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The information of Traveling Around The World and special Holidays in Sweden.

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Showing posts with label tourist information. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tourist information. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Stockholm Central Train Station

Main entrance from the street Vasagatan.
Chances are, when visiting Stockholm, that at some point during your trip you will visit the Stockholm Central Station or at least one of the adjacent complexes... either the City Terminal bus station or the T-Centralen subway station. All three, located in the downtown area, are connected via escalators/stairs and together are the hub for all transportation within the greater Stockholm region and beyond. Because of this, and the fact that they just completed a massive, multiple-year long renovation of the train station, I thought that it deserved a blog article!
Main hall - street level.
At the Central Train Station you have regular trains connecting Stockholm with the rest of Sweden as well as with Oslo and Copenhagen (on to the continent). The high speed trains, X2000 & X3000, connecting the city with Göteborg (3 hours) and Malmö (4½ hours) are especially popular. The trains, for the most part, are run by the company SJ (Statens Järnvägar). Tickets can be either purchased online or at the SJ ticket office at the station. This station is also where the Arlanda Express departs to (and arrives from) Arlanda airport. A bit more expensive than bus or commuter train, this is the quickest way to get to the airport... just 20 minutes, with trains departing every 15 minutes.
Street level, looking down on the entrance to the subway station T-Centralen.
The Central Station is also the hub for the Stockholm commuter train network (pendeltåg). These trains connect the city with the suburbs and as far as the cities of Södertalje and Uppsala as well as the port of Nynäshamn. One recent line has extended to the Arlanda airport, which adds a new, less expensive way to get to the airport (click here for more info). The commuter trains are run by a different company than the regular trains... SL (Storstockholms Lokaltrafik), which also runs the city's busses, subways and street cars. An SL Travel Card gives you access to all these modes of transportation as well as some ferries.
Well marked signs in Swedish & English...
Underneath the train station is the main subway station: T-Centralen. This is the only station where all three subway lines (red, green and blue) cross. You can reach the Rival Hotel on the red line... just 3 stations away! The two stations are connected by escalators and stairs and can be quite hectic during rush hour.
Escalator leading up to the main bus station (City Terminalen)
Finally, the main bus station (City Terminalen) is located right next door to the train station... connected by an escalator (going up this time). This station isn't for the local busses, but for the more long distant busses. Here you can take busses throughout Sweden (popular with busses to the ski resorts of Åre and Sälen), but even to the different Stockholm airports (Arlanda, Bromma, Västerås and Skavsta). These airport busses, called flygbussarna, are quite inexpensive and, in the case of the smaller airports, the only real way to get to the airport with the exception of driving.
The only Starbucks in central Stockholm and... pricey!
The train station was originally built in 1871 and has just undergone an extensive renovation. Part of the renovation work was the addition of a slew of new shops, cafés and fast food restaurants... including a florist, pharmacy, hair dresser, exchange office, grocery store, book store, Starbucks and much more. There is also a tourist information desk, SJ & SL ticket offices and luggage lockers (in case you have an evening flight and need to store your luggage while exploring the city). Another great feature is that the station has free WiFi! Just search for "All Station Guests". So, as you can see, when travelling to, from or through Stockholm... you will, at some point, visit Stockholm Central Station.
Storage lockers for luggage!

AN airport, Arlanda, Arlanda Express, bus, subway, tourist information, train
Saturday, February 8, 2014

Gay & Lesbian (Friendly) Stockholm!

