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Stockholm Overview
Stockholm was founded in the 13th century and is strikingly pretty -- arguably one of the most beautiful capital cities in the world. Take one look and you'll understand why it's sometimes called "Venice of the North."
The city is made up of 14 islands connected by some 50 bridges on Lake Malaren, which flows into the Baltic Sea and passes an archipelago with some 24,000 islands and islets (and a lot of summer homes and cottages).
The city's a very lively, cosmopolitan place with both modern Scandinavian architecture including lots of brass and steel, along with fairy tale towers, a captivating Old Town (Gamla Stan) and lots of green space (an impressive one -third of the city's total land area is parks). Nature is close at hand -- you can even fish from some downtown waterways.
Sweden is one of the richest countries in the world and its culture is rich as well with fine museums and historical attractions, not to mention an excellent restaurant scene. Such greats as Greta Garbo, Ingrid Bergman and Ingmar Bergman got their start at the Royal Theater. And at City Hall, Nobel prizes are awarded each December (all except the Peace prize, which is given out in Oslo); the prizes are named for inventor Alfred Nobel who was born here.
The government is ruled by a constitutional monarchy (there is a popular Royal Family), it is highly socialized and the taxes here are among the highest anywhere (if you meet up with locals they are likely to complain).
This is the largest of the Baltic ports with a population of more than 1.65 million.
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Other Baltics & Northern Europe Cruise Ports:
Aarhus • Bergen • Copenhagen • Flam • Gdansk • Helsinki • Ilulissat • Oslo • Riga • St. Petersburg • Stockholm • Tallinn • Trondheim • Visby • Warnemunde
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Language
Swedish, but just about everyone speaks English fluently as well.
Currency & Best Way to Get Money
Swedish Krona. There are approximately 7.6SK per U.S. dollar. ATM's are the best way to get cash and are readily available downtown. Dollars and euros are accepted at some shops. For up-to-the-minute coversions, check www.xe.com or www.oanda.com.
Best Souvenir
Swedish crystal (both traditional and contemporary). While Sweden's Orrefors and Kosta Boda are internationally known, there is also a plethora of lesser-known contemporary designers.
Where You're Docked
You will either dock virtually right in town or, depending on how busy the port is on the day of your arrival, at the commercial port about 15 minutes away (longer if there's traffic).
Hanging Around
No need to hang around here. All services are available in town.
Getting Around
Shuttles from either port will take you downtown, dropping you off near the waterfront. Some lines offer the service for free and others charge $4. Taxis from the closer port are $5 - $10, and from the farther port about $20 each way. Once in the city, you can walk or take a ferry to most sights (including those on Djurgarden). Taxis are also readily available. There is also a good subway and bus system, although none run from the ship's berth to the city center.
Watch Out For
Lots of cobbled streets that can be hard on your feet; wear comfortable shoes.
Don't Miss
 Gamla Stan: The Old Town. Yes, it's touristy, but personally we could spend all day here. Don't miss it. Largely pedestrian-only, this is the original city, occupying an island that's an easy stroll (via bridge) from downtown. It's surrounded by medieval-era walls and anchored by the palace of Kungliga Slottet. This circa-18th-century Royal palace, which boasts 680 rooms (some occupied by the Royal Family), is a good first stop -- try to time your visit around the Changing of the Guard ceremonies that are held daily at noon. The palace's state apartments are well worth visiting. Another historic highlight in Gamla Stan is the city's 15th-century Gothic cathedral (Storkyrkan), where all Royal family coronations, baptisms and weddings are held. Other interesting sites include Stortorget, a spacious and gracious plaza that, hard to believe, one time was the spot for public hangings, as well as the location for the infamous "Bloodbath of 1520," that triggered a revolt and eventually the founding of the sovereign state of Sweden.
For a touch of more modern history, the Nobel Museum (Stockholm Stock Exchange, Stortorget, open daily in summer from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.) honors a worldwide cadre of super achievers in the areas of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, peace and economics.
The "can't miss this" museum in Stockholm is the incredible Vasa Museum (on the island of Djurgarden, open every day from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.). The museum was literally and figuratively built around the Vasa, a 17th-century warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628. The ship was salvaged in 1961 almost completely intact (the Baltic's brackish waters kept parasites at bay). Beyond the ship itself, the museum features a range of other maritime exhibits. Other museums include the Moderna Museet (Skeppsholmen, open daily from 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.) for its exhibition of modern art. The collection features works by Dali, Kandinsky and Picasso. The Nationalmuseum (Sodra Blasieholmshamnen, closed Mondays, open other days from 11 a.m. ), which features works not only from Swedish artists, but also showcases art from other countries.
City Tours. They come in many varieties. There are canal tours, which range in theme from history to dining in lengths of one to four hours. There are also walking tours and double decker bus tours.
The city's subway is worth exploring for art. About 90 of the stations have art displayed, and you can pick up a guide at subway stations or tourist offices that boasts of the "world's longest art exhibition." (Hint: The blue line's stations are the most impressive).
Been There, Done That
Skansen (on Djurgarden, open daily 10 a.m. - 10 p.m.) is known as "Old Sweden" in a nutshell. It's an open-air museum that offers about 150 buildings from across Sweden, most from the 18th and 19th centuries, that have been reassembled in a park-like setting. Exhibits range from blacksmiths and glassblowers to a windmill and a completely reassembled town. Folk dancers and musicians perform.
Lunching
In Gamla Stan, Pasqua (Vasterlanggatan 72, from 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. daily) offers classic Italian ambience (right on down to the candlesticks transformed from old Chianti bottles). For a sidewalk cafe scene, head toward the plaza of Jarntorgsgatan: Cafe Nova (open all day) offers light fare. For gourmet dining -- think traditional Swedish with seasonal ingredients -- check out Jarnet Matsal & Bar (Osterlanggatan 34, from 11:30 a.m. - 3 p.m. weekdays).
Shore Excursions
Best Choice for Something to Talk About: Combine a tour of Gamla Stan (Old Town) with a visit to the Nordic Hotel, located in the center of the city and home to the world's first permanent ice bar (creatively called ... Icebar). The decor is all below zero temperature including the glasses (made of pure ice and perfect for vodka). You are provided with fur ponchos and mittens before entering.
Shopping
Shopping in Gamla Stan is fabulous. The main commercial street is Vasterlanggatan, where you'll find a lot of tourist fare and funky boutiques. But the most interesting shops -- for travelers looking for beautifully made, original crafts ranging from clothing to ceramics -- tend to be located along Osterlanggatan; among the finds we spotted included Qbus (Osterlanggatan 24), for colorful and fashionable women's rain gear and really interesting lambswool-leather vests, as well as a store called blas&knada (Osterlanggatan 39) for colorful rustic-style ceramics. Downtown, the shopping scene is primarily along Drottninggatan, which is pedestrian-only in many places. Highlights: If you're looking for Swedish-designed products, check out Svenskt Hantverk (Kungsgatan 55) and the department store NK (Hamngatan 18 - 20); both have fabulous selections of exquisite handicrafts and crystal.
Staying in Touch
At the cruise terminals you'll find a handful of Internet-accessible computers albeit at pricey rates (2 euros/dollars for 20 minutes). In Gamla Stan, however, the six computer terminals at the Riksdagens InfoCentrum (Vasterlanggatan 1) are absolutely free of charge with a 30-minute maximum time on usage.
For More Information
On the Web: www.stockholmtown.com
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The Independent Traveler: Europe Exchange
--by Fran Golden. Boston-based Golden, whose contributions to Cruise Critic include features, ship reviews and port profiles, is also co-author of Frommer's Alaska Cruises & Ports of Call.
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