Hop On Hop Off Boats

When I visited Fotografiska this past weekend, I decided to use the Hop On Hop Off Boat to get from the downtown area to the museum (to re-familiarize myself with them).

Boat coming in to Nybroviken stop.

If you happen to be unfamiliar with the concept of "hop on hop off" sightseeing... it is sightseeing by bus or boat with stops. These stops are generally at the city's main attractions or hubs. At these stops you can choose to get off the bus or boat to visit the attraction. When you have finished your visit, you just jump on the next bus or boat that comes by (which they do on a regular basis, especially during high season). This is an especially great way to get around if you just have a short time in the city and want to see and do the most during your visit.

Information at stop showing routes and attractions.

Of course, you don't have to get off at the stops. You do have the option of staying on board for the whole tour, which is guided. The question I get most asked about this tour is "how long is the tour if we don't get off?". The answer is 50 minutes. However, if that is your plan, I would instead recommend one of the regular sightseeing boat tours like Under the Bridges or Royal Canal tours.. otherwise you are wasting time waiting while the boat stops to drop off and pick up guests every 10 minutes.

Gamla Stan from the water.

Besides the Hop On/Off Boat, there is a Hop On/Off Bus tour as well. Another question I often get asked is which of the two (bus or boat) I would choose. Both are good choices, but there are some differences... the boat hits the main attractions but misses City Hall (Stadshuset). The bus tour is a little longer (90 minutes), stopping not only at the main attractions but also several popular squares and streets. However, it does not stop at Fotografiska (which the boat does). If you still have trouble deciding, they do offer a combination ticket as well for both bus and boat.

Another Hop On/Off boat passing Kastellholmen.

When it comes to tickets, besides the combination ticket they also give you the choice of buying tickets good for either 24 hours or 72 hours. The time period starts from the first time you use it. In other words if you buy a 24 hour ticket for the boat at 3pm on Tuesday (time period starts when you first use the ticket), it is good until 3pm on Wednesday. Tickets can be purchased online (website linked above), on the bus or boat (cash or credit card) or, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, through me!

Picking up passengers at Nybroviken.

Hop On Hop Off Boats

Posted by zlatin

When I visited Fotografiska this past weekend, I decided to use the Hop On Hop Off Boat to get from the downtown area to the museum (to re-familiarize myself with them).

Boat coming in to Nybroviken stop.

If you happen to be unfamiliar with the concept of "hop on hop off" sightseeing... it is sightseeing by bus or boat with stops. These stops are generally at the city's main attractions or hubs. At these stops you can choose to get off the bus or boat to visit the attraction. When you have finished your visit, you just jump on the next bus or boat that comes by (which they do on a regular basis, especially during high season). This is an especially great way to get around if you just have a short time in the city and want to see and do the most during your visit.

Information at stop showing routes and attractions.

Of course, you don't have to get off at the stops. You do have the option of staying on board for the whole tour, which is guided. The question I get most asked about this tour is "how long is the tour if we don't get off?". The answer is 50 minutes. However, if that is your plan, I would instead recommend one of the regular sightseeing boat tours like Under the Bridges or Royal Canal tours.. otherwise you are wasting time waiting while the boat stops to drop off and pick up guests every 10 minutes.

Gamla Stan from the water.

Besides the Hop On/Off Boat, there is a Hop On/Off Bus tour as well. Another question I often get asked is which of the two (bus or boat) I would choose. Both are good choices, but there are some differences... the boat hits the main attractions but misses City Hall (Stadshuset). The bus tour is a little longer (90 minutes), stopping not only at the main attractions but also several popular squares and streets. However, it does not stop at Fotografiska (which the boat does). If you still have trouble deciding, they do offer a combination ticket as well for both bus and boat.

Another Hop On/Off boat passing Kastellholmen.

When it comes to tickets, besides the combination ticket they also give you the choice of buying tickets good for either 24 hours or 72 hours. The time period starts from the first time you use it. In other words if you buy a 24 hour ticket for the boat at 3pm on Tuesday (time period starts when you first use the ticket), it is good until 3pm on Wednesday. Tickets can be purchased online (website linked above), on the bus or boat (cash or credit card) or, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, through me!

Picking up passengers at Nybroviken.

Day Trip to Vaxholm in the Archipelago

Vaxholm harbor

My cousin and his wife visited me for a few days this past weekend. It was their first time in Stockholm and gorgeous weather, so after the requisite visits to Gamla Stan, Vasa Museum, waterfront walk on Kungsholmen, lunch at Rosendals Wärdshus, dinner & drinks at both Kryp In and Mr French... I thought a trip out in the beautiful Stockholm Archipelago was in order!

Quaint café on the bay... location of our lunch!

With over 30,000 islands, there are a lot of options on what to see & do when visiting the archipelago. Time-wise, you are looking at between 4 and 8 hours... depending on how far out you want to travel, which islands you want to visit and how much time you wish to spend ashore (if any). We did not have a full day so I decided on a visit to the town of Vaxholm for lunch and a little wandering.

Scenery on the way out to Vaxholm.

