Holiday Opening Hours for Stores and Shopping Centers

NK... all lit up!

Stores and boutiques all, of course, have their own individual opening hours during the holidays. But you can generally say that they close early on December 24th & 31st and are closed on December 25th and January 1st. There are always exceptions to the rule! Here are the special holiday opening hours for some of the larger department stores and shopping centers. Take a look at their websites for information about other specific dates.

• NK department store: open from 10am to 9pm on the days leading up to Christmas. 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 5pm on December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Åhlens City department store: open from 10am to 10pm on the days leading up to Christmas. 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 6pm on December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Mood shopping center: 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 5pm to December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Gallerian shopping center:  open from 10am to 8pm on the days leading up to Christmas. 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 4pm to December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Sturegallerian shopping center: open from 10am to 8pm on the days leading up to Christmas. 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 2pm to December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Skrapan shopping center: open from 10am to 8pm on the days leading up to Christmas. 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 4pm to December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Barkarby Outlets: closed on December 24th, 25th, 31st and January 1st.
• Östermalms Saluhall (indoor food market): closed on December 24th, 25th, 26th, 28th (a Sunday) and January 1st.
• Systembolaget (state run liquor stores): They are closed on Sundays, December 24th, 25th and 26th. On December 31st they close at 2pm and are completely closed on January 1st. So... plan your shopping wisely!

The days in between Christmas and New Year's are called mellandagarna ("middle days") and are some of the biggest shopping days of the year. This is due to the sales! Keep your eyes open for signs saying rea ("sale") or mellandagsrea ("middle day sale"). Buying electronics is especially popular during these days.

Holiday Opening Hours for Stores and Shopping Centers

Posted by zlatin

NK... all lit up!

Stores and boutiques all, of course, have their own individual opening hours during the holidays. But you can generally say that they close early on December 24th & 31st and are closed on December 25th and January 1st. There are always exceptions to the rule! Here are the special holiday opening hours for some of the larger department stores and shopping centers. Take a look at their websites for information about other specific dates.

• NK department store: open from 10am to 9pm on the days leading up to Christmas. 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 5pm on December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Åhlens City department store: open from 10am to 10pm on the days leading up to Christmas. 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 6pm on December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Mood shopping center: 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 5pm to December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Gallerian shopping center:  open from 10am to 8pm on the days leading up to Christmas. 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 4pm to December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Sturegallerian shopping center: open from 10am to 8pm on the days leading up to Christmas. 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 2pm to December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Skrapan shopping center: open from 10am to 8pm on the days leading up to Christmas. 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 4pm to December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Barkarby Outlets: closed on December 24th, 25th, 31st and January 1st.
• Östermalms Saluhall (indoor food market): closed on December 24th, 25th, 26th, 28th (a Sunday) and January 1st.
• Systembolaget (state run liquor stores): They are closed on Sundays, December 24th, 25th and 26th. On December 31st they close at 2pm and are completely closed on January 1st. So... plan your shopping wisely!

The days in between Christmas and New Year's are called mellandagarna ("middle days") and are some of the biggest shopping days of the year. This is due to the sales! Keep your eyes open for signs saying rea ("sale") or mellandagsrea ("middle day sale"). Buying electronics is especially popular during these days.

Museums and Tours During the 2014-15 Holiday Season

Nordiska Museum, photo by: Ingemar Edfalk/imagebank.sweden.se

It is always a little tricky with museums during the holiday season as many close for a few days here and there. However, there is always something open so you don't have to worry about wandering the streets aimlessly. Here is a handy list that will help you plan your holiday visit better. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel and can't find the museum you are interested in... contact me directly. Stockholm has 80+ museums and I am only covering the major ones here! Please note that the National Museum is closed for renovations and instead they have exhibitions at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (listed below).

• Skansen- open every day! Shorter hours on certain days.
• Vasa Museum- closed on December 23rd, 24th, 25th and January 1st.
• ABBA The Museum- closed only on December 24th!
• Fotografiska (photography)- closed only on December 24th!
• Moderna (modern art)- closed Mondays and December 24th, 25th, 31st and January 1st.
• Center for Architecture & Design- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th, 30th, 31st and January 1st.
• Nobel Museum- closed Mondays and December 24th, 25th, 31st and January 1st.
• Historiska (history)- closed Mondays and December 24th, 25th and 31st. Extra open on Monday, Dec 29th.
• Nordiska (nordic traditions)- closed on December 24th, 25th and 31st. 
• Medeltids (medieval history)- closed Mondays and December 24th, 25th, 31st and January 1st.
• Stadshuset (city hall)- closed December 24th, 25th, 26th and January 1st. Closes a bit earlier on other days.
• Spritmuseum (alcohol spirits)- closed December 24th, 25th and 31st. 
• Royal Palace- closed Mondays and December 24th and 25th.
• Livrustkammaren (royal armoury)- closed Mondays and December 24th, 25th, 26th, 31st and January 1st.
• Konstakademien (Royal Acad. of Fine Arts)- closed December 24th, 25th and 31st.
• Millesgården (art museum)- closed Mondays and December 24th and 25th
• Thielska Galleriet (art museum)- closed Mondays and December 24th, 25th, 26th, 31st and January 1st.
• Liljevalchs (art museum)- closed Mondays and December 24th, 25th, 31st and January 1st.
• Waldemarsudde (art museum)- closed Mondays and December 24th, 25th, 26th and 31st.
• Drottningholm Palace- closed between the 15th & 30th of December. Open daily between December 31st and January 6th (Swedish school's winter break). 
• Naturhistoriska (natural history)- closed Mondays and December 23rd & 24th.

Sightseeing tours, provided by the company Strömma, are offered everyday during the holidays... like the Panorama bus tour and the Winter boat tour among others! The company Free Tours have walking tours everyday and, as the name suggests, they are free. So, with this list you should be able to keep yourself culturally active every day of your holiday visit in Stockholm.

Museums and Tours During the 2014-15 Holiday Season

Posted by zlatin

Nordiska Museum, photo by: Ingemar Edfalk/imagebank.sweden.se

It is always a little tricky with museums during the holiday season as many close for a few days here and there. However, there is always something open so you don't have to worry about wandering the streets aimlessly. Here is a handy list that will help you plan your holiday visit better. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel and can't find the museum you are interested in... contact me directly. Stockholm has 80+ museums and I am only covering the major ones here! Please note that the National Museum is closed for renovations and instead they have exhibitions at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (listed below).

• Skansen- open every day! Shorter hours on certain days.
• Vasa Museum- closed on December 23rd, 24th, 25th and January 1st.
• ABBA The Museum- closed only on December 24th!
• Fotografiska (photography)- closed only on December 24th!
• Moderna (modern art)- closed Mondays and December 24th, 25th, 31st and January 1st.
• Center for Architecture & Design- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th, 30th, 31st and January 1st.
• Nobel Museum- closed Mondays and December 24th, 25th, 31st and January 1st.
• Historiska (history)- closed Mondays and December 24th, 25th and 31st. Extra open on Monday, Dec 29th.
• Nordiska (nordic traditions)- closed on December 24th, 25th and 31st. 
• Medeltids (medieval history)- closed Mondays and December 24th, 25th, 31st and January 1st.
• Stadshuset (city hall)- closed December 24th, 25th, 26th and January 1st. Closes a bit earlier on other days.
• Spritmuseum (alcohol spirits)- closed December 24th, 25th and 31st. 
• Royal Palace- closed Mondays and December 24th and 25th.
• Livrustkammaren (royal armoury)- closed Mondays and December 24th, 25th, 26th, 31st and January 1st.
• Konstakademien (Royal Acad. of Fine Arts)- closed December 24th, 25th and 31st.
• Millesgården (art museum)- closed Mondays and December 24th and 25th
• Thielska Galleriet (art museum)- closed Mondays and December 24th, 25th, 26th, 31st and January 1st.
• Liljevalchs (art museum)- closed Mondays and December 24th, 25th, 31st and January 1st.
• Waldemarsudde (art museum)- closed Mondays and December 24th, 25th, 26th and 31st.
• Drottningholm Palace- closed between the 15th & 30th of December. Open daily between December 31st and January 6th (Swedish school's winter break). 
• Naturhistoriska (natural history)- closed Mondays and December 23rd & 24th.

