kovsie

We are exchanging homes with a family in Stockholm (Sodermalm), and we will spend 10 days over Christmas there. The 'we' this time includes my sister and her daughter, and me and my DD - thus two 'somewhat mature' women and two twenty-somethings. We will have a fairly limited budget. I have never been to the Scandinavian countries. My sister has never travelled in Europe. We can and do get many of our questions answered by our home-exchange friends, but I feel the need for the perspectives and wise input from Fodorites.

First question: we would also like to venture outside Stockholm, and Vispy looks interesting. From there it seems possible to take a ferry to Gotland. Has anybody else done this in winter? Any ideas?

I would absolutely love to see the Northern Lights. How to go about it? Does it make sense to travel further north for this? This would be an overnight trip. Where to stay? Is it too ambitious a scheme? From what I can see on the web, there are various adventure-type offerings, with dog-sledding and so on ... also ice-hotels. If we do not want to do that, what are the alternatives?

Lastly: we have bought the guidebooks and we have seen what the main attractions are. But: is there anything really special that you have particularly enjoyed in or near Stockholm? I will not try to speak for all of us, but I love architecture, literature, art, music, food.

THANKS!

HappyTrvlr

I don't know if it's open in the winter but we enjoyed Millesgarden, a sculpture garden. We took a bus to the subway and a bus across the bridge.

Michael

The skansen and the Wasa museum.

branderson925

Uppsala is a worthy day trip. Fun, young/hip town. Also if you're into history, check out Sigtuna. Oldest viking town remaining.

Odin

What happened to Rome? The wise Fodorites advised against Stockholm because it is too expensive and too cold. If you are on a fairly limited budget, the excursions you mention will be pricey. The Lucia festival is not to be missed, if you happen to