Experience in Linköping, Sweden by Karolina

What is it like to live in Linköping? Would you recommend it? What is the city like?

I can definitely recommend Linkoping. It's full of international students. There is no problem with the communication because everybody can speak English. There are several places to do sports, unfortunately you have to pay for all of them, and it's not cheap.

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What is the student lifestyle like in Linköping?

People there love to meet and have fun together. There are a lot of student events organised mostly by ESN (like the Sea Battle, a 2/3 days cruise to Tallinn).

How much does it cost to live in Linköping?

Depending on how much one spends for pleasures like alcohol and parties the cost of living may vary between 1500-2500 SEK per month. I am not talking about the cost of renting a room or a flat. This depends on the conditions that one wants to have.

Is it difficult to find accommodation in Linköping? Is there any advice you can give?

It's not that easy. A corridor room's is an approximately 16-18sqm room with a bathroom. It is placed in a corridor of 6-10 similar rooms with a shared common room and a kitchen. The cost of this one is around 2100-2500 SEK. Unfortunately it requires an account on one of the services which are created by the companies who own the student campuses.

But, if you're lucky and you look for it long enough, you can rent an entire flat. The flat that I have found was 15 minutes by bike from the university. It was 72sqm, with two bedrooms, kitchen, common room and a bathroom. The cost was 6600SEK plus charges for the electricity (around 300SEK a month) and internet. Water was included in the rent. There are also some who rent a whole house. If you're a bigger group, this may be a good idea. A house that my friends had was with 5 rooms, huge living room, enormous kitchen and two bathrooms (downstairs and upstairs). Cost: 15000SEK plus charges.

Additional advice: the accommodation is almost always not furnished. But there are second hand shops which may come with a help, same as a special internet website for the students on which you can put your buy/sell offer and find very interesting stuff.

What is the food like? What are your favourite dishes?

I was cooking myself and didn't really try a lot of Swedish food. But the most common 'fika', a coffee break, and it's one thing that I will certainly miss. Especially because of my favourite kanelbulle, un rollo de canela.

What places would you recommend visiting in Linköping?

Go for a tour around the city which is organised by the university. They will show you all the interesting places, and the city is not that big.

Is it good to eat out in Linköping? Can you tell us your favourite spots?

Too expensive for my shallow wallet.

Is the nightlife good in Linköping? Where is good to go?

There are several places really worth to take a look into. My favourite one was a bar 'Flamman', on Thursdays. You can get in for 20 SEK and listen to live jazz music. The atmosphere is truly unique. A glass of wine or a pint of Cider only improves the impression.