Sightseeing tours, provided by the company Strömma, are offered everyday during the holidays... like the Panorama bus tour and the Winter boat tour among others! The company Free Tours have walking tours everyday and, as the name suggests, they are free. So, with this list you should be able to keep yourself culturally active every day of your holiday visit in Stockholm.

New Year's Eve in Stockholm - 2014!

New Years is just around the corner! If you are visiting the city during this holiday, then I hope you have already finalized your New Year's Eve plans because it's getting down to the wire. Here are some things you should be aware of when making your plans:

• Restaurants- Many restaurants are closed on the 31st. The ones that are open generally serve a traditional multiple course menu called nyårssupé and nothing else. It can be anywhere between 3 and 9 courses and cost anywhere between 500 and 1200 SEK, depending on the restaurant. This means that going out for a simple dinner or quick bite will probably be problematic unless you are looking at pubs or fast food establishments. These dinners are quite popular and the restaurants tend to fill up, so don't leave it to the last minute! Most of these restaurants have two seatings during the evening... an early (5-8:30pm) and a late (8:30pm-12am). There are a select few that serve both the nyårssupé alongside a regular menu. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact us as soon as possible to make arrangements!
• Nightclubs- Here it is important to plan ahead as well. Tickets to the parties at the nightclubs can be pre-purchased in advance. If you don't pre-purchase a ticket, you can end up standing in long lines in subzero temperatures! Here are some of the larger nightclub parties this year: Stureplansgruppen (an umbrella group that runs several nightclubs), Café Opera, Södra Teatern and Berns. These are the more posh nightclub venues... there are, of course, many smaller parties going on at different venues.
• Taxis- These are notoriously hard to catch on New Year's Eve... especially after 11pm. This is because of the huge demand. Most taxi companies don't accept prebookings because they don't want their cars tied up waiting for people who don't show up. You don't have to worry about being stranded though... the subways will be running all night long. If nighttime subways aren't your thing, just make sure that you are within walking distance of your hotel. Stockholm isn't that big so this isn't that hard to accomplish. And remember... be careful when catching taxis in Sweden!
• Fireworks- Locals will be setting off their own fireworks throughout the city, especially in the parks & squares and at midnight. The official fireworks will be shot off above the harbor (eastern side of Gamla Stan). The best places to see the fireworks are along the waterfront, by the City Hall, on Fjällgatan or Monteliusvägen. Some places will be quite crowded, especially the Slussen area which will be cordoned off from car traffic, but you will still be able to see the fireworks!
• Skansen- Once again, this is the center of Swedish holiday tradition. This is the spectacle that is televised and shown around all of Sweden... kind of like the Swedish version of the ball dropping at Times Square. There will be music and speeches and the official countdown. Skansen is also a great place to see the official fireworks! To be honest, I'm not sure how much someone who doesn't speak Swedish will get out of the event as most of the program is in Swedish... but it is an option. The program starts at 11:10pm and ends at 00:10am.

The Rival Hotel- our restaurant is already fully booked on this evening! However... our bars are open until 2am and there is no entrance fee (rare on this evening). There will be a DJ playing and the square in front of the hotel is a popular place for the locals to light their fireworks.

New Year's Eve in Stockholm - 2014!

Posted by zlatin

New Years is just around the corner! If you are visiting the city during this holiday, then I hope you have already finalized your New Year's Eve plans because it's getting down to the wire. Here are some things you should be aware of when making your plans:

• Restaurants- Many restaurants are closed on the 31st. The ones that are open generally serve a traditional multiple course menu called nyårssupé and nothing else. It can be anywhere between 3 and 9 courses and cost anywhere between 500 and 1200 SEK, depending on the restaurant. This means that going out for a simple dinner or quick bite will probably be problematic unless you are looking at pubs or fast food establishments. These dinners are quite popular and the restaurants tend to fill up, so don't leave it to the last minute! Most of these restaurants have two seatings during the evening... an early (5-8:30pm) and a late (8:30pm-12am). There are a select few that serve both the nyårssupé alongside a regular menu. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact us as soon as possible to make arrangements!
• Nightclubs- Here it is important to plan ahead as well. Tickets to the parties at the nightclubs can be pre-purchased in advance. If you don't pre-purchase a ticket, you can end up standing in long lines in subzero temperatures! Here are some of the larger nightclub parties this year: Stureplansgruppen (an umbrella group that runs several nightclubs), Café Opera, Södra Teatern and Berns. These are the more posh nightclub venues... there are, of course, many smaller parties going on at different venues.
• Taxis- These are notoriously hard to catch on New Year's Eve... especially after 11pm. This is because of the huge demand. Most taxi companies don't accept prebookings because they don't want their cars tied up waiting for people who don't show up. You don't have to worry about being stranded though... the subways will be running all night long. If nighttime subways aren't your thing, just make sure that you are within walking distance of your hotel. Stockholm isn't that big so this isn't that hard to accomplish. And remember... be careful when catching taxis in Sweden!
• Fireworks- Locals will be setting off their own fireworks throughout the city, especially in the parks & squares and at midnight. The official fireworks will be shot off above the harbor (eastern side of Gamla Stan). The best places to see the fireworks are along the waterfront, by the City Hall, on Fjällgatan or Monteliusvägen. Some places will be quite crowded, especially the Slussen area which will be cordoned off from car traffic, but you will still be able to see the fireworks!
• Skansen- Once again, this is the center of Swedish holiday tradition. This is the spectacle that is televised and shown around all of Sweden... kind of like the Swedish version of the ball dropping at Times Square. There will be music and speeches and the official countdown. Skansen is also a great place to see the official fireworks! To be honest, I'm not sure how much someone who doesn't speak Swedish will get out of the event as most of the program is in Swedish... but it is an option. The program starts at 11:10pm and ends at 00:10am.

The Rival Hotel- our restaurant is already fully booked on this evening! However... our bars are open until 2am and there is no entrance fee (rare on this evening). There will be a DJ playing and the square in front of the hotel is a popular place for the locals to light their fireworks.

New Year's Eve in Stockholm- 2013!

