5 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Moved to Helsingborg

Before finding myself in Helsingborg, I couldn’t have pointed it out on a map if you asked. But life has a strange way of leading us to unexpected places. Now, seven years later, here are a few things I look back on and wish I’d known beforehand.

Originally from India, Parul Ghosh has been living in Helsingborg/Sweden since 2017. She has worked extensively in disability rights and policy in the Global South. She now works as a Project Manager at Contentor AB. In her free time, she runs This is Hbg, a recommendation platform for international residents in Helsingborg and collaborates with various local community initiatives in the city.

Are you planning on moving to Helsingborg anytime soon? Here are Parul’s top 6 pieces of advice for you!

1. Patience is key – Whether it’s finding friends, looking for a job, or even getting your personnummer, patience is everything. Embrace the slow life and remember to take things one day at a time.

2. Adapting to change – When it was time to move here, I was ready to embrace change head-on. But I didn’t realize how over the years I internalized some local quirks and behaviors which were not very typical of me. I don’t even remember when I became the person who chooses to stand in the bus instead of sitting on an “empty” seat next to someone.

3. Layers, Layers, Layers: There’s a Nordic saying, and while each country might lay claim to it, its wisdom remains universal: ”There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.” Take this seriously. Invest in quality outerwear and master the art of layering. The weather here can change faster than you can learn to say ”sjuksköterska.”

4. Mind the silence – With time, I’ve learned that silence isn’t really awkward in Sweden. People just don’t feel the need to fill in every conversation with chatter. I’m still learning this and being patient with the silence.

5. You’ll fall in love with Nature all over again – I love how Helsingborg strikes the perfect balance in size—not too big, not too small, just right. What’s more, it’s surrounded by nature, from the sea to my favorite place in the city – Pålsjö. Even after seven years, I still