by Roy -

This article is written by Sathish K, a Software Professional and travel writer, based in Bangalore

Its been long long time since I wrote about my travel in Stockholm.

A view of Stockholm

The city Stockholm in general is not big enough that you ned to take public transport or taxi for travelling within the city. Everywhere you turn there are shops and shopping is a big industry here. After the first day where I had to get used to surroundings, I never took the tram or bus. From the place I was staying I walked about close to 7kms to visit Skansen. Skansen is a museum which has been modelled in a large space to showcase old age technique of making furniture, metal objects, glass. This also depicts the models of home in those times, windmills, bank. There also lot of scandanavian animals. Among the animals is also cows!!

A traditional dance at Skansen Open Air Museum

There are lot more musuems, one for war times, one for art. Depending on your interest you can visit museum of your choice.

Nothing comes for free, so all museums charge a entry fee.

The Gamla Stan District, Stockholm

The most popular tourist spot in Stockholm is Gama Stan. GamaStan is old town and buildings inside this section have not changed with time. There is also a German church with a bit of history. And its also pleasant to take a long walk along the river.

Of course there is no need to fear of being mugged the city is always full of life. Yes, walking down the remote areas one can feel afraid with no one around but within another 5mins you can be at the one of the cross roads and there are lot of vehicles and people.

I walked more than 20 odd kms in Stockholm and of course if you are feeling tired sit down on benches provided in public places. This is one good thing to have benches to park yourself!!

A nightclub in Stockholm

Nightlife is very much there like any other city in Europe. In nightclub’s smoking is not allowed inside and if you are smoker you need to go to the road and if its cold at night you can be shaking. Probably this is a way to discourage smoking also and its good for non-smokers inside the club. Of course there are cops everywhere and no need to fear walking in the night. But as always be careful.

Stockholm is definitely a nice city to visit and for no reasons it is called best Capital city of the world.

Sathish K

26 April 2007

Stockholm

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by Roy -

This article is written by Meenakshi Bhalla, a Businesswoman  and a travel writer, based in Mumbai, India

Old Town is the original Stockholm. It is the oldest part of Stockholm, also called GamlaStan. A place filled with stunning views, picturesque streets and historical sites. A place where you won’t tire of your camera or your abilities as a photographer.

On this island Stockholm began – and never changed. Medieval streets and buildings create an atmosphere where time stands still. Transforms and becomes almost fairy-tale like at night. All sightseeing trips of Sweden start right here in Old Town:)

This is a living museum of old Swedish life and culture that used to be. Some of the buildings have always stood where they do today, others were carefully taken down, moved to their current location in today’s Stockholm, and reconstructed exactly as they had stood in Old Town. The result is an authentic old Swedish town center.

Almost all the buildings are used, as shops, coffee houses, etc. There must be a gazillion cafes all along Sweden, but more concentrated in Old Town. Many buildings and shops are occupied by people continuing traditional Swedish crafts and occupations. We found people strolling around in old costumes, more than happy to be stopped and asked about the town and life in “the old days” – this is a place in a million! A place to fall in love with:)

We visited an old schoolhouse, just as it was shutting, but the lady insisted we come in. She then proceeded to give us a complete guided tour, explaining how people were taught, what they were taught, how in fact some of the brighter pupils then had to teach younger ones. We must have delayed her for quite some time but she didn’t mind at all.

There are a lot of unique things to see when visiting the Old Town. Set up during the 1300 century, today there are about 3000 people living in the old city. During the summer the neighborhood is invaded by tourists that wants to enjoy the special atmosphere that only Stockholm’s Old Town can provide. We were happy to be amongst this potpourri of people from all over the world at this time.

