Winter Inspiration!

Mariatorget Square in front of the Rival Hotel.

I am back from my vacation! I thought I would start back on my blog with some inspirational pictures of a snowy Stockholm... in case you are visiting us this winter season. According to the newspapers and weathermen, it is supposed to be colder than normal this winter (after a warmer than normal December). Though we do know that this is not an exact science! Hopefully this means that we will have snow for a few more weeks. But keep your eye on the weather websites to get accurate forecasts for Stockholm.

Stockholm offers many fun winter activities to try out when visiting the city... everything from skiing and ice skating to sauna with ice-hole swimming. Click here for more information. Strömma offers a great Stockholm Winter boat tour which takes you a bit out in the Stockholm archipelago. Otherwise, one of my favorite things to do is to take a long walk and enjoy how beautiful the city is when covered in snow (like on the island of Djurgården). Just be careful! It can get slippery on the sidewalks.

Winter Inspiration!

Posted by zlatin

Mariatorget Square in front of the Rival Hotel.

I am back from my vacation! I thought I would start back on my blog with some inspirational pictures of a snowy Stockholm... in case you are visiting us this winter season. According to the newspapers and weathermen, it is supposed to be colder than normal this winter (after a warmer than normal December). Though we do know that this is not an exact science! Hopefully this means that we will have snow for a few more weeks. But keep your eye on the weather websites to get accurate forecasts for Stockholm.

Stockholm offers many fun winter activities to try out when visiting the city... everything from skiing and ice skating to sauna with ice-hole swimming. Click here for more information. Strömma offers a great Stockholm Winter boat tour which takes you a bit out in the Stockholm archipelago. Otherwise, one of my favorite things to do is to take a long walk and enjoy how beautiful the city is when covered in snow (like on the island of Djurgården). Just be careful! It can get slippery on the sidewalks.

Outdoor Ice Rink Open for the Season!

A sure sign that winter is almost upon us: the popular outdoor ice skating rink in Kungsträdgården park has opened for the season... even if the temperatures haven't gone under the freezing point in Stockholm yet. It is open 7 days a week with generous opening hours (weekdays from 9am to 9pm, weekends from 10am to 9pm). If you have your own skates then skating is free. If you don't have your own skates, don't worry... they have skates for rent at the rink. Rental prices are also generous with adults paying 60 SEK per hour and children/youth under 20 only needing to pay 30 SEK per hour.

The central location of the rink means that you can combine ice skating with a visit to Kungstädgården's Christmas market (open daily from November 28th to December 22nd) or perhaps a visit to the NK department store or downtown shopping district. The rink is lit up in the winter darkness and they play music, so it is fun just to stop by and watch the skaters while sipping some glögg.To get there from the Rival Hotel, it is just a 30 minute walk through the Old Town (Gamla Stan), 3-4 stops on the subway or a 5 minute taxi ride.

Outdoor Ice Rink Open for the Season!

Posted by zlatin

A sure sign that winter is almost upon us: the popular outdoor ice skating rink in Kungsträdgården park has opened for the season... even if the temperatures haven't gone under the freezing point in Stockholm yet. It is open 7 days a week with generous opening hours (weekdays from 9am to 9pm, weekends from 10am to 9pm). If you have your own skates then skating is free. If you don't have your own skates, don't worry... they have skates for rent at the rink. Rental prices are also generous with adults paying 60 SEK per hour and children/youth under 20 only needing to pay 30 SEK per hour.

The central location of the rink means that you can combine ice skating with a visit to Kungstädgården's Christmas market (open daily from November 28th to December 22nd) or perhaps a visit to the NK department store or downtown shopping district. The rink is lit up in the winter darkness and they play music, so it is fun just to stop by and watch the skaters while sipping some glögg.To get there from the Rival Hotel, it is just a 30 minute walk through the Old Town (Gamla Stan), 3-4 stops on the subway or a 5 minute taxi ride.

Kayaking in Stockholm

The hot weather continues! If swimming at a Stockholm beach sounds too daring but you still want to cool off, then I recommend renting a kayak and paddling around the city. It is quite inexpensive and an active and fun way to spend the day and even do a little sightseeing on your own. I did write a blog article about this way back in 2010... time for a repost!

