbps on a remote island within the Swedish nation.

Right off the Lule River in Sweden, there is another unique hotel where people can get a room for a night. This hotel, similar to Sweden’s IceHotel, is called TreeHotel and is keeping with the theme of forests and trees. Each room that they have is unique and has a contemporary design. One looks like a glass box, another looks like a hovering spaceship, and even one is made of tree branches.

Hanging in a random pizza shop in the capital of Sweden is a pretty odd self-portrait. We have all seen these before; it usually has some stern-facing men looking down on their inferiors. This time, it isn’t some colonial white men; instead, it seems like some android overlords decked out in long coats. The background looks like they are standing on some desolate planet, looking down on Earth. What makes the painting come together is that they include their pet jaguar.

This gold medal is awarded to anyone who has worked within the government for thirty years. We hope this is not the only thing you get after three decades of service in the public sector. However, if this gold medal comes with a retirement package, then this is starting to look like a pretty sweet deal. It is nice to know that anyone can get a gold medal in Sweden, not just Olympic athletes.

Universities seek to gain new knowledge and share it with others. This is vital to anyone learning medicine, as the human body is full of undiscovered mysteries that constantly lead to new discoveries. One teaching method about the human body is doing live dissections in front of students. Let us introduce you to the University Of Uppsala’s Anatomical Theatre, where they would dissect human bodies in front of dozens of students.

Sweden is known for its beautiful landscapes and gorgeous natural preserves. However, it has also perfected the perfect town. Sweden’s old architectural practices of having brightly colored buildings are well represented in Old Town within the city of Stockholm, Sweden. However, that is not the only place. Right off Sweden’s western coastline is the town of Gullholmen which sits on a tiny island. Captured is a picture of this island and its colorful buildings with a light snowfall blanketing the city.