Vaxholm is the name of both a town and the island it is on and is located in the central portion of the archipelago. In fact, its central location has made it a hub for boat travel in the archipelago and its nickname is "Capital of the Archipelago". One of the main sea routes in to Stockholm passes by Vaxholm. So besides the town, you also have Vaxholm Fortress (Fästning) which was first built in 1544 to guard the city. You can visit the fortress, which houses a museum, and there are boats from Vaxholm harbor every 20 minutes which takes you across the narrow channel.

The fortress...

We opted for a more care-free visit and took a walk along the north side of the island. A short walk through the quaint streets brought us to Hembygdgårds Café. Located on a picturesque little bay, this popular café has a great outdoor seating with views over the water. It also has one of best dessert/pastry buffets I have ever seen! Great lunch options as well as beer and wine.

Fantastic dessert buffet at the café!

After lunch, we made our way back through the town (with some shopping along the way) to the harbor. The town is quite cute and made up mostly of wooden buildings. In fact, wood was the only building material allowed by law up until 1912. The harbor itself can be very busy, with people getting on and off boats, but the town gets much quieter just a few blocks from the harbor.

Main square in the town with...

...shopping options.

You have a few options to get to Vaxholm from Stockholm. The Cinderella boats travel to the outer archipelago every day during the summer and stop at Vaxholm. They leave the city from Strandvägen around 9:30-10:00am and the trip takes just 50 minutes. They stop by Vaxholm in the afternoon (3-4:00pm) on their way back from the archipelago, depending on the day of the week. Check the website, linked above, for the schedule.

One of Waxholmsbolaget's boats.

Another option is using the Waxholmsboalget boats (the commuter boats of the archipelago). These boats have more departures through the day and the trip takes between 50 minutes and 1 hour 20 minutes, depending on the boat. They depart from Strömkajen and you purchase your tickets onboard. There is a bridge connecting Vaxholm island to the mainland, so you have the additional options of bus, taxi or car. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me for help with schedules and tickets (Cinderella only). Click here and here for more tips about visiting the archipelago.

Leaving Vaxholm by boat...

Day Trip to Vaxholm in the Archipelago

Posted by zlatin

Vaxholm harbor

My cousin and his wife visited me for a few days this past weekend. It was their first time in Stockholm and gorgeous weather, so after the requisite visits to Gamla Stan, Vasa Museum, waterfront walk on Kungsholmen, lunch at Rosendals Wärdshus, dinner & drinks at both Kryp In and Mr French... I thought a trip out in the beautiful Stockholm Archipelago was in order!

Quaint café on the bay... location of our lunch!

With over 30,000 islands, there are a lot of options on what to see & do when visiting the archipelago. Time-wise, you are looking at between 4 and 8 hours... depending on how far out you want to travel, which islands you want to visit and how much time you wish to spend ashore (if any). We did not have a full day so I decided on a visit to the town of Vaxholm for lunch and a little wandering.

Scenery on the way out to Vaxholm.

Vaxholm is the name of both a town and the island it is on and is located in the central portion of the archipelago. In fact, its central location has made it a hub for boat travel in the archipelago and its nickname is "Capital of the Archipelago". One of the main sea routes in to Stockholm passes by Vaxholm. So besides the town, you also have Vaxholm Fortress (Fästning) which was first built in 1544 to guard the city. You can visit the fortress, which houses a museum, and there are boats from Vaxholm harbor every 20 minutes which takes you across the narrow channel.

The fortress...

We opted for a more care-free visit and took a walk along the north side of the island. A short walk through the quaint streets brought us to Hembygdgårds Café. Located on a picturesque little bay, this popular café has a great outdoor seating with views over the water. It also has one of best dessert/pastry buffets I have ever seen! Great lunch options as well as beer and wine.

Fantastic dessert buffet at the café!

After lunch, we made our way back through the town (with some shopping along the way) to the harbor. The town is quite cute and made up mostly of wooden buildings. In fact, wood was the only building material allowed by law up until 1912. The harbor itself can be very busy, with people getting on and off boats, but the town gets much quieter just a few blocks from the harbor.

Main square in the town with...

...shopping options.

You have a few options to get to Vaxholm from Stockholm. The Cinderella boats travel to the outer archipelago every day during the summer and stop at Vaxholm. They leave the city from Strandvägen around 9:30-10:00am and the trip takes just 50 minutes. They stop by Vaxholm in the afternoon (3-4:00pm) on their way back from the archipelago, depending on the day of the week. Check the website, linked above, for the schedule.

One of Waxholmsbolaget's boats.

Another option is using the Waxholmsboalget boats (the commuter boats of the archipelago). These boats have more departures through the day and the trip takes between 50 minutes and 1 hour 20 minutes, depending on the boat. They depart from Strömkajen and you purchase your tickets onboard. There is a bridge connecting Vaxholm island to the mainland, so you have the additional options of bus, taxi or car. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me for help with schedules and tickets (Cinderella only). Click here and here for more tips about visiting the archipelago.

Leaving Vaxholm by boat...

ABBA... The Boat Tour!

ABBA Boat Tour www.stromma.se 

This summer, ABBA the Museum and the Strömma sightseeing company have joined forces to present a new sightseeing tour in Stockholm: ABBA the Museum Boat Tour. As I have one of the best jobs in Stockholm, I got to try out the tour this morning.

