travel guide

Stockholm

Gameon & DaughterTravel Guide Pro’s

Sweden

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* Enter medieval StockholmGamla Stan is the living cradle of Stockholm’s birth more than three quarters of a millennium ago. Read more www.timeout.com/stockholm/features/339/20-great-things-

to-do-in-stockholm

* Join the NobelityThe Stadshuset (City Hall), Stockholm’s most prominent landmark, plays host to some of the world’s most esteemed people at its Nobel Prize banquet, held annual in the building’s Blue Hall.

See all www.timeout.com/stockholm/features/339/20-great-things-to-do-in-stockholm

* Share in artistic enlightenmentFor groundbreaking contemporary art and a feast of historical treasures make sure you take in Stockholm’s two very different art museums.


* Find your sea legsDrinking on the water is a popular pastime in Stockholm and several pontoons and boats now host bars and restaurants.


* Get a fika fixCafé culture in Sweden is as rich as the coffee the natives consume by the gallon.


* Fill your smörgåsbord with northern delights

IKEA and The Muppets have introduced the world to ‘köttbullar’ (meatballs) but there’s more to Swedish ‘husmankost’ (traditional fare) than these delectable little nuggets.


* Say thank you for the musicSweden is still very much a rock and pop country at heart and Stockholm’s live music scene is bigger than

ever. See all www.timeout.com/stockholm/features/339/20-great-things-to-

do-in-stockholm

* Climb aboard for a lesson in Swedish history

Stockholm’s most prized heirloom is the 69-metre-long, 380-year-old warship Vasa, which sank just 20 minutes into her maiden voyage in 1628.

See all www.timeout.com/stockholm/features/339/20-great-things-to-

do-in-stockholmPull on a pair of Borgs

Björn Borg, once the king of tennis is now the king of Swedish smalls, and his collection, from underwear to bags and shoes, is ace!


* Have a Pontus experiencePontus by the Sea – a quayside venue with Stockholm’s best waterfront views – and the impressive Pontus! – a huge three-floor eatery, which has been compared to London’s Quaglino’s.


* Catch a ferry to the Stockholm Archipelago

A popular destination in the summermonths, the Stockholm Archipelago begins just a few miles east of the capital, covering about 140 kilometres (90 miles) from north to south. * Drink in killer viewsAt the top of the historic Katarina lift it is the ideal place to sup a tall drink while taking in panoramic views of Djurgården and the Riddarfjården.


* Unpack a picnic on royal groundsGrab some herring and lingonberries and head for the green oasis of Djurgården. Read more about www.timeout.com/stockholm/features/339/20-great-

things-to-do-in-stockholm

* Buy into Swedish designSwedish design flies off the shelves everywhere from Tallinn to Tokyo, and we’re not talking about Ikea.


* Get in with the in-crowdStockholm is famous for its trendy bars with membership cards, VIP rooms, and long queues… and they’re not to be missed.


* Pick up some contemporary Swedish artIn the past few years Stockholm’s contemporary art scene has exploded to its full potential.


* Join the ‘Street’ sceneStreet normally takes place on alternate weekends from March until Christmas. For details, check the website at www.streetinstockholm.se.


* Revisit your childhoodJunibacken, a mini indoor theme park devoted to Pipi Longstocking is as popular with parents taking a trip down memory lane as it is with their kids.


* Get your VIP dancing shoes onShake your booty with Stockholm’s fashionistas, musicians and hipsters at Spy Bar, if you can convince the bouncers that you know the right people that is.


* Take a one-stop cultural tour of SwedenSkansen has 150-plus traditional buildings – homes shops, churches, barns and workshops – organised as a miniature Sweden.

See all attractions in Stockholm

THINGS TO DOLooking for restaurants in Stockholm that serve Swedish cuisine?