Stockholm has a fantastic reputation for being very "gay friendly" and welcoming to LGBT visitors. Something we are quite proud of! Stockholm and Sweden have racked up an impressive collection of awards in recent years from international gay media: "Style Capital of the World", "Best International Destination", "Favorite LGBT-Friendly City" and Sweden is ranked as the #1 country in Spartacus' gay travel index. This is in part due to Swedes' general relaxed attitude on LGBT issues (they have had registered partnership in Sweden since 1995 and same sex marriage since 2009). Another big reason is that the Stockholm Visitors Board has, for years, made a very concerted effort to cultivate the city's reputation as being gay friendly and to promote Stockholm as a top destination for LGBT travellers.
Part of their effort has been the creation of the Stockholm Gay & Lesbian Network (SGLN), which is a collection of top hotels, museums, attractions and transportation companies which work together to keep Stockholm an attractive destination for LGBT visitors. The Rival Hotel is a proud member of this network! Along with other top hotels, members include the Royal Palace, Vasa Museum, NK department store, ABBA the Museum, Strömma Sightseeing, Fotografiska, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Arlanda Express and many more.
SGLN has put together both a gay guide and a lesbian guide, both are downloadable and helpful for LGBT visitors to find their way around the city and are full of fab tips regarding shopping, dining, culture, nightlife and more. Another good place to look for day to day tips is the calendar in the online QX gay map. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly or stop by to talk to me for even more help!
Photo by Yanan Li, Stockholm Visitors Board
Some good dates to mark in your calendar... gay pride week, called Stockholm Pride, is generally in the first week of August every year (this year from July 28th to August 2nd) and is the largest pride celebration in Scandinavia. Stockholm is also very proud to announce that they will be the host city for EuroGames in 2015 (5th to 9th of August). This regular LGBT (though open for all) sporting event, put on by the European Gay & Lesbian Sport Federation, is expected to attract 5,000 contestants and over 200,000 spectators!
First three pictures provided by SGLN, photographer Jens Grip.
AN gay, tourist information
Friday, January 24, 2014

Stockholmsmässan- Stockholm International Fairs and Congress Centre

Entrance...
Yesterday I visited Stockholmsmässan (Stockholm International Fairs and Congress Centre) to partake in a seminar put on by the Stockholm Visitors Board. It was a great afternoon with many interesting speakers like Bjørn Kjos (the founder and CEO of Norwegian Air), journalist Lola Akinmade Åkerström (who recently interviewed me for Slow Travel Stockholm) and many more.
Stockholm Day Seminar
But this article is not about the seminar... instead I thought it would be a good idea to write about Stockholmsmässan itself. Located in the southern suburb of Älvsjö, this is a popular place to visit for people coming to Stockholm... whether you are attending a congress on business or to visit one of the many fairs. And they have some interesting fairs going on all throughout the year with a multitude of themes/subjects. Interior design, dogs, furniture, wine, gardening, boats, health and photography are all subjects of different fairs in 2014.
While large portions of the fairs are often only open for people working in the business in question, they usually have times or a day set aside when they are open for the general public. For example, the upcoming Stockholm Furniture & Light Fair runs from the 4th to 8th of February but is only open for the general public on the 8th. So if you are coming to Stockholm, check their calendar and see if there is something going on that is of interest to you. Stockholmsmässan contains much more than just meeting rooms and auditoriums... you will also find kiosks, cafés, restaurants and even a tourist information center. All under one roof!
Tourist information...
The Rival Hotel is perfectly situated if you are planning on visiting the Fairgrounds, whether for business or pleasure. The easiest way to get to Älvsjö, location of Stockholmsmässan, is by commuter train. Four blocks away from the hotel you will find the commuter train station Stockholm Södra(South) and from there it is only a 7 minute train trip to Älvsjö station (2nd stop southbound). When you depart the train, just look for signs pointing you in the direction of Stockholmsmässan... just a 5 minute walk away.
One of the signs leading visitors from the train station to the fairgrounds.


AN tourist information
Saturday, December 14, 2013

Museums During the Christmas Holidays 2013/11

(EDIT: this is infor for 2013/11, for current info... click here!) Museums and other tourist sites have pretty generous opening hours during the holiday season. There is no day where eveything is closed! Here is a short list of the most popular museums and the days they are closed, which will make it easier for you to plan your stay in Stockholm!

Vasa Museum- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th and January 1st.
Skansen- open 365 days a year!
National Museum- closed Mondays, December 24th, 25th and 31st as well as January 1st.
History Museum- closed Mondays, December 24th, 25th and 31st.
Fotografiska- closed December 24th and 31st.
Nordic Museum-  closed December 24th, 25th and 31st.
Nobel Museum- closed Mondays, December 24th, 25th, 31st and January 1st.
Mideaval Museum- closed Mondays, December 24th, 25th, 31st and January 1st.
East Asian Antiquities Museum(Terracotta Army exhibit)- closed December 24th
Stockholm City Museum- closed Mondays, December 24th, 25th, 31st and January 1st. They are still offering the Stieg Larsson Millenium tour on Christmas Day and New Years Day, but be aware that you need to buy tickets ahead of time as the museum is closed.
Royal Palace(and adjacent museums)- closed Mondays, December 24th, 25th, 31st and January 1st.
Millesgården- closed Mondays, December 24th, 25th and January 1st.
Modern Art (Moderna)- closed Mondays, December 24th, 25th, 31st and January 1st.

