According to Best-medical-schools, Stockholm – the capital of Sweden, surprisingly picturesque “northern beauty” city. Like any European capital, in addition to many attractions and worthy museums, it boasts an abundance of cafes with amazingly delicious dishes, Swedish designer shops, as well as a variety of hotels and a rich nightlife.
The city arose more than 700 years ago; today it is spread over 14 islands in the cold Baltic Sea, connected by 57 bridges. But despite this, almost all the main attractions here can be easily reached on foot.
The tourist information office, where they can help you book a hotel room, tell you the opening hours of all museums, as well as provide city maps and other information, is located at Vasagatan, 14 – opposite the Central Station, the bus terminal and the T-Centralen metro.
Districts of Stockholm
The city is built on 14 islands, on the one hand it is washed by Lake Mälaren, on the other – by the Baltic Sea. The so-called “Stockholm archipelago” includes more than 24 thousand islands, islets and just rocks.
In the very center are Gamla Stan (Old Town) and Riddarholmen (Knight’s Island), two of the largest and best preserved medieval centers in Northern Europe, founded in the 13th century.
Traveling around Stockholm, you just need to visit the noisy City, the unbridled fun area Stureplan or the chic Östermalm.
Traveling around Stockholm, you can’t help but visit the noisy City, the unbridled fun area Stureplan or the chic Östermalm. This is where most of the major department stores, boutiques, showrooms, restaurants, nightclubs and galleries are located. The southern district of Södermalm, next to Jotgatan Street, and SoFo (SoFo – South of Folkungagatan – south of Folkungagatan Street), will appeal to lovers of the original: there are shops of young Swedish and bold designers, bohemian design and interior boutiques, youth bars and Cafe.
Stockholm Hotels
The general level of prices for accommodation in Stockholm is quite high. However, the choice of hotels and inns is very large, so finding the most acceptable one is not so difficult. Those who want to save money should pay attention to hostels that are popular throughout Europe. The most budget options are in Södermalm and Vasastan – from 160 SEK per bed in a dormitory room. In the Gamla Stan area, you will have to pay more than 200 SEK for it.
Many hotels in Stockholm include breakfast. However, in hostels and a few other hotels, it must be paid separately.
There are many two- and three-star hotels in the city with good service and high prices, which start from 450 SEK for a double room. It will cost a little less in floating hotels equipped on board former ships. The most expensive luxury hotels are concentrated in the historical center of the city and its environs, including the Redisson and Hilton chains. The cost of one night in them can reach up to 2300 SEK.
Communication and Wi-Fi
Mobile communication in Stockholm works well, of course, because it was in Sweden that it first became widespread. The expediency of buying a local SIM card depends on the duration of the trip and how much you plan to talk on the phone. Arriving for a couple of days, it is quite possible to limit yourself to a favorable tariff for roaming from Russian operators.
If you are going to stay here for a week, it is best to buy a package with a prepaid rate. There are 3 main cellular companies operating in Stockholm – Telenor, Telia and Tele 2. The cost of a minute of conversation with Russia differs slightly (2-12 SEK), the package itself will cost 60 SEK.
There should be no problems with buying a SIM card – they are sold at the railway station, airport and numerous kiosks.
You can connect to Wi-Fi free of charge in almost any area of the city. Access points can be found at the airport and train station, ports, many hotels, cafes and restaurants. There are no street zones in the city, but there are several chains of coffee houses near which you can go online, sitting comfortably on the nearest bench.
Stockholm Pass season ticket
The Stockholm Pass, a special tourist card, entitles you to free admission to 60 museums in Stockholm and its suburbs, as well as to various cultural events. Some of the expositions can be viewed with a 20% discount. Hop-on hop-of bus tours and ferry trips around the islands of the archipelago are free for cardholders. Upon purchase, a city guide is issued with maps and information in several languages.
Unlike the Stockholm Card, which ceased to be valid on 01.01.2016, the new tourist card does not entitle you to free travel on public transport and free parking in the central part of the city. However, you can save up to 1000 SEK only on entrance tickets to museums.