Here is a list of restaurants that I recommend... (Rustic = “husmanskost”)

Table of Contents

Things to do . . . . . . . . . .2

Where to eat . . . . . . . . . .3

Where to stay . . . . . . . . .4

Plan our trip . . . . . . . . . .5

Nightlife . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Shopping . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Stockholm . . . . . . . . . . . .8

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THINGS TO DO

* PrinsenDowntown. Classic dishes using top notch produce in trendy atmosphere.

Restaurant PrinsenMaster Samuelsgatan 4th 111 44 Stockholm, Sweden Phone: 08-611 13:31

http://restaurangprinsen.eu/

* PelikanSödermalm. Rustic Swedish cuisine in beer hall atmosphere.

http://www.pelikan.se/sidor/eng_index.htm

* Grand’s VerandDowntown. Smörgåsbord.

Grand Hôtel Southern Blasieholmshamnen 8 Box 164 24 103 27 Stockholm Tel: 08 - 679 35 00 http://www.grandhotel.se/in_english/restaurant_bar/grands_

veranda

* SturehofDowntown. French influence. Great seafood!

Sturehof AB Sturegallerian 42Stureplan 2114 46 StockholmPhone: +46 8-440 57 30

http://www.sturehof.com/en-us/home/

* Ulla WinbladhDjurgården. Classic Stockholm restaurant.

* Erik’s GondolenSödermalm. Modern, with fantastic views of the city.

Stadsgården 6, 104 65 StockholmPhone: +46-8-641 70 90,

http://www.eriks.se/start.asp?lang=2 * Fem Små HusGamla Stan. High end in historic atmosphere.

Fem Små HusNygränd 10111 30 StockholmTelephone: +46 8 10 87 75

http://www.femsmahus.se/english_ny.html

* Blå DörrenSödermalm. Rustic Swedish dishes.

Blå DörrenSödermalmstorg 6116 45 stockholmPhone: 08 743 0 743/ 743 0 740

http://www.bla-dorren.se/

* JTGamla Stan. Rustic dining in the Old Town.

RESTAURANG JTJärntorget 78111 29 Old Town, StockholmPhone: +46 8 20 44 20

http://www.jt78.se/en/

* OperakällarenDowntown. Haute cuisine, classic restaurant in the Opera House.

Operakällaren, The Royal Opera House, Karl XII:S torgBox 1616 SE-111 86 Stockholm, SwedenPhone: +46 8 676 58 00

http://www.eng.operakallaren.se/

* Restaurant 1900Downtown. Modern cuisine using traditional flavours.

1900: brasserie på svenskaRegeringsgatan 66114 46 StockholmTel:+46 (0)8 20 60 10

http://r1900.se/#

WHERE TO EATLooking for restaurants in Stockholm that serve Swedish cuisine?

Here is a list of restaurants that I recommend... (Rustic = “husmanskost”)

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* BERNSNäckströmsgatan 8, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 566 32200)Everyone from Robbie Williams to the Dalai Lama has checked in to Berns’ boutique bedrooms, which are well-placed near the Opera House, the best shops and great nightlife.

* HOTEL BIRGER JARLTulegatan 8, Norrmalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 674 1800)Built in 1974, the hotel has been revamped to become a showcase for Swedish design.

* HOTEL ESPLANADEStrandvägen 7a, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 663 0740)Overlooking the harbour on one of the classiest streets in town, Esplanade is close to

all the most fashionable Östermalm shops.

* HOTEL SKEPPSHOLMENGröna gången 1, Skeppsholmen, Stockholm (00 46 8 407 2300)Hotel Skeppsholmen, which is housed in two 17th-century buildings on an island in the heart of the city, is more than just another exercise in Nordic minimalism.

* LYDMAR HOTELSödra Blasieholmshamnen 2, Stockholm (00 46 8 223160)The location of Per Lydmar’s second hotel in Stockholm - between the Grand Hotel and the National Museum, with views over the harbour, Old Town and Royal Palace - is ideal.

