“hospital serif;”>The public transport around the city is safe, prostate clean and efficient”
“viagra serif;”>Stockholm has a vibrant nightlife which is a highlight of any visit”
“Eating out in Sweden can be expensive, but if you shop around, you will be heavily rewarded.”
The Scandinavian nations are characterised by breathtaking landscape, diverse population and extreme climatic conditions, including the spectacular magical Aurora Borealis to light up the dark winter skies.
Travelling to Stockholm is relatively easy, with Scandinavian Airlines ferrying people back and forth several times weekly from Dublin. Research all the travelling options from the airport to the city carefully – I paid heavily for my desire to complete this excursion as quickly as possible. Remember that the Swedes utilise the Kronor, with the Euro being equivalent to approximately 9 Kronor. Accommodation caters for people from all walks of life and I therefore opted for Langholmen, an affordable hostel (formerly a prison) on the outskirts of the city. The public transport around the city is safe, clean and efficient and it is worth buying The Stockholm Card which allows unlimited travel on the subway and access to roughly eighty museums and attractions.
As I am researching folk museums for my Masters of Literature in Irish Folklore, I commenced my day with a visit to Nordiska Museet, which was created and developed by Artur Hazelius in 1873. Within this museum, Swedish life is illustrated from the 1500s to the present day and exhibits include furniture, clothing and toys which illustrate Swedish trends and traditions. This wonderful and unique institution compliments the other museum Hazelius founded, by portraying the vernacular architecture prior to industrialisation.
Skansen is the world’s oldest open-air or folk museum in the world, having been unveiled by Artur Hazelius in 1891. Over a century later this folk museum contains rural farmhouses, urban dwellings, a bakery, a glassworks and a potter’s workshop to name but a few. On a beautiful summer’s day, this is a delightful way to experience the traditional way of life practiced by generations of Swedish people until the middle of the nineteenth century. Young and old will adore this museum as it also contains a zoo, where various Scandinavian animals such as the brown bear, the boar and the reindeer can be seen.
Stockholm has a vibrant nightlife which is a highlight of any visit. Like in many Scandinavian nations, the Swedes drink at home before hitting the town, due to the extortionate price of alcohol. On one occasion, I reluctantly paid €8 for a pint, while a cocktail would have cost me around €14. A good starting point is the Gamla Stan district, my favourite part of the city. Its oldest buildings stem from the thirteenth century and have been converted into shops, restaurants and bars.
Eating out in Sweden can be expensive, but if you shops around, you will be heavily rewarded. I managed to have a dinner on each of my six nights for approximately €10 and I cannot recommend Swedish Meatballs highly enough! If one is more affluent, then try something unusual like reindeer, which can be seen on various menus across this city.
Stockholm is perfect for a long weekend or a weeklong visit. It caters for all types of people be it individuals like myself, loved up couples or a few friends hoping to experience some culture by day or night.