Christmas is finally over... and New Years is just around the corner! If you are visiting the city this coming weekend, then I hope you have already finalized your New Year's Eve plans because it's getting down to the wire. Here are some things you should be aware of when making your plans:

• Restaurants- Many restaurants are closed on the 31st. The ones that are open generally serve a traditional multiple course menu called nyårssupé and nothing else. It can be anywhere between 3 and 9 courses and cost anywhere between 500 and 1200 SEK, depending on the restaurant. This means that going out for a simple dinner or quick bite will probably be problematic unless you are looking at pubs or fast food establishments. These dinners are quite popular and the restaurants tend to fill up, so don't leave it to the last minute! Most of these restaurants have two seatings during the evening... an early (5-8:30pm) and a late (8:30pm-12am). There are a select few that serve both the nyårssupé alongside a regular menu. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact us as soon as possible to make arrangements!
• Nightclubs- Here it is important to plan ahead as well. Tickets to the parties at the nightclubs can be pre-purchased in advance. If you don't pre-purchase a ticket, you can end up standing in long lines in subzero temperatures! Here are some of the larger nightclub parties this year: Stureplansgruppen (an umbrella group that runs several nightclubs), Café Opera, Södra Teatern and Berns. These are the more posh nightclub venues... there are, of course, many smaller parties going on at different venues.
• Taxis- These are notoriously hard to catch on New Year's Eve... especially after 11pm. This is because of the huge demand. Most taxi companies don't accept prebookings because they don't want their cars tied up waiting for people who don't show up. You don't have to worry about being stranded though... the subways will be running all night long. If nighttime subways aren't your thing, just make sure that you are within walking distance of your hotel. Stockholm isn't that big so this isn't that hard to accomplish. And remember... be careful when catching taxis in Sweden!
• Fireworks- Locals will be setting off their own fireworks throughout the city, especially in the parks & squares and at midnight. The official fireworks will be shot off above the harbor (eastern side of Gamla Stan). The best places to see the fireworks are along the waterfront, by the City Hall, on Fjällgatan or Monteliusvägen. Some places will be quite crowded, especially the Slussen area which will be cordoned off from car traffic, but you will still be able to see the fireworks!
• Skansen- Once again, this is the center of Swedish holiday tradition. This is the spectacle that is televised and shown around all of Sweden... kind of like the Swedish version of the ball dropping at Times Square. There will be music and speeches and the official countdown. Skansen is also a great place to see the official fireworks! To be honest, I'm not sure how much someone who doesn't speak Swedish will get out of the event as most of the program is in Swedish... but it is an option. The program starts at 11:10pm and ends at 00:10am.

The Rival Hotel- our restaurant is already fully booked on this evening! However... our bars are open until 2am and there is no entrance fee (rare on this evening). There will be a DJ playing and the square in front of the hotel is a popular place for the locals to light their fireworks.

New Year's Eve in Stockholm- 2013!

Posted by zlatin

Christmas is finally over... and New Years is just around the corner! If you are visiting the city this coming weekend, then I hope you have already finalized your New Year's Eve plans because it's getting down to the wire. Here are some things you should be aware of when making your plans:

• Restaurants- Many restaurants are closed on the 31st. The ones that are open generally serve a traditional multiple course menu called nyårssupé and nothing else. It can be anywhere between 3 and 9 courses and cost anywhere between 500 and 1200 SEK, depending on the restaurant. This means that going out for a simple dinner or quick bite will probably be problematic unless you are looking at pubs or fast food establishments. These dinners are quite popular and the restaurants tend to fill up, so don't leave it to the last minute! Most of these restaurants have two seatings during the evening... an early (5-8:30pm) and a late (8:30pm-12am). There are a select few that serve both the nyårssupé alongside a regular menu. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact us as soon as possible to make arrangements!
• Nightclubs- Here it is important to plan ahead as well. Tickets to the parties at the nightclubs can be pre-purchased in advance. If you don't pre-purchase a ticket, you can end up standing in long lines in subzero temperatures! Here are some of the larger nightclub parties this year: Stureplansgruppen (an umbrella group that runs several nightclubs), Café Opera, Södra Teatern and Berns. These are the more posh nightclub venues... there are, of course, many smaller parties going on at different venues.
• Taxis- These are notoriously hard to catch on New Year's Eve... especially after 11pm. This is because of the huge demand. Most taxi companies don't accept prebookings because they don't want their cars tied up waiting for people who don't show up. You don't have to worry about being stranded though... the subways will be running all night long. If nighttime subways aren't your thing, just make sure that you are within walking distance of your hotel. Stockholm isn't that big so this isn't that hard to accomplish. And remember... be careful when catching taxis in Sweden!
• Fireworks- Locals will be setting off their own fireworks throughout the city, especially in the parks & squares and at midnight. The official fireworks will be shot off above the harbor (eastern side of Gamla Stan). The best places to see the fireworks are along the waterfront, by the City Hall, on Fjällgatan or Monteliusvägen. Some places will be quite crowded, especially the Slussen area which will be cordoned off from car traffic, but you will still be able to see the fireworks!
• Skansen- Once again, this is the center of Swedish holiday tradition. This is the spectacle that is televised and shown around all of Sweden... kind of like the Swedish version of the ball dropping at Times Square. There will be music and speeches and the official countdown. Skansen is also a great place to see the official fireworks! To be honest, I'm not sure how much someone who doesn't speak Swedish will get out of the event as most of the program is in Swedish... but it is an option. The program starts at 11:10pm and ends at 00:10am.

The Rival Hotel- our restaurant is already fully booked on this evening! However... our bars are open until 2am and there is no entrance fee (rare on this evening). There will be a DJ playing and the square in front of the hotel is a popular place for the locals to light their fireworks.

Church Services on Christmas and New Year's 2013

Storkyrkan at the top...

And finally, after info about restaurants, museums and shopping during the holidays, church services! The two main Christian denominations in Sweden are Lutheran and Catholicism. There are, of course, many churches spread throughout Stockholm... but I will concentrate on the larger churches (more likely to have services in languages other than Swedish). If you are staying at the Rival Hotel and are interested in other churches or religions (Judaism, Islam, etc;), come speak with us directly.

Storkyrkan (Lutheran)- Located in Gamla Stan.
-December 24th: 4:30pm Christmas music and prayer. 11pm Midnight Mass (in Swedish).
-December 25th: 07:00am traditional early morning service called Julotta. 11:00am High Mass (both in Swedish).
-January 1st: 11:00am High Mass (in Swedish). 4:00pm New Year's Concert.

St Jacobs Kyrka (Lutheran)- Located next to Kungsträdgården.
-December 24th: 5:00pm Christmas service ("with lots of music and singing. No communion").

Katolska Domkyrkan (Catholic)- Main Catholic Church in Sweden. Located on Södermalm. there are plenty more service times, the ones listed below are "highlights".
-December 24th: 8:00am mass in Swedish, 9:00pm mass in Italian, 10:00am mass in Croatian and a midnight mass with Bishop Anders Aborelius (at midnight!).
-December 25th: 8:45am mass in Italian, 11:00am Pontifical High Mass with Bishop Anders Aborelius, 2:00pm mass in Swedish, 5:00pm mass in Polish and 6:30pm mass in Swedish.
-December 31st: 5:00pm Thanksgiving Mass with "Te Deum".
-January 1st: 11:00am High Mass (language?), 12:30pm mass in Croatian, 2:00pm mass in Spanish and 6:30pm mass in Swedish.

St Eugenia (Catholic)- Located next to Kungsträdgården. Below are also just "highlights", many other days and times for masses. But the good thing to know is that St Eugenia is the place to go for Catholic mass in English.
-December 24th: 7:30pm Christmas prayer, 8:00pm open house, 10:00pm Christmas mass (Swedish) and midnight Christmas mass (in English).
-December 25th: 11:00am High Mass (Swedish) and 6:00pm High Mass (English).
-December 31st: 4:00pm Year's end mass (Swedish).
-January 1st: 11:00am High Mass (Swedish) and 6:00pm High Mass (English).