So, in short... you have Skansen open everyday including the 24th, East Asian Antiquities and Fotografiska on the 25th, Vasa on the 31st and History on the 1st. So you always have at least two museums to choose from everyday (except the 24th)!
AN christmas, Museums, new year, tourist information
Friday, November 15, 2013

Countdown to Christmas in Stockholm...

Photo by Henrik Trygg, Stockholm Visitors Board
This Sunday, November 17th, the Christmas season starts with the traditional skyltsöndag (literally "sign Sunday" though sign refers to window displays). This is the Sunday when the department store Nordiska Kompaniet, or just NK, reveals its popular, holiday inspired, window displays. The big reveal is at 10:50am and there is usually a big crowd ready to oh-and-ah. Part of the reveal is to see what theme the window displays will have. But that is not all... Santa Claus, or jultomten, will be on hand until 5pm accepting wish lists from naughty & nice children. After this Sunday, Santa will be at NK on Fridays to Sundays until the 16th of December, after which he will be in-house daily until the 23rd.
A past, non-traditional, holiday window display at NK.
Skyltsöndag is really just to whet your appetite... the holiday season officially kicks off next weekend with two large events. The first of the Christmas markets (the one in the main square of Gamla Stan) opens for business on Saturday, November 23rd at 11am. It will then be open daily, from 11am to 6pm, until December 23rd. Most of the other Christmas markets open on the following weekend. So this is your chance at getting a jump on your yuletide shopping!
Photo by henrik Trygg, Stockholms Visitor Board
November 23rd is also the date when the official holiday light displays are turned on! This is the third year in the row where Stockholm goes full out in their light displays... using over half a million LED lights to make the city all twinkley. The lighting ceremony will be held at 3pm where Bilioteksgatan meets Stureplan. Stockholm City has put together a brochure/map showing all of the streets, bridges and squares that will be lit up... letting you do a "walking path of light" when visiting Stockholm this holiday season. These maps are free and will be available at the airport, train station and tourist information centers. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, then you are in luck... we will have them here for our guests! Just talk to me after checking in.

AN christmas, shopping, tourist information
Monday, November 4, 2013

Facebook

For all of you computer-literate people out there... The Rival Hotel now has a Facebook page! Join us there for updates on package deals and events happening at the hotel, as well as informative tidbits, pictures, videos and more. Soon you will even be able to book a room on our Facebook page. Ain't the future grand? The Rival's Bar & Bistro has had a Facebook page for awhile now. The content there is mostly in Swedish and the page gives information about happenings in the theater and bar as well as menu changes.

Another good Facebook page to "like" ahead of your trip to our fair city is The Stockholm Visitors Board page... which will keep you updated on things happening in the city.
AN internet, tourist information
Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Höstlov and Halloween in Stockholm

