The Stockholm Card

The Stockholm Card is amazingly extensive, offering a thorough selection of the best that Stockholm has to offer in terms of attractions and sights. Ride a sightseeing boat or ferry, the subway, an SL bus, or a streetcar. Browse excellent museums with art, aristocrats, world heritage, Vikings, the Nobel Prize, technology, and design. The city is yours.

Free admission to museums.

» Aquaria Vattenmuseum
» Arkitekturmuseet
» Armémuseum
» Bergianska trädgården
» Edvard Andersons växthus
» Biologiska museet
» Bonniers konsthall
» Casino Cosmopol
» Dansmuseet**
» Kungliga Dramatiska Teatern
» Drottningholms slott
» Drottningholms slottsteater*
» Erik Höglund samlingen
» Etnografiska museet
» Fjärilshuset på Haga
» Färgfabriken
» Gripsholms slott
» Gröna Lunds Tivoli
» Gustav III:s antikmuseum*
» Gustav III:s paviljong*
» Gustavsbergs porslinsmuseum
» Hallwylska museet
» Historiska museet
» Hovstallet
» Judiska museet
» Junibacken
» Kaknästornet
» Katarinahissen
» Kina slott*
» Konserthuset
» Kungl. myntkabinettet
» Kungliga Slottet
» Leksaksmuseet
» Liljevalchs konsthall
» Livrustkammaren
» Medelhavsmuseet
» Stockholms medeltidsmuseum**
» Millesgården
» Moderna museet
» Museifartygen
» Museum Tre Kronor
» Musikmuseet
» Nationalmuseum
» Naturhistoriska riksmuseet
» Nobelmuseet
» Nordiska museet
» Observatoriemuseet
» Polismuseet
» Postmuseum
» Riddarholmskyrkan*
» Riddarhuset
» Riksidrottsmuseet
» Rosendals slott*
» Rosersbergs slott*
» K.A. Almgrens sidenväveri
» Sjöhistoriska museet
» Skansen
» Skansen-Akvariet
» Skattkammaren
» Skoklosters slott
» Solvalla
» Spårvägsmuseet
» Stadshuset
» Steninge slott Kulturcenter
» Storkyrkan
» Stockholms stadsmuseum**
» Strindbergsmuseet Blå Tornet
» Tekniska museet
» Thielska galleriet
» Tullgarns slott*
» Ulriksdals slott*
» Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde
» Vasamuseet
» Vaxholms fästningsmuseum*
» Vin- och sprithistoriska museet
» Östasiatiska museet**

Free ferry rides with M/S Emelie

Combine business with pleasure; take the ferry from the city (Nybroplan) out to the museums, amusement parks and activities on Djurgården or continue with the M/S Emelie ferry to Hammarby Sjöstad, Stockholm’s most recently built and most modern district.

M/S Emelie
Hourly departures from Nybroviken. The trip takes about 25 minutes. Space for wheelchairs, prams and bicycles. The Stockholm Card entitles you to free trips on the M/S Emelie. (Regular price: SEK 40, children SEK 25). Schedule from Nybroplan.

1.6–25.9 Monday–Friday 08–18 Departures every hour (NB! No traffic at 14 and Tuesdays at 10)
30.4–19.12 Saturday 10.30–18.30 Departures every hour
1.5–20.12 Sunday 10.30–17.30 Departures every hour

For holiday schedule, visit www.ressel.se

Free boat sightseeing

Free sightseeing - see Stockholm from the water!

Historical Canal Tour
The Stockholm Card includes free sightseeing in the summer on the Historical Canal Tour. Departure from the quayside at Stadshusbron. The tour lasts 50 minutes and takes you past the Old Town (Gamla stan), Södermalm, Långholmen and round the island of Kungsholmen. Present your Stockholm Card at the ticket booth to get a ticket. Limited number of seats.

SCHEDULE
30.5 – 30.8 10.30 11.30 12.30 13.30 14.30 15.30 16.30 17.30 18.30

Regular price per tour: SEK 140 adult, SEK 70 child 6-11 years

» Stockholm Sightseeing

Bonus offers 2009

Enjoy a boat trip to Drottningholm Palace, sightseeing by bus in the city centre or fascinating films at Cosmonova. The Stockholm Card entitles you to a discount.