I am now off for a week... spending the holidays with family in northern Sweden (Luleå). I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

Riddarholmen Church- no services, but pretty to look at!

Church Services on Christmas and New Year's 2013

Posted by zlatin

Storkyrkan at the top...

And finally, after info about restaurants, museums and shopping during the holidays, church services! The two main Christian denominations in Sweden are Lutheran and Catholicism. There are, of course, many churches spread throughout Stockholm... but I will concentrate on the larger churches (more likely to have services in languages other than Swedish). If you are staying at the Rival Hotel and are interested in other churches or religions (Judaism, Islam, etc;), come speak with us directly.

Storkyrkan (Lutheran)- Located in Gamla Stan.
-December 24th: 4:30pm Christmas music and prayer. 11pm Midnight Mass (in Swedish).
-December 25th: 07:00am traditional early morning service called Julotta. 11:00am High Mass (both in Swedish).
-January 1st: 11:00am High Mass (in Swedish). 4:00pm New Year's Concert.

St Jacobs Kyrka (Lutheran)- Located next to Kungsträdgården.
-December 24th: 5:00pm Christmas service ("with lots of music and singing. No communion").

Katolska Domkyrkan (Catholic)- Main Catholic Church in Sweden. Located on Södermalm. there are plenty more service times, the ones listed below are "highlights".
-December 24th: 8:00am mass in Swedish, 9:00pm mass in Italian, 10:00am mass in Croatian and a midnight mass with Bishop Anders Aborelius (at midnight!).
-December 25th: 8:45am mass in Italian, 11:00am Pontifical High Mass with Bishop Anders Aborelius, 2:00pm mass in Swedish, 5:00pm mass in Polish and 6:30pm mass in Swedish.
-December 31st: 5:00pm Thanksgiving Mass with "Te Deum".
-January 1st: 11:00am High Mass (language?), 12:30pm mass in Croatian, 2:00pm mass in Spanish and 6:30pm mass in Swedish.

St Eugenia (Catholic)- Located next to Kungsträdgården. Below are also just "highlights", many other days and times for masses. But the good thing to know is that St Eugenia is the place to go for Catholic mass in English.
-December 24th: 7:30pm Christmas prayer, 8:00pm open house, 10:00pm Christmas mass (Swedish) and midnight Christmas mass (in English).
-December 25th: 11:00am High Mass (Swedish) and 6:00pm High Mass (English).
-December 31st: 4:00pm Year's end mass (Swedish).
-January 1st: 11:00am High Mass (Swedish) and 6:00pm High Mass (English).

I am now off for a week... spending the holidays with family in northern Sweden (Luleå). I would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas!

Riddarholmen Church- no services, but pretty to look at!

Stores and Subways on Christmas & New Year's 2013

NK with holiday decorations!

So far I've covered restaurants and museums during the holidays... now on to stores and public transportation! Stores and boutiques all, of course, have their own individual opening hours. But you can generally say that they close early on December 24th & 31st and are closed on December 25th and January 1st. There are always exceptions to the rule! Here are the special holiday opening hours for some of the larger department stores and shopping centers. Take a look at their websites for information about other specific dates.

• NK department store: open from 10am to 9pm on the days leading up to Christmas. 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 5pm to December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Åhlens City department store: open from 10am to 10pm on the days leading up to Christmas. 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 6pm to December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Mood shopping center: 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 5pm to December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Gallerian shopping center:  open from 10am to 8pm on the days leading up to Christmas. 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 11am to 5pm to December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Sturegallerian shopping center: open from 10am to 8pm on the days leading up to Christmas. 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 2pm to December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Skrapan shopping center: open from 10am to 8pm on the days leading up to Christmas. 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 4pm to December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Barkarby Outlets: closed on December 24th, 25th, 31st and January 1st.
• Systembolaget (state run liquor stores): They are closed on Sundays, December 24th, 25th and 26th. On December 31st they close at 2pm and are completely closed on January 1st. So... plan your shopping wisely!

The days in between Christmas and New Year's are called mellandagarna ("middle days") and are some of the biggest shopping days of the year. This is due to the sales! Keep your eyes open for signs saying rea ("sale") or mellandagsrea ("middle day sale"). Buying electronics is especially popular during these days.

Public transportation runs a little differently during the holidays... several days on a Saturday schedule (less frequently) or Sunday schedule (even less frequently). Of specific interest is the night schedule for the subways. Here are the subway's hours on specific days:

• December 24th- 10 minute traffic until 3pm, half hour traffic in the evening and no traffic at night.
• December 25th- "Sunday schedule" starting at 6am, including the night (25-26th).
• December 26th- "Sunday schedule" all day, however no traffic at night (26-27th).
• December 31st- "Saturday schedule" all day and all night (31-1st).
• January 1st- Regular "Sunday schedule". 

One note for busses: they cordon offthe area around Slussen from motor vehicle traffic starting at 8:30pm on December 31st (until after midnight). This is because of the fireworks and that people tend to congregate there. This means that several bus lines going through Slussen will be rerouted. If you are out at night and there are no subways and you don't want to deal with busses... you can take a taxi. But be aware of which taxi you take! We recommend Taxi Stockholm. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact us if you need help in organizing a taxi. It is notoriously hard to get a taxi late on New Year's Eve and the taxi companies don't accept pre bookings on this date... so you might want to plan on walking or taking the subway (just in case). 

Stores and Subways on Christmas & New Year's 2013

Posted by zlatin

NK with holiday decorations!

So far I've covered restaurants and museums during the holidays... now on to stores and public transportation! Stores and boutiques all, of course, have their own individual opening hours. But you can generally say that they close early on December 24th & 31st and are closed on December 25th and January 1st. There are always exceptions to the rule! Here are the special holiday opening hours for some of the larger department stores and shopping centers. Take a look at their websites for information about other specific dates.

• NK department store: open from 10am to 9pm on the days leading up to Christmas. 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 5pm to December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Åhlens City department store: open from 10am to 10pm on the days leading up to Christmas. 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 6pm to December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Mood shopping center: 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 5pm to December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Gallerian shopping center:  open from 10am to 8pm on the days leading up to Christmas. 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 11am to 5pm to December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Sturegallerian shopping center: open from 10am to 8pm on the days leading up to Christmas. 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 2pm to December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Skrapan shopping center: open from 10am to 8pm on the days leading up to Christmas. 10am to 2pm on December24th, closed on December 25th, open from 10am to 4pm to December 31st and closed on January 1st.
• Barkarby Outlets: closed on December 24th, 25th, 31st and January 1st.
• Systembolaget (state run liquor stores): They are closed on Sundays, December 24th, 25th and 26th. On December 31st they close at 2pm and are completely closed on January 1st. So... plan your shopping wisely!

The days in between Christmas and New Year's are called mellandagarna ("middle days") and are some of the biggest shopping days of the year. This is due to the sales! Keep your eyes open for signs saying rea ("sale") or mellandagsrea ("middle day sale"). Buying electronics is especially popular during these days.

Public transportation runs a little differently during the holidays... several days on a Saturday schedule (less frequently) or Sunday schedule (even less frequently). Of specific interest is the night schedule for the subways. Here are the subway's hours on specific days:

• December 24th- 10 minute traffic until 3pm, half hour traffic in the evening and no traffic at night.
• December 25th- "Sunday schedule" starting at 6am, including the night (25-26th).
• December 26th- "Sunday schedule" all day, however no traffic at night (26-27th).
• December 31st- "Saturday schedule" all day and all night (31-1st).
• January 1st- Regular "Sunday schedule". 

