"The Venice of the North" a Stockholm Travel Page by MikeAtSea

Fronted by the thousands of islands forming the Stockholm Archipelago, Sweden’s capital city enjoys some delightful water views. The city’s Old Town huddles around Kungliga Slottet, the largest royal castle in the world still being used as originally intended. On the square surrounded by the Baroque style edifice, one can catch the pomp and circumstance of the daily Changing of the Guards. On the itinerary should be some time to explore Haga Park and museums, the Bird and Butterfly House, royal palace Haga Slot, and Gustav III’s Pavilion, an exquisite example of Neoclassical architecture refl ecting his fascination with all things Roman. Stockholm’s City Hall is home to the annual Nobel Prize banquet and also showcases mosaic-lined Gyllene Salen (Golden Hall). After exploring the medieval streets and shops of Old Town, consider excursions to Sigtuna, Sweden’s oldest city; the world’s fi rst open-air museum at Skansen (founded in 1891); or Vaxholm, Stockholm’s gateway to the archipelago’s islands.