ROYAL CANAL TOUR
Guided boat tour through the Djurgårdsbrunn canal and along the shores of Saltsjön. The tour starts on Strömkajen quayside and lasts 50 minutes. Purchase your ticket at the Strömkajen ticket booth. Discounts of SEK 40 per adult and SEK 20 per child are given.

27.4 – 21.6, 31.8 – 20.9 10.30 11.30 12.30 13.30 14.30 15.30 16.30 17.30 18.30
22.6 – 30.8 10.30 11.30 12.30 13.30 14.30 15.30 16.30 17.30 18.30 19.30
3.4– 26.4, 21.9 – 4.10 10.30 11.30 12.30 13.30 14.30 15.30
5.10 – 20.12 10.30 11.30 12.30 13.30

Reg. admission: SEK 140, child SEK 70
With the Stockholm Card: SEK 100, child SEK 50

» Royal Canal Tour

STOCKHOLM PANORAMA
Marvel at Stockholm’s historic buildings and sites during a 90-minute bus trip. The tour starts from the square Gustav Adolfs torg. Buy tickets in the kiosk on Gustav Adolfs torg. With the Stockholm Card: 50 % discount on the following departures.

Schedule
1.1–3.7, 31.8–31.12 Monday–Sunday 14
4.7–30.8 Monday–Sunday 14, 14.30, 16, 18

Reg. admission: SEK 250, child SEK 125
With the Stockholm Card: SEK 125, child SEK 62,5

» Stockholm Panorama

OPEN TOP-TOURS
Guided tour in open-top double-decker buses. You can start and end the tour at any stop you like. The tour starts at Kungsträdgården, departures every 30 min at all stops between 10 am and 4pm. Buy tickets onboard. The ticket is valid for 24 hours.

Departures every 45 min
6.2–3.5 Friday-Sunday 10-16

Departures every 30 min
2.11-31.12 Friday-Sunday 10-16

Departures every 20 min
8.5–21.6, 24.8–27.9 Daily 10-16

Departures every 10 min
22.6–23.8 Daily 10-16

Reg. admission: SEK 220, child SEK 50
With the Stockholm Card: SEK 180, child SEK 50

» Open Top Tours

BOAT TO DROTTNINGHOLM
Board a century-old steamer and sail to beautiful Drottningholm, the Swedish Royal Family’s private residence. Departs from Stadshusbron. Travel time 50 min.

Schedule

7.6–26.6 Daily 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 18
27.6–16.8 Daily 10 10.30 11 11.30 12 12.30 13 13.30 14 14.30 15 15.30 16 18
1.5–6.6, 1.8–13.9 Daily 10 11 12 13 14 15
14.9–27.9 Daily 10 11* 12 13* 14 15*
3.10–25.10 Saturday-Sunday 10 12 14
* Saturday-Sunday 08-12 00 40 00

Info and table reservation: +46 8-12 00 40 00 (The Stockholm Card does not apply to advance bookings)

Reg. admission: Return trip SEK 150, child SEK 75, Single SEK 110, child SEK 55
With the Stockholm Card: Return trip for the price of a single (SEK 110/55).

» Strömma Kanalbolaget

COSMONOVA
Naturhistoriska riksmuseet, Frescativägen 40
Phone: +46 8 562 600 30, Bus: 40, 540, Underground: Universitetet

See films in the largest filmformat in the world and marvel at planetarium shows that take you to places you have only been in your imagination – on the giant 760 square meter IMAX dome theatre.

