Introduction
Stockholm was the last stop of my 2004 Nordic trip. I wasn't sure
what to expect on my visit to Stockholm, but the things that came
to mind were flash-backs of Abba (from my childhood) and Gamla Stan
(the old town).
Stockholm
09-Jun-2004: We arrived in Stockholm by train from Oslo, Norway.
Most of the Nordic countries did feel and look very similar. Stockholm
seemed very casual and laid back for a capital city, but had plenty of
activity at the same time.
We stayed at the Nordic Sea Hotel and whilst I
don't really mention too many hotels, this one is somewhat unique. The
hotel has the world's first permanent ice bar (Absolut
Icebar Stockholm), that is a fully operational bar made from ice,
held at -5°C. All the fixtures (art work, glasses, chairs etc.) are
made from ice. Check out the photo section.
A great way to get an overall feel for Stockholm is to take the "Under the Bridges of
Stockholm" river cruise. You will travel from the Baltic Sea,
through various locks to, Lake Mälaren and see the city of
Stockholm from a very different perspective. Well worth doing.
Another spectacular viewing point of Stockholm is the viewing deck
at Stockholm City Hall. You need to climb to the top, but the views of
Stockholm and Gamla Stan are breath-taking and well worth the climb
(see the photos).
Gamla Stan : the Old Town
Clearly, the main attraction in Stockholm is Gamla Stan (the old
town) and this is where all the tourists will head towards. Gamla Stan
is a short walk from downtown Stockholm and is rich with history,
culture and architecture. You should look at spending one day
wandering around the streets of Gamla Stan and make sure you check out
the following:
- Kungliga
Slottet (Royal Palace)
Tours through the Palace sell out early, so get to the ticket office
for the first tour. This is well worth a visit.
- Changing
of the Guards
The Swedish Armed Forces protect the Royal Family and the palaces
throughout Sweden. The Changing of the Royal Guards ceremony consist of
marching bands, guards and soldiers, carefully executing choreographed
moves which is a spectacular site not to be missed. You'll need to get
there early to secure a good position as it gets very crowded.
- Storkyrkan (Royal Cathedral)
- Restaurants: there are various cafes and restaurants
in the Gamla Stan area, so take the time to really soak up the
atmosphere.
Drottningholm
Drottningholm
is the home of the Royal Family and the Palace is open to the public on
a daily basis for guided tours around the palace and grounds.
The easiest way to get to Drottningholm is to travel by boat from
Stockholm. The local information center can provide details of boat
timetables and palace hours.
The main attractions are:
- The Palace : as this is a working palace and home to the Royal
Family, is is best to ensure the palace is open for visitors on the day
you plan to visit.
- Gardens: the gardens separate the Palace from the other
buildings ad you'll need to walk through the garden to access the other
areas
- Chinese Pavilion : this was a gift to Queen Lovisa Ulrika. It has
a strong Chinese influence and is certainly worth a visit. The Queen
would use this Pavilion as a get-a-way from the palace to relax.
- Guards Tent : home of the Royal Guards
Other Web links
- Visit
Sweden - official website for tourism and travel information
- Arlanda
Express - express train service from Stockholm to the airport
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