Photographer- Torbjörn Calvero ©premium rockshot

In regards to route, the tour is very similar to Strömma's popular Royal Canal Tour. In other words, it is an enjoyable 50 minute boat tour around the island of Djurgården which is the world's first National City Park and the home of many of the city's main attractions like the Vasa Museum, Skansen and... ABBA the Museum! The content of the tour, however, is different than the Canal Tour. This tour, guided in Swedish and English, concentrates on the history of ABBA and their close relationship with the island of Djurgården. It is Ingmarie Halling, the curator of ABBA the Museum, herself who guides you on the tour. Well, it is Halling's voice you hear in the earphones and the manuscript was written by her (though we were lucky enough to have her present on this special tour today). Along with the audio guide, you have a pamphlet explaining points of interest and including some great pictures. The boat glides by many of the spots used in the group's music videos, photo shoots as well as scenes from ABBA the Movie. Interspersed with the explanations of what you are seeing are snippets of some of ABBA's best songs... of course! This tour is poerfect for the ABBA fan. If you wish for sightseeing with more information about Stockholm, then their Royal Canal and Under the Bridges tours would be more interesting.

Combine the tour with a visit to the museum!

One other big difference between the Royal Canal and ABBA boat tours is that this tour makes a stop at ABBA the Museum towards the end, where you can disembark if you wish. You have the option of purchasing a combination ticket which includes entrance to the museum. The boat tour costs 195 SEK or 390 SEK for the boat-museum combination ticket (half price for children between 6 and 11 and free for kiddies under 6 years of age). Tickets can be purchased through Strömma, either online or at one of their ticket offices, or at ABBA the Museum. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, talk to me directly for help in booking/purchasing tickets. The tour departs three times daily (11am, 12 noon and 1pm) between June 6th and August 24th from Strömkajen, across the water from the Royal Palace.

Beaitiful houses on Djurgården... 

ABBA... The Boat Tour!

Posted by zlatin

ABBA Boat Tour www.stromma.se 

This summer, ABBA the Museum and the Strömma sightseeing company have joined forces to present a new sightseeing tour in Stockholm: ABBA the Museum Boat Tour. As I have one of the best jobs in Stockholm, I got to try out the tour this morning.

Photographer- Torbjörn Calvero ©premium rockshot

In regards to route, the tour is very similar to Strömma's popular Royal Canal Tour. In other words, it is an enjoyable 50 minute boat tour around the island of Djurgården which is the world's first National City Park and the home of many of the city's main attractions like the Vasa Museum, Skansen and... ABBA the Museum! The content of the tour, however, is different than the Canal Tour. This tour, guided in Swedish and English, concentrates on the history of ABBA and their close relationship with the island of Djurgården. It is Ingmarie Halling, the curator of ABBA the Museum, herself who guides you on the tour. Well, it is Halling's voice you hear in the earphones and the manuscript was written by her (though we were lucky enough to have her present on this special tour today). Along with the audio guide, you have a pamphlet explaining points of interest and including some great pictures. The boat glides by many of the spots used in the group's music videos, photo shoots as well as scenes from ABBA the Movie. Interspersed with the explanations of what you are seeing are snippets of some of ABBA's best songs... of course! This tour is poerfect for the ABBA fan. If you wish for sightseeing with more information about Stockholm, then their Royal Canal and Under the Bridges tours would be more interesting.

Combine the tour with a visit to the museum!

One other big difference between the Royal Canal and ABBA boat tours is that this tour makes a stop at ABBA the Museum towards the end, where you can disembark if you wish. You have the option of purchasing a combination ticket which includes entrance to the museum. The boat tour costs 195 SEK or 390 SEK for the boat-museum combination ticket (half price for children between 6 and 11 and free for kiddies under 6 years of age). Tickets can be purchased through Strömma, either online or at one of their ticket offices, or at ABBA the Museum. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, talk to me directly for help in booking/purchasing tickets. The tour departs three times daily (11am, 12 noon and 1pm) between June 6th and August 24th from Strömkajen, across the water from the Royal Palace.

Beaitiful houses on Djurgården... 

Sightseeing Boat Season Starts Soon!

Generally, the waters around Stockholm are covered with ice during the winter making sightseeing by boat in the city impossible (though this has been a very mild winter). Now that winter is finally over, the popular city sightseeing boat tours, operated by Strömma, are coming back! Stockholm is a city built on 14 islands and is really best seen from the water. The tours are guided in several languages and are very informative.

The Royal Canal Tour starts up on April 4th and runs daily from then on (until next winter). This is a shorter tour (50 minutes) around the island of Djurgården which is a National City Park and where many tourist attractions are located... like the Vasa Museum, Skansen, ABBA the Museum and much more. Earlier blog article.

The Under the Bridges Tour starts up on April 11th... at first just on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays until the last week of April when it starts to run daily. At an hour and 50 minutes long, this is a more comprehensive sightseeing tour and takes you past all 14 islands, under 15 bridges and through 2 locks. A great way to get a good overview of the city! Earlier blog article.

