"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