Stockholm shimmers by the sea
Stockholm sparkles in every season. In the long
winter, light strikes off snow; in the spring,
green buds glisten in the city's parks; on long
summer days, the sun glints on water. But
autumn – when sunlight shines on cobbled
streets and old stones – is the perfect time to
visit Sweden's sea-swathed capital city: the
summer crowds are gone and the city hasn't
yet curled in on itself for winter.
Stockholm is built on 14 islands lapped by
Lake Malaren and stretching into the Baltic Sea.
The islands are stitched together with bridges
and you'll stroll from one to the other almost
without noticing it.The heart of the city is the
Old Town with its narrow cobbled streets
leading to Stortorget Square.The upper floor
of the Borshuset, the former Stock Exchange,
is the seat of the Swedish Royal Academy
where members assemble to select the
winners of the Nobel Prize for Literature.The
Nobel Prize-giving dinner is held in the
magnificent City Hall.The Royal Palace
dominating the Old Town is where Sweden's
Royal family lived until 1981 when they moved
with their small children to Drottningholms
Castle.The entire Gamla Stan area is
picturesque, perfect for roaming, crowded with
welcoming restaurants, and loaded with
interesting boutiques.
Dedicated shoppers can choose between
the high-fashion mall and shops around
Stureplan in the Ostermalm district and“SoFo,” the area South of Folkungagatan and
east of Gotgatan in the Sodermalm area.This is
Stockholm's trendiest district, where young
artists and designers show off their wares.
You'll find everything here, from designer
fashion to sneakers, vintage clothing to 1960s
furniture.
If you want to sample the legendary
Stockholm clubs, set out before midnight.To
avoid the queues, show up dressed in your
best around 11 pm. But for the coolest bar,
you need to book ahead: the Absolut Ice Bar
is the igloo-like retreat in the Nordic Sea
Hotel (next to the Central Railway station)
where the temperature is always -5 degrees
Celsius.Your 140 Kroner entrance fee includes
the use of a fur-trimmed cape with attached
mittens, and your first drink (served in a glass
made of ice). Seating is on reindeer skins
spread over blocks of ice. It's always packed
out, so ring to reserve your 45-minute visit as
soon as you have a date in mind! Telephone:
+46 8 5056 3000