* NORDIC LIGHT HOTELVasaplan, Vasastaden, StockholmThis cool, pale designer hotel has 175 rooms and friendly, helpful staff.

* RICA HOTEL KUNGSGATANKungsgatan 47, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 723 7220)A central hotel with pleasant blond-wood furnishings.

* RIVAL HOTELMariatorget 3, Södermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 545 78900)Benny from ABBA is breathing new life into Stockholm’s hotel scene with this hotel-café-bakery-cinema.

* STALLMASTAREGARDENNorrtull, Vasastaden, Stockholm (00 46 8 610 1300) Located next to the huge Haga park with beautiful views over a lake but only 10 minutes’ drive from the city centre, Stallmästaregården is a rustic and romantic hotel popular with Stockholmers who want a slap-up meal and an overnight stay.

* STORY HOTELRiddargatan 6, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 54 50 39 40 ) The Story, which opened in March 2010, used to be an apartment building and so underneath its fiercely trendy new look it retains a cosy, homely charm.

* VICTORY HOTELLilla Nygatan 5, Gamla Stan, Stockholm (00 46 8 506 40000) Slap in the middle of Gamla Stan (the Old Town), the Victory plays up to the Stockholm’s nautical obsession: each of the 45 ship-shape rooms are named after a Swedish sea captain.

* DESTINATION STOCKHOLMS SKARGARD

(00 46 8 5424 8100) Cottages and chalets can be rented by the week, for 1,500 SEK-15,000 SEK (about £100-£1,000) depending on size and facilities, such as private swimming pools. Full listings can be found at www.dess.se Price rating: 0/5

* NOBIS HOTEL, SWEDENNorrmalmstorg 2-4 (00 46 8 614 1000)Talk about the best of all worlds: the Nobis has Swedish interiors, Italian food and an American bartender mixing cocktails in the Gold Bar. All this, plus pitch-perfect service and a location on a square in the heart of town have made it the must-stay hotel for both business travellers (the elegant meeting rooms are a legacy from the building’s days as a bank) and tourists (it’s an easy stroll to the old town and NK department store).

WHERE TO STAYStockholm is a stylish and civilised city with great shopping, restaurants and hotels. During the day, you can explore this archipelago city by bicycle or foot and at night.

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How To Get There* AIRPORTArlanda airport is 45km north of Stockholm. High-speed trains leave for Stockholm every 15 minutes and take 20 minutes.

* AIRLINES FROM THE UKSAS (0870 60 727 727; www.flysas.com) flies daily from London Heathrow to Stockholm Arlanda up to eight times a day. British Airways (0870 850 9 850; www.ba.com) flies up to five times a day from Heathrow to Stockholm Arlanda. Norwegian (www.norwegian.com) flies from Edinburgh and Gatwick to Arlanda.

Tourist InfoFor more information on Stockholm, visit the city’s official visitor’s guide (www.visitstockholm.com) or call the Swedish Travel and Tourism Council (00800 3080 3080; www.visit-sweden.com).

The main tourist office (00 46 8 508 28 508) is on Vasagatan 14 (opposite the central train station).

* NEED TO KNOWLanguage: Swedish

Capital City: Stockholm

Population: 9 million

Area: 174,000 square miles

Telephone Calling Code(s): 46

Electricity: 230V, 50 Hz

Currency: As of Nov 22, 2011:

1 Sweden Kronor = $0.15 US Calculate Other Amounts

Entry Requirements:

Sweden, a member of the EU, does not require visas for citizens of the United States. A valid passport is sufficient for a three-month stay.

When To GoThere’s been a lot of snowfall in winter lately, with blizzards most likely in January and February—though bright sun or frequent wet weather (cold or mild) are just as possible. March tends to be damp, but by April, temperatures begin to rise. By May, the city’s blossoming and the sidewalk tables are out. In June and July, it never gets completely dark (conversely, on a dull day in December it can barely get light at all, with the sun setting around 3 p.m.). In July and August, the water is warm enough for swimming, and, though some businesses, notably restaurants, take vacation time, high summer is probably the nicest season to visit. Two major annual events take place in the dead of winter though: the Nobel Prize ceremony in the Konserthuset on December 10, and the Stockholm design fair in February.

