Stockholm 2003

Stockholm

18 - 21 June, 2003

I had skipped a trip to Bologna over the whitsun weekend because I couldn't find a low priced car park at Cologne airport - a few days later, I had my first trip to Scandinavia. Again I flew Ryanair from Hahn, which came at about € 75 for a round trip. Unfortunately, the Irish pulled a prank on me by switching my return flight from late evening to early morning. So I lost a full day, which made me skip a planned excursion to the island of Gotland. So the old hanseatic city of Visby has to wait for my next visit.

Accomodation
I had booked the Hotel Kristineberg via the web site of a Swedish agency. The price of roughly € 55 B&B included a "Stockholm a la carte" arrangement, which covered free use of public transport as well as free admission to various museums and sites. The hotel is a little bit long in the tooth, the low rise building has the charme of the 50s and 60s. Room and bath were fine, although a bit small - however, I was compensated by the chance to observe some fairly fearless rabbits, feasting on the hotel grass. This remark should make it clear that the location of the Kristineberg is not the most central. However, it is just a short walk from the subway station of same denominator, and from there it takes some 10 minutes to Stockholm central. Besides, this location outside the city center has the benefit of a very low noise level. Staying at the Kristineberg is definitely relaxing. And breakfast was among the best I have yet seen in any hotel - from sweet to hearty, and healthy food fans like myself have no reason to complain, either - great! And the staff was very friendly too, so I can definitely recommend this hotel.

Sites
Stockholm is located on several islands between Mälaren Lake and Baltic Sea, so that the water is never far away. Of the most beautiful parts of the city, one first has to mention the old town (Gamla Stan) around the Stortorget. In the old town's many picturesque alleys, you find a lot of

shops and restaurants - in general, restaurant density in Stockholm seems lower than in German cities, for example. Right next to the old town, there is the island Riddarholmen with its church, in which you can find the graveside of the great king Gustavus Adolphus. The island of Skeppsholmen is worth a visit too, with an interesting youth hostel (on board of a sailing ship), and the sculptures of the Modern Museum.
My personal favourite though was Djurgarden island. Here you find various museums, of which I want to mention the Vasa Museum in particular. This museum is devoted to a marvellous battleship, which due to a miscalculated construction sank already on its maiden voyage in 1628. Salvaged in the 1960s, the Vasa is exhibited in this museum, along with detailed explanations regarding its time and creation. Besides the museums, Djurgarden also holds the open air museum and zoo Skansen and Stockholm's Tivoli. But the island is also a nice place for long walks - just don't get discouraged by a drop of rain or two.

A few tips
Sweden's price level is quite as high as that of Great Britain - even if you don't drink alcohol. Still I would like to recommend two restaurants in the old town. In the "Den Gyldene Freden" I twice enjoyed very tasty typical Swedish Husmanskost, at a most acceptable price. And the staff was very friendly and service oriented too, which I think is not always the rule in the country of real existing social democracy. I was also very satisfied in the "Von der Lindeska Valvet", where I had a very nice midsummer buffet at a very nice price.
The Stockholm subway ("Tunnelbana", that's why the stations are marked with a T), is very well expanded and concise. It is an ideal complement to exploring the city by foot, which due to the very good, fresh Scandinavian air is much more comfortable than in many other cities.