Make Scandinavia your first stop in Europe - 10 must do activities in Stockholm, Sweden
August 18, 2009
The strengthening Australian dollar is now performing around 20 per cent better against the Scandinavian currencies than this time last year and with hot, business and economy class deals from Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), this is the ideal time to make Scandinavia the first stop on your European tour. With so much to see and do, you’ll want to start your Scandinavian adventure in Stockholm.
Whether you’re into nature, history, shopping, art or beaches, Sweden's capital Stockholm has it all. Here are the 10 best attractions for Stockholm visitors, so be sure to put them all on your Stockholm ‘to do’ list!
1. Walk around Stockholm’s Djurgården Island
Djurgården is an island in central Stockholm with museums, galleries, historical monuments and buildings and much more. The island is renowned for its beautiful green spaces, parks and events. A wonderful way to explore this unique island is on the two hour Djurgarden walking tour which takes you across the island.
With over 10 million visitors a year, the island is a hugely popular spot for tourists as well as locals.
2. Södermalm – trendy, charming and unique
In trendy Södermalm, you’ll find a multitude of unusual, interesting and contemporary boutiques carrying fashion, design, interior décor, vintage merchandise and curios. The selection in Södermalm is more bohemian than that offered downtown. Explore Södermalm’s distinctive streets and find a wealth of unique and top-class vintage merchandise!
3. The iconic City Hall
Topped with three golden crowns sitting on a spire, it is easy to see why the City Hall is considered an icon of the city. It is made of eight million bricks, stands at 106 metres tall and is a true example of national romanticism in architecture. The hall is used for the great Nobel banquet, and afterwards Nobel Prize recipients, royalty and guests dance in the Golden Hall, which known for its 18 million gold mosaic tiles. Take a guided tour and don’t forget to climb the tower for breathtaking views of the city!
4. Exploring the Archipalego
Sitting as it does on a unique archipelago, a visit to Stockholm is not complete without exploring the city’s waterways, beaches and 30, 000 islands. There are plenty of boat tours to choose from, depending on what you are after. Try a royal, historical, morning or even express tour. There are also hop-on hop-off options which can be combined with open top bus tours. Then be sure to hop off at one of the city’s beaches. Summer favourites include Långholmsbadet and Smedsuddsbadet.
5. The world's oldest open-air museum
Take a journey into the 18th and 19th centuries at Skansen, the world's oldest open-air museum and a living replica of historical Sweden. Over time more than 150 buildings have been relocated to Skansen from all over the country. You can meet people in period costume, visit the pharmacy, shoemaker, silversmith and ironmonger house, and try some of the delicious treats from the traditional bakery! Skansen also has an open-air zoo, which contains a wide range of Scandinavia’s animals including the moose, grey seal, red fox, reindeer, bison and brown bear.
6. Ice Skating at Kungsträdgården
If you're visiting Stockholm in winter, don’t miss out on ice skating at Kungsträdgården Park. Ice skating is a very popular winter activity in Scandinavia and the rink at Kungsträdgården Park is a favourite for locals and visitors alike. The park is located in the heart of Stockholm and surrounded by many cafes, which makes it one of the most popular spots in the capital.
7. The Vasa Museum
The Vasa Museum displays the world’s only, almost fully intact 17th century ship, one of the seven wonders of Sweden! The highly-decorated, 64-gun warship Vasa sank in 1628 during its maiden voyage. Three centuries later is was discovered and salvaged. Visitors can see the ship from six levels and so far more than 25 million people have visited it.
8. A royal sneak peak of Drottningholm Palace
As the most well-preserved castle built in the 1600s in Sweden, Drottningholm Palace is deservedly on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Inspired by the Palace of Versailles, it also boasts a Chinese Pavilion, stunning gardens and a perfectly preserved theatre, built in 1766.
The south wing is reserved for the Swedish Royal Family, but the rest of the palace and the grounds are open to the public.
The palace can be reached by public transport, car or even bicycle, but for something extra special, take a leisurely boat ride there along Lake Mälaren.
9. Gamla stan
Gamla stan, one of the largest and best preserved medieval city centres in Europe, is among the foremost attractions in Stockholm. The cobbled streets, archaic architecture and medieval alleyways take you back to 1252 when Gamla stan was founded. The restaurant Den gyldene freden on Österlånggatan has been in business since 1722 and, according to Guinness Book of Records, the restaurant is the world’s oldest existing restaurant with an unaltered interior!
10. Changing of the Guard
Watching the changing of the Guard at The Royal Palace is a fantastic experience and best of all it's free! The Royal Guard is carried out by units of the Swedish Armed Forces and consists of around 30,000 guards. Since 1523the Royal Guard has continuously guarded the Royal Palace in Stockholm. This 40-minute event attracts large numbers of tourists every summer.
Whilst there, why not check out the palace and its five museums as well!
What next?
So now you’ve done the best of what Stockholm has to offer and it’s off to your next stop – Oslo Norway. Stay tuned for our top ten Oslo attractions soon...
Getting there
To help you get to Stockholm, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) is offering a ‘great bargain sale’ for business and economy fares to over 40 European cities. Offer ends 31 August 2009.
For more information visit http://www.flysas.com.au/ or call 1300 727 707. For information on Scandinavia go to http://www.visitscandinavia.com.au/
-ENDS-
The Scandinavian Tourist Board (STB) is a joint initiative of the national tourist boards of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. STB and Principal Partner, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), co-operate in Australia, to promote travel to Scandinavia. Carpe Diem PR & Events is the representative of STB in Australia.
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