Anyone afraid of the cold should avoid Stockholm during the winter months, which can be bitter, although the city looks beautiful in the snow. For the clearest weather, go in July or August.

Travel Information* Visas: For a stays of up to 90 days, you probably will not need a visa, but citizens of South Africa, Hong Kong residents with Chinese passports and residents of many African, Asian, South American and some Eastern European countries should check requirements.

* Public holidays: New Year’s Day; Epiphany; Good Friday; Easter Monday; Labour Day; Ascension; Whit Monday; Midsummer Eve and Day (June); Christmas Eve; Christmas; Boxing Day.

* Local dishes: Swedish food is largely based on fish, meat and potato. Unusual specialities include reindeer, elk meat and wild berries. The local spirit is akvavit and comes in many different flavours.

* Funny fact: All alcohol has to be bought in off-licences except for class A beers (less than 3%) which can be bought in supermarkets.

PLAN YOUR TRIP

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NIGHTLIfE

* BERNS SALONGERBerzelii Park, Norrmalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 566 322 22; www.berns.se). A legendary music hall that host concerts as well as club nights.

* KVARNENTjärhovsgatan 4, Södermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 643 0380; www.kvarnen.com). A legendary Södermalm restaurant and bar, which hasn’t forgotten the borough’s working class roots, Kvarnen is housed in a beautiful fin de siecle building and you can choose to take your drink alfresco during the warm summer months.

* LE BAR ROUGEÖsterlånggatan 17, Gamla Stan, Stockholm (00 46 8 505 244 60; www.lerouge.se). With its banquettes and acres of scarlet velvet, Le Bar Rouge looks like a corner of fin-de-siècle Paris. It is the creation of the team behind several Stockholm hotspots (F12, Kungsholmen, Grill); good for late-night drinks, it also serves one of the city’s best burgers.

* NALENRegeringsgatan 74, Norrmalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 505 292 00; www.nalen.com). When talking about legendary places, Nalen shouldn’t be forgotten - it has played host to several jazz legends over the years. Today, people come here for concerts and club nights. Pay a visit to the restaurant where you’ll find some classic Swedish food.

* RICHEBirger Jarlsgatan 4, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 8 545 035 60; www.riche.se). A very fashionable bar, Riche is frequented by the rich, famous and very stylish. The restaurant serves traditionally Swedish food, whereas the bar is extremely vibrant and modern.

* SPY BARBirger Jarlsgatan 20, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 545 076 55; www.spybar.se). Also a celebrity favourite, Spy Bar is a genuine nightclub with good and varying music. Popular with partygoers, it should be avoided if you’d prefer talking to dancing. The queue is legendary.

* STURECOMPAGNIETSturegatan 4, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 545 076 00; www.stureplansgruppen.se). Probably the most famous club in Sweden, Sturecompagniet is made up of four rooms over two floors and is popular with 23-30-year-olds.

* TRANANKarlbergsvägen 14, Vasastaden, Stockholm (00 46 8 527 281 00; www.tranan.se). A bit further north, Tranan is another Stockholm classic that offers great drinks and fantastic bar food (most of the menu is very Swedish). The bar has rotating DJs and the music ranges from Brazilian jazz to 70s funk and deep house.

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NIGHTLIfE

ANTIQUES* SVENSKA RUMNybrogatan 40, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 662 17 77; www.svenskarumantikt.se). The name means Swedish Rooms, and owner Leif Jansson is a big fan of Gustaviana from the 18th and 19th centuries.