Kayaking in Stockholm
Photo by Yanan Li, Stockholm's Visitors Board.

Stockholm isn't called the Venice of the North for nothing! Central Stockholm alone is built on about 15 islands, so there is water everywhere. One fun activity to do on a sunny afternoon is to rent a kayak and paddle around the islands. Stockholm is at her most beautiful when seen from the water! Kayaking is fun and you don't need to be an Olympian to do it... good as a family outing. There are several places to rent kayaks by the hour/day and it is generally quite inexpensive. Depending on the place, you are looking at about 100 SEK an hour though it is sometimes cheaper if you take the kayak for half or full day.

When choosing a kayak rental place think about where you want to paddle! Stockholm actually strides the borderline between a lake and the ocean with the Old Town being the borderline. Everything to the east is the Baltic Sea and everything to the west is Lake Mälaren. If you want to paddle in the lake then I recommend Kafé Kajak located in Rålambshovs Park on the island of Kungsholmen. Or else you can head across the bridge to the island of Långholmen where you will find Långholmen Kajak. Not too far from the Rival Hotel! Here you will be able to paddle by a lot of parklands and beaches as well as cliffs where Stockholmers enjoy diving and sunbathing.

Kayaking in the archipelago
Photo by Henrik Trygg, Stockholm's Visitors Board

If you want to paddle in the Baltic Sea area, then I recommend Djurgårdens Sjöcafé located near the bridge leading from Östermalm over to the island of Djurgården. Stay close to the island of Djurgården so you don't stray too far out into the shipping lanes! Lots to see here... beuatiful parks as well as great architecture on Strandvägen and the villas on the southside of the island. Another option is to paddle in the lake called Brunnsviken on the northern outskirts of Stockholm. Haga Park surrounds the lake with lots of interesting things to see like Haga Castle and Stockholm University... you also don't have to worry about larger boats! The place to rent kayaks here is Brunnsvikens Kanotcentral.

Stand Up Paddling is starting to become popular as well!

If you are feeling more adventurous then you can do a full day of kayaking out in the beautiful archipelago. Stockholm Adventures offers tours all summer, Thursdays through Sundays. The price is approximately 1,300 SEK (depends on the day) and includes lunch. You leave Stockholm at about 8:50am and head to the town of Stavsnäs where you will be met by the guide. The experience, all in all, lasts about 11 hours. They also have other options like kayaking with camping or kayaking tours in Stockholm. Some of their websites, that I've linked, are in Swedish so it is better to contact me directly at the hotel for prices and directions on how to get there as well as other practical information. Have fun!

Kayaking in Stockholm

Posted by zlatin

The hot weather continues! If swimming at a Stockholm beach sounds too daring but you still want to cool off, then I recommend renting a kayak and paddling around the city. It is quite inexpensive and an active and fun way to spend the day and even do a little sightseeing on your own. I did write a blog article about this way back in 2010... time for a repost!

Kayaking in Stockholm
Photo by Yanan Li, Stockholm's Visitors Board.

Stockholm isn't called the Venice of the North for nothing! Central Stockholm alone is built on about 15 islands, so there is water everywhere. One fun activity to do on a sunny afternoon is to rent a kayak and paddle around the islands. Stockholm is at her most beautiful when seen from the water! Kayaking is fun and you don't need to be an Olympian to do it... good as a family outing. There are several places to rent kayaks by the hour/day and it is generally quite inexpensive. Depending on the place, you are looking at about 100 SEK an hour though it is sometimes cheaper if you take the kayak for half or full day.

When choosing a kayak rental place think about where you want to paddle! Stockholm actually strides the borderline between a lake and the ocean with the Old Town being the borderline. Everything to the east is the Baltic Sea and everything to the west is Lake Mälaren. If you want to paddle in the lake then I recommend Kafé Kajak located in Rålambshovs Park on the island of Kungsholmen. Or else you can head across the bridge to the island of Långholmen where you will find Långholmen Kajak. Not too far from the Rival Hotel! Here you will be able to paddle by a lot of parklands and beaches as well as cliffs where Stockholmers enjoy diving and sunbathing.

