Can't find any old threads. Looking to head to Stockholm for a couple days next month. Ideally just looking for some general advice on where to stay, what to do, where/what to eat.

Trying to do as cheap as possible, going with one other person. Thanks.

I was in Stockholm for a couple days this past summer.


Definitely go to Gamla Stam which is the old city center and spend some time walking around. There's also a museum with weaponry and some of the royal carriages that is on the island. I can't remember what hotel I stayed at but I'll get back to you because it was nice and reasonably priced for Scandinavia.

LOVE Stockholm . . . Vasa Museum was my favorite. Stockholm is probably one of my favorite European cities but be prepared it is expensive! We arrived via ferry from Helsinki and it was beautiful. We stayed at the Hilton because we had points . . . I remember it being an easy city to walk from place to place.

I recommend the Best Western. I stayed there in 2000 and remember it was nice.

____________________________________
I have seen the enemy, and he is us.

Crystal Plaza Hotel

A friend of mine recently stayed at this hostel and enjoyed it. http://www.besthostel.se/en/

[This message has been edited by Hoyt Ag (edited 2/18/2011 10:33p).]

I second Gamla Stan. I think the Alfred Nobel museum is located there as well. I was there for a couple of days last April. Get ready, a beer from a pub will run you about 10 or 12 bucks. Stayed at the Hilton, nice but pricey.

Minor trip report. I will try to post some pictures later, just wanted to write down a few thoughts.
At the time of my trip, 10 sek = 1 pound = $1.60


Initial Thoughts - I hope you like museums. Stockholm has 65+ museums that you can visit. Also, almost every one of them costs money. So I hope you bring a lot of it.

Things To Note - OPENING HOURS, OPENING HOURS, OPENING HOURS. Many Stockholm museums like to open at 11:00AM and close at 4:00PM. What's more, a lot of it depends on when you go (what season).

Things To Plan Ahead - The Changing of the Guard is scheduled at particular times (especially in the winter), so plan ahead for that. If you're interested in some of the Royal Palaces outside of the city, look at opening times.

Language - Everybody there knows English. All I can say in Swedish is "Hei" (hello) and "Tack" (thank you). No language barrier issues at all.

Weather - Only visit Stockholm in the summer. I went (March 22-26) because the flight from London was only 7 pounds each way. The highest temperature was 46 degrees, but there was a constant 20mph wind that cut through to the bone. One day it started snowing a little. If you're going to go in the winter, at least go in December so you can ice skate or something.

Food - Try a moose burger (I had one in Gamla Stan), they're good. I'd also recommend going to a more traditional Swedish place. We went to the Pelikan (down in Sodermalm), very enjoyable experience. The Swedish LOVE candy that you buy by the scoop. Try some Knackebrod (Swedish bread) that hangs in the shops.
If you have the money, go to the Grand Hotel and get the Smorgasbord. We couldn't afford it (475sek).

Lodging - We stayed at a place called Hotell Dialog AB. It was about 20 minutes from the city center by subway but it was cheaper (We paid about 144 pounds for four nights).

Transportation - Fantastic. A 72 hour pass for as many journeys as you want on the bus, tram or subway costs 200sek or a one week pass for 260sek. Buses run throughout the city, and the subway will take you further out. If you get a hotel in the city center, you can probably just walk everywhere you need. If you need to buy the pass (called the Access Card), you can get it at any Pressbyran store (mini-marts at the subway stations).

Skansen - This is the Open Air Museum on the east side of town. I could see this being an absolutely fantastic thing to do (1) on a Saturday (2) in the summer (3) with the family. However, if your trip doesn't meet at least two of those requirements, I wouldn't go. We went here because the guide books call it a place you don't want to miss. I wish we missed it...
Entrance was not too bad (70sek), but they wanted another 100sek to go into the aquarium once you were already in the park. It is part zoo (moose, wolverine, wolves, bison, seal), part old Nordic buildings (barns, church, etc), and part theme park.
Biggest problem when we went was that it was cold and abandoned. Literally, picture a theme park in the zombie movies. The kind where it's overcast, cold, and the metal swings are swaying ominously in the wind. The kind where you are walking quietly and then step on a single stick that echoes for miles around you. Then you look up and see fifteen hungry-for-flesh zombies staring back at you. That's what it felt like.
The highlight of Skansen was running into two Texans.

Kulturhuset (Culture House) - We just stopped in here to get out of the cold for a bit, but I really liked this place. It's 4 stories of library, theater, art exhibitions, and cafes. Nice little way to kill some time, grab a drink, and relax. Be sure to sit in the bubble chairs in the library (if you can get them, they're a hot commodity).

Gamla Stan - The "old town"... Pretty area, cobble roads, lots of restaurants and souvenir shops. I imagine during the summer that it's a fantastic place to sit outside and have some coffee. Definitely worth a day and some nights. The Nobel Museum, Royal Palace and Storkyrkan are all located here.

Nobel Museum - I wasn't overly impressed, there's not much to it. It's fairly small and the 'exhibits' are, quite frankly, random objects that have some connection to different Nobel Prize winners. This is not where they hand out the Nobel Prizes. Admission was reasonable. 60sek if I remember correctly.

Slussen - I liked this area of town. It's south of Gamla Stan and generally had a lot of people wandering around. Just get off of the subway at Slussen and walk south. Lots of places to eat.

Royal Palace - Worth the price of admission. 140sek gets you into the Royal Apartments (with included guided tour at certain hours), a museum, and the Treasury (guided tour at certain hours). No photography allowed, but certainly some stunning visuals and fun royal history to learn.

House of Nobels - This place is open for ONE HOUR A DAY, from 11:30am-12:30pm. Totally serious. But I loved it. I guess they use it as office space now, but it has a huge collection of Swedish Coat of Arms. Stop on by.

Storkyrkan - The large church next to the Royal Palace. Pretty place. Not the most amazing church in Europe, but worth a visit since it's next to the Palace anyway.

Vasa Museum - The highlight of Stockholm, hands down. I cannot say enough about this. At first when I found out that it's a museum with a single boat inside, I thought it was a joke. It's absolutely incredible and should not be missed, under any circumstances. My only regret is I didn't bring a wide angle lens for my camera.

[This message has been edited by texasaggie04 (edited 3/29/2011 6:12p).]

Nice update! Stinks that it was cold but sounds fun none the less. Wish I would've had more time when I was there. Guess I'll have to go back!

favorite city ever.

I will put this in for any others who may stumble on this thread.

In addition to the above, we visited the Ice Bar, The Town Hall where the Nobel ceremony takes place, and took an hour boat trip to up to Drottningholm which is the Royal Palace where they live.

Had one of the best hot dogs ever in old town right around the corner from the changing of the guard.

Skansen had one area we really liked - they have moved parts of various villages into one area that shows the evolution of housing over the history of the country. The rest of the place was worthless.

Be sure to wander through the lobby of the Grand Hotel.

The Vasa Museum is absolutely amazing.

Gig 'em Aggies!

whoa... you didn't go to stureplan to party? you've gotta go back, man.