This is a special week (October 28th to November 3rd) in Stockholm for several reasons: it is autumn break (höstlov) and children are out of school for the whole week, All Saints' Day is this coming Saturday (Nov 2nd) and, of course, Halloween... an import from the US which has grown in popularity over the past decade.
Photo by Jeppe Wikström, Stockholm Visitors Board.
If you are visiting Stockholm this week with your children then you chose the right week. As it is the autumn break, and Swedish children have vacation, there are plenty of child friendly activities and events. Many of the museums in the city have special events or exhibitions geared especially for children this week, often with more "spooky" themes. For example, Historiska (the history museum) has special tours where children wear headlamps and get to search through certain exhibitions in the dark looking for skulls and treasure. One example of many. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, and want more specific information of the different museum activities, talk directly with me!
Grim Reaper at Skansen, Photo by Marie Andersson
Another fun place to visit with children this week is the park/square Kungsträdgården. From October 29th to November 1st they will have an activities tent set up (between 11am and 3:30pm) where children can try out different sports, arts & crafts, rock climbing and storytelling. Free admission. At Skansen park & museum they are having "magical days and spooky evenings" all week long with a more historic look at Swedish folklore relating to this season. Good for all ages... but keep in mind that some activities may be scarier than others (like certain ghost walks in the evenings). Another tip is that Drottningholm Palace, which is usually only open on the weekends during this time of year, is open all week long between 11am and 3:30pm. Unfortunately the boats aren't running... but you can take a combination of subway and bus to get there.
This Saturday, November 2nd, is the annual Halloween parade called, appropriately, Shock-holm. This has been going on for a few years and has gotten quite popular. The pre-party is at Medborgarplatsen between 3pm and 5pm, followed by the parade through Gamla Stan and ending at Kungsträdgården where the post party will go on until 7:30pm with live performances, food & drink and activities for all ages. You can either watch or walk in the parade, though the latter requires that you wear a costume/mask of some sort. Free admission!
Skogskyrkogård (c) Susanne Hallmann, Cemeteries Administration of the City of Stockholm
Finally... for a more solemn and cultural activity, head to Skogskyrkogården ("The Woodland Cemetery") to celebrate All Hallow's Eve. This beautiful cemetery is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and was designed by famed Swedish architect Gunnar Asplund. This week is one of the most popular times of the year to visit as thousands of people come to remember loved ones and decorate the graves with candles and seasonal flowers making this special place even more hauntingly beautiful. More information. The main day to visit is Saturday (All Saints' Day), but the decorating does start in the week leading up to Saturday. Keep in mind to be respectful.
AN tourist information, tradition
Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Currency, Cash and Credit Cards!

While many of my first blog posts (way back in 2013) have essential information for Stockholm visitors, they were written before I had really found my voice. Most of them are also in need of a serious update (information, look and links)! So I will be rewriting a few of my early posts... subjects with important information and tips for people visiting Stockholm.
Swedish kronor (crowns)
Money, money, money... always an important part of any trip. To start of with, the currency in Sweden is called the Swedish krona (or crown). Sweden does not have the Euro! It is one of three EU countries that voted against replacing their currency with the Euro (the others two being the UK and Denmark). In retrospect it seems to have been a good idea to keep the krona! The vast majority of stores, restaurants and other businesses in Sweden do not accept any other currency than kronor (plural of krona). The few exceptions are some shops in areas frequented mainly by tourists, like Gamla Stan in Stockholm, where Euros may be accepted. However, this should never be taken for granted and keep in mind that the exchange rate may not be favourable! US dollars are really not accepted anywhere. As Sweden is part of the European Union, it is not strange to ask shopkeepers if they accept Euros, but please keep in mind that Sweden is a rich, First World nation with a strong economy and currency and insisting that a shopkeeper take dollars can be seen as being insulting. Trust me, this happens.
A neighbourhood exchange office.
If switching between different currencies during your trip sounds like a bother, keep in mind that credit and debit cards are accepted everywhere in Sweden... from the high-end boutiques to the corner hot dog kiosks. Even taxis take plastic. In fact, most Swedes carry very little cash and use credit and debit cards for almost all transactions. So, in other words, you don't need to exchange that much cash when visiting Sweden... though it is always good to have some cash on you for emergencies. Keep also in mind that Sweden, and most of Europe for that matter, uses the chip-and-pin system (EMV) with their credit/debit cards so don't be surprised when you are asked if you have a pin number when using your card. Don't worry if you don't have a chip-and-pin card... most places still accept cards with magnetic stripes!
A Swedish ATM... the Bankomat.
There are many exchange offices in Stockholm that offer good rates. One reputable chain of exchange offices is Forex with shops spread throughout the city (including Gamla Stan, NK department store, the train station and airports). Another chain is called 24Money. Cash withdrawal machines, or ATMs, are found throughout the city as well. It is hard to miss them... they are blue and called "Bankomat". Here you can withdraw Swedish kronor using your debit or credit card at a decent exchange rate. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me for the nearest exchange office and/or Bankomat.

AN exchange, tourist information
Wednesday, October 2, 2013

Tips for Booking a Restaurant in Stockholm!