CLOTHES* ANNA HOLTBLADGrev Turegatan 13, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 5450 2220; www.annaholtblad.com). Anna Holtblad is known for her wearable yet unique clothes, and her beautiful boutique is well worth a visit.

* BEYOND RETROÅsögatan 144, Södermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 641 3642; www.beyondretro.com). With over 6,000 items in store, Beyond Retro is definitely worth a visit. For a shopping experience with a twist, visit the shop on a Sunday after 3pm when Stockholm musicians treat shoppers to live music.

* FILIPPA KBiblioteksgatan 2-4, Östermalm, Stockholm ( (00 46 8 611 88 03; www.filippa-k.com). Swedish designer Filippa Knutsson makes high quality basics for men, women and children. Expect sailor-stripe T-shirts, cotton sweaters, cords and chinos in an array of colours.

* LISA LARSSONBondegatan 48, Södermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 643 6153; www.lisalarssonsecondhand.com). For the best in second-hand chic try the Lisa Larsson boutique on Södermalm. An established boutique for over twenty years and a favourite with celebrities, Lisa Larsson’s collection is one of Stockholm’s best-kept secrets. You will find a wide

range of potential purchases - from collectable designer items to inexpensive costume pieces.

* NATALIE SCHUTERMANBirger Jarlsgatan 5, Norrmalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 611 62 01; www.nathalieschuterman.se). An exclusive boutique that stocks 3.1 Phillip Lim, Bottega Veneta, Miu Miu, Marchesa, Christian Louboutin and other internationally renowned designers. Open Mon-Sat.

* NORDISKA KOMPANIETHamngatan 18-20, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 762 80 00; www.nk.se). The Swedish department store, Nordiska Kompaniet (known as “NK”) stocks all the must-have Scandinavian fashion labels along with the international masters. With plenty of Swedish and Scandinavian exclusives that you won’t find elsewhere, NK is well worth a visit.

* STADSMISSIONENStortorget 5, Gamla Stan, Stockholm (00 46 8 7878 661; www.stadsmissionen.se). Stadsmissionen sells second-hand stuff in aid of the homeless and you might, with luck, score some vintage Swedish design at bargain prices. Failing that, pop into its wonderful bakery next door for traditional cardamom and cinnamon breads.

* STUREGALLERIANGrev Turegatan 9a, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 453 50 67; www.sturegallerian.se). One of the most exclusive shopping malls in Sweden, Sturegallerian has over 50 luxury boutiques and an assortment of quality eateries. It’s a favourite of Stockholm’s elite, and the princesses (especially the fashionable Princess Madeleine) are often spotted shopping here. The mall houses the original Sturebadet public bath, which has been restored to its original Art Nouveau design and reincarnated as Stockholm’s most luxurious spa.

HOME AND INTERIORS* CARL MALMSTENStrandvagen 5b, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 233 380; www.c.malmsten.se). This designer opened his interiors boutique in the 1920s, and his work is enjoying a renaissance. The Farmor armchair (about £975), and the Hemmakväll sofa (from about £1,935) are design classics. The store also sells fabulous glasses, ceramics and textiles by contemporary Swedish designers.

* NORDISKA GALLERIETNybrogatan 11, Östermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 442 8360; www.nordiskagalleriet.se). This is where you’ll find the very best contemporary furniture by Scandinavian designers. Limited-edition chairs are produced each year, and rapidly increase in value.

* SVENSKT TENNStrandvägen 5, Stockholm (00 46 8 670 16 00; www.svenskttenn.se). An established furniture, textile and lighting design company, Svenskt Tenn boasts its own lifestyle philosophy. The pieces are truly unique; embodying the creative culture the company has stuck to since its conception in the Twenties. The shop also regularly holds exhibitions for inspirational Stockholm designers.

* TEN SWEDISH DESIGNERSGötgatan 25, Södermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 643 2504; www.tiogruppen.com). The signature of this collective of textile designers (which put a firm mark on fashion in Sweden during the 1960s) is bold, bright graphics that are applied to fabrics by the metre. The collection includes bags, accessories, clothes and bed linen.

