Autumn walks for your personality
Photo: Svenska Bilder Västerbron bridge
One third of Stockholm City consists of green parks. Autumn walks are lovely in Stockholm. The daily City newspaper lists 7 different walks for 7 different personalities. Choose your favorite:
1) The Sporty (5,7 km) around Årstaviken starting on the new Årstabron-bridge ending at Tantolunden park.
2) The wet (6,8 km) where you combine food, drink and exercise around Riddarfjärden-lake by the City hall, Rålambshovsparken-park, Västerbronbridge, södermälarstrand and Gamla Stan. There are plenty of waterholes on your way.
3) The Cultural (1,7 km) from Ropsten metrostation accross the bridge to Millesgården
4) The Botanic (2,6 km) around the Hagapark from Norrtull to the Coppertents
5) The Classic (4,2 km) the Djurgården tour from Djurgårdsbron bridge, via Rosendal and Blockhusudden back to Skansen and Gröna Lund.
6) The dog (1,3 km) from Pampas Marina via Ulfsunda sjön lake towards Hufvudsta Gård manor house
7) The Adventure (2,2 km) a walk along the cliffs at Fredhäll under the bridge and to Solstugan-café with a view
Europride in Stockholm
All innercity busses, hotels, cafées, restaurants and shops carry rainbow-flags and the Stockholm Tourist Centre features an exhibition with info about the on going Europride festival. The main events take place at the PridePark and the PrideHouse and during the PrideParade. See the programme here
Strolls for all the senses
When I go for a citybreak I love to wander around, curiously just exploring the unknown. Here are some of my favorite walks in Stockholm:
By the waterfront on Söder
Södermalm is situated on a hill with an amazing view over the green Djurgården and Old Town at Mosebacke, Fjällgatan etcetera. Se the old Stockholm, red cottages and romantic environment. Fetch a free map at the Stockholm City Museum or Stockholm Tourist Centre. Don't miss out on Monteliusvägen - a small path on Södermalm, with a great view over the City Hall and picturesque houses and gardens.
Djurgårdsbrunn canal
This is a nice walk with many pit-stop options. Stroll through the beautiful villas in the "diplomatic town" along the canal to the romantic Djurgårdsbrunns Wärdshus (inn), accross the bridge, to Rosendal Palace and Rosendals Gardencafé. Enjoy the lush green wild park environment. Why not continue on Strandvägen back to the city.
Tantolunden
Start with the allotmentgardens at Hornstull. They are all one of a kind decorated with love and dreams. Stroll along the waterfront. If its a weekend you don't want to miss the Street market. Stop at Nyfiken Gul for some barbeque and end the evening at SoFo.
Riddarfjärden runt
Börja på Riddarholmen och gå mot slussen längs södermälarstrand, över Västerbron, Rålambshovsparken längs Norrmälarstrand och förbi Stadshuset.
Summermovies in august
Five films will be shown outdoor in Drakenbergspark in Tantolunden Södermalm in August. Starting with Sofia Coppolas Marie-Antoinette August 13 followed by Diary from a motorcycle August 14, Young Rebel with James Dean August 15, Swedish film Tillsammans August 16 and Do the Right Thing Sunday August 17. The film starts at 21.00Organizers Stockholm Film Festival
Polo at Djurgården
Polo and the National City Park in Stockholm seems like a good combination. On August 23 the Jaeger-LeCoultre Scandinavian Polo Open takes place at Gärdets Sportfält in the National City Park of Stockholm with entertainment, hat parade and activities.
Stockholm in 1661 in a lumolog
One of the rare items in the Stockholm City Musueum collection is the 1661 oil painting "the Castle Tre Kronor" by the Dutch painter Govert Camphuysen. The painting shows the former palace of Stockholm, located at the same place in Gamla stan as todays palace, but was ruined by a fire in 1697. During May a fun lumolog will make the painting come alive. See the trailer here.
Industrial feeling
Where do I go if I want to get that industrial feeling in the beautiful Stockholm? Here are sixsuggestions for eating, sightseeing and sleeping.
- Restaurant, bar and eventvenue AG925 (Allmänna Galleriet) is a cool former printer.
- Café Winterviken in Aspudden suburb is where Alfred Nobel did his nitro-tests
- Restaurang Lux gourmet restaurant in former Electrolux
- Färgfabriken former colour factory is a laboratory of the contemporary art
- Magasin 3 former shipping warehouse is now a well renowned art hall
- Stay at former prison Långholmen
You can also visit the ship-yards Beckholmen or Galärvarvet. While you are in the Aspudden neigbourhood you can walk to Telefonplan, the former telephone company Ericssons premisses and check out the University College of Arts, Crafts and Design area.
Sthlm Outback - explore wild nature
Not many capital cities in Europe that offers such a well-built fauna not far away from the city boarder. Many of the Swedish mammals can be found just 30 minutes away from the centre of Stockholm. STHLM outback guides with profound experience and knows where you have a good opportunity to see animals.
Sthlm Outback is a new type of guide tours that takes you to the wild nature in Stockholm. The tour takes three hours. The tours are in english, german, spanish and french.