Kayaking in the archipelago
Photo by Henrik Trygg, Stockholm's Visitors Board

If you want to paddle in the Baltic Sea area, then I recommend Djurgårdens Sjöcafé located near the bridge leading from Östermalm over to the island of Djurgården. Stay close to the island of Djurgården so you don't stray too far out into the shipping lanes! Lots to see here... beuatiful parks as well as great architecture on Strandvägen and the villas on the southside of the island. Another option is to paddle in the lake called Brunnsviken on the northern outskirts of Stockholm. Haga Park surrounds the lake with lots of interesting things to see like Haga Castle and Stockholm University... you also don't have to worry about larger boats! The place to rent kayaks here is Brunnsvikens Kanotcentral.

Stand Up Paddling is starting to become popular as well!

If you are feeling more adventurous then you can do a full day of kayaking out in the beautiful archipelago. Stockholm Adventures offers tours all summer, Thursdays through Sundays. The price is approximately 1,300 SEK (depends on the day) and includes lunch. You leave Stockholm at about 8:50am and head to the town of Stavsnäs where you will be met by the guide. The experience, all in all, lasts about 11 hours. They also have other options like kayaking with camping or kayaking tours in Stockholm. Some of their websites, that I've linked, are in Swedish so it is better to contact me directly at the hotel for prices and directions on how to get there as well as other practical information. Have fun!

Swimming at Stockholm Beaches... a Good Way to Cool Off!

Swimming in the archipelago! Photo by Henrik Trygg, Stockholms Visitors Board.

Way back in 2010, I wrote a blog article about beaches and pools in Stockholm. As temperatures are expected to hit 30 Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) next week, I thought that it would be a good idea to write an updated article.

Swimming at Hornsberg Strand.

One perhaps doesn't think of beaches when visiting Stockholm or swimming in the middle of a major metropolitan area in general. But it is actually possible (with many options), safe (clean water) and popular (with locals and visitors alike)! The choices are many... whether you wish for a traditional family-friendly beach or a more secluded cove with cliffs for diving. There are several options within the city as well as many outside of the city, though still easy to get to.

Swimming off Långholmen. Photo by Jeppe Wikström, Stockholm Visitors Board.

Two of the most popular beaches in the city are Smedsuddsbadet and Långholmens Bad and they actually face each other across the water with the former located on the southern coast of the island of Kungsholmen and the latter located on the northern coast of Långholmen island. These are both very family friendly with sandy beaches and can get quite crowded on sunny weekends. Långholmen has also a few more secluded spots for bathing a short walk from the main beach. No sand beaches, but rocky outcrops perfect for diving/jumping in to cool off!

Family friendly Saltsjöbaden.

Sunbathing on rocky cliffs is very popular with the younger crowd... good way to escape the masses and small children. One of the best places for this is the cliffs of Fredhäll on Kungsholmen (a personal favorite). Nearby you will also find the newly built waterfront promenade at Hornsberg Strand where they have put in ladders and terraces making swimming easy. You will also find showers as well as bars & restaurants. Purely local! There are several lakes around Stockholm with their own beaches... two popular places are Hellasgården and Brunnsviken (in Haga Park).

A swim at night. Photo by Henrik Trygg, Stockholm Visitors Board 

Finally, you can head a bit out of the city to swim and sunbathe. The options are endless out in the archipelago... you really just have to decide how far out you wish to travel. Some of the more popular options are Fjäderholmarna, Grinda and Saltsjöbaden. But really the choices are endless! Basically if the sun is shining, and one can safely get to the water, you have an option. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, come talk to me and I can point you in the right direction to find the beach perfect for you. For further reading... click here, here, here or here

Swimming at Stockholm Beaches... a Good Way to Cool Off!

Posted by zlatin

Swimming in the archipelago! Photo by Henrik Trygg, Stockholms Visitors Board.

Way back in 2010, I wrote a blog article about beaches and pools in Stockholm. As temperatures are expected to hit 30 Celsius (86 Fahrenheit) next week, I thought that it would be a good idea to write an updated article.

Swimming at Hornsberg Strand.