Photo by Yanan Li, visitstockholm.com
Here comes a couple of great tips for visitors who want to maximize their dining experience in Stockholm! In my job, as Concierge at the Rival Hotel, I book hundreds of tables at different restaurants in Stockholm throughout the year... everything from neighbourhood eateries to Michelin star gourmet restaurants. Some guests contact me a few weeks in advance for restaurant recommendations and help in securing reservations. Others come to me last minute, which can be problematic... especially on a Friday or Saturday evening! If you aren't picky about cuisine, price or location of the restaurant then it shouldn't be a problem. It is, however, depressing (and slightly perplexing) when guests come to me at 6pm on a Friday evening and ask for a table at Stockholm's "trendiest restaurant" or "best seafood restaurant" later on the same evening. This borders on the impossible, especially if they wish for a table during peak dining hours (between 7 and 9pm). My top tip if you are coming on a weekend and want a specific restaurant (or type of restaurant) is to book your table in advance! If you are going to stay at the Rival Hotel then I will be more than happy to help you with this. Otherwise you can contact your hotel for help or... book yourself! Almost all restaurants have an online booking system which you will find on their websites. Click here for some personal restaurant recommendations.
Fine dining at Jonas!
A few extra special tips: Swedes get paid on the 25th of every month. The first weekend after payday is called lönehelg ("pay weekend") and it is very traditional for Swedes, flush with money, to go out to eat & drink on this weekend. In other words it is very important to book a table in advance when visiting Stockholm on just this specific weekend! If you are interested in more high-end gourmet restaurants, like Stockholm's Michelin star restaurants, then there are specific pre-booking requirements. Most of them open up their online booking at midnight (Swedish time) either a month or two weeks in advance depending on the restaurant in question. Tables often go quickly! While I can help Rival guests with these reservations, these restaurants generally want to have personal contact with the guests whether it is to check for allergies or to have a credit card number as a guarantee for the reservation. In other words, I can make a preliminary booking for you after which the restaurant would contact you to guarantee the reservation.
AN restaurants, tip, tourist information
Friday, September 27, 2013

Visit Djurgården!

Entrance to the visitors' center
I braved the drizzly weather today to visit the visitors' center for Djurgården called Visit Djurgården. Djurgården is both the name of an island as well as a National City Park (which includes the island). In fact, it is the world's first National City Park. For the sake of comparison, you could say that it is Stockholm's version of Hyde or Central Park. In the past this was a royal game park and these days it is still owned by the Crown. It is a great park to take a nature walk.
Some beauty found on the island.
Besides acres and acres of beautiful parks, woodlands and fields... Djurgården also has the highest concentration of tourist sites (museums, art galleries, amusement parks, etc;) in Stockholm. So if you are planning a visit to Stockholm, chances are pretty high that you will spend a considerable amount of your visit on this island! Here you will find museums such as the Vasa, Nordic, ABBA, Biology, Technology, Spirits and Maritime History. There are also several great art galleries/museums including Liljevalchs, Waldermarsudde and Thielska. If that wasn't enough, then you have Skansen park & zoo, Aquaria as well as the amusement parks Gröna Lund and Junibacken. You don't have to go hungry while here... quite a few restaurants like Villa Godthem, Ulla Winbladh and Oaxen Krog. Several cafés are spread throughout the park... a personal favorite during the summer is the rose gardens at Rosendals Trädgård.
Sjöcafé, adjacent to center, with boats and bikes for rent!
So you can see why I am so happy that they have built a visitor center just for the island/park. A great idea! There is so much to see and do that you sometimes need some expert advice... besides me! The visitors center is located just on the island side of Djurgårdsbron (the bridge connecting the island with the mainland). The center is open daily, year-round, and is manned by experts on Djurgården and its sites. There are also free maps of the park as well as brochures of the different museums and art galleries to help you decide what to visit. The center is connected to the newly renovated café Sjöcafé, so you can stay for ahwile and have a coffee or glass of wine. The café also rents paddle boats, kayaks and bicycles.
Take a street car to Djurgården, or...
Getting to Djurgården is quite easy... either by bus, street car or ferry (especially good for Rival Hotel guests!). Or why not walk along the waterfront promenade of Strandvägen? If you want to plan ahead of your visit, their website (linked at the top of this article) is filled with great information and an interactive map!
...a ferry (with Gröna Lund in background).

AN art, Djurgården, Museums, nature, tourist information, walk
Friday, September 13, 2013

Royal Celebrations, Half Marathons and More This Weekend!