Open: Tue-Wed, Fri 10-19, Thu 10-20, Sat-Sun 11-19 Show every hour
Closed: 19-20/6, 23-24/12

Reg admission: SEK 90, 5-18 yrs SEK 50
With the Stockholm Card: discount SEK 20, child SEK 10

» Cosmonova

SPECIAL OFFERS WITH THE STOCKHOLM CARD
- museums with free admission

MUSEUM OF MEDIEVAL STOCKHOLM- poster for free
THE CITY MUSEUM OF STOCKHOLM - poster for free


Source: Stockholm Tourist Centre

"SEX AND THE CITY" - STOCKHOLM

You might not have the chance to meet with Carrie and the other girls, but Stockholm is perfect for a dazzling Sex and the City weekend. Meet with friends and enjoy a weekend in this beautiful Scandinavian capital. Fantastic shopping, cosy coffee shops, cool restaurants, pulsating nightlife – there’s so much to choose from!

Day one

Afternoon arrival:

Arrive at Stockholm Arlanda Airport in the afternoon. Step on board the speedy Arlanda Express train, which runs straight to the city centre. Check in at one of Stockholm’s cool design hotels: the Rival Hotel, Hellsten, Berns Hotel, the Clarion Stockholm or the Nordic Light Hotel will suit every need.

Evening: While unpacking, order room service and enjoy a luxurious glass of champagne. Once settled, take a nice long shower and get ready for the evening.
Start the evening at Gondolen with one of their famous cocktails, while savouring the amazing view of Stockholm from 33 metres above the ground. Dine afterwards at Nox in the upper-class Östermalm area.

After dinner, move on to the trendy Hotellet, a perfect place for after-dinner drinks with good music and after work people. Round off the evening with a visit to the hip club Solidaritet, and why not also try the most famous club in town, Spy Bar. Back at the hotel, before hitting the pillow, place a final room service order for a late night/early morning snack.

Day two

Morning: Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel before heading off to Södermalm. This is the relaxed, hip and trendy area where small shops, cafés and restaurants provide a great atmosphere.

Afternoon: Stroll around the ‘Sofo’ area and explore the perfect blend of shops featuring vintage styles, the latest in Swedish design and cosy interior design trends. Stop for a delicious café latte and a cinnamon bun at one of the cafés. Don’t miss Grandpa, a funky shop featuring a DJ playing groovy tunes on Saturday afternoons.

Alternatively, take a romantic brunch cruise on the S/S Stockholm and enjoy a wonderful afternoon exploring the archipelago islands. This is a trip not to be missed and one you'll both remember for many years to come.

Have a late lunch at Brunogallerian. Try the best sushi in town at Ljunggrens and then continue shopping. Take the metro to the market Street near Hornstull (closed during the winter). This is a hip and trendy market with plenty of cool stuff. Before heading back to the hotel to get ready for the evening, stop in for a quick drink at the new white bar at classic Operakällaren. A cosmopolitan will get anyone going!

Evening: Pre-dinner drinks at the wine bar at Berns. Dinner at Riche on Stureplan, in the heart of Stockholm’s nightlife. After dinner in the restaurant, move on to the hippest place in town – the bar at Riche is where Swedish celebrities go to see and be seen. Continue clubbing at the upmarket Plaza Club just down the street from Riche. Plaza has the essential ‘champagne atmosphere’ for an evening of fun until dawn.

Day three

Morning: Start the day with a relaxing brunch at the Hotel Anglais near Stureplan, before meeting up with professional shoppers from the Smart City Shopping team. Smart City Shopping will give an exclusive tour of the best shops in Stockholm. Spend the day at the shopping high points of the city that offers exclusive brands from the entire fashion world. Be tempted by everything from beautiful bags to smart suits and stunning dresses.

Afternoon: Away from the bustling shopping precincts, retreat to the calm of the Sturebadet baths and enjoy a spa treatment to get the skin glowing. Enjoy a late lunch at the charming restaurant for some soul searching.

Evening: Dinner at the intimate little restaurant Roxy in Södermalm. Great food and friendly staff – like having dinner with friends. Linger in the bar before heading back for a good night’s sleep. Or, for night owls, the place to be on a Sunday night is Café Opera.