One perhaps doesn't think of beaches when visiting Stockholm or swimming in the middle of a major metropolitan area in general. But it is actually possible (with many options), safe (clean water) and popular (with locals and visitors alike)! The choices are many... whether you wish for a traditional family-friendly beach or a more secluded cove with cliffs for diving. There are several options within the city as well as many outside of the city, though still easy to get to.

Swimming off Långholmen. Photo by Jeppe Wikström, Stockholm Visitors Board.

Two of the most popular beaches in the city are Smedsuddsbadet and Långholmens Bad and they actually face each other across the water with the former located on the southern coast of the island of Kungsholmen and the latter located on the northern coast of Långholmen island. These are both very family friendly with sandy beaches and can get quite crowded on sunny weekends. Långholmen has also a few more secluded spots for bathing a short walk from the main beach. No sand beaches, but rocky outcrops perfect for diving/jumping in to cool off!

Family friendly Saltsjöbaden.

Sunbathing on rocky cliffs is very popular with the younger crowd... good way to escape the masses and small children. One of the best places for this is the cliffs of Fredhäll on Kungsholmen (a personal favorite). Nearby you will also find the newly built waterfront promenade at Hornsberg Strand where they have put in ladders and terraces making swimming easy. You will also find showers as well as bars & restaurants. Purely local! There are several lakes around Stockholm with their own beaches... two popular places are Hellasgården and Brunnsviken (in Haga Park).

A swim at night. Photo by Henrik Trygg, Stockholm Visitors Board 

Finally, you can head a bit out of the city to swim and sunbathe. The options are endless out in the archipelago... you really just have to decide how far out you wish to travel. Some of the more popular options are Fjäderholmarna, Grinda and Saltsjöbaden. But really the choices are endless! Basically if the sun is shining, and one can safely get to the water, you have an option. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, come talk to me and I can point you in the right direction to find the beach perfect for you. For further reading... click here, here, here or here

Winter is Finally Here... Ski Slopes to Open!

It has been a relatively warm winter so far... with no snow and temperatures well above freezing. Quite unusual! But winter (and the snow) has finally come to Stockholm. We had our first real snowfall this past weekend and the weather reports show more snow and continuing below freezing temperatures in the coming weeks.

Map of Hammarbybacken
www.skistar.com/sv/hammarbybacken/

This all means that the ski slopes around Stockholm can finally open for business! To give you an idea of how warm this winter has been... last year the ski slopes opened on December 13th. The Stockholm region has no mountains, so we are talking smaller slopes. But they still have lifts, multiple runs and the opportunity for the popular "after-ski". You can also rent ski and snowboard equipment there, so you don't have to worry about bringing it with you from home.

Hammarbybacken- open in the evening.
www.skistar.com/sv/hammarbybacken/

The closest slope to Stockholm is Hammarbybacken. In fact, it is so close (located in the southern suburbs) that you have great views of downtown Stockholm from the top. They are busy preparing the slope with snow cannons and plan to open on Saturday (Jan 18th). To get to Hammarbybacken from the Rival Hotel, it is only a 20 minute trip with the subway and street car (Tvärbanan) or by direct bus (#74). Other ski slopes in the Stockholm region that are planning on opening this coming weekend are Ekebyhovsbacken and Flottsbrobacken. These are, however, a bit further away than Hammarbybacken! Full list of nearby ski slopes.
Click here to read my article from last year (with more information).

Winter is Finally Here... Ski Slopes to Open!

Posted by zlatin

It has been a relatively warm winter so far... with no snow and temperatures well above freezing. Quite unusual! But winter (and the snow) has finally come to Stockholm. We had our first real snowfall this past weekend and the weather reports show more snow and continuing below freezing temperatures in the coming weeks.

Map of Hammarbybacken
www.skistar.com/sv/hammarbybacken/

This all means that the ski slopes around Stockholm can finally open for business! To give you an idea of how warm this winter has been... last year the ski slopes opened on December 13th. The Stockholm region has no mountains, so we are talking smaller slopes. But they still have lifts, multiple runs and the opportunity for the popular "after-ski". You can also rent ski and snowboard equipment there, so you don't have to worry about bringing it with you from home.