Looking to get out of the city and see a bit of the archipelago and some nature? You have the option of taking the Little Archipelago Tour. This 3 hour boat tour, guided in Swedish & English, takes you through the inner archipelago and is a nice way to spend a sunny spring/summer day. Available with lunch or brunch as well! The tour runs Fri-Sun and holidays until June, after which it runs daily through the summer. Earlier blog article about the brunch cruise.

Sightseeing Boat Season Starts Soon!

Posted by zlatin

Generally, the waters around Stockholm are covered with ice during the winter making sightseeing by boat in the city impossible (though this has been a very mild winter). Now that winter is finally over, the popular city sightseeing boat tours, operated by Strömma, are coming back! Stockholm is a city built on 14 islands and is really best seen from the water. The tours are guided in several languages and are very informative.

The Royal Canal Tour starts up on April 4th and runs daily from then on (until next winter). This is a shorter tour (50 minutes) around the island of Djurgården which is a National City Park and where many tourist attractions are located... like the Vasa Museum, Skansen, ABBA the Museum and much more. Earlier blog article.

The Under the Bridges Tour starts up on April 11th... at first just on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays until the last week of April when it starts to run daily. At an hour and 50 minutes long, this is a more comprehensive sightseeing tour and takes you past all 14 islands, under 15 bridges and through 2 locks. A great way to get a good overview of the city! Earlier blog article.

Looking to get out of the city and see a bit of the archipelago and some nature? You have the option of taking the Little Archipelago Tour. This 3 hour boat tour, guided in Swedish & English, takes you through the inner archipelago and is a nice way to spend a sunny spring/summer day. Available with lunch or brunch as well! The tour runs Fri-Sun and holidays until June, after which it runs daily through the summer. Earlier blog article about the brunch cruise.

Brunch Cruise with Strömma

Yesterday, a colleague and I were invited by Strömma to try out their popular brunch cruise in the archipelago. This is a sightseeing boat cruise of the (inner) archipelago that they offer every Saturday and Sunday (year round) on the beautiful boat s/s Stockholm, which was built in 1931.

s/s Stockholm at berth

The brunch is a mix of Swedish smörgåsbord favorites (like a variety of herring, gravad salmon, smoked salmon, arctic shrimp, ham, sausages, Jansson's Temptation, patés and meatballs) and popular brunch dishes (eggs & bacon, several sallads, chicken drumsticks and grilled vegetables). But don't eat too much as they have a really nice dessert table that you won't want to miss... cheeses, mousses, parfaits, cookies, pies and fruit sallad.

A very Swedish brunch buffet...

The cruise itself is about 3 hours long and takes you through the inner Stockholm archipelago, about as far as the town of Vaxholm. The route is very picturesque no matter the season, though I would say that summer is the best... that is really when the archipelago comes to life. However a snowy landscape in the winter or a colorful autumn vista can also be quite spectacular. We have no snow or ice right now (a mild winter to say the least) and I was afraid that it would be a little dreary, but the grey, misty weather had its own haunting beauty.

This is a great way to combine several popular experiences in one fell swoop: brunch, Swedish cuisine, sightseeing and the natural wonder of the Stockholm archipelago. The boat departs at 12 noon every Saturday and Sunday from berth 16 on Strandvägen. The cost (boat trip & brunch) is 450 SEK for adults, half price for children between 6 and 11 and free for children under 6 years of age. Tickets can be purchased at a Strömma ticket office, online or, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, you can talk to me and I can book your brunch cruise... or any of the other sightseeing options offered by Strömma. Click here for tour information, including menu, route, timetables and more.

The archipelago on a summer's day!

Brunch Cruise with Strömma

Posted by zlatin

Yesterday, a colleague and I were invited by Strömma to try out their popular brunch cruise in the archipelago. This is a sightseeing boat cruise of the (inner) archipelago that they offer every Saturday and Sunday (year round) on the beautiful boat s/s Stockholm, which was built in 1931.

s/s Stockholm at berth

The brunch is a mix of Swedish smörgåsbord favorites (like a variety of herring, gravad salmon, smoked salmon, arctic shrimp, ham, sausages, Jansson's Temptation, patés and meatballs) and popular brunch dishes (eggs & bacon, several sallads, chicken drumsticks and grilled vegetables). But don't eat too much as they have a really nice dessert table that you won't want to miss... cheeses, mousses, parfaits, cookies, pies and fruit sallad.

A very Swedish brunch buffet...

The cruise itself is about 3 hours long and takes you through the inner Stockholm archipelago, about as far as the town of Vaxholm. The route is very picturesque no matter the season, though I would say that summer is the best... that is really when the archipelago comes to life. However a snowy landscape in the winter or a colorful autumn vista can also be quite spectacular. We have no snow or ice right now (a mild winter to say the least) and I was afraid that it would be a little dreary, but the grey, misty weather had its own haunting beauty.

This is a great way to combine several popular experiences in one fell swoop: brunch, Swedish cuisine, sightseeing and the natural wonder of the Stockholm archipelago. The boat departs at 12 noon every Saturday and Sunday from berth 16 on Strandvägen. The cost (boat trip & brunch) is 450 SEK for adults, half price for children between 6 and 11 and free for children under 6 years of age. Tickets can be purchased at a Strömma ticket office, online or, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, you can talk to me and I can book your brunch cruise... or any of the other sightseeing options offered by Strömma. Click here for tour information, including menu, route, timetables and more.