Romantic weekend packages are available at ActivitiesInSweden.com

STOCKHOLM FOR FIRST TIME VISITORS

Stockholm is a city of contrasts that creates a dazzling array of impressions. A modern city with a flourishing business culture, it has successfully retained its history and natural splendour. The narrow streets of the Old Town sit comfortably alongside the modern city centre, hotels, museums and shops. Below are some must-do experiences for the first-time visitor.

Day one

Arrival: Start a stay in Stockholm with a combined sightseeing tour by bus and boat. Frequent departures are available from Gustav Adolfs Torg near the Royal Opera House. Continue with a light lunch at the old indoor market, Östermalmshallen. This 19th century setting houses a number of excellent restaurants and cafés.

Afternoon: Explore the Vasa Museum, home to the richly ornamented 17th century sailing vessel that sank on her maiden voyage.

Evening: Take an early evening walk through the lanes of the Old Town and dine at one of the many restaurants.

Day two
Morning: Begin the day with a visit to Stockholm City Hall, a remarkable architectural landmark and the site of the annual Nobel Prize Banquet. Next, stop at the Royal Palace for the changing of the guard and then meander along the streets of the Old Town for shopping and lunch at one of the many pavement cafés.

Afternoon: Cross over to the island of Djurgården by shuttle ferry and visit Skansen, the world’s first open-air museum. Founded in 1891, it showcases the rich culture and a tradition of Sweden’s past and present.

Evening: Dine at one of Stockholm’s many stylish new restaurants with their innovative menus. The interior design often adds to the experience.

Day three
Morning: Travel by steam ship to the 18th century Drottningholm Palace, the residence of the Swedish Royal Family and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll through the beautiful baroque garden and the English park.

Afternoon: Enjoy the extensive array of shopping opportunities on offer in Stockholm. Everything from antiques to modern Swedish design is at hand.
Evening: Try a traditional Swedish smörgåsbord (a Swedish buffet) at the Grand Hotel. Reservations are advisable.

For a great Stockholm weekend break package visit ActivitiesInSweden.com

WINTER VISIT TO STOCKHOLM

During the winter, visitors to Stockholm are more likely to see snow, ice and crisp sunny days than in other European cities. Winter officially starts on the first Sunday of advent, four Sundays before Christmas. During this time, Christmas markets can be found throughout the city. The markets offer a wide variety of Swedish sweets, smoked sausages, reindeer meat, glögg (mulled wine), and a range of handicrafts and decorative arts.

Skansen, the open-air museum on Djurgården, has a large traditional Christmas market. Stockholm’s oldest area, Gamla Stan (the Old Town) is full of small shops and restaurants with cheery Christmas decorations and plenty of atmosphere. The famous Stortorget Christmas market is also held here. The best-known Christmas market in the archipelago is on the island of Utö. It specialises in local products such as honey, handicrafts and freshly-smoked fish. Drottninggatan, one of the longest pedestrian streets in Stockholm, glitters with Christmas lights. The NK department store on Hamngatan traditionally has the most spectacular window displays.

Julbord, the Swedish Christmas table, has a venerable heritage and is served as a smörgåsbord (buffet) with all the traditional dishes. From November to Christmas, many restaurants in and around Stockholm serve julbord. Many of the steamboats that grace the waters of the archipelago also serve these traditional Christmas buffets for lunch and dinner.Lucia is always celebrated on the 13th of December. Originally a festival commemorating St. Lucia from Syracuse in Italy, Lucia Day is celebrated in Sweden to bring light to one of the darkest days of the year. Visitors can take part in the Lucia festivities by attending the coronation of Sweden’s Lucia and the Lucia celebrations at Skansen, the Lucia Concert at Globen (the Globe Arena) and the Lucia Concert in Stockholm Cathedral.

Activities
Winter opens up a whole new dimension of outdoor activities in Stockholm. Adventurous visitors can go for a brief dip in the icy waters and then warm up in a hot sauna, or go long-distance skiing in the Hellasgården nature reserve just 20 minutes from Stockholm. It is even possible to go downhill skiing in the Stockholm area.