Hammarbybacken- open in the evening.
www.skistar.com/sv/hammarbybacken/

The closest slope to Stockholm is Hammarbybacken. In fact, it is so close (located in the southern suburbs) that you have great views of downtown Stockholm from the top. They are busy preparing the slope with snow cannons and plan to open on Saturday (Jan 18th). To get to Hammarbybacken from the Rival Hotel, it is only a 20 minute trip with the subway and street car (Tvärbanan) or by direct bus (#74). Other ski slopes in the Stockholm region that are planning on opening this coming weekend are Ekebyhovsbacken and Flottsbrobacken. These are, however, a bit further away than Hammarbybacken! Full list of nearby ski slopes.
Click here to read my article from last year (with more information).

Ice Skating Rink at Kungsträdgården is Open for the Season!

This weekend we are expecting subzero (Celsius) temperatures which means that it is cold enough for the popular outdoor ice skating rink in Kungsträdgården to open for business. A sure sign that winter is not far off! Stockholmers have been skating here since 1962, when the rink first opened for business. It's location in the center of the city makes it a popular activity for both locals and tourists... whether they actually take to the rink or just observe. The downtown shopping district is nearby with the NK department store located right across the street. Starting next Friday (Nov 29th) a Christmas market will open up just adjacent to the rink. This market will be open daily, 11am to 6pm, until December 22nd.

On a snowy evening last winter... no snow yet this year!

The ice skating rink is also open daily: weekdays from 10am to 9pm and weekends from 11am to 9pm. If you don't feel like packing your ice skates when you come to Stockholm... don't worry, they have skates for rent! The cost is 60 SEK for adults and 30 SEK for youth/children under 20 (prices are for one hour rental). Children are required to use a helmet and they have them to borrow- free of charge (even for adults). The rink is lit up in the winter darkness and they have fun music playing over the loudspeakers, so it is worth a visit even if it is just to have a cup of glögg and watch the skaters. It is easy to get to from the Rival Hotel... either a 30 minute walk through Gamla Stan, 3-4 stops on the subway or a 5 minute taxi ride.

Ice Skating Rink at Kungsträdgården is Open for the Season!

Posted by zlatin

This weekend we are expecting subzero (Celsius) temperatures which means that it is cold enough for the popular outdoor ice skating rink in Kungsträdgården to open for business. A sure sign that winter is not far off! Stockholmers have been skating here since 1962, when the rink first opened for business. It's location in the center of the city makes it a popular activity for both locals and tourists... whether they actually take to the rink or just observe. The downtown shopping district is nearby with the NK department store located right across the street. Starting next Friday (Nov 29th) a Christmas market will open up just adjacent to the rink. This market will be open daily, 11am to 6pm, until December 22nd.

On a snowy evening last winter... no snow yet this year!

The ice skating rink is also open daily: weekdays from 10am to 9pm and weekends from 11am to 9pm. If you don't feel like packing your ice skates when you come to Stockholm... don't worry, they have skates for rent! The cost is 60 SEK for adults and 30 SEK for youth/children under 20 (prices are for one hour rental). Children are required to use a helmet and they have them to borrow- free of charge (even for adults). The rink is lit up in the winter darkness and they have fun music playing over the loudspeakers, so it is worth a visit even if it is just to have a cup of glögg and watch the skaters. It is easy to get to from the Rival Hotel... either a 30 minute walk through Gamla Stan, 3-4 stops on the subway or a 5 minute taxi ride.

Ski Slope in Stockholm is Open!

SkiStar Hammarbybacken

A very cold and snowy December means that the Hammarby Backen ski slope is open for business much earlier than in previous years! It officially opened on December 13th. Does Hammarby offer as high quality skiing as the Alps or even the mountains of northern Sweden (Åre & Sällen)? No, it's a small slope, but that really isn't the point. The selling point for Hammarby is that it is right in the middle of the southern suburbs with views of Stockholm from the top. There aren't many "urban" ski slopes in the world, so it is quite a unique experience.

www.skistar.com/sv/hammarbybacken/

While it is a smaller, contained ski resort... it is still equipped for a complete ski experience: 2 lifts, 4 slopes, a children's area, a snowboard park, a ski school, ski equipment rental and (most importantly) After Ski at their restaurant and bar. Click here for a map. So far, they are open evenings during the weekdays and daytime on the weekends (closed on Christmas Eve). But it is early days for the season and the opening hours are sure to expand. It is very easy to get to the slope from the Rival Hotel... subway from Slussen to Gullmarsplan (green line southbound) and then transfer to Tvärbanan (street car) in the direction of Sickla. Exit at Sickla Kaj and from there it is just a 10 minute walk. See you on the slopes!

www.skistar.com/sv/hammarbybacken/

More ski slopes in the Stockholm area!