You can buy a Stockholm Pass at any tourist office in Stockholm or online on the official website. The card is valid for 24 hours (595 SEK), 2 days (795 SEK), 3 days (995 SEK) or 5 days (1295 SEK). Children’s card will cost 2 times cheaper. The validity period starts from the moment of its activation in the museum.
- Does the Stockholm Pass work as a travel card?
The beaches of Stockholm
Stockholm boasts many places worthy of relaxation and a fun picnic. For example, the central city park area, which is connected by bridges to the Old Town (Gamla Stan) and the Södermalm district, and Lake Mälaren (clean enough to not only swim, but even fish in it). Another popular destination is Longholmen Island, where the locals like to spend their weekends.
If you walk east along the Strandvägen embankment, you can get to the Östermalm area, and from there to the island of Djurgården. There are good beaches, beautiful nature, plant and flower nurseries, and a wonderful bird sanctuary at Djurgardskanalen.
You can take a walk to the Kungsholmen area, which is in the western part of Stockholm. there, along the Norrmalarstrand promenade, there is an excellent bike path and a path that winds from the city hall (Stadshuset) to the beaches and meadows of Rolambshowsparken. And in the northern part of its guests waiting for the ancient park “Hagaparken” with a magnificent landscape, lakes and ponds. And for a snack, here are five of the best places for swimming in Stockholm.
Shopping
Although Stockholm is considered one of the most expensive cities in Europe, thousands of shopaholics from all over the world come here every year. If you set a goal, you can find high-quality and inexpensive things here. Prices for clothes, shoes and accessories of well-known Swedish brands (H&M, Ache, Indiska, KappAhi, etc.) and household goods (Designtorget) in Stockholm are significantly lower than in Moscow. Democratic shops are worth looking for in the Södermalm and City areas.
On the days of winter (from late December to mid-February) and summer (from mid-July to late August) sales, prices for non-seasonal goods fall by 30-70%. At other times, for budget shopping, you should go to Outlet I Barkarby.
Those who are used to leaving a tidy sum in stores also have something to profit from. The most expensive boutiques are in the Östermalm area, on Birger Jarlsgatan and a few other streets. Among them are the famous brands Gucci, Hugo Boss, Louis Vuitton, as well as the Swedish brands Anna Holtblad, Filippa K and others.
In the same area is the oldest food market in the city. On the shelves you can find excellent cheeses, sausages, seafood, fruits and vegetables, but they cost a lot. If you want to save money, it is better to go to the supermarket. There are also several flea markets in Stockholm. The most famous are Ostermalmshallen and Loppmarknaden on Bottenvaningen and Skarholmen streets. They work only on weekends, you will have to pay from 16 to 25 SEK for entry.
Souvenir shops and shops in the city are full. T-shirts and mugs with deer and other Swedish symbols, as well as household utensils and knick-knacks, can be found in large quantities on the pedestrian street Drottninggatan. However, for truly original souvenirs, it is still better to go to the flea market, where a huge assortment of Swedish glass, knitted clothes and accessories with national patterns, as well as dishes, deer gloves and ceramics are presented. Read more here: shopping in Stockholm.
Do not forget about the Tax free system (look for a sticker with a logo on the doors or in the checkout area), which will allow you to return 15-18% of the cost of goods. It applies to purchases over 2000 SEK.
What to try
Acquaintance with a foreign culture and mentality cannot be imagined without tasting local dishes. This fully applies to the Scandinavian peoples, whose cuisine has its own characteristics due to its geographical location.
In the menu of Stockholm restaurants and in the daily diet of the Swedes, fish is always present. They love it here and know how to cook it, and in ways that are quite unusual for a Russian person. Herring, herring, salmon and cod are stewed, marinated, fried and served with a variety of sauces. The most interesting are gravlax (marinated salmon) and lutefisk (dried salmon or pollock soaked in alkali).
