Travel to Stockholm

Travel to Stockholm

Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, is situated on the east coast of the country and is considered to be the most important city in Scandinavia. It is an interesting city to visit, with the wonderful Old Town complete with its narrow medieval lanes, being a great place for exploring. There are a number of impressive royal palaces, the result of Swedens Great Power Period in the 17th century. The city also has some good museums, a huge range of accommodation options and many excellent restaurants.

Transportation to Stockholm

Stockholm has excellent transport links, with four airports serving the city as well as good road, rail and ferry links. Arlanda Airport is the main international airport and is situated 25 miles north of the city. Bromma Airport is the nearest to the city (six miles), but is mainly used for domestic flights. Vasteras and Skavsta are used by low-cost carriers like Ryanair and are both about 60 miles from central Stockholm.

Swedish roads are generally well maintained and driving here is an option. Gothenburg is about a 4 to 5-hour drive and Malmo about 5 to 6 hours, with good motorways paving the way. Oslo is only 330 miles away from Stockholm and again, the roads are good, with this route taking around 5 to 6 hours.

Similarly, Sweden has an excellent rail network and there are fast trains every day running to Copenhagen, Oslo, Gothenburg, Malmo and many other destinations within Sweden. Stockholm is on the Eurolines bus route, so there are a vast number of destinations that can be reached by coach. Both Eurolines and domestic bus services depart from the City Terminal, next to the central train station. Domestic bus routes are good, but there are a limited number of services to the far north of the country.

What to see

Stockholm has plenty to occupy tourists, either for a short weekend break or an extended holiday. The heart and soul of the city is the Old Town (Gamla Stan), with its network of medieval streets, dotted with shops, restaurants and cafs. It is a lovely area to lose yourself in, popping into the odd shop and relaxing in the eateries.

Nearby the Old Town is the Royal Palace, built in the 18th century on the site of a 13th century castle, remains of which can be seen in the palace cellars. The palace is the biggest in the world still being used by a head of state and there are some stunning sights within. The changing of the guard happens three times a week and is every bit a spectacle as it is in London.

There are some good museums in Stockholm, with the Vasa Museum displaying the 17th century warship, Vasa, which sank on its first voyage, while Skansen outdoor museum is also a great day out.

Daytrips

There is plenty to see in the surrounding area, and many of the popular daytrips are by water. In the summer, there is a daily steamboat to Mariefred, which makes for an interesting and fun day out. There are a number of other attractions dotted around Lake Malaren that make for excellent daytrips.

Activities and leisure

The two most popular sports in Stockholm are football and ice hockey, and the teams from Djurgrdens in both these sports are among the best in the country. Djurgrdens ice hockey team play at the Stockholm Globe Arena, the largest spherical building in the world.

For those who want to take part in sport while they are here, there are plenty of opportunities including water sportssuch ascanoeing, kayaking and sailing. The city also has a number of good shopping areas as well as some great eateries and a lively nightlife scene.

Safety issues

Stockholm is generally a safe and non-threatening city, but there a few things that tourists should take note of. There is the possibility of pickpockets and bag-snatchers operating in busy tourist areas, and the area around the central station is best avoided late at night. As with any trip, it is important to take out a thorough travel insurance policy.