Ski Slope in Stockholm is Open!

Posted by zlatin

SkiStar Hammarbybacken

A very cold and snowy December means that the Hammarby Backen ski slope is open for business much earlier than in previous years! It officially opened on December 13th. Does Hammarby offer as high quality skiing as the Alps or even the mountains of northern Sweden (Åre & Sällen)? No, it's a small slope, but that really isn't the point. The selling point for Hammarby is that it is right in the middle of the southern suburbs with views of Stockholm from the top. There aren't many "urban" ski slopes in the world, so it is quite a unique experience.

www.skistar.com/sv/hammarbybacken/

While it is a smaller, contained ski resort... it is still equipped for a complete ski experience: 2 lifts, 4 slopes, a children's area, a snowboard park, a ski school, ski equipment rental and (most importantly) After Ski at their restaurant and bar. Click here for a map. So far, they are open evenings during the weekdays and daytime on the weekends (closed on Christmas Eve). But it is early days for the season and the opening hours are sure to expand. It is very easy to get to the slope from the Rival Hotel... subway from Slussen to Gullmarsplan (green line southbound) and then transfer to Tvärbanan (street car) in the direction of Sickla. Exit at Sickla Kaj and from there it is just a 10 minute walk. See you on the slopes!

www.skistar.com/sv/hammarbybacken/

More ski slopes in the Stockholm area!

New Bicycles for Rent on Djurgården

djurgardscykeln.se/en/

Announcing, for the first time ever in Scandinavia, a year-round bike rental system! For a few years now, Stockholm has had Stockholm City Bikes which has been extremely popular for visitors and locals alike... a fun and inexpensive way to bop around the city. The only two negatives, really, have been the lack of bike stands on the island of Djurgården and the short season (April-October). Well, this has been solved by the company Djurgårdscykeln! You will now have the opportunity to rent bikes all year round on the island of Djurgården which, besides being a large national city park, is the home of Skansen, Vasa Museum, Nordic Museum, several art galleries and much more. The bikes are equipped with winter tires and lights which is why they can be used year round.

djurgardscykeln.se/en/

As with the Stockholm City Bikes, you can rent the bikes for three days at a time and use them for 3 hours at a time. Before the three hours is up, you need to leave the bike at its stand or you will be charged a late fee. You can, of course, take a new bike from the stand. This system stops people from keeping them at home overnight and allows more people a chance to use them. While Stockholm City Bikes is very inexpensive, Djurgårdscykeln is ridiculously cheap! If you already possess a Stockholm City Bike season card or a SL long term card (bus&subway)... then it is free! If not, then it is only 10 SEK for a three day bike pass! You just use your debit or credit card at the station. They have one station and it is located in between the entrances to Skansen and Cirkus. To get there from the Rival Hotel is very easy... just take the Djurgård Ferry from Slussen (10 minute walk from the hotel- ferry ride is another 10 minutes). This system started yesterday, so I haven't tried it yet... but you can get more information from their website (linked above).

New Bicycles for Rent on Djurgården

Posted by zlatin

djurgardscykeln.se/en/

Announcing, for the first time ever in Scandinavia, a year-round bike rental system! For a few years now, Stockholm has had Stockholm City Bikes which has been extremely popular for visitors and locals alike... a fun and inexpensive way to bop around the city. The only two negatives, really, have been the lack of bike stands on the island of Djurgården and the short season (April-October). Well, this has been solved by the company Djurgårdscykeln! You will now have the opportunity to rent bikes all year round on the island of Djurgården which, besides being a large national city park, is the home of Skansen, Vasa Museum, Nordic Museum, several art galleries and much more. The bikes are equipped with winter tires and lights which is why they can be used year round.