One note for busses: they cordon offthe area around Slussen from motor vehicle traffic starting at 8:30pm on December 31st (until after midnight). This is because of the fireworks and that people tend to congregate there. This means that several bus lines going through Slussen will be rerouted. If you are out at night and there are no subways and you don't want to deal with busses... you can take a taxi. But be aware of which taxi you take! We recommend Taxi Stockholm. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact us if you need help in organizing a taxi. It is notoriously hard to get a taxi late on New Year's Eve and the taxi companies don't accept pre bookings on this date... so you might want to plan on walking or taking the subway (just in case). 

Museums During Christmas and New Year's 2013

(EDIT: For this year's information... click here!) Now... on to museums! There is always something open so you don't have to worry about wandering the streets aimlessly. However, many are closed on the major holidays (some more than others) so a list will help you plan your holiday visit better. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel and can't find the museum you are interested in... contact me directly. Stockholm has 80+ museums and I am only covering the major ones here! Please note that the National Museum is closed for renovations and instead they have exhibitions at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (listed below). Some museums are closed on Mondays and I have added those dates as well when applicable (Dec. 23rd and 30th this year).

• Skansen- open every day! Shorter hours on ceratin days.
• Vasa Museum- closed on December 23rd, 24th, 25th and January 1st.
• ABBA The Museum- closed only on December 24th!
• Fotografiska (photography)- closed only on December 24th!
• Skeppsholms Caverns (Bergrummet)- closed on December 24th, 25th, 31st and January 1st.
• Moderna (modern art)- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th, 30th, 31st and January 1st.
• Center for Architecture & Design- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th, 30th, 31st and January 1st.
• Nobel Museum- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th, 30th, 31st and January 1st.
• Historiska (history)- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th and 31st. 
• Nordiska (nordic traditions)- closed on December 24th and 25th. 
• Medeltids (medieval history)- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th, 30th, 31st and January 1st.
• Stadshuset (city hall)- closed December 24th, 25th, 26th and January 1st. Closes a bit earlier on other days.
• Spritmuseum (alcohol spirits)- closed December 24th, 25th and 31st. 
• Royal Palace- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th, 30th, 31st and January 1st.
• Livrustkammaren (royal armoury)- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th, 30th, & 31st.
• Konstakademien (Royal Acad. of Fine Arts)- closed December 24th, 25th and 31st.
• Millesgården (art museum)- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th and 30th.
• Thielska Galleriet (art museum)- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 30th, 31st and January 1st.
• Liljevalchs (art museum)- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th, 30th, 31st and January 1st.
• Waldemarsudde (art museum)- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th, 30th, & 31st.
• Drottningholm Palace- closed between the 15th & 30th of December. Open daily between December 31st and January 6th (Swedish school's winter break). Click here for program.
• Naturhistoriska (natural history)- closed December 23rd, 24th and 30th.

Sightseeing tours, provided by the company Strömma, are offered everyday during the holidays... like the Panorama bus tour and the Winter boat tour among others! The company Free Tours have walking tours everyday except December 24th and, as the name suggests, they are free. On the other hand, Stockholm Our Way is taking a holiday break... no guided tours between Dec 22nd and Jan 6th. So, with this list you should be able to keep yourself culturally active every day of your holiday visit in Stockholm.

Christmas tree in front of Fotografiska on a snowy day last year!

Museums During Christmas and New Year's 2013

Posted by zlatin

(EDIT: For this year's information... click here!) Now... on to museums! There is always something open so you don't have to worry about wandering the streets aimlessly. However, many are closed on the major holidays (some more than others) so a list will help you plan your holiday visit better. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel and can't find the museum you are interested in... contact me directly. Stockholm has 80+ museums and I am only covering the major ones here! Please note that the National Museum is closed for renovations and instead they have exhibitions at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts (listed below). Some museums are closed on Mondays and I have added those dates as well when applicable (Dec. 23rd and 30th this year).

• Skansen- open every day! Shorter hours on ceratin days.
• Vasa Museum- closed on December 23rd, 24th, 25th and January 1st.
• ABBA The Museum- closed only on December 24th!
• Fotografiska (photography)- closed only on December 24th!
• Skeppsholms Caverns (Bergrummet)- closed on December 24th, 25th, 31st and January 1st.
• Moderna (modern art)- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th, 30th, 31st and January 1st.
• Center for Architecture & Design- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th, 30th, 31st and January 1st.
• Nobel Museum- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th, 30th, 31st and January 1st.
• Historiska (history)- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th and 31st. 
• Nordiska (nordic traditions)- closed on December 24th and 25th. 
• Medeltids (medieval history)- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th, 30th, 31st and January 1st.
• Stadshuset (city hall)- closed December 24th, 25th, 26th and January 1st. Closes a bit earlier on other days.
• Spritmuseum (alcohol spirits)- closed December 24th, 25th and 31st. 
• Royal Palace- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th, 30th, 31st and January 1st.
• Livrustkammaren (royal armoury)- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th, 30th, & 31st.
• Konstakademien (Royal Acad. of Fine Arts)- closed December 24th, 25th and 31st.
• Millesgården (art museum)- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th and 30th.
• Thielska Galleriet (art museum)- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, 30th, 31st and January 1st.
• Liljevalchs (art museum)- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th, 30th, 31st and January 1st.
• Waldemarsudde (art museum)- closed December 23rd, 24th, 25th, 30th, & 31st.
• Drottningholm Palace- closed between the 15th & 30th of December. Open daily between December 31st and January 6th (Swedish school's winter break). Click here for program.
• Naturhistoriska (natural history)- closed December 23rd, 24th and 30th.

Sightseeing tours, provided by the company Strömma, are offered everyday during the holidays... like the Panorama bus tour and the Winter boat tour among others! The company Free Tours have walking tours everyday except December 24th and, as the name suggests, they are free. On the other hand, Stockholm Our Way is taking a holiday break... no guided tours between Dec 22nd and Jan 6th. So, with this list you should be able to keep yourself culturally active every day of your holiday visit in Stockholm.

Christmas tree in front of Fotografiska on a snowy day last year!

Restaurants During Christmas and New Year's 2013

Over the next two weeks, I will be doing a series of articles detailing which days restaurants, museums, shops and church services are open/closed during the holiday season to help you plan your visit in Stockholm. First up... restaurants!

Chefs at F12 (photo by Wolfgang Kleinschmidt)

Restaurants are a little tricky this time of year. Some restaurants are open every evening, others are just closed on the major holidays while others may be closed for up to three weeks. Christmas Eve (December 24th) is the hardest! Almost all restaurants are closed with the exception of hotel restaurants (like the Rival Bistro) and a scattered few others in Gamla Stan and on Djurgården. Christmas Day is also a bit difficult... though better than the previous day as more restaurants are open for business. Some restaurants may even be closed on Boxing Day (Dec. 26th). Around New Year's you have similar problems: on the 31st many restaurants are closed and the ones that are open generally serve a traditional multiple course set menu, called nyårssupé, and nothing else. There are a select few restaurants that are open and just serve from their regular menu. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly for help in reserving tables. And don't wait too long... restaurants tend to fill up (especially on New Year's Eve)! January 1st will find many restaurants closed for business as both staff and patrons are generally hiding under the covers, resting up!

Chef's Table at the Rival Bistro.