After some point we deviated from the tourist flow and walked the outlines of the medieval alleys. Sweden was a political power to be reckoned with in 1700 & 1800 century and its medieval charm today which is so cool, but back then most definitely was’nt. Inside, there still occasionally exist ancient vaults, and if you stop at Café Sten Sture in the middle of GamlaStan, like us, you can sip a yummy latte under them gorgeous facades:)

There is much to shop in Old Town, from furniture, jewelry, to browse the roads lined with artisan’s shops and cafés, be drawn into art, toys, Nautica, pottery, maps, to, printed things on souvenirs like mugs, key chains etc- clearly aimed at the tourists

We also visited a cathedral, Storkyrkan (the Big church) where crown princess Victoria married her Daniel last summer. The church was first built in medieval times, and has continuously been altered and rebuilt up to the present day. We took our time to listen to an organ concert in the majestic surroundings, admired the wooden sculpture of St George rescuing the maiden in distress, and also paid a visit to the souvenir shop with lots of “fair trade”-marked handicraft.

Statue of St George and the Dragon, Old Town, Stockholm

A tip: if you want to really experience history close on, and feel a pleasant frisson of horror at the stories of people who once lived, loved, committed crimes and possibly became ghosts to haunt castles and back streets alike – prolly you should sign up for an evening tour that offer horror stories that are guaranteed!:)

Meenakshi Bhalla

Nov 2011

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by Roy -

This article is written by Rishi Sankar, an avid traveler and writer from Trinidad

So you’re in Stockholm and you have a couple hours in between flights. To be worth getting out of the airport, I apply the following daytime rules

  • 6 hours, in any large metropolitan city in Western Europe – since there is always great rail travel with no traffic
  • 8 hours, in any large metropolitan city in Asia – since the traffic is always a killer – and there is no way to actually beat traffic
  • 4 hours, in any small Caribbean island – since the airport will be tiny, the lines will be short and the traffic will be fairly non existent (Doesn’t apply to Jamaica, Trinidad or Puerto Rico)
    • I wouldn’t even bother with a layover in Trinidad, unless it is super early in the morning and you have a really late evening flight – the traffic and taxi situation destroys any possibility rocking a layover
  • 7 hours, in any large metropolitan city in North America – the lineups at North American airports can be brutal, unless you have airline status

Once you’ve set the threshold, then you’re off on your epic layover in Stockholm … the easiest way to spend your layover time would be do the “Hop On, Hop Off Boat Sightseeing” tours. Unlike other cities where you can do this by bus, Stockholm offers the opportunity to do it by boat – which is completely more effective than using the roads as taxis are SUPER expensive!

The Hop-On Hop-Off boats are popular with cruise visitors because they offer convenient access to top attractions like:  Gamla Stan, The Royal Palace, Vasa Museum, the museums on Skeppsholmen and the open-air museum, Skansen.

How to buy tickets

The tickets are easy to buy. You can buy them online, at a ticket booth at Nybroplan or just go up to one of the jump off points and buy them in person at the boat itself. Single use tickets are available on the Hop-On Hop-off boats. The price of an adult ticket is 100 SEK, which is about US$15.88. Children between the ages of 6-11 go for half price , and children 5 and under are free.

Don’t bother with the extra fees/add-ons, like  paying an extra 20 SEK, about US$3.18 per ticket, to get some additional perks: free admission to Gröna Lund, 50% discount to the Fotografiska, 30% discount to Aquaria and 10% discount to Skansenshop – it’s a waste of money, since you won’t be able to do this on a layover.

What to see?

Since you’re only rocking a layover, you will have to pick one of the list below – I would pick either The Royal Palace or Gamla Stan – both are great for photography and both can be weather independent.

The Royal Palace

Hop-On Hop-Off boat stop closest to the Swedish Royal Family’s official residence, The Royal Armory and Royal Coin Cabinet. Watch the changing of the guards or visit the Cathedral of Stockholm.

Vasa Museum

A pretty popular attraction, however I think warships are lame … so I didn’t do it. That being said, anything from 1627 has to be cool … right?

Skeppsholmen

If you like museums, then this would be the jump off for you. At this stop, there would be the Museum of Modern Art, The Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities and the Museum of Architecture.

Djurgården

The boat stops by the Aquaria water museum, which is close to Gröna Lund, the amusement park. Walk across the street to Skansen, the open-air museum.

Gamla Stan (The Old Town)

The Hop-On Hop-Off boat dock serving Stockholm’s Old Town, Gamla Stan will deliver passengers to the historic cobblestone streets, cafes and shops.

Rishi Sankar

30 Sept 2011

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