Stockholm Things to Do Tips by Marpessa

Worth it for the exhibitions... National Museum Review

Hmm... to be quite honest I wasn't overly impressed by the collection of artworks at the National Museum. I wish there had been more Swedish artists in the collection, or better information to highlight the Swedish artists there. Don't get me wrong there were some very impressive pieces of artwork, I just felt that the museum was a little... empty.

Although I walked through an exhibition called 'Zorn's Men'. This is work by Swedish artist Ander Zorn (b. 1860 - d. 1920). The majority of his work was portraiture and on any scale he gives the impression of minute detail in his work without making the artworks look too busy or 'overdone'. The detail in the portraits is amazing, you can see every stroke and the simplicity of it is beautiful (even though you know you couldn't do something like that yourself :) ). The exhibition ends on the 26th of February 2006 and I recommend that if you like art and are in Stockholm to go and see 'Zorn's Men'.

Admission: free
(Although some exhibitions do cost a fee, not 'Zorn's Men' though, it is free as well)

Opening Hours:
Closed Mondays
Tuesday and Thursday: 11 am - 8 pm.
Wednesday, Friday - Sunday: 11 am - 5 pm.

Address: Södra Blasieholmshamnen

Tour: Stockholm in a Nutshell

Tours are in: Swedish, English, German, Spanish, French, Italian (and for tours departing at 10am, 12pm, 2pm and 4pm, Russian, Finnish and Japanese is also available)

You start off on a very comfortable bus, with large windows so you can see everything, you go over a few of the main islands, including: Gamla Stan, Kungsholmen, Norrmalm and Södermalm. On this trip you get a good overview of the historical importance of buildings, sites and the different islands. The bus tour goes for an hour and half before you get off the bus at Kungsträdgården. A guide will then lead you to a tour boat - this tour goes for an hour and you get to see a lot of Stockholm's inner archipelago. There is some repetition on the commentary, but still, a lot of interesting information is given. Worth it if you are not spending a lot of time in Stockholm.

Runs late March to mid-December
SEK 300 for 2.5 hours

Address: Departs from Gustaf Adolfs Torg

Directions: (in front of Dansmuséet)

Website: http://www.citysightseeing.com/EN/index.htm

Historical Cathedral Storkyrkan Review

Storkyrkan is a beautiful cathedral on Gamla Stan. It is the oldest church in Stockholm and holds within its walls the oldest known painting depicting Stockholm (painted in 1520). It is also has other beautiful artefacts like the (wood) statue of 'St George and the Dragon' by Bernt Notke (1489). This church was first mentioned in writing in the 13th Century, it is Gothic architecture on the inside but the outside was remodelled in the 18th to a Baroque styling - most likely to match the surrounding buildings better.

It has been used for centuries for royal weddings and coronations.

I definitely recommend visiting this cathedral, but while there, ask if they are doing any tours up the clock tower. I arrived just before a tour was about to start and was asked if I wanted to join (for a fee of course), but it was money well spent. The guide (a priest in training, who looked a lot like Paul Walker) gave good insight into what conditions were like in centuries past and about the people who inhabited the tower. Then you get amazing views of the city around you!!

Check out my Storkyrkan Travelogue for views of the city from the clock tower.

Address: Trängsund Stockholm 111 29

Directions: Tube Station: T-Gamla Stan
Buses: 3 and 46

Walking Tour Gamla Stan - The Old Town Review

Tours in Swedish or English (although also available German, Spanish, Russian and Italian). When I did my walking tour it was raining lightly, but the tour still went ahead with all of us under our umbrellas (not supplied – you have to bring your own). You walk all over Gamla Stan with the guide telling you about the Old Towns history, including the Bloodbath of 1520 and the story behind ‘St. George and the Dragon’. You are encouraged to ask your guide questions, which makes for a friendly atmosphere amongst the group (which is at maximum 20 people). At the end of the tour you can either follow your guide back to Gustaf Adolfs Torg or stay and wander around Gamla Stan.

Only available in July and August - SEK 90 for 1 hour

(For more on Gamla Stan - check out my Gamla Stan Travelogue)

Address: Departs from Gustaf Adolfs Torg

Website: http://www.citysightseeing.com/EN/index.htm

Kungsträdgården Kungsträdgården Review

This was one of the first places I ‘stumbled’ upon while walking around Stockholm. I didn’t have a map on me and so was just sticking to the main streets when I game across this lovely looking ‘garden’ in the centre of the city, a nice place for me to sit down and relax for a while.

The Garden stretches from Hamngatan to the water. There is a ‘TGI Friday’s’ here, a couple of beautiful fountains, many statues, trees, places to sit and relax (there are some grass areas) and a bandstand. A nice place to stop and eat lunch There are restaurants and cafes in the area, so buy something and then go and sit outdoors for a while!

Address: Kungsträdgården

Directions: On Hamngatan, just near Sergels Torg.