djurgardscykeln.se/en/

As with the Stockholm City Bikes, you can rent the bikes for three days at a time and use them for 3 hours at a time. Before the three hours is up, you need to leave the bike at its stand or you will be charged a late fee. You can, of course, take a new bike from the stand. This system stops people from keeping them at home overnight and allows more people a chance to use them. While Stockholm City Bikes is very inexpensive, Djurgårdscykeln is ridiculously cheap! If you already possess a Stockholm City Bike season card or a SL long term card (bus&subway)... then it is free! If not, then it is only 10 SEK for a three day bike pass! You just use your debit or credit card at the station. They have one station and it is located in between the entrances to Skansen and Cirkus. To get there from the Rival Hotel is very easy... just take the Djurgård Ferry from Slussen (10 minute walk from the hotel- ferry ride is another 10 minutes). This system started yesterday, so I haven't tried it yet... but you can get more information from their website (linked above).

Ice Skating Rink in Kungsträdgården

(EDIT: This info is for 2012, for current opening hours and prices... click here!) A sure sign that winter is just around the corner (besides the dropping temperatures) is the opening of the outdoor ice skating rink in Kungsträdgården for the season! For decades this has been a popular activity for young & less-young, natives & visitors alike. It is quite affordable... free if you have your own skates, otherwise renting skates costs 50 SEK for adults and 20 SEK for children up to 19 years of age (prices per hour). The skating rink is open 7 days a week (usually into late spring), from 11am to 7pm on the weekends and 10am to 8pm on the weekdays (open to 9pm on Tues & Thurs).

This is a great activity to take children to and, when the Christmas Market opens in Kungsträdgården on November 30th, the perfect place to get into the holiday spirit. Kungsträdgården is a park located in the downtown area, just a 25-30 minute walk from the Rival Hotel (through Gamla Stan), otherwise bus #43 or #55 will take you there in about 10 minutes. Happy skating!

Ice Skating Rink in Kungsträdgården

Posted by zlatin

(EDIT: This info is for 2012, for current opening hours and prices... click here!) A sure sign that winter is just around the corner (besides the dropping temperatures) is the opening of the outdoor ice skating rink in Kungsträdgården for the season! For decades this has been a popular activity for young & less-young, natives & visitors alike. It is quite affordable... free if you have your own skates, otherwise renting skates costs 50 SEK for adults and 20 SEK for children up to 19 years of age (prices per hour). The skating rink is open 7 days a week (usually into late spring), from 11am to 7pm on the weekends and 10am to 8pm on the weekdays (open to 9pm on Tues & Thurs).

This is a great activity to take children to and, when the Christmas Market opens in Kungsträdgården on November 30th, the perfect place to get into the holiday spirit. Kungsträdgården is a park located in the downtown area, just a 25-30 minute walk from the Rival Hotel (through Gamla Stan), otherwise bus #43 or #55 will take you there in about 10 minutes. Happy skating!

Tjejmilen- Women's 10K Run

Photo by Malin Ekequist/Tjejmilen

Today, Saturday September 1st, is the annual (and popular) 10 kilometer run that is exclusively for women... called Tjejmilen. Over 32,000 runners from 20 countries have entered this year's race. The entrants are made up of both competitive runners as well as people running for fun. The first group starts at 1pm and the scenic run will take them around the Djurgården and Gärdet areas... all beautiful parklands. Click here to see the course map. Good place for a run, but an even better place to take a walk!

Photo by Janna Saletti/Tjejmilen

From a visitors standpoint, you shouldn't have to worry about the race disrupting traffic (as it is on the outskirts of Stockholm), but it is good to know what is going on and why the city is filled with women in running gear. You will likely see the runners if you are visiting the Vasa Museum, Skansen, Kaknästornet or any of the art galleries on Djurgården island. The weather isn't that great today but take some time out and cheer them on! I would like to extend a special "good luck" to all of the Rival Hotel guests and staff who will be running today.