As I mentioned earlier... some restaurants close for 2-3 weeks during the holidays. Sadly, for foodies and gourmands, these are generally Michelin star and other high end restaurants. Here is a list of some of the restaurants that are closed for a longer period of time this holiday season:

• Mathias Dahlgren(Matsalen & Matbaren)- closed from December 22nd through January 6th. 
• Frantzén- closed from December 22nd through January 6th. 
• F12- closed from December 22nd through January 12th (open New Year's Eve).
• Gastrologik- closed from December 22nd through January 6th.
• Oaxen Krog & Slip- closed from December 22nd through January 8th.
• Ekstedts- closed from December 22nd through January 8th, with the exception of Dec 26, 27 & 28.
• Esperanto- closed from December 22nd through January 9th.
• Lux Day by Day- closed from December 23rd through January 2nd. 
• Djuret- closed from December 22nd through January 2nd.
• B.A.R.- closed from December 22nd through January 1st. 
• Wedholm's Fisk- closed from December 23rd through January 6th. 
• GQ- closed from December 23rd through January 7th.
• Jonas- closed December 22nd through January 6th (open New Year's Eve). their Food & Wine Bar is open on Dec 27th & 28th as well as Jan 3rd & 4th.
• Himlen- closed from December 22nd through January 8th (open on New Year's Eve).
• Kryp In- closed from December 23rd through January 7th. 
• Pubologi- closed from December 22nd through January 2nd.
• Sjögräs- closed from December 22nd through January 7th. 
• Östermalm's Saluhall (indoor food market and popular place for lunch- no dinner)- closed on December 24th, 25th, 26th and 29th as well as January 1st. 

I have actually compiled a list of 90 Stockholm restaurants and which days they are closed/open during the holidays. So, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel (lucky you!), contact me and I will help you find restaurants for your stay. And I would, of course, be remiss in not mentioning that the Rival Bistro is open every evening... year round!

Esperanto.

Restaurants During Christmas and New Year's 2013

Posted by zlatin

Over the next two weeks, I will be doing a series of articles detailing which days restaurants, museums, shops and church services are open/closed during the holiday season to help you plan your visit in Stockholm. First up... restaurants!

Chefs at F12 (photo by Wolfgang Kleinschmidt)

Restaurants are a little tricky this time of year. Some restaurants are open every evening, others are just closed on the major holidays while others may be closed for up to three weeks. Christmas Eve (December 24th) is the hardest! Almost all restaurants are closed with the exception of hotel restaurants (like the Rival Bistro) and a scattered few others in Gamla Stan and on Djurgården. Christmas Day is also a bit difficult... though better than the previous day as more restaurants are open for business. Some restaurants may even be closed on Boxing Day (Dec. 26th). Around New Year's you have similar problems: on the 31st many restaurants are closed and the ones that are open generally serve a traditional multiple course set menu, called nyårssupé, and nothing else. There are a select few restaurants that are open and just serve from their regular menu. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly for help in reserving tables. And don't wait too long... restaurants tend to fill up (especially on New Year's Eve)! January 1st will find many restaurants closed for business as both staff and patrons are generally hiding under the covers, resting up!

Chef's Table at the Rival Bistro.

As I mentioned earlier... some restaurants close for 2-3 weeks during the holidays. Sadly, for foodies and gourmands, these are generally Michelin star and other high end restaurants. Here is a list of some of the restaurants that are closed for a longer period of time this holiday season:

• Mathias Dahlgren(Matsalen & Matbaren)- closed from December 22nd through January 6th. 
• Frantzén- closed from December 22nd through January 6th. 
• F12- closed from December 22nd through January 12th (open New Year's Eve).
• Gastrologik- closed from December 22nd through January 6th.
• Oaxen Krog & Slip- closed from December 22nd through January 8th.
• Ekstedts- closed from December 22nd through January 8th, with the exception of Dec 26, 27 & 28.
• Esperanto- closed from December 22nd through January 9th.
• Lux Day by Day- closed from December 23rd through January 2nd. 
• Djuret- closed from December 22nd through January 2nd.
• B.A.R.- closed from December 22nd through January 1st. 
• Wedholm's Fisk- closed from December 23rd through January 6th. 
• GQ- closed from December 23rd through January 7th.
• Jonas- closed December 22nd through January 6th (open New Year's Eve). their Food & Wine Bar is open on Dec 27th & 28th as well as Jan 3rd & 4th.
• Himlen- closed from December 22nd through January 8th (open on New Year's Eve).
• Kryp In- closed from December 23rd through January 7th. 
• Pubologi- closed from December 22nd through January 2nd.
• Sjögräs- closed from December 22nd through January 7th. 
• Östermalm's Saluhall (indoor food market and popular place for lunch- no dinner)- closed on December 24th, 25th, 26th and 29th as well as January 1st. 

I have actually compiled a list of 90 Stockholm restaurants and which days they are closed/open during the holidays. So, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel (lucky you!), contact me and I will help you find restaurants for your stay. And I would, of course, be remiss in not mentioning that the Rival Bistro is open every evening... year round!

Esperanto.

New Year's Eve in Stockholm 2012

(EDIT: This is from 2012, new info about New Years in Stockholm can be found by clicking here!) Christmas is finally over... and New Years is just around the corner! If you are visiting the city this coming weekend, then I hope you have already finalized your New Year's Eve plans because it's getting down to the wire. Here are some things you should be aware of when making your plans:

• Restaurants- Many restaurants are closed on the 31st. The ones that are open generally serve a traditional multiple course menu called nyårssupé and nothing else. It can be anywhere between 3 and 9 courses and cost anywhere between 500 and 1200 SEK, depending on the restaurant. This means that going out for a simple dinner or quick bite will probably be problematic unless you are looking at pubs or fast food establishments. These dinners are quite popular and the restaurants tend to fill up, so don't leave it to the last minute! Most of these restaurants have two seatings during the evening... an early (5-8:30pm) and a late (8:30pm-12am). There are a select few that serve both the nyårssupé alongside a regular menu. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me as soon as possible to make arrangements!
• Nightclubs- Here it is important to plan ahead as well. Tickets to the parties at the nightclubs can be pre-purchased in advance. If you don't pre-purchase a ticket, you can end up standing in long lines in subzero temperatures! Here are some of the larger nightclub parties this year: Stureplansgruppen (an umbrella group that runs several nightclubs), Café Opera, Södra Teatern and Berns. These are the more posh nightclub venues... there are, of course, many smaller parties going on at different venues.
• Taxis- These are notoriously hard to catch on New Year's Eve... especially after 11pm. This is because of the huge demand. Most taxi companies don't accept prebookings because they don't want their cars tied up waiting for people who don't show up. You don't have to worry about being stranded though... the subways will be running all night long. If nighttime subways aren't your thing, just make sure that you are within walking distance of your hotel. Stockholm isn't that big so this isn't that hard to accomplish.
• Fireworks- Locals will be setting off their own fireworks throughout the city, especially in the parks & squares and at midnight. The official fireworks will be shot off above the harbor (eastern side of Gamla Stan). The best places to see the fireworks are along the waterfront, by the City Hall, on Fjällgatan or Monteliusvägen. Some places will be quite crowded, especially the Slussen area which will be cordoned off from car traffic, but you will still be able to see the fireworks!
• Skansen- Once again, this is the center of Swedish holiday tradition. This is the spectacle that is televised and shown around all of Sweden... kind of like the Swedish version of the ball dropping at Times Square. There will be music and speeches and the official countdown. Skansen is also a great place to see the official fireworks! To be honest, I'm not sure how much someone who doesn't speak Swedish will get out of the event as most of the program is in Swedish... but it is an option. The program starts at 11:10pm and ends at 00:10am.

