The 14 main islands that make up the central city of Stockholm are connected to each other by a massive network of over 50 bridges so you can easily walk, bike, drive, or take public transit across the water without ever needing to board a boat to get between the main neighbourhoods.
The Gamia Stan – the Old Town – is the historic heart of the city. It features colourful buildings, narrow cobblestone streets, and charming medieval architecture – not unlike many Old Towns we’ve visited in Europe. It includes the Royal Palace – the official home of the Swedish King. You can tour the grand rooms, view the glittering crown jewels, and watch the official Changing of the Guards ceremony outside. However it was a dreary day when we visited with a significant part under cover for renovations. The Nobel Prize Museum was not open when we visited so unfortunately we missed going inside.
The absolute highlight and must-see attraction though was the Vasa Museum – it is the most popular most highly rated museum in Scandinavia. The Vasa, is a massive 64-cannon royal warship that sank on its very first voyage in 1628. Because the Baltic Sea lacks wood-eating worms, it sat perfectly preserved in the mud for 333 years before being raised nearly fully intact. 98% of the ship on display still has the original wood. The museum building has Six Viewing Levels and was specially built right around the ship. The galleries allow you to stare directly at the intricate wooden carvings from every imaginable angle. The exhibits brilliantly tell the dramatic, slightly funny story of how the King of Sweden forced builders to make the ship too tall and narrow. It was so top-heavy that a tiny gust of wind knocked it over just 20 minutes into its maiden voyage. It’s an incredible story of how the ship was discovered and raised.
Apart from the vast array of museums Sweden is famously known for Abba who completely transformed Sweden into a global music powerhouse. There is ‘ABBA The Museum’ (unfortunately we didn’t get to see) which ranks as one of the most visited, highly rated attractions in all of Stockholm. Likewise, IKEA – has characterised Sweden in a massive way, essentially acting as the country’s ultimate global ambassador for design, lifestyle, and culture. Geoffrey had the obligatory Swedish meatballs. Fun fact – today, IKEA sells more than one billion meatballs every year, making it the most famous and widely eaten Swedish dish on Earth.
I also recommend reading Geoffrey’s blog on the Stockholm Marathon which he ran during out visit.
Please contact me if you are interested in knowing more about this destination.
The Vasa