Most people can name Sweden’s biggest city. Maybe the top 3. But all 10, in order, placed on a map? That’s the challenge.
This guide uses visual emoji anchors and a mnemonic phrase to lock all 10 into your memory. By the end, you’ll know every one.
The Mnemonic
One sentence to remember the order - each word starts with the same letter as each city:
SevenGoodMenUsuallyLaughVeryOftenHavingNewJokes
👑 Seven = Stockholm🎢 Good = Gothenburg🌉 Men = Malmö🎓 Usually = Uppsala✈️ Laugh = Linköping⚓ Very = Västerås🏰 Often = Örebro⛴️ Having = Helsingborg🧵 New = Norrköping🔥 Jokes = Jönköping
Say it once. Now let’s meet each city and place them on the map.
1. 👑 Stockholm
👑
#1 Stockholm 975,000 pop.
Built on 14 islands, known as "Venice of the North"
The capital wears the crown 👑 - Sweden's royal seat since 1523
“Seven…” - remember, Seven starts with S, just like Stockholm.
2. 🎢 Gothenburg
🎢
#2 Gothenburg 583,000 pop.
Home to Liseberg, Scandinavia's largest amusement park
The rollercoaster 🎢 - Liseberg draws millions of visitors each year
”…Seven Good…” - G for Gothenburg.
3. 🌉 Malmö
🌉
#3 Malmö 347,000 pop.
Connected to Copenhagen by the Øresund Bridge
The bridge 🌉 - the iconic link that connects Sweden to Denmark
”…Good Men…” - M for Malmö.
4. 🎓 Uppsala
🎓
#4 Uppsala 177,000 pop.
Home to Scandinavia's oldest university (founded 1477)
The graduation cap 🎓 - a university city through and through
”…Men Usually…” - U for Uppsala.
5. ✈️ Linköping
✈️
#5 Linköping 164,000 pop.
Sweden's aviation capital - home to Saab aircraft
The airplane ✈️ - Saab's fighter jets are designed and tested here
”…Usually Laugh…” - L for Linköping.
6. ⚓ Västerås
⚓
#6 Västerås 154,000 pop.
One of Sweden's oldest cities, founded by Vikings
The anchor ⚓ - a historic port city on Lake Mälaren
”…Laugh Very…” - V for Västerås.
7. 🏰 Örebro
🏰
#7 Örebro 153,000 pop.
Famous for its medieval castle on a small island
The castle 🏰 - Örebro Castle sits on an island in the river
”…Very Often…” - O for Örebro.
8. ⛴️ Helsingborg
⛴️
#8 Helsingborg 149,000 pop.
Just 4 km from Denmark across the strait
The ferry ⛴️ - ferries cross to Denmark every 20 minutes
”…Often Having…” - H for Helsingborg.
9. 🧵 Norrköping
🧵
#9 Norrköping 141,000 pop.
Known as "Sweden's Manchester" for its textile history
The thread 🧵 - once the heart of Swedish textile manufacturing
”…Having New…” - N for Norrköping.
10. 🔥 Jönköping
🔥
#10 Jönköping 140,000 pop.
The matchstick capital - safety matches were invented here
The flame 🔥 - the safety match was born here in 1844
”…New Jokes…” - J for Jönköping.
The Complete Map
Seven Good Men Usually Laugh, Very Often Having New Jokes
👑 Stockholm → 🎢 Gothenburg → 🌉 Malmö → 🎓 Uppsala → ✈️ Linköping → ⚓ Västerås → 🏰 Örebro → ⛴️ Helsingborg → 🧵 Norrköping → 🔥 Jönköping
Now Test Yourself
Think you’ve got it? The interactive game tests you step by step - place each city on the map in the right order.