DN Stockholm Half Marathon, photo by Bengt Aronsson
Another busy weekend in Stockholm! To start off with... The annual DN Stockholm Half Marathon will be held on Saturday, September 14th. Over 17,000 runners from all over the world will be running a course set in the streets of the city. The race starts at 3:30pm at Gustav Adolfs Torg and will take runners on 21.1 kilometers through the western parts of Stockholm, including Södermalm where the Rival Hotel is located. In fact, the course runs along the street St Paulsgatan which is adjacent to the hotel. Nice with a little life in the neighbourhood... but this can mean some traffic troubles: no parking and hard for taxis to get to the door. Stick with walking, ferries and subways and you will be fine! This advice goes for the rest of the city as many streets will be closed off. The finish line is the same as the starting point... Gustav Adolfs Torg.
Race course from www.stockholmhalvmarathon.se 
If that wasn't enough... King Carl XVI Gustaf is celebrating 40 years on the Swedish throne this year and this weekend (September 13th to 15th) is the official jubilee celebrations. On Friday an exhibition on the king's 40 years on the throne will open in the Hall of State in the Royal Palace, located in Gamla Stan. The exhibition will run until February 2nd next year, so plenty of opportunities to visit the exhibit if you are coming to Stockholm later this year. Two official events will be held on Saturday evening. First a celebratory dinner, hosted by the government, will be held at the Nordic Museum (Nordiska Museet), located on the island of Djurgården, followed by a concert in the Concert Hall (Konserthuset) in the downtown area. What this means for visitors is that the traffic snarls caused by the half marathon in the afternoon will be followed by some minor ones in the evening. But it is not all doom and gloom for visitors... on Sunday the king and City of Stockholm invites the general public to the Royal Palace to celebrate with dance. The festivities start at 3pm and run until 11pm. Music and dancing from around the world (big band, salsa, tango, jazz, folk and more) is the theme with many performances. No entrance fee! There will be a toast for the king at 3pm from the balcony at Lejonsbacken. Click here for a schedule (there is a Google translate option). Otherwise, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, come talk to me or the Reception for further information.
www.kungahuset.se
And finally... a political demonstration and march planned on Saturday, starting at 1:30pm. They will gather in the park Humlegården and then march to Observatorielunden. Counter demonstrations are planned as well, so it would be best to avoid that area of the city (Norrmalm) during Saturday afternoon.
AN Gamla Stan, royal, sport, tourist information
Thursday, September 5, 2013

New Address for the Stockholm Tourist Center

And... I'm back! My batteries are recharged after two weeks in Croatia (a country I can definitely recommend for your next trip) and ready for a fun autumn in Stockholm.

I'll start with a little reminder. As I advised earlier, the Stockholm Visititors Center has now moved. As of September 2nd, their new location is on Vasagatan 14 directly across the street from the Central Train Station. The Visitors Board is promoting their new offices as the most modern tourist center in all of Scandinavia.

Edit: This evening I was invited by the Stockholm Visitors Board to the grand opening of the new offices. The locale is really nice... very spacious. And the gadgets are very high-tech! They have computers to use as well as giant touch screens and a wall of tv screens showing inspirational images of Stockholm. A very interactive way to discover the city and what it has to offer. I'm a little on the fence still if the location is better. The old offices were a little more centrally located, though with the new offices being just across the street from the central train/subway station perhaps it will be a better location.
AN tourist information
Friday, August 30, 2013

President Obama's Visit to Stockholm September 4th & 5th!