Tjejmilen- Women's 10K Run

Posted by zlatin

Photo by Malin Ekequist/Tjejmilen

Today, Saturday September 1st, is the annual (and popular) 10 kilometer run that is exclusively for women... called Tjejmilen. Over 32,000 runners from 20 countries have entered this year's race. The entrants are made up of both competitive runners as well as people running for fun. The first group starts at 1pm and the scenic run will take them around the Djurgården and Gärdet areas... all beautiful parklands. Click here to see the course map. Good place for a run, but an even better place to take a walk!

Photo by Janna Saletti/Tjejmilen

From a visitors standpoint, you shouldn't have to worry about the race disrupting traffic (as it is on the outskirts of Stockholm), but it is good to know what is going on and why the city is filled with women in running gear. You will likely see the runners if you are visiting the Vasa Museum, Skansen, Kaknästornet or any of the art galleries on Djurgården island. The weather isn't that great today but take some time out and cheer them on! I would like to extend a special "good luck" to all of the Rival Hotel guests and staff who will be running today.

Last Days for Horse and Carriage (Buggy) Tours

Boarding the carriage at Mynttorget

It's sad to say, but the summer season is slowly coming to an end here in Stockholm (we have a shorter season up here in the north!). While many sightseeing tours do continue through September, some of the boat excursions and day trips do end now in August. One activity that is coming to an end is the daily horse and carriage sightseeing tours of of the Old Town (Gamla Stan). During the summer months, they depart daily between 11am and 3:30pm from the square Myntorget in the Old Town. It is a 45 minute guided tour of the Old Town in Swedish and English. This is a nice way to get away from the crowded busses and boats and see the city from a different vantage point (and at a leisurely pace). The last day for the daily tours is August 24th! If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly and I can book an open ticket for you. If you are planning a trip to Stockholm after September and this post has you in a panic... don't fear, certain sightseeing tours run year round! The Panorama bus tour and the Archipelago boat tour for example.

Last Days for Horse and Carriage (Buggy) Tours

Posted by zlatin

Boarding the carriage at Mynttorget

It's sad to say, but the summer season is slowly coming to an end here in Stockholm (we have a shorter season up here in the north!). While many sightseeing tours do continue through September, some of the boat excursions and day trips do end now in August. One activity that is coming to an end is the daily horse and carriage sightseeing tours of of the Old Town (Gamla Stan). During the summer months, they depart daily between 11am and 3:30pm from the square Myntorget in the Old Town. It is a 45 minute guided tour of the Old Town in Swedish and English. This is a nice way to get away from the crowded busses and boats and see the city from a different vantage point (and at a leisurely pace). The last day for the daily tours is August 24th! If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly and I can book an open ticket for you. If you are planning a trip to Stockholm after September and this post has you in a panic... don't fear, certain sightseeing tours run year round! The Panorama bus tour and the Archipelago boat tour for example.

Midnattsloppet (The Midnight Run) 2012

Photo by Yanan Li, Stockholm's Visitors Board

Tonight (Saturday, August 18th) is the date for the Midnattsloppet or Midnight Race. This 10 kilometer race has been held annually since 1982 and has gotten more popular with each year with thousands of runners and even more spectators. The race is run around the island of Södermalm with the home stretch down the street Hornsgatan, half a block from the Rival Hotel. What makes this race unique is the carnival atmosphere along the route (there is even a costume competition) as well as the late start time... it's a staggered start with the first group starting at 9:30pm and the last group at 10:45pm.
If you are not participating in the race, then you can always choose a spot along the course, enjoy the atmosphere, and cheer on the racers!

Midnattsloppet (The Midnight Run) 2012

Posted by zlatin

Photo by Yanan Li, Stockholm's Visitors Board

Tonight (Saturday, August 18th) is the date for the Midnattsloppet or Midnight Race. This 10 kilometer race has been held annually since 1982 and has gotten more popular with each year with thousands of runners and even more spectators. The race is run around the island of Södermalm with the home stretch down the street Hornsgatan, half a block from the Rival Hotel. What makes this race unique is the carnival atmosphere along the route (there is even a costume competition) as well as the late start time... it's a staggered start with the first group starting at 9:30pm and the last group at 10:45pm.
If you are not participating in the race, then you can always choose a spot along the course, enjoy the atmosphere, and cheer on the racers!