The Rival Hotel- our restaurant is always fully booked on this evening... book in time! Our bars are open until 2am and there is no entrance fee (rare on this evening). There will be a DJ playing and the square in front of the hotel is a popular place for the locals to light their fireworks.

New Year's Eve in Stockholm 2012

Posted by zlatin

(EDIT: This is from 2012, new info about New Years in Stockholm can be found by clicking here!) Christmas is finally over... and New Years is just around the corner! If you are visiting the city this coming weekend, then I hope you have already finalized your New Year's Eve plans because it's getting down to the wire. Here are some things you should be aware of when making your plans:

• Restaurants- Many restaurants are closed on the 31st. The ones that are open generally serve a traditional multiple course menu called nyårssupé and nothing else. It can be anywhere between 3 and 9 courses and cost anywhere between 500 and 1200 SEK, depending on the restaurant. This means that going out for a simple dinner or quick bite will probably be problematic unless you are looking at pubs or fast food establishments. These dinners are quite popular and the restaurants tend to fill up, so don't leave it to the last minute! Most of these restaurants have two seatings during the evening... an early (5-8:30pm) and a late (8:30pm-12am). There are a select few that serve both the nyårssupé alongside a regular menu. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me as soon as possible to make arrangements!
• Nightclubs- Here it is important to plan ahead as well. Tickets to the parties at the nightclubs can be pre-purchased in advance. If you don't pre-purchase a ticket, you can end up standing in long lines in subzero temperatures! Here are some of the larger nightclub parties this year: Stureplansgruppen (an umbrella group that runs several nightclubs), Café Opera, Södra Teatern and Berns. These are the more posh nightclub venues... there are, of course, many smaller parties going on at different venues.
• Taxis- These are notoriously hard to catch on New Year's Eve... especially after 11pm. This is because of the huge demand. Most taxi companies don't accept prebookings because they don't want their cars tied up waiting for people who don't show up. You don't have to worry about being stranded though... the subways will be running all night long. If nighttime subways aren't your thing, just make sure that you are within walking distance of your hotel. Stockholm isn't that big so this isn't that hard to accomplish.
• Fireworks- Locals will be setting off their own fireworks throughout the city, especially in the parks & squares and at midnight. The official fireworks will be shot off above the harbor (eastern side of Gamla Stan). The best places to see the fireworks are along the waterfront, by the City Hall, on Fjällgatan or Monteliusvägen. Some places will be quite crowded, especially the Slussen area which will be cordoned off from car traffic, but you will still be able to see the fireworks!
• Skansen- Once again, this is the center of Swedish holiday tradition. This is the spectacle that is televised and shown around all of Sweden... kind of like the Swedish version of the ball dropping at Times Square. There will be music and speeches and the official countdown. Skansen is also a great place to see the official fireworks! To be honest, I'm not sure how much someone who doesn't speak Swedish will get out of the event as most of the program is in Swedish... but it is an option. The program starts at 11:10pm and ends at 00:10am.

The Rival Hotel- our restaurant is always fully booked on this evening... book in time! Our bars are open until 2am and there is no entrance fee (rare on this evening). There will be a DJ playing and the square in front of the hotel is a popular place for the locals to light their fireworks.

Church Services During the Holidays 2012/13

(EDIT: blog from 2012, for current dates and times... click here!) There are many churches offering services in several languages during the holiday season. The main denominations are Church of Sweden (Lutheran) and Catholicism. Here are the mass times that can be of interest:

Storkyrkan (Lutheran)- located in Gamla Stan.
-December 24th: Christmas music & prayer at 4:30pm. Midnight mass at 11:00pm. Both in Swedish.
-December 25th: High mass at 11am in Swedish.
-January 1st: High mass at 11am in Swedish.

St Jacob's Church (Lutheran)- located next to Kungsträdgården.
-December 24th: Christmas pageant and music at 11am.
-December 25th: Worship in English at 6pm (also every Sunday at 6pm).

Katolska Domkyrkan (Catholic)- located on Södermalm. Main Catholic Church in Sweden.
-December 24th: Christmas service in Italian at 9pm, Croatian at 10pm and midnight mass (Latin?).
-December 25th: Italian at 8:45am, High Mass at 11am (Latin?), Spanish at 2pm, Polish at 5pm and Swedish at 6:30pm.
-December 31st: Thanksgiving mass with "Te Deum" at 5pm.
-January 1st: High Mass at 11am (Latin?), Croatian at 12:30pm, Spanish at 2pm and Swedish at 6:30pm.

St Eugenia (Catholic)- located next to Kungsträdgården. Mass in English every Sunday at 6pm.
-December 24th: Christmas prayer at 7:30pm, midnight mass in Swedish at 10pm and in English at 11:59pm.
-December 25th: High mass at 11am (Latin?), mass in English at 6pm.
-January 1st: High mass at 11am (Latin?), mass in English at 6pm.

These churches do have more services than I have listed and there are, of course, many more churches in Stockholm! If you are staying at the Rival Hotel and interested in other churches or dates, contact me directly. Looking for temple services (Judaism)? Click here for information in English for the Jewish Congregation in Stockholm, or click here for an earlier blog entry about the Great Synagogue, Jewish Museum and more.

Church Services During the Holidays 2012/13

Posted by zlatin

(EDIT: blog from 2012, for current dates and times... click here!) There are many churches offering services in several languages during the holiday season. The main denominations are Church of Sweden (Lutheran) and Catholicism. Here are the mass times that can be of interest:

Storkyrkan (Lutheran)- located in Gamla Stan.
-December 24th: Christmas music & prayer at 4:30pm. Midnight mass at 11:00pm. Both in Swedish.
-December 25th: High mass at 11am in Swedish.
-January 1st: High mass at 11am in Swedish.

St Jacob's Church (Lutheran)- located next to Kungsträdgården.
-December 24th: Christmas pageant and music at 11am.
-December 25th: Worship in English at 6pm (also every Sunday at 6pm).

Katolska Domkyrkan (Catholic)- located on Södermalm. Main Catholic Church in Sweden.
-December 24th: Christmas service in Italian at 9pm, Croatian at 10pm and midnight mass (Latin?).
-December 25th: Italian at 8:45am, High Mass at 11am (Latin?), Spanish at 2pm, Polish at 5pm and Swedish at 6:30pm.
-December 31st: Thanksgiving mass with "Te Deum" at 5pm.
-January 1st: High Mass at 11am (Latin?), Croatian at 12:30pm, Spanish at 2pm and Swedish at 6:30pm.

St Eugenia (Catholic)- located next to Kungsträdgården. Mass in English every Sunday at 6pm.
-December 24th: Christmas prayer at 7:30pm, midnight mass in Swedish at 10pm and in English at 11:59pm.
-December 25th: High mass at 11am (Latin?), mass in English at 6pm.
-January 1st: High mass at 11am (Latin?), mass in English at 6pm.

These churches do have more services than I have listed and there are, of course, many more churches in Stockholm! If you are staying at the Rival Hotel and interested in other churches or dates, contact me directly. Looking for temple services (Judaism)? Click here for information in English for the Jewish Congregation in Stockholm, or click here for an earlier blog entry about the Great Synagogue, Jewish Museum and more.

