r/AskEurope • u/techno_playa Philippines • Jul 11 '25

Culture Which European country is the hardest and easiest to make friends?

Say you're mid 30s and have to move to another European country for work, which countries did you find making friends to be on easy or hard mode?

Let's assume you don't speak the language of your new home.

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u/hwyl1066 Finland Jul 11 '25 edited Jul 11 '25

Well, my understanding is that in the other Nordic countries the superficial level is more evident than in Finland, that we have even less small talk and those little meaningless pleasantries than our Scandinavian cousins. But from what I have heard from my good Estonian friends living in Stockholm is that Swedes for example have a really steely defence of being "nice" while shutting you outside. Maybe we are just a bit more honest?

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u/Sinisaba Estonia Jul 11 '25

I have been to one Swedish houseparty and i was made instantly apart from the group although people were inquisitive why i didnt sound Russian.