The archipelago on a summer's day!

Sightseeing Tours in September

Sightseeing boat coming in to dock at Strömkajen

The summer season is officially over... cooler days and less tourists in the city. This means that many sightseeing tours have either ended for the year or else they have reduced the number of tours each day. The popular sightseeing boat tours, Under the Bridges and Royal Canal Tour, still operate throughout September. However, it is important to note that they no longer start from Nybroplan! Both tours start only from Strömkajen. This means that the ticket office at Nybroplan is closed as well. Naturally, the ticket office at Strömkajen is open. Tickets can also be pre-purchased online or, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, through me. The Hop-On Hop-Off boats have stopped running for the year... though the Hop-On busses are still running (until Oct 3rd). And speaking of busses, the Panorama Bus Tour runs year round! Opportunities to visit the archipelago have been reduced as well with a few choices left. For example, the last day for the convenient Cinderella boats is September 15th. Talk to me directly if you are interested in other options for getting out to the archipelago during the low season...

Good-bye Hop-on Hop-off boats... see you next year!

Sightseeing Tours in September

Posted by zlatin

Sightseeing boat coming in to dock at Strömkajen

The summer season is officially over... cooler days and less tourists in the city. This means that many sightseeing tours have either ended for the year or else they have reduced the number of tours each day. The popular sightseeing boat tours, Under the Bridges and Royal Canal Tour, still operate throughout September. However, it is important to note that they no longer start from Nybroplan! Both tours start only from Strömkajen. This means that the ticket office at Nybroplan is closed as well. Naturally, the ticket office at Strömkajen is open. Tickets can also be pre-purchased online or, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, through me. The Hop-On Hop-Off boats have stopped running for the year... though the Hop-On busses are still running (until Oct 3rd). And speaking of busses, the Panorama Bus Tour runs year round! Opportunities to visit the archipelago have been reduced as well with a few choices left. For example, the last day for the convenient Cinderella boats is September 15th. Talk to me directly if you are interested in other options for getting out to the archipelago during the low season...

Good-bye Hop-on Hop-off boats... see you next year!

"Under the Bridges" Boat Tour

Boat arriving at Strömkajen with Royal Palace in background.

Last week I was at the premiere for the new sightseeing boat terminal at Strömkajen. So I, of course, took a sightseeing boat tour while I was there! The company Strömma has a few different boat tours, but this time I took the Under the Bridges tour (a personal favourite) which is their most comprehensive tour.

One of 15 bridges...

One hour and 50 minutes long, this tour takes you under 15 bridges and through 2 locks. Stockholm is located at the point where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea and you need to travel through locks to go from one side of the city to another! It is guided (audio guide) in several languages and you get to see both the historic and new parts of Stockholm, as well as both nature and urban. I usually recommend this for visitors to do at the beginning of their visit, to get a feel for the city and a good overview.

...and one of 2 locks!

The tour departs at the top of every hour from Strömkajen and during the peak summer weeks they have departures between 10am and 7pm. You can also catch the tour at Nybroviken at 5 minutes past every hour. The tour costs 220 SEK for adults and 110 SEK for children between the ages of 6 and 11 (free for children under 6).

Gamla Stan (old town) waterfront.

You can buy tickets on their website (linked above), at the two terminals (Strömkajen and Nybroviken), at the Tourist Information Center or, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, talk to me and I can book your tickets. If you only have a short time in Stockholm and feel like (almost) 2 hours is too long to spend on a tour, then try their Royal Canal Tour (50 minutes long) instead!

Waterfront of Södermalm.

You never know what you will see from the boat! Like rock climbers...

"Under the Bridges" Boat Tour

Posted by zlatin

Boat arriving at Strömkajen with Royal Palace in background.

Last week I was at the premiere for the new sightseeing boat terminal at Strömkajen. So I, of course, took a sightseeing boat tour while I was there! The company Strömma has a few different boat tours, but this time I took the Under the Bridges tour (a personal favourite) which is their most comprehensive tour.

One of 15 bridges...

One hour and 50 minutes long, this tour takes you under 15 bridges and through 2 locks. Stockholm is located at the point where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea and you need to travel through locks to go from one side of the city to another! It is guided (audio guide) in several languages and you get to see both the historic and new parts of Stockholm, as well as both nature and urban. I usually recommend this for visitors to do at the beginning of their visit, to get a feel for the city and a good overview.

...and one of 2 locks!

The tour departs at the top of every hour from Strömkajen and during the peak summer weeks they have departures between 10am and 7pm. You can also catch the tour at Nybroviken at 5 minutes past every hour. The tour costs 220 SEK for adults and 110 SEK for children between the ages of 6 and 11 (free for children under 6).

Gamla Stan (old town) waterfront.

You can buy tickets on their website (linked above), at the two terminals (Strömkajen and Nybroviken), at the Tourist Information Center or, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, talk to me and I can book your tickets. If you only have a short time in Stockholm and feel like (almost) 2 hours is too long to spend on a tour, then try their Royal Canal Tour (50 minutes long) instead!

Waterfront of Södermalm.

