The most popular attraction in Stockholm is the
Royal Palace, followed closely by the Wasa Museum featuring the almost 400
year old crown vessel "Wasa" (pictured above).
The royal family no longer lives at the Royal
Palace, which is located downtown, next to parliament. Instead, they moved out
to the beautiful and peaceful Drottningholms Slott, 1/2 hour drive outside of
Stockholm. Take the ferry instead or driving, it's a beautiful trip.
Other attractions? Do stroll in Old Town, and
don't be afraid to discover the side streets. Do go up in Kaknästornet if the
weather is nice (spectacular view), and do visit Skansen. As for the
rest.....it depends on what interests you. Take your pick, but regardless of
your interests, you won't be bored:
Cosmonova
- Omnimax theater at the Museum of Natural History
Culture
Center
- "Kulturhuset".
Other Swedes call this an "attraction". We call it "ugly"
Drottningholms
slott
- well worth the visit
on a nice day. Rich in cultural history. The site has all the information you
need: opening hours, guided tours, admissions fees, how to get there, etc. The
Chinese
Pavilion is also located at Drottningholm.
Fine
Arts Museum
- site in English
as well, although maybe not apparent at first. Us Swedes like this museum, it
contains works by our most treasured artists. If you are looking for a French
impressionism or Rembrandt, it has a respectable collection of that, too
Globe
- world's largest spherical building. Also, in the early 1990's, it was the
world's largest bankruptcy involving a spherical building.
Kaknäs Tower
- 155 m high communications tower, spectacular view of Stockholm from the top.
Natural
History Museum
- "Naturhistoriska
Museet". Also houses Cosmonova, the Omnimax Theater. When I was kid, all
they had was very odorous whalebones, pickled dead animals, and shedding
stuffed ones....
Nordic
Museum
- "Nordiska
Museet". Bills itself as "collective memory of the Swedish
people".
Royal
Court
- official
English-language site of the Royal Court of Sweden. Includes information about
opening hours, guided tours, admission charges etc. for both the main Royal
Palace as well as other
castles in the Greater Stockholm area. The Royal Palace houses the
Royal Armory ("Livrustkammaren").Oldest museum in Sweden,
founded in 1628.
Science
and Technology Museum
-
"Tekniska Museet". Site entirely in Swedish.....which rhymes well
with their current exhibit "Technology that speaks all languages"
Skansen
- open air museum and zoo. Although of the the top three tourist attractions
in Stockholm, their site incredibly has no information in English. You tell 'em
!
Wasa
Museum
- we end with a
"must see". People travel from all over the world the see this
museum. Even if you have no interest in maritime history, this museum is well
worth the visit. Their web-site has information in four languages. Tourists
and locals alike congregate to see the changing of the guards. Very busy in
the summer, so arrive early.
The Archipelago
For all its wonderful castles and museums,
restaurants, shops and night life, no trip to Stockholm is complete without at
least a short excursion to the archipelago. It consists of 24,000 islands,
from big to small, some inhabited, others large enough for only a smattering
of wildflowers. In the nineteenth century the archipelago became a favorite
retreat for the wealthy and famous, who began to build summer residences here.
More recently the archipelago has become an experience shared by people from
all walks of life-during the peak summer months the area's 10,000 permanent
residents are joined by weekenders and vacationers from the city, who fill the
cottages and homes of the islands and the pleasure boats that cruise the
waterways in between.
Day trips to the larger islands of the
archipelago can be made by car or bus; however, to see the islands at their
best requires a boat. There is a wide variety of scheduled and charter boats
available, most departing regularly from downtown Stockholm outside the Grand
Hotel. Some are "jazz and shrimp" evening cruises. If you love
sailing, you might consider renting your own boat; however, if you are in
Stockholm for only a short stay the best way to go is by charter boat so you
can sit back and relax while taking in the captivating beauty of the
archipelago.
Exploring the archipelago thoroughly could take
a long, pleasant lifetime- here are a few of the more enchanting ports of
call.
Fjäderholmarna
This conveniently-located little cluster of
islands is a favorite excursion for Stockholm residents, who come to meander
among its historic buildings, its small shops and restaurants, and its
bustling harbor area. Fjäderholmarna's fine aquarium is especially popular
among the island's younger visitors.
Vaxholm
For many, the island of Vaxholm typifies the
attractions of Archipelago life, from the intimate scale of the harbor town to
the striking natural beauty of the island itself. Vaxholm island is situated
astride what used to be the primary waterway from the Baltic to Stockholm, and
so its exceptionally picturesque harbor is graced by a brooding 16th century
fortress. Now a museum, the fortress houses exhibits chronicling the history
of life in the Archipelago as well as displaying an extensive collection of
weaponry, maps, and other materials related to its own colorful history.
Birka
Set on the verdant island of Björkö, Birka is
a town with a fascinating historical and archaeological heritage. It was
Sweden's first sizable community, having established substantial trading links
with Europe more than 1,200 years ago. Today Birka is a UNESCO World Heritage
site, and its past has been brought alive in the recently-opened Viking
Museum, which offers visitors a glimpse into everyday living conditions in
Birka more than a millenium ago.
Sandhamn
This diminutive community, with a year-round
population of less than 150, is best known as the host of one of Sweden's
biggest sailing events-the Round Gotland Race. Sandhamn's skyline (if a
village can be said to have a skyline) is dominated by the signal tower of the
Royal Sailing Club (KSSS), which occupies an 18th-century custom-house. Around
the KSSS are the town's tiny, closely-built houses, shops, and restaurants.