Of meat dishes, you should definitely try venison delicacies. Of course, pork and beef are also cooked well in Stockholm, but you will hardly find such a variety of dishes from the meat of this noble animal anywhere outside of Scandinavia. Venison, like fish, is often served with lingonberry or cranberry sauce.
Cafes and restaurants in Stockholm
Holidays in Stockholm, as in other parts of Scandinavia, cannot be called budgetary. Prices for accommodation, excursions, entertainment and dining in restaurants are quite high even in comparison with other European cities. Those who want to save on food will have to work very hard to find a really inexpensive cafe, and you will have to forget about restaurants altogether.
One of the few options for a budget lunch or snack is fast food. But even in Stockholm McDonald’s, the average check is 2 times higher than in Moscow.
Another way to save money on lunches is dagens lunch (“dish of the day”). Similar offers, reminiscent of our usual business lunches, are available in almost all institutions of the city. To use it, you need to come to the cafe at a certain time, usually from 11:00 to 14:00. A hot dish, salad, bread and a drink will cost only 65-120 SEK, which is very cheap by local standards.
Those who are used to relaxing in a big way and do not plan to save on food should pay attention to one of the restaurants with national Swedish cuisine in Gamla Stan. There you can taste fresh fish and venison dishes prepared according to local recipes. It will be very tasty, but expensive, the cost of dinner can reach up to 1000 SEK per person.
In addition to restaurants with local cuisine, the city also has Thai, Indian, Italian and Turkish restaurants. Lunch in a middle-class establishment will cost 300-600 SEK. Delicious coffee with the famous Swedish pancakes or sandwiches in one of the chain coffee shops will cost 80-100 SEK.
Stockholm for children
Stockholm seems to be made for families – high chairs and menus in restaurants, family rooms in many hotels, the magical atmosphere of the narrow streets of the old city and, of course, many excursions and activities for children of all ages.
Arriving in Stockholm with a child, first of all go to Carlson’s house. This small metal building stands on the roof of a residential building at Vulkanusgatan, 12. It is not so easy to find it on the map, it is worth navigating to the St. Eriksplan metro station. Excursions or any other interesting events are not held here, but it is definitely worth seeing the home of your favorite fairy-tale hero with your own eyes. In addition, Astrid Lindgren herself once lived here, giving the world many wonderful characters.
Carlson is not as popular in Sweden as outside of it, so finding his house is not easy. On st. Vulcanusgatan is better to enter from the street. Atlasgatan.
You can meet the almost real “Man in the Prime of Life”, as well as Pippi Longstocking and other Lindgren characters at the Unibakken fairy tale museum. It is located on the museum island of Djurgården, so it is easy to combine a visit there with a visit to other interesting sights. This unusual museum brings to life the pages of Astrid Lindgren’s fairy tales, the most interesting of which guests travel on the Fairy Train. Fabulous performances take place on the big stage almost every day.
Another interesting museum where you can easily spend the whole day is located in the suburbs of Södertalje. It will take about an hour to get from the center, but it’s worth it. The museum ” Tom Tit Experiment ” contains the most unusual and funny physical experiments. The exposition is interactive – all exhibits can and should be touched, turned on and tested in action.
Most of the exciting and sometimes even extreme attractions are in the oldest Swedish amusement park Gröna Lund. It is located on the island of Djurgården, not far from the famous museum of one ship “Vasa”. The most interesting attractions are the Ferris wheel, roller coaster, fun room, “Broom” (based on the books about Harry Potter), “Eclipse” and the Viking ship.
Weather
Stockholm is a northern city, however, due to its geographical location, the local climate can be classified as a temperate maritime one. There are no severe frosts or extreme heat in the city. Winter in the Swedish capital is snowy and relatively warm. Discomfort is delivered only by high humidity and a piercing cold wind. However, during the Christmas period the city is especially charming.
The most comfortable time for long walks around the city is from late May to early September. These days the weather here is dry, sunny and warm, and at the end of summer you can see white nights. The most unfortunate period for a trip to Stockholm is autumn. From October to the end of November, it is dank and damp in the narrow streets, prolonged drizzling rains are not uncommon.
