Stockholm – the Venice of the North
Stockholm and water – the two are close companions, since this metropolis stretches over fourteen islands. With so much water veering off in all directions, she’s been called “The Venice of the North.”
For starters, get your compass settings by joining a narrated bus and boat orientation tour. Called Stockholm in a Nutshell, you’ll find a ticket booth on Gustav Adolfs Torg. The red double-decker bus picks up at this same location. Once seated, it’s just a matter of adjusting your headphones to the proper language, sitting back and listening. When the ground portion is complete, the bus drops passengers near the dock, for the boat excursion. The entire tour lasts two and a half hours.
A must-see in Stockholm, the 17th-century warship Vasa never ceases to amaze. An enormous ship made of wood; she sank in Stockholm harbor on her maiden voyage and lay for 333 years on the bottom. Even near shore, about fifty people went down with the ship.
Experts believe her basic design was flawed and the Vasa was top heavy, causing her quick demise. Just imagine how the builders and wood carvers must have felt as they watched their beloved creation plunge below the water. The Vasa sank a mile from where she was produced. Heartbreaking!
The Vasa was painstakingly raised to the surface in 1961. She was sprayed with preservatives for an amazing seventeen years (1962-1979) in an effort to keep her sodden wood intact. Today the vessel rests inside a building on the island called Djurgarden, once the royal hunting ground.
The Djurgarden has few man-made structures but an abundance of open, parkland. You can easily spot the Vasa by looking for the three tall masts jutting out from the top of the roof. No wonder this grand ship reigns supreme as the city’s most popular attraction.
To witness daily life in early Sweden, visit Skansen open-air museum also on the island of Djurgarden. The great-granddaddy of open-air museums, this one opened in 1891 and is considered the first of its kind in the world. The park contains one hundred and fifty structures assembled from all over Sweden.
You can easily spend all day wandering around this city-within-a-city and see only a portion of the offerings. With its green setting, Skansen continues to be the site of many Swedish traditions and major festivals throughout the year.
If you care to delve further back into the fascinating history of Stockholm, another option is the Medieval Museum. It’s tucked beneath the Norrbro Bridge, a level below the Stockholm of 2005, thus a bit tricky to find. The museum was built around remaining sections of the ancient city wall, dating from the 1530s.
Inventor and chemist Alfred Nobel forever changed the fate of Stockholm with his generous legacy of metals and monetary rewards. It’s a rare soul who hasn’t heard of the Nobel Prizes. Since 1901, the awards have been presented on December 10th in Stockholm, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. One exception is the Peace Prize, which is awarded in Oslo. Dignitaries and royalty from around the world gather to attend this prestigious event.
Some of the Nobel Prize festivities take place in the Blue Hall of the Stadshuset, or City Hall. The tallest tower of this building, topped with a gleaming gold cap and three crowns has, become the universal symbol of the city.
To get a feel for the “Nobel” aura, without a formal invitation, you can dine in the City Hall Cellar, where Nobel menus are served on custom-made Nobel dinner ware. Guests wear their best for this special meal.
Guided tours are the only way to see the City Hall, but well worth the time. You’re sure to marvel at the Golden Room, containing an eye-popping 19 million fragments of gold leaf on the walls.
A true Nordic experience awaits at the famous Ice Bar. Located in the Nordic Sea Hotel, the world’s first ice bar opened in June of 2002 and has been a resounding success.
A space like none other, you can visit year round to be surrounded by clear, shimmering ice and drink from a frosty ice glass. Mind you this is not just any ice, but special ice brought from the Torne River in the north. The tables are also made of ice, but they offer no ice seats, since most people don’t care to linger that long!
In the Ice Bar temperatures remain well below freezing, but never fear, all guests are loaned a comfy parka and warm footwear. This extraordinary room is just off the hotel lobby and can hold 30 guests at one time. As you might expect, the Ice Bar is popular with visitors, so advance booking is recommended.