JEWELLERY* EFVA ATTLINGHornsgatan 44, Södermalm, Stockholm (00 46 8 642 9949; www.efvaattlingstockholm.com). Efva Attling is a former Eileen Ford model and singer who turned jewellery designer during the 1990s. Her work is beautifully crafted using simple, clean designs. The range of chunky sterling silver rings start at about £45.

WHERE TO SHOPStockholm is an excellent shopping destination. The stylish inhabitants frequent equally stylish shops and boutiques,

and you’ll be able to find the latest - and best - Scandinavian design here.

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1 . Nature, countryside . Oh yes! Two-thirds of Sweden is forests, lakes, rolling hills, pristine archipelagos and wilderness. It’s not easy to find a more beautiful country, if we may say so ourselves.

2 . Cold . Yes and no. It’s true, our winters are often cold and long but we love the dramatic shifts between the four seasons, with the extremes of the midnight sun and the polar night.

3 . Stockholm . Our royal capital – one of the world’s most beautiful cities, according to ourselves and many others.

4 . Expensive. In the past, yes. Today Sweden may be expensive compared to certain countries, yet it is inexpensive and good value compared to others.

5 . Snow . Yes! Almost all of Sweden is white during the winter months, with all the enjoyment, pleasures, adventures and recreation that the snow and ice offer.

6 . Friendly country and people . Thank you very much!

7 . Forests . Yes. More than half of Sweden is forested, and from this comes our prosperity, our sagas and mythology, our food and much more. We Swedes love our forests.

8 . Peace and quiet . So true. These precious qualities exist in abundance in our country.

9 . Inexpensive. Yes, in some respects and by some comparisons it actually is.

10 . Lakes . Yes. Throughout the country visitors can enjoy the priceless luxury of looking out over a quiet lake in the forest at sunset. The nine million Swedes have 520,000 lakes to share between them!

11 . Plenty of space, great distances . Yes and no. Sweden is one of the few countries where the countryside is still larger than the people. Norrland, with the same area as the United Kingdom, has 1.3 million people. However in the more densely populated south of the country, distances are short. Visitors find our metropolitan regions manageable, with lots to see and do within a limited range.

12 . Beautiful . YES! We are surprised that this quality doesn’t rank higher on the list. Sweden’s beauty is magical.

13 . IKEA . No one can deny the enormous influence that this furniture and design giant has had on people’s homes and lifestyles around the world. IKEA’s opposite number, H&M, established the same year and with a similar concept, has done much the same in the fashion world.

14 . Mountains . Yes. The endless alpine expanses and mountain ranges of the northwest are our pride and joy – impressive and majestic but also welcoming and accessible for everyone.

15 . Fjords . Here we are wondering if some people have mixed us up with our neighbor, Norway. Still, we do have relatively small fjords on our west coast.

16 . Nice country to visit . Thank you!

17 . Culture . Strindberg, Nobel, Greta Garbo, Ingmar Bergman, Ingrid Bergman, ABBA, Stieg Larsson – the list of great Swedes in the cultural sphere can go on and on. Sweden is a country that offers and consumes cultural experiences of all varieties.

18 . Skiing . One of our great popular pastimes, in all its forms: cross country, downhill, snowboarding, and extreme skiing. There’s something for everyone.

19 . Blond people . Yes and no. It’s true that we are famous for our fair hair, but today Sweden is a multicultural country where one fifth of the population has foreign heritage.

20 . Clean . Yes. We have worked long and hard to keep our country clean, both on and below the surface.

www.visitsweden.com

THE IMAGE Of STOCkHOLMIn a large online survey, potential visitors to Sweden from eleven countries have stated their top three associations with Sweden.

Here is the list of Sweden’s 20 top-ranking “qualities”, based on the survey, along with our subjective comments.

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