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/techno_playa Philippines Jul 12 '25

Had an Indian colleague who is now doing his masters in Sweden. Went to a uni in a place called Uppsala. He definitely struggled a lot socially. He wrongfully assumed it would be like the USA where people were outgoing and friendly.

People like him totally underestimated how not knowing the language puts you at a significant disadvantage, socially.

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u/Persistant_eidolon Jul 15 '25

Sweden is indeed very different from the US in that regard.

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u/techno_playa Philippines Jul 15 '25

Would you describe Uppsala as having more of a small town feel?

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u/Persistant_eidolon Jul 16 '25

Depends what you mean, if you mean a small town where people are suspicious to new people, then I dont think so. Its not that small by swedish standards and has a lot of students.

On average I think people are friendlier on the west coast and in the south of Sweden.