Shopping During the Holidays 2012/13

NK, photo by Jeppe Wikström, Stockholms Visitors Board

(EDIT: click here for information for 2013-14!) I just posted a list for which days major museums close during the holidays. Another popular activity during this period is shopping! Stores, of course, do close on certain days during the holidays. A good rule of thumb for Christmas is that stores tend to be open on the 24th, closing early, and closed on the 25th. Basically the same applies for New Years... closing early on the 31st and closed on the 1st. They all generally have extended opening hours in the mad rush up until Christmas. Smaller shops can be closed on the 24th and 31st as well. Here are the opening hours for the major shopping centers and department stores in Stockholm:

• NK Department Store: 10am to 2pm on Dec 24th, closed on Dec 25th, 10am to 5pm on Dec 31st and closed on Jan 1st.
• Åhlens Department Store: 10am to 2pm on Dec 24th, closed on Dec 25th, 10am to 6pm on Dec 31st and closed on Jan 1st.
• Mood Shopping Center: 10am to 2pm on Dec 24th, closed on Dec 25th, 10am to 5pm on Dec 31st and closed on Jan 1st. 
• Gallerian Shopping Center: 10am to 2pm on Dec 24th, closed on Dec 25th, 11am to 5pm on Dec 31st and closed on Jan 1st. 
• Sturegallerian Shopping Center: 10am to 2pm on Dec 24th, closed on Dec 25th, 10am to 2pm on Dec 31st and closed on Jan 1st.

Liquor stores, called Systembolaget, are all closed on the 23rd through 26th of December. They are also closed on the 30th and close at 2pm on the 31st of December. So you better plan your beer, wine, champagne & liquor purchases accordingly!

Photo by Henrik Trygg, Stockholms Visitors Board

The week between Christmas and New Years (called mellandagarna, literally "the middle days") is the biggest shopping week of the year in Sweden with some incredible sales. Just keep your eyes open for signs saying REA ("sale") or MELLANDAGSREA ("middle day sale"). If you are staying at the Rival Hotel and need information on the opening hours for specific smaller shops, drop me a line or stop by and talk to me. If you are wondering about restaurant opening hours... those are way too varied to write a list here on my blog, but you can check an earlier blog entry about restaurants to get a general idea of what to expect!

Shopping During the Holidays 2012/13

Posted by zlatin

NK, photo by Jeppe Wikström, Stockholms Visitors Board

(EDIT: click here for information for 2013-14!) I just posted a list for which days major museums close during the holidays. Another popular activity during this period is shopping! Stores, of course, do close on certain days during the holidays. A good rule of thumb for Christmas is that stores tend to be open on the 24th, closing early, and closed on the 25th. Basically the same applies for New Years... closing early on the 31st and closed on the 1st. They all generally have extended opening hours in the mad rush up until Christmas. Smaller shops can be closed on the 24th and 31st as well. Here are the opening hours for the major shopping centers and department stores in Stockholm:

• NK Department Store: 10am to 2pm on Dec 24th, closed on Dec 25th, 10am to 5pm on Dec 31st and closed on Jan 1st.
• Åhlens Department Store: 10am to 2pm on Dec 24th, closed on Dec 25th, 10am to 6pm on Dec 31st and closed on Jan 1st.
• Mood Shopping Center: 10am to 2pm on Dec 24th, closed on Dec 25th, 10am to 5pm on Dec 31st and closed on Jan 1st. 
• Gallerian Shopping Center: 10am to 2pm on Dec 24th, closed on Dec 25th, 11am to 5pm on Dec 31st and closed on Jan 1st. 
• Sturegallerian Shopping Center: 10am to 2pm on Dec 24th, closed on Dec 25th, 10am to 2pm on Dec 31st and closed on Jan 1st.

Liquor stores, called Systembolaget, are all closed on the 23rd through 26th of December. They are also closed on the 30th and close at 2pm on the 31st of December. So you better plan your beer, wine, champagne & liquor purchases accordingly!

Photo by Henrik Trygg, Stockholms Visitors Board

The week between Christmas and New Years (called mellandagarna, literally "the middle days") is the biggest shopping week of the year in Sweden with some incredible sales. Just keep your eyes open for signs saying REA ("sale") or MELLANDAGSREA ("middle day sale"). If you are staying at the Rival Hotel and need information on the opening hours for specific smaller shops, drop me a line or stop by and talk to me. If you are wondering about restaurant opening hours... those are way too varied to write a list here on my blog, but you can check an earlier blog entry about restaurants to get a general idea of what to expect!

Museums During the Holidays 2012/13

(EDIT: Click here for the list of museums for 2014-2015!) If you are coming to Stockholm during the holidays and want to get a little cultural, you don't have to worry... there is always at least one museum open each day! While there are about 80 museums in Stockholm, I thought I would list which days the larger museums are open/closed to help you plan your trip.

• Skansen- open every day!
• Vasa Museum- closed the 23rd, 24th, 25th of December as well as the 1st of January.
• Fotografiska (photography)- closed on December 24th.
• Moderna (modern art)- closed December 24th, 25th & 31st and January 1st.
• National (classic art)- closed December 24th, 25th and 31st.
• Nordiska (nordic culture)- closed December 24th, 25th and 31st.
• Historiska (history)- closed December 24th, 25th and 31st.
• Nobel- closed December 24th, 25th & 31st and January 1st.
• Medeltidsmuseum (medieval history)- closed December 24th, 25th & 31st and January 1st.
• Naturhistoriska (natural history)- closed December 23rd and 24th.
• Kungliga Slottet (royal palace incl. museums)- closed December 24th, 25th & 31st and January 1st.

Be aware that some of the museums have shorter opening hours on certain days. Double check with their websites (linked above) for opening hours. The changing of the guards at the Royal Palace takes place every day at 12:15pm except on Sundays as well as December 25th & 26th and Janurary 1st when it takes place at 1:15pm. Strömma's sightseeing basic bus and boat tours run pretty much as normal, double check their calendar on the website for specific tour information. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, stop by and talk to me for more detailed opening hours as well as information regarding smaller museums.

Museums During the Holidays 2012/13

Posted by zlatin

(EDIT: Click here for the list of museums for 2014-2015!) If you are coming to Stockholm during the holidays and want to get a little cultural, you don't have to worry... there is always at least one museum open each day! While there are about 80 museums in Stockholm, I thought I would list which days the larger museums are open/closed to help you plan your trip.

• Skansen- open every day!
• Vasa Museum- closed the 23rd, 24th, 25th of December as well as the 1st of January.
• Fotografiska (photography)- closed on December 24th.
• Moderna (modern art)- closed December 24th, 25th & 31st and January 1st.
• National (classic art)- closed December 24th, 25th and 31st.
• Nordiska (nordic culture)- closed December 24th, 25th and 31st.
• Historiska (history)- closed December 24th, 25th and 31st.
• Nobel- closed December 24th, 25th & 31st and January 1st.
• Medeltidsmuseum (medieval history)- closed December 24th, 25th & 31st and January 1st.
• Naturhistoriska (natural history)- closed December 23rd and 24th.
• Kungliga Slottet (royal palace incl. museums)- closed December 24th, 25th & 31st and January 1st.

Be aware that some of the museums have shorter opening hours on certain days. Double check with their websites (linked above) for opening hours. The changing of the guards at the Royal Palace takes place every day at 12:15pm except on Sundays as well as December 25th & 26th and Janurary 1st when it takes place at 1:15pm. Strömma's sightseeing basic bus and boat tours run pretty much as normal, double check their calendar on the website for specific tour information. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, stop by and talk to me for more detailed opening hours as well as information regarding smaller museums.