Around the Planet

On the east coast of Sweden, at the point where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea, lies Stockholm, built on fourteen islands. Stockholm is one of the few cities where you are never far from a picturesque walk along the water’s edge, and there are plenty of trees, parks and green areas. It is probably for this reason, that Stockholm does not have the feeling of congestion that a lot of cities do, and Stockholm does not seem to have undergone the flight of the inner city population out to the suburbs - people still live within the city centre in attractive apartments.

Because Stockholm has cold winters, the best time to visit is in the summer, and if you are there for the longest day in late June, you will find that the Swedes really celebrate the summer solstice in style, staying up all night and having parties. Stockholm, being so far north, remains light all night in the midsummer, which is wonderful for going out in the evenings to socialise, or to enjoy “the nature”. Many people take to the skies, and in the summer evenings a profusion of colorful hot air balloons can be seen over the city, giving their passengers some magnificient aerial views over the whole of the city, and much of the archipelago.

If great vistas are what you are after then there is a wonderful view from the City Hall (Stadshus) tower, which is open during the summer months. This is also the place where the highly sought after Nobel Prizes are presented.

Gamla Stan, the Old Town, is famous for its lovely historical buildings, narrow cobbled streets and interesting shops. And when you are tired of all that walking around a popular place to go for coffee and cake is the cafe known as Grå Munken.

In my next post I will talk a bit more about some of the great sights to be seen in this wonderful city.