Visit Scandinavia

Thursday – walk through Gamla Stan and visit the Royal Place

Start out in Stockholm by taking a walk through the charming Gamla Stan (“The Old Town”) where Stockholm was founded in 1252. Today it is one of the largest and best preserved city centres anywhere in Europe. It is home to many attractions such as the Nobel Museum (Nobelmuseet) and striking building such as the Royal Palace, the official residence of His Majesty the King of Sweden. With many cafés, shops and restaurants you can easily spend an entire day in this beautiful old town.

Friday – Visit Skeppsholmen to see amazing art and culture and take the Millennium Tour

Skeppsholmen is another centrally located island and is rich in art and culture. It is home to Moderna museet, one of the world’s foremost museums for 20th century art. On show is art by painters such as Marcel Duchamp, Pablo Picasso, Robert Rauschenberg and Georges Braque. Outside the museum you will see modern sculptures and nearby is the Architecture Museum and the church of Skepholmen, inspired by Pantheon in Rome.

When walking around this fantastic area, follow the path and join the Millennium Tour of world famous author Stieg Larsson. His books, including “The girl with the dragon tattoo” and “The girl who played with fire” have sold around 8 million copies and recently been made into blockbuster films. Take the Millennium Tour, a 90-minute walking tour in English run by the Stockholm Museum, and get to know more about these bestsellers and their author.

Saturday – Discover Stockholm’s magical archipelago

The archipelago is properly Stockholm’s best kept secret. Only two hours by car or boat, it is a maritime world of more than 30,000 islands, islets and skerries, and a must when staying in Stockholm. There are many boat trips and taxi ferries which are easy to join and a true paradise for the eye in the summer or on a cold winter day. Don’t miss out on this amazing experience.

Sunday – Visit Skansen and get a taste of yesteryear Sweden, then visit the City Hall

Want to find out what life in Sweden was like 400 years ago? Then Skansen, the world’s oldest open-air museum, is the place to visit. You will get a historical miniature version of Sweden, reflected both in the buildings and their surroundings, illustrating how people lived in Sweden between the 16th century and the first half of the 20th century. Skansen also has a zoo with more than 60 different animals, mostly Nordic wild animals such as the brown bear, wolverine, seal, lynx and elks.

If there is time left, a visit to the City Hall would be a great way to end the weekend. The City Hall is one of the country’s leading examples of national romantic architecture. From here Stockholm is governed and around 200 politicians and officials work here. The City Hall, built from eight million bricks, has 106 metre tower and has the three crowns, the Swedish national coat of arms. It is possible to climb inside the tower and get a fantastic view over Stockholm and perhaps recognise some of the sites you have visited over the weekend.