Some joke that the best way to piss off a neighbour in Sweden is to try to start a conversation. But streets and blocks of apartments in Sweden can actually be quite friendly places. Here's how to make it work.

1. Take your time and be patient

Swedes can initially be reluctant to form close friendships with neighbours – out of fear, perhaps, that if the friendship sours, it will be socially awkward to have to keep meeting the neighbour every day in the stairwell afterwards.

Also, as there are practically no stay-at-home parents in Sweden and even toddlers are in daycare, most buildings and streets are empty during the day.

This means that the relationships you have, while sometimes friendly, will tend to be limited to short chats in common areas, as you rush in and out to work or on the school run.

When you move somewhere new, start by just by saying hej as you pass neighbours in the stairwell. If a neighbour then asks you if you've just moved in, reply politely to their questions, telling them where you're from and what you're doing, but without oversharing or getting too personal.

You can ask a few questions in return.