President Obama has a scheduled visit to Stockholm this week (September 4th & 5th) on his way to the G20 summit in St Petersburg. It is the first time a sitting US president visits Sweden for a bilateral meeting! While this is good news for Sweden, the visit may mean traffic problems for visitors and Stockholmers alike. But as long as you are aware of this in advance and avoid driving, taxis or busses (stick to walking or the excellent subway system) then you should be fine. There may also be traffic problems between Arlanda airport and Stockholm on Wednesday (late morning) and Thursday mid-day when the president travels back and forth. Airport information! If you are also planning on travelling to or from the airport at this time, then stick with either the Arlanda Express train to the Central Train Station or the commuter train (great for Rival Hotel guests!). Boats leaving from Strömkajen, for example Waxholmsbolaget and Strömma's sightseeing tours, will be "rerouted". We shall see what that means! (New Info: The Waxholmsbolaget boat terminal has been moved from Strömkajen to Nybrokajen starting September 3rd and through the 5th. The Djurgård ferry is planning on running as normal! I have also talked with Strömma about how the presidential visit will impact sightseeing tours. Besides moving their boat terminal to Nybrokajen as well, their only answer was that everything should be taken with a "pinch of salt" these three days as things can change at the drop of a hat. In other words, they are as much in the dark as the general public regarding certain closures. The Royal Palace will be closed on the 4th & 5th! The subway station Kungsträdgården (blue line) will be closed all Wednesday until 1pm on Thursday) New-new Info: Strömma's Panorama Bus Tour is canelled both days, The Hop-On & Off Boat will run, but no stop at the Royal Palace. Hop On & Off Bus Tours will do an alternate route where they avoid Gamla Stan.
According to the preliminary schedule it seems that most events & meetings on Wednesday will take place at Rosenbad (prime minister's offices), the Great Synagogue and the KTH school. The plan on Thursday, before he leaves, is to meet the king & queen at the Royal Palace. This is just the preliminary schedule and may be subject to change! Of course, the trip may be cancelled due to the conflict escalation in Syria. Check back to this article for updates, or talk directly to us at the hotel if you are staying with us those days for up to the minute information. The US Embassy website may also be a good source for information. Otherwise "The Local", Swedish newspaper in English, has both his preliminary itinerary as well as traffic information.
AN tourist information
Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Visiting the Archipelago (part 2)

The Archipelago Travel Agency!
Click here for part 1. While I am a pretty fabulous concierge and can give you a lot of information about Stockholm, the archipelago is another matter. I know of the main islands, a few hidden gems, guided tours as well as trips out with the Cinderella boats. But the Stockholm Archipelago has over 30,000 islands and it takes a real expert to help you plan a unique trip to the islands... especially if you want to get away from the crowded islands, have special requests, book packages and/or want to stay the night on an island. To get this expert help, contact the good people at Visit Skärgården (skärgården is the Swedish word for archipelago) either by visiting their website or by dropping by their archipelago travel agency... located right on the water on Strandvägen in the downtown area. Here you can also find brochures and other reading material regarding the different islands, lodgings as well as time tables for boats. They are open to 4pm everyday during the summer and you can also contact them at info@visitskargarden.se
A Waxholmsbolaget boat waiting at Strömkajen to take passengers.
In Part 1, I mentioned the company Waxholmsbolaget. This is the company that run the boats that function as "busses" for the archipelago. I just used them to visit friends at their summer house on the island of Ljusterö so I thought I would add a little more about them. With these boats you can travel to many of the islands in the archipelago... including the ones that aren't visited by hordes of vacationers. These boats are often used by residents of the islands. Be aware that many of the islands have a pier or two where Waxholmsbolaget's boats stop, but the pier may be a long walk away from any civilization (restaurants, hotels, inns, cafés, etc;). So make sure you do your research ahead of time, like talking to the abovementioned Archipelago Travel Agency, before just jumping off a boat at a random island.
Nearing the town of Vaxholm.
Boats depart from Strömkajen, just opposite from the Royal Palace, and most boats go first to the town of Vaxholm. From there you can transfer to other boats which head out in every direction. You buy your ticket onboard (no option to pre-purchase tickets)... and get there a little early to make sure you get a good seat! What you can purchase ahead of time are their 5 day and season cards, which allow you to island hop to your heart's content. One warning: you almost need a PhD in symbology to decipher their time schedules. The time schedules can be found on their website (in Swedish), at their offices on Strömkajen, or at the Visit Skärgård offices (where they can help you decipher them).
Waiting for the boat at the pier on Ljusterö

AN archipelago, tourist information
Friday, July 26, 2013

A Rerun of Summer Stockholm Tips

View of City Hall from the Western Bridge (Västerbron).
We are in the second half of the summer season and I thought I would post a collection of older articles that can help those of you coming to visit us in August (in case you missed them earlier). Things to do & see as well as some restaurant tips! Just click on the links (in blue) to come to the article in question...

Besides keeping an eye on my fabulous blog... check the Visit Stockholm website for great tips and recommendations. Happy Summer!
Drottningholm Palace

AN tourist information
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