You never know what you will see from the boat! Like rock climbers...

Strömkajen Open Again for Sightseeing Boats!

One of Strömma's sightseeing boats

Yesterday I was invited by the Strömma sightseeing company for the "new" premiere of the Strömkajen dock, which has been closed for renovations over the past two years. Strömkajen is located just across the water from the Royal Palace, next to Kungsträdgården park... very central.

Strömma's new ticket office at Strömkajen...

Two of Strömma's most popular sightseeing boat tours, Under the Bridges and Royal Canal Tour, depart from Strömkajen as well as Nybroviken. During the past two years the tours have only departed from Nybroviken... but Strömkajen is closer to the Rival Hotel, so we are happy that they have reopened! Strömma has a ticket office there and you can purchase tickets not only for the two boat tours but also for any of their other sightseeing options (bus, boat, combination, etc;).

...and Waxholmsbolaget's ticket office right next to it.

Another popular boat company, Waxholmsbolaget, also has departures from Strömkajen. These boats aren't sightseeing tour boats, instead they are commuter boats that travel out into the archipelago and are used by both tourists as well as archipelago residents. They have quite a network of boats and their online schedule tends to be a bit complicated. You can contact me directly, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, for help... otherwise check out their new terminal at Strömkajen, where you can get information as well as book tickets.

Strömkajen Open Again for Sightseeing Boats!

Posted by zlatin

One of Strömma's sightseeing boats

Yesterday I was invited by the Strömma sightseeing company for the "new" premiere of the Strömkajen dock, which has been closed for renovations over the past two years. Strömkajen is located just across the water from the Royal Palace, next to Kungsträdgården park... very central.

Strömma's new ticket office at Strömkajen...

Two of Strömma's most popular sightseeing boat tours, Under the Bridges and Royal Canal Tour, depart from Strömkajen as well as Nybroviken. During the past two years the tours have only departed from Nybroviken... but Strömkajen is closer to the Rival Hotel, so we are happy that they have reopened! Strömma has a ticket office there and you can purchase tickets not only for the two boat tours but also for any of their other sightseeing options (bus, boat, combination, etc;).

...and Waxholmsbolaget's ticket office right next to it.

Another popular boat company, Waxholmsbolaget, also has departures from Strömkajen. These boats aren't sightseeing tour boats, instead they are commuter boats that travel out into the archipelago and are used by both tourists as well as archipelago residents. They have quite a network of boats and their online schedule tends to be a bit complicated. You can contact me directly, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, for help... otherwise check out their new terminal at Strömkajen, where you can get information as well as book tickets.

More Sure Signs of Spring

Canal Tour, Photo by Gomer Swahn, Strömma

The start of the Stockholm City Bike season isn't the only sign that spring is upon us! Strömma is starting to roll out their sightseeing boat tours of the city as well. First out (start April 5th) is the Royal Canal Tour, a relaxing 50 minute tour around the island of Djurgården and through Stockholm harbour with views of Gamla Stan. The boats leave hourly from Nybroviken and are guided in 11 different languages. While this is a sign of spring's arrival, winter hasn't really released her grip completely... so there may be some course changes due to ice. The late ice also means that Strömma has had to push back some of its other sightseeing boat tours to later in the season. Under the Bridges is now planned to start on April 26th and the boats to Drottningholm will start on April 29th.

Strandbryggan Sea Club

Another sign of spring is the opening of outdoor restaurants and bars. Swedes live for this! It doesn't matter if it is only 10 degrees Celsius, as long as the sun is shining, they will sit outdoors wrapped in blankets and under heating lamps. And once it warms up there is no stopping them! One of the premiere floating restaurant & bars, Strandbryggan, is opening for the season on April 13th. Located next to the bridge to Djurgården, it has some of the best views of Stockholm. So, stop by for a drink or else to laugh at the crazy Swedes (myself included). But, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, you don't have to go far to enjoy a beverage/meal outdoors... our outdoor seating for the Café Rival and Bistro Balcony opens one day earlier... on April 12th!

Café Rival!

More Sure Signs of Spring

Posted by zlatin

Canal Tour, Photo by Gomer Swahn, Strömma

The start of the Stockholm City Bike season isn't the only sign that spring is upon us! Strömma is starting to roll out their sightseeing boat tours of the city as well. First out (start April 5th) is the Royal Canal Tour, a relaxing 50 minute tour around the island of Djurgården and through Stockholm harbour with views of Gamla Stan. The boats leave hourly from Nybroviken and are guided in 11 different languages. While this is a sign of spring's arrival, winter hasn't really released her grip completely... so there may be some course changes due to ice. The late ice also means that Strömma has had to push back some of its other sightseeing boat tours to later in the season. Under the Bridges is now planned to start on April 26th and the boats to Drottningholm will start on April 29th.

Strandbryggan Sea Club

Another sign of spring is the opening of outdoor restaurants and bars. Swedes live for this! It doesn't matter if it is only 10 degrees Celsius, as long as the sun is shining, they will sit outdoors wrapped in blankets and under heating lamps. And once it warms up there is no stopping them! One of the premiere floating restaurant & bars, Strandbryggan, is opening for the season on April 13th. Located next to the bridge to Djurgården, it has some of the best views of Stockholm. So, stop by for a drink or else to laugh at the crazy Swedes (myself included). But, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, you don't have to go far to enjoy a beverage/meal outdoors... our outdoor seating for the Café Rival and Bistro Balcony opens one day earlier... on April 12th!

Café Rival!

Brunch and Boat Cruise with Strömma

s/s Stockholm at dock in Nybroviken

What to do on a snowy weekend? Why not head out on a boat cruise of the inner Stockholm archipelago? While the archipelago is a more popular destination during the summer months, the snow covered islands do have a serene beauty during the winter as well! Even as a Stockholmer you forget that the further you get out of the city the more snow you have... which is always nicer to view from a cosy boat than trudging through on the city streets.

The brunch buffet!

And if the views are not enough, a nice brunch buffet is laid out for you to enjoy. The buffet is filled with Swedish and international favorites, both hot and cold. Herring, smoked salmon, gravad lax, Jansson's Temptation, omelette, bacon, sausages and more. One of my colleagues, that went with me last week, is a vegetarian and there was plenty for him to choose from... including different mixed salads and roasted vegetables. But pace yourself! You don't want to be too full to attack the dessert buffet, set up in a seperate room, filled with cookies, cakes, puddings, pies and cheeses.

Snow covered archipelago islands

This brunch cruise is run by the Strömma company and during the winter months it departs from Nybroviken/Strandvägen every Saturday and Sunday at 12 noon (more often in the warmer months). The beautiful ship, s/s Stockholm, was built in 1931 and the cruise lasts approximately 3 hours, taking you a bit out in the inner archipelago. The cost, which includes the brunch, is 430 SEK for adults, ½ price for children between 6 and 11 years of age and free for kids under 6. Tickets can be purchased through their website (linked above) or at the ticket booth in Nybroviken. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly and I can book it for you!

Heading back to Stockholm!

Brunch and Boat Cruise with Strömma

Posted by zlatin

s/s Stockholm at dock in Nybroviken

What to do on a snowy weekend? Why not head out on a boat cruise of the inner Stockholm archipelago? While the archipelago is a more popular destination during the summer months, the snow covered islands do have a serene beauty during the winter as well! Even as a Stockholmer you forget that the further you get out of the city the more snow you have... which is always nicer to view from a cosy boat than trudging through on the city streets.

The brunch buffet!

And if the views are not enough, a nice brunch buffet is laid out for you to enjoy. The buffet is filled with Swedish and international favorites, both hot and cold. Herring, smoked salmon, gravad lax, Jansson's Temptation, omelette, bacon, sausages and more. One of my colleagues, that went with me last week, is a vegetarian and there was plenty for him to choose from... including different mixed salads and roasted vegetables. But pace yourself! You don't want to be too full to attack the dessert buffet, set up in a seperate room, filled with cookies, cakes, puddings, pies and cheeses.

Snow covered archipelago islands

This brunch cruise is run by the Strömma company and during the winter months it departs from Nybroviken/Strandvägen every Saturday and Sunday at 12 noon (more often in the warmer months). The beautiful ship, s/s Stockholm, was built in 1931 and the cruise lasts approximately 3 hours, taking you a bit out in the inner archipelago. The cost, which includes the brunch, is 430 SEK for adults, ½ price for children between 6 and 11 years of age and free for kids under 6. Tickets can be purchased through their website (linked above) or at the ticket booth in Nybroviken. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly and I can book it for you!

Heading back to Stockholm!

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.

Advisory: Sightseeing by Boat This Fall

Strömkajen

This Fall they are continuing the renovations to the Strömkajen boat dock in front of the Grand Hotel. This means that Strömma's two boat sightseeing tours, Under the Bridges and Royal Canal Tour, start at the Nybroplan boat dock instead. Strömkajen is planned to be open again by Spring, 2013... just in time for the Summer season. To get to Nybroplan from the Rival Hotel, take the subway (red line) to Östermalmstorg and from there it is a five minute walk to the dock.
I had to also post this picture (see below) that I took the other day... a slice of Stockholm. It was about 12 degrees Celsius and this man was shooting the rapids in front of the Royal Palace (in short sleeves!). Crazy person or dedicated sportsman? You decide...

Advisory: Sightseeing by Boat This Fall

Posted by zlatin

Strömkajen

This Fall they are continuing the renovations to the Strömkajen boat dock in front of the Grand Hotel. This means that Strömma's two boat sightseeing tours, Under the Bridges and Royal Canal Tour, start at the Nybroplan boat dock instead. Strömkajen is planned to be open again by Spring, 2013... just in time for the Summer season. To get to Nybroplan from the Rival Hotel, take the subway (red line) to Östermalmstorg and from there it is a five minute walk to the dock.
I had to also post this picture (see below) that I took the other day... a slice of Stockholm. It was about 12 degrees Celsius and this man was shooting the rapids in front of the Royal Palace (in short sleeves!). Crazy person or dedicated sportsman? You decide...

Vikings, Vikings and... More Vikings!

Guided tour through grave field at Birka

The most famous era of Swedish history is the Viking Age (approx 800-1100 AD) and Vikings have become somewhat of a symbol for Sweden... even if they are most often portrayed incorrectly with horned helmets! There are plenty of museums, tours and activities to do in the Stockholm area tied in to Viking history. I have already written about most of them here in this blog, but in the past week I have re-visited Birka and dined at Aifur and I had the idea to collect all Viking "experiences" in one post.

• Historiska Museet (the history museum)- This museum has a great exhibition on Vikings including artifacts such as weapons and jewelry. The Gold Room is of special interest, showing the gold and silver hoards found throughout Sweden. During the summer (12 to 4:30pm until August 26th) the Vikings take over the inner courtyard with crafts, sports and games... great for children!
• Birka (day trip-summer)- Birka was a town and important trading center during the Viking Age and is today a UNESCO World Heritage site. Located on the island of Björkö in Lake Mälaren, the Strömma company offers a day trip to Birka by boat which includes a great guided tour and entrance to the on-site museum. They also have a reconstruction of part of a Viking Age village and have many events through the summer (like market and games).
• Aifur (restaurant)- located in Gamla Stan, this restaurant concentrates on the gastronomic heritage from the Viking Age. I was here last week for the first time and it was quite fun and the food was good. Click here for my review.
• Viking Walk- nothing authentic... more of a guided tour of Stockholm (history & culture) with a "Viking Guide"!
• Souvenirs- on the street Västerlånggatan, located in Gamla Stan, you will find a large variety of Viking souvenirs... from fun to tacky. On the fun side, you have Handfaste (the Viking Shop) where you can get some good quality t-shirts, jewelry and books.
• Uppsala (town)- just 40 minutes by train from Stockholm you have the town of Uppsala which is a great place to visit if you are interested in Vikings. The surrounding area is filled with Viking Age artifacts like runestones, monuments and grave fields. Click here for a list of tours, sites and museums.
• Viking Day Tour- a full day tour that takes you from Stockholm to Sigtuna and Uppsala to visit Viking Age sites. I haven't done the tour myself, but I have sent guests and they have all returned with favorable reports.
• Storholmen Viking Village- (day trip-summer) north of Stockholm (approx 1½ hours by bus), in the Norrtälje area, you will find the Viking village of Storholmen... an experimental open air museum.

Entrance to Aifur

This should keep Viking aficionados occupied! Keep your eyes open while walking about Stockholm... you can see runestones in the city as well. Besides the aforementioned history museum, you can see them in Skansen park as well as the corner of Prästgatan and Kåkbrinken in Gamla Stan.

Runestone in Gamla Stan

Vikings, Vikings and... More Vikings!

Posted by zlatin

Guided tour through grave field at Birka

The most famous era of Swedish history is the Viking Age (approx 800-1100 AD) and Vikings have become somewhat of a symbol for Sweden... even if they are most often portrayed incorrectly with horned helmets! There are plenty of museums, tours and activities to do in the Stockholm area tied in to Viking history. I have already written about most of them here in this blog, but in the past week I have re-visited Birka and dined at Aifur and I had the idea to collect all Viking "experiences" in one post.

• Historiska Museet (the history museum)- This museum has a great exhibition on Vikings including artifacts such as weapons and jewelry. The Gold Room is of special interest, showing the gold and silver hoards found throughout Sweden. During the summer (12 to 4:30pm until August 26th) the Vikings take over the inner courtyard with crafts, sports and games... great for children!
• Birka (day trip-summer)- Birka was a town and important trading center during the Viking Age and is today a UNESCO World Heritage site. Located on the island of Björkö in Lake Mälaren, the Strömma company offers a day trip to Birka by boat which includes a great guided tour and entrance to the on-site museum. They also have a reconstruction of part of a Viking Age village and have many events through the summer (like market and games).
• Aifur (restaurant)- located in Gamla Stan, this restaurant concentrates on the gastronomic heritage from the Viking Age. I was here last week for the first time and it was quite fun and the food was good. Click here for my review.
• Viking Walk- nothing authentic... more of a guided tour of Stockholm (history & culture) with a "Viking Guide"!
• Souvenirs- on the street Västerlånggatan, located in Gamla Stan, you will find a large variety of Viking souvenirs... from fun to tacky. On the fun side, you have Handfaste (the Viking Shop) where you can get some good quality t-shirts, jewelry and books.
• Uppsala (town)- just 40 minutes by train from Stockholm you have the town of Uppsala which is a great place to visit if you are interested in Vikings. The surrounding area is filled with Viking Age artifacts like runestones, monuments and grave fields. Click here for a list of tours, sites and museums.
• Viking Day Tour- a full day tour that takes you from Stockholm to Sigtuna and Uppsala to visit Viking Age sites. I haven't done the tour myself, but I have sent guests and they have all returned with favorable reports.
• Storholmen Viking Village- (day trip-summer) north of Stockholm (approx 1½ hours by bus), in the Norrtälje area, you will find the Viking village of Storholmen... an experimental open air museum.

Entrance to Aifur

This should keep Viking aficionados occupied! Keep your eyes open while walking about Stockholm... you can see runestones in the city as well. Besides the aforementioned history museum, you can see them in Skansen park as well as the corner of Prästgatan and Kåkbrinken in Gamla Stan.

Runestone in Gamla Stan