Sightseeing Tours in September

Sightseeing boat coming in to dock at Strömkajen

The summer season is officially over... cooler days and less tourists in the city. This means that many sightseeing tours have either ended for the year or else they have reduced the number of tours each day. The popular sightseeing boat tours, Under the Bridges and Royal Canal Tour, still operate throughout September. However, it is important to note that they no longer start from Nybroplan! Both tours start only from Strömkajen. This means that the ticket office at Nybroplan is closed as well. Naturally, the ticket office at Strömkajen is open. Tickets can also be pre-purchased online or, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, through me. The Hop-On Hop-Off boats have stopped running for the year... though the Hop-On busses are still running (until Oct 3rd). And speaking of busses, the Panorama Bus Tour runs year round! Opportunities to visit the archipelago have been reduced as well with a few choices left. For example, the last day for the convenient Cinderella boats is September 15th. Talk to me directly if you are interested in other options for getting out to the archipelago during the low season...

Good-bye Hop-on Hop-off boats... see you next year!

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AN sightseeing, strömma, tours

Reading: The Millennium Trilogy

The Millennium Trilogy is a series of books, written by Swedish author Stieg Larsson, that have become a world-wide sensation... about 30 million books sold to date. The series of crime novels (The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets' Nest) are set mainly in Stockholm. I really liked these books, especially the main characters: investigative journalist Mikael Blomkvist and the asocial, eccentric hacker Lisbeth Salander. These books are perfect reading before and during your trip to Stockholm as most of the action takes place on the island of Södermalm. Blomkvist's home and work as well as Salander's home are all a stone's throw from the Rival Hotel. Larsson is really descriptive when describing the city.

If the novels are an international sensation now... then they are about to explode into a super-phenomenon as Hollywood is set to make movies based on the books. Daniel Craig is now confirmed to play Blomkvist and filming in Stockholm should start this Fall. So, if you are visiting Stockholm later this year, don't be surprised if you accidently wander into the middle of a Hollywood film set!

Tip: If you are a fan of the series, then you may be interested in taking a Millennium Walking Tour offered by the Stockholm City Museum. This summer the English tours are every Wednesday at 6pm and every Saturday at 11am. Tickets cost 120 SEK and can be bought at the Tourist Center or the museum, located at Slussen. The tour takes approximately 2 hours. If you want to explore the places on your own, then you can always buy the Millenium map at the museum. The map is in five different languages and shows the sites in the city where the action in the books take place.

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Visiting the Archipelago- What to Consider!

Photo by Henrik Trygg, Stockholm Visitors Board

This article is a bit of a repeat from an earlier one... but it is because I run into the same problem every summer with visitors. Visiting the stunning Stockholm Archipelago (Skärgården) is on the top of the list for most visitors to Stockholm during the summer. They want to take a boat ride, experience the picturesque vistas they have seen in pictures, walk around on an island and maybe take a swim or have lunch.

Photo by... me! Taken from the back of a Cinderella boat.

Unfortunately, what most visitors don't realize is that it takes time and a bit of planning to really experience the true beauty of the archipelago. Almost every day during the summer, guests come to me around lunchtime and say that they want to see the archipelago. I ask "tomorrow?" and they answer "no... now!". Herein lies the problem. Your options are greatly reduced when you get too late a start in the day and/or give yourself too little time. In other words? Do a little research, have a plan and then have the appropriate time to spend on what you want to see/do.

A map showing a few of the 30,000 islands!

The archipelago is vast and is made up of more than 30,000 islands, stretching out into the Baltic Sea. The nature changes visibly the further out you get... with the vegetation becoming more and more sparse. In the outer archipelago you have small rocky islands and little red cabins flying the Swedish flag (which most people have seen pictures of). To get out to this area, it is a 2-4 hour boat trip, depending on the boat and which island you are travelling to. Put that together with time on an island and the return trip and you get a full day excursion! You have some great places to visit out here... like Grinda, Finnhamn, Sandhamn and Möja. You can either choose to take regular ferries (Cinderella) or a set tour to Sandhamn. Just remember that the further out you go, the less time you have to spend on the island you choose. There is also the option of doing a "thousand island cruise" where you get to visit three islands.

Photo by Henrik Trygg, Stockholm Visitors Board

If you only have a short time in Stockholm, and can't afford to spend a whole day in the archipelago, then you can take a short tour of the inner archipelago. This is a very pleasant way to spend a few hours and you do have the option of dining onboard! This tour, however, doesn't let you visit an island. To do this in, say, an afternoon... you can visit one of the islands closer to Stockholm, like Vaxholm or Fjäderholmarna. There is also a company called Waxholmsbolaget which runs commuter boats out to different islands and is a great choice if you want to visit less crowded islands. Visit their new offices at Strömkajen.

Photo by Yanan Li, Stockholm Visitors Board

The islands mentioned above are just a few of the thousands you can visit! Looking to put together your own itinerary? Check out the archipelago tourist agency's website or visit their offices on Strandvägen. Otherwise you can also visit the good people at the Stockholm Information Center or, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, talk directly with me. Many of these islands have hotels, B&B's or guest cottages... so you can combine a stay in the archipelago with a city weekend in Stockholm!

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AN archipelago, boat, sightseeing, tourist information, tours

Guided Food Tours in Stockholm

Typical SoFo view.

Yesterday afternoon, I had the chance to partake in a food tour... a guided walking tour where food is the focus. The tours are arranged by Food Tours Stockholm and, so far, there are two different tours on offer. The first one is a tour through the SoFo neighbourhood on the island of Södermalm (home to the Rival Hotel) and the other is in the Vasastan neighbourhood. While the Vasastan tour concentrates on Nordic food culture, the Södermalm tour is more multicultural, reflecting the bohemian feel of the SoFo neighbourhood... and it was this Södermalm tour that a colleague and I went on yesterday.

Piccolo Metro deli selection

I really enjoyed the tour and think it is a great, unique activity for visitors to Stockholm! The tour is 3½ hours long with 8 stops at different restaurants and food specialty stores. As I mentioned earlier, the stops represent the multiculturalism of modern Sweden... with everything from Swedish to Chinese to Italian and in between. One thing I really like about the tour was that the guide Fredrik was very informative about both the food and the surroundings, so it is a great way to see a picturesque Stockholm neighbourhood, get the background story as well as try some delicious food. I also liked that the restaurants seemed generally interested in our visit and were happy to present their food.

Paneer Palak Korai at Shanti

The tour started at China, a traditional Chinese restaurant that has one of the only (if not the only) authentic Peking duck ovens in Europe. From there it was on to a newly opened Italian restaurant and deli called Piccolo Metro, where we got to sample some pasta and wine. They do specialize in Appertivo, the traditional pre dinner cocktails with small dishes. Next was Shanti, a great Indian restaurant (not your run-of-the-mill curry house) where they served us Paneer Palak Korai. Very good! The tour then continued on to Fang Yuan Shi Wu... a quaint hole in the wall where they serve Stockholm's best dumplings. Just meeting proprietress Wencui Cui made it well worth the stop. Cute as a button!

Urban Deli!

The tour then moved on to more local tastes with a stop at Urban Deli, which is one of the most popular restaurants in the Sofo district. Urban Deli combines a restaurant with a deli, bakery and grocery store. Here we tried different tastes from their deli selection (sausages, meats and cheeses). Just across the street was the next stop on the food tour... newly opened Nytorget 6. A great restaurant where the focal point is the beautiful rotisserie and bar. We were treated to some delicious chicken from the rotisserie as well as some local beer.

Rotisserie at Nytorget 6

Time for dessert! First we stopped at the famous Pärlans Konfektyr where they hand make caramels. You can actually watch them cook and roll the caramels every weekday in the shop. After trying an array of different tastes, we moved on to the final stop... local ice cream parlor: StikkiNikki. Here they serve ecological, home made ice creams and sorbets with tastes like peanut butter crumble, strawberry/rhubarb and salted liquorice. The perfect end to the tour!

Pärlans Konfektyr

The price for this tour is 695 SEK per person, which includes all of the food & drink, bottled water to have with you as well as the guided tour. I found the tour to be well worth the price as you do get quite a lot of food and information. The tours are guided in English & Swedish. Be aware that they run on different days, so check their website to find the right date and tour. You can book either of their tours on their website or, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, by contacting me directly. Bon Appétit or smaklig måltid!

StikkiNikki

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AN restaurants, sightseeing, SoFo, tours, walk

Guided Tours with Stockholm Our Way

There are many great ways to explore and discover Stockholm... either with established bus & boat sightseeing tours (like with Strömma) or more intimate tours. The company Stockholm Our Way offers several guided tours of the city and allows you to explore on foot, by bike or even by kayak. All with an experienced guide! If you want a more private experience or have any special interests, you can also book a private guide through them.

They offer several guided walking tours... either a visit to the historical city center (Gamla Stan & Riddarholmen), an expanded tour which includes Gamla Stan as well as nearby sites or you can have a bit of fun and immerse yourself in Swedish culture with a Viking guide. While most tours are in either Swedish or English, they do also offer a walking tour in German. If you feel like getting more physical, then you can either try their kayak tour or their bicycle tour. Stockholm is best seen from the water as well as being an excellent city to bike in, so these two tours are perfect for the visitor who wants to leave the beaten path!

Something else they offer, which I think sounds like a fun idea, is a visit to a Stockholm home. Have you ever been in a foreign city and wondered what it looked like inside a home? I can't be the only one who is curious! This experience also includes a walking tour of Kungsholmen and a traditional Swedish "fika". So, as you can see, quite a variety of tours. Please note that certain tours are only available on certain days, check their website for dates. They can all be booked on their website or, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, you can contact me directly for help. (Edit: all pictures in this article provided by Stockholm Our Way... thank you!)

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AN bicycle, kayak, sightseeing, tours, walk

Last Days for Horse and Carriage (Buggy) Tours

Boarding the carriage at Mynttorget

It's sad to say, but the summer season is slowly coming to an end here in Stockholm (we have a shorter season up here in the north!). While many sightseeing tours do continue through September, some of the boat excursions and day trips do end now in August. One activity that is coming to an end is the daily horse and carriage sightseeing tours of of the Old Town (Gamla Stan). During the summer months, they depart daily between 11am and 3:30pm from the square Myntorget in the Old Town. It is a 45 minute guided tour of the Old Town in Swedish and English. This is a nice way to get away from the crowded busses and boats and see the city from a different vantage point (and at a leisurely pace). The last day for the daily tours is August 24th! If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly and I can book an open ticket for you. If you are planning a trip to Stockholm after September and this post has you in a panic... don't fear, certain sightseeing tours run year round! The Panorama bus tour and the Archipelago boat tour for example.

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Vikings, Vikings and... More Vikings!

Guided tour through grave field at Birka

The most famous era of Swedish history is the Viking Age (approx 800-1100 AD) and Vikings have become somewhat of a symbol for Sweden... even if they are most often portrayed incorrectly with horned helmets! There are plenty of museums, tours and activities to do in the Stockholm area tied in to Viking history. I have already written about most of them here in this blog, but in the past week I have re-visited Birka and dined at Aifur and I had the idea to collect all Viking "experiences" in one post.

• Historiska Museet (the history museum)- This museum has a great exhibition on Vikings including artifacts such as weapons and jewelry. The Gold Room is of special interest, showing the gold and silver hoards found throughout Sweden. During the summer (12 to 4:30pm until August 26th) the Vikings take over the inner courtyard with crafts, sports and games... great for children!
• Birka (day trip-summer)- Birka was a town and important trading center during the Viking Age and is today a UNESCO World Heritage site. Located on the island of Björkö in Lake Mälaren, the Strömma company offers a day trip to Birka by boat which includes a great guided tour and entrance to the on-site museum. They also have a reconstruction of part of a Viking Age village and have many events through the summer (like market and games).
• Aifur (restaurant)- located in Gamla Stan, this restaurant concentrates on the gastronomic heritage from the Viking Age. I was here last week for the first time and it was quite fun and the food was good. I will write a more comprehensive review next week.
• Viking Walk- nothing authentic... more of a guided tour of Stockholm (history & culture) with a "Viking Guide"!
• Souvenirs- on the street Västerlånggatan, located in Gamla Stan, you will find a large variety of Viking souvenirs... from fun to tacky. On the fun side, you have Handfaste (the Viking Shop) where you can get some good quality t-shirts, jewelry and books.
• Uppsala (town)- just 40 minutes by train from Stockholm you have the town of Uppsala which is a great place to visit if you are interested in Vikings. The surrounding area is filled with Viking Age artifacts like runestones, monuments and grave fields. Click here for a list of tours, sites and museums.
• Viking Day Tour- a full day tour that takes you from Stockholm to Sigtuna and Uppsala to visit Viking Age sites. I haven't done the tour myself, but I have sent guests and they have all returned with favorable reports.
• Storholmen Viking Village- (day trip-summer) north of Stockholm (approx 1½ hours by bus), in the Norrtälje area, you will find the Viking village of Storholmen... an experimental open air museum.

Entrance to Aifur

This should keep Viking aficionados occupied! Keep your eyes open while walking about Stockholm... you can see runestones in the city as well. Besides the aforementioned history museum, you can see them in Skansen park as well as the corner of Prästgatan and Kåkbrinken in Gamla Stan.

Runestone in Gamla Stan

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AN history, Museums, sightseeing, strömma, tours, viking

Sightseeing: Royal Canal Tour

On a sunnier day! Photo: Gomer Swahn, Strömma

There were some dark and ominous clouds in the sky this past Wednesday morning, so I thought it would be the perfect day to take some visitors on a sightseeing boat tour (it is indoors!). So we headed down to Strömkajen dock and caught the Royal Canal Tour. This tour starts daily at the bottom of every hour between 10:30am and 7:30pm during the summer high season.

Cruising the Djurgårds Canal

This is a 50 minute long boat tour that takes you around the island of Djurgården, once the royal game park, passing the Old Town (Gamla Stan), Skeppsholmen and the district of Östermalm along the way. Djurgården is a national city park (the first in the world), rich in both history and nature, and the location of many points of interest like the Vasa Museum, Skansen, Nordic Museum and the Gröna Lund amusement park. The tour is guided in 11 different languages with an accompanying map and the boat has both a café and bathroom facilities on board. Tickets can either be purchased online, at the departure point or, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me and I will help you with the reservations. Free with the Stockholm Card (limited seating per tour).

Passing Waldemarsudde

If you are interested in a longer, more comprehensive tour... then I would recommend the Under the Bridges Tour.

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AN boat, Djurgården, sightseeing, stockholm card, strömma, tours