Skates are available for hire at the skating rink in Kungsträdgården in central Stockholm. Visitors can also try long-distance ice skating, a Stockholm favourite, as soon as the water freezes over. Or simply take a walk on the ice and discover the city from another angle. The Stockholm archipelago is also open for business throughout the winter for excursions and overnight stays – quite the exotic experience.

For a range of wonderful winter activities in Stockholm and the rest of Sweden visit ActivitiesInSweden.com

Traditional Swedish Meatball Recipe

Swedish meatballs are a great dish that everyone will enjoy!

They're best eaten with boiled potatoes and lingonberry sauce.

How to make your own Swedish Meatballs:

Ingredients:

• 250gm minced beef
• 250gm minced pork
• 1 egg
• 200-300ml cream and water (or milk and water)
• 2.5 tbsp. finely-chopped onion
• 50ml unsweetened rusk flour
• 2 cold boiled potatoes
• 4-5 tbsps butter, margarine or oil
• salt and pepper

Instructions:

1. heat the onion till golden in a couple of tablespoons of lightly browned butter.
2. mash the potatoes and moisten the rusk flour in a little water.
3. mix all the ingredients until there is consistency and flavour generously with salt, white pepper and (optional) a little finely crushed allspice.
4. use a pair of spoons to shape the mixture into relatively large, round balls and transfer to a floured chopping board.
5. fry them slowly in plenty of butter.

How to make the cream sauce:
ingredients:

• 100ml cream
• 200ml beef stock
• chinese soya sauce
• 1 tbsp white flour
• salt, white pepper

Instructions:

1. swirl the boiling water or beef stock in a pan.
2. add cream and thicken with white flour if preferred.
3. season well with salt and pepper
4. serve the meatballs with the sauce, freshly boiled potatoes, uncooked lingonberry jam and salad.

Activities In Sweden goes to Lapland

It's a hard job but someone's got to do it!

Visiting our suppliers on a regular basis is an important part of our yearly routine. Not only do we receive a lot of important feedback and ideas but we also have a great time as well!

This is how our view days paned out.

Day 1
Our accommodation during the stay was the newly opened Arctic Eden. Previously a school, this building has been lovingly restored to incorporate 32 luxurious rooms in this now modern hotel.

It's now become the primary hotel for our Winter Activity Packages and we believe it to be the best in the region. The hotel exceeded our expectations and we are confident that everyone spending time at this hotel, will be as impressed as we were.

The morning was cold, very cold. -8 in fact and this would surely drop as we ventured out into the open wilderness. Just as well that the hotel provides all the winter clothing your going to need during your stay. This first class gear is provided in a range of sizes and will provide you with all the protection you need when venturing out into the Arctic.

We took a short car journey to where our first activity for the day would take place, a snow mobile safari!

After a brief description of the controls, the was engine fired up and we took our seats. These 650cc scooters have blistering acceleration and a top speed of 100km/hr, great!

We moved off cautiously as we made our way to the beginning of the trail, at which point we started to accelerate up the hill and we all made it safely to the first way point.

You realise almost immediately that there is nothing around you for miles. If it wasn't for the din of the engine you could be on the moon. No time to ponder now, we rev up and drop down in to what turns out to be a frozen lake at the bottom of a small valley.

With ever growing confidence the speeds begin to increase as the valley opened up into what was a breathtaking sight, flanked by a ridge and forest. All this though quickly flies past your eyes and ears as you race towards an opening and a small track appears at the edge of the forest.

The forest is a completely different challenge to the open valley. Weaving in and out of endless forest requires a little concentration,as well as a little nerve. Many visitors and novices to snow mobiles tend to spend quite some time getting through this part of the forest but luckily we manage to make short work, of it as we press onwards.

We meet up with a couple of elderly cross country skiers, who are not too pleased to see us. In fact, the leading lady panics a little losing control and almost falling to the ground. We make our apologises and then continue to press on as the forest finally opens up into want appears to be a large field.

We're instructed to cut our engines and spend a few moments just taking in the piece and calm. Everything is white totally white. The branches on the trees hang low from the weight of frost and snow. Nothing moves, nothing! The cool air is fresh and crisp and I was to later learn a great sleeping aid.