500 years of shipping on display this summer
500 years of swedish shipping will come alive this summer when three of Swedens flag-ships all will be in Stockholm by the piers at Vasamuseum on Djurgården Thursday May 29 to Sunday June 1. The Vasaship, The Swedish Ship Gothenburg and Stockholmsbriggen represents 500 years of swedish shipping. During the weekend there will be plenty of activities for the whole family with entertainment, rope-crafts, divingtanks, rig-climbing, boatexcursions etcetera etcetera. The event is a collaboration between the Vasamuseum and the National Maritime Museum
Easier to golf in Stockholm
15 of Stockholms top class golfcourses have joined forces. They are all to be found with in one hour from the city centre, the offer high quality service and a beautiful golf climate. They all supply golf carts, rental clubs, golfshop and restaurant making it easier to golf in Stockholm. In a near future all of them will have english websites and offer an easier booking system: The 15 golf clubs in the network Golf in Stockholm are so far:
Bro-Bålsta Golfklubb - 18 + 9 holes
Brollsta Golfklubb - 18 + 9 holes
Frösåker Golf & Country Club - 18 holes
Fågelbro Golf & Country Club - 18 + 9 holes
Huvudstadens Golf (Three courses: Lindö Park & Äng, Riksten/ Lövsättra) 36 + 18 +18 holes
International Golf Club - 18 holes
Kallfors Golf Klubb - 18 holes
Kungsängen Golf Club - 36 holes
Kyssinge Golf - 27 holes
Nynäshamns Golf Club 27 + 9 holes
Ullna Golf Club - 18 holes
Vallentuna Golf Klubb - 18 holes
Vidbynäs Golf Club - 36 holes
Åda Golf & Country Club - 18 holes
Österåker Golf Klubb - 36 holes
Golfing in the midnight sun
For foreign golfers "The White Night Golf Tournament" at Vidbynäs Golf course must be something out of the ordinary. The program of almost a week includes dinner at Vidbynäs Castle, midnight concerts, Swedish Smörgåsboard at the golfclub, boat excursions, barbeque and of course eveninggolf in daylight, teeing of at 6 pm. The price is 24 000 SEK and includes everything but the airtravel. The tournament starts of pn Mondayt July 7th and ends the morning of Saturday July 12.
New guided tours on bike in 7 languages
Bike hike is a new company offering guided tours on Djurgården in seven languages: Swedish, french, italian, spanish, english, german and dutch.
"We introduce you to the compelling history of Stockholm and the National City Park by bike around Djurgården, while telling you about e.g. the Vasa Museum, Prince Eugene's residence Waldemarsudde and the Rosendal Palace". The tour takes 3 hours including stops on the way. So why not rent a bike and go for the tour.
Check the website for times and dates.
Bicycle - Sign of spring
Bikes on the streets are a sure sign of spring. Stockholm City Bikes rent out bikes for a three day period for 125 SEK or for the whole season for 250 SEK at Stockholm Tourist Centre for example. There are 66 bicycle stands and 800 cycles for rent, which is more than last year.
Super arena in Stockholm
The new National Arena in Solna, Stockholm is going to be amazing. The outer shell of the arena will be illuminated and can change expression with the events. The arena itself will be multifunctional, a place for sailing, skating, music and sportsevent. The national arena is the central part of the Arena City.
Arena City - a new part of Stockholm
Stockholm is growing rapidly and the Globe Arena, situated south of Stockholm, will be complemented by a large national arena north of Stockholm.. The former industrial area close to the lake Råstasjön in Solna north of the city centre will turn into an attractive living and entertainmentarea. The new entertainment and nationalarena, Swedbank Arena, will be able to entertain 50-67 000 people. A residential area for 2 000 families will be built, a large shoppingcentre, 10-12000 square meters of offices, 160 000 sqm of different types of premisses will be bult. In connection with the arena a hotel with 3-400 rooms will be built. SL will also invest a lot in Solna station. The station will be moved closer to Arena City and the "Tvärbanan" train will be extended from Alvik to Solna City.
The whole area is named Arenastaden (Arena city) The construction start is planned to late autumn 2008 and will be inaugurated in 2012.
Sightseeing skating outside the Royal Palace
Vanadis outdoor bath closes - will open again
Photo: vanadisbadet
The outdoor swimmingpool area Vanadisbadet will be closed during summer of 2008-2010. The swimmingpool area was built in 1930s and has been open every summer since then. The City of Stockholm have great plans for the former swimmingpool area. It will turn into a sporting center. The new facility will include
- swimmingpool with a waterfall
- several sports facilities (one large hall and some smaller for dancing)
- gym
- restaurant
- café
- shops
- It will also include a flexible roof which will make it possible to use all year around.
Ski - though spring is here
Väsjöbacken ski slope north of the city centre has plenty of snow this week, due to winterbreak. So bring your skiing gear if you are visiting Stockholm.
Great concerts in March and April
Smashing Pumpkins, Hovet, 1 mars
Mando Diao, Cirkus, 6 mars
Alicia Keys, Hovet, 8 mars
Rihanna, Hovet, 12 mars
James Blunt, Hovet, 23 mars
Tokyo Hotel, Hovet, 3 april
Kelly Clarksson, Annexet, 11 april
Backstreet Boys, Hovet, 14 april
Mark Knopfler, Hovet, 23 april
You will find even more events here!
Amazing easter concert in a beautiful church
The Engelbrektskyrkan church offers a nice concert program during the year. This years highlight must be Matteuspassion concert with the Swedish Radio Choir with renowned Anne Sofie von Otter Mezzosoprano as one of the soloists under the leadership if conductor Daniel Harding. Paul Agnew tenor, Ida Falk Winland soprano, Maximilian Schmitt tenor and Christopher Maltman bass are also soloists. Book your ticket here
By the way. The Engelbrektskyrkan is one of the best examples of Jugend/national romantic style and was built in 1913-14. The architect was Lars Israel Wahlman. The church is situated in a part of östermalm called Lärkstan - all built in the same time. It is - I think - one of the nicest areas in Stockholm - inspired by english small towns.