We moved off for the last leg of our trip, which took us down into a large valley and then round a sweeping bend towards our destination, the Ice Hotel.

I don't think there was an awful lot that could have turned our gaze away from the beauty of the endless valley that we had found ourselves in, but the Ice Hotel was one such thing.

Not fully complete the hotel would not open until the 13th Dec but it was still a wonderful sight. People were everywhere. The whole site was a mass of activity as sculpture scrapped and chipped at the newly laid blocks of ice.

The interior was taking shape with dramatic pillars of ice, sculpted into weird and wonderful shapes. Designers from all over the world occupied the design suits, as they painstakingly carved their masterpieces, consisting of chairs, tables, beds and accessories.

This year will truly be a busy year for the Ice Hotel, with many of their rooms already sold out.

We left the Ice Hotel to continue is rebirth from the Thorne River where it originates. The light was already dimming considerably and it was only 14:00.

We made our way back through the deep forests with our headlights becoming more and more useful as the disappeared in an ever darkening forest. We stopped off on the way to take a look at one of the Wilderness cabins that we use for our Wilderness Packages.

This typically traditional Swedish cabin is located on the side of a valley and surrounded by thick forest. On a clear night you just have to step out of your door and look up to see the Northern Lights dancing overhead.

We managed to cover 80km on our first outing in Kiruna. Not bad going really considering the temperature had dropped to -18 by the time we made our final approach back into Kiruna, ouch!

Day 2
It had been a great night sleep when emerged for breakfast. 'Did anyone feel the rumbles?', asked one of my staff. Yes, indeed we did but what was it, an earthquake? Well, it wasn't a million miles from the truth. A member of the hotel staff informed us that it was explosions from deep under the ground from the mine, something that they do every night from around 01:00. It's nothing to keep you awake but it's definitely there and it's a very strange sound.

I spent the following night waiting for it and I was not disappointed, as the unmissable echo and thud from below could be both felt and heard.

Ice Skating Through Stockholm Lakes- It's Always Better Than You Think!

This was perhaps our best excursion. Two years ago in the beginning of February, it had snowed on the Wednesday and Thursday the temperature was between minus 5 and 10 degrees with a blanket of snow everywhere.

After we had collected our Dutch guests from Arlanda airport on the Friday, we skated a couple of laps on a ploughed track in Norrviken. Afterwards, we took a trip through Edsberg to Edsviken, for a journey on a cleared trail to Ulriksdal. Then further by foot to Brunnsviken and Stallmästaregården. Weather conditions consisted of sun, no wind and a couple of degrees below freezing. After 40km in our legs, and everyone happy the days skating came to a close.

The hotel for the first night was the charming Krusenbergs Herrgård near Ekoln, as we had no idea where we were to go on the Saturday; the hotel had to be central. After a sauna and a dip in Mälaren and fantastic food Anders received good news that Vättern had frozen. This was too good to miss, an early breakfast and we were on our way.

At 10.30 we step out onto the ice in Motala. An endless mirror of glistening ice welcomed us in glorious sunshine. The water in Vätttern is very clear making the ice nice and clear, one can see the bottom at 10m, a strange sensation. There's an inner cheer of joy, as we carve our way forward and listen to the ice talking back to us. The early start and the bus journey are quickly forgotten.

After the bus back to Södertune Castle there was an after-skate with songs and laughter. Anders doesn’t give in and tells us all that tomorrow's trip will be on the newly frozen ice outside Arkösund.

In Södertune we used a wonderfully sauna. Set in historical surrounding, words cannot describe the atmosphere here. We shared wonderful food and conversation together after which we retired to a welcomed sleep.

The following morning after breakfast we took the bus to Kolmården, followed by the car ferry over to Arkösund. What a day this was! Perfect ice to the outer most ice edge of the farthest skerries, lunch bathed by glorious sunshine, and a view over the sea and beyond, how good can it get!

Who would of thought it? An experience such as this. The fact is, that we ourselves are surprised by just how good it can get.

For tour bookings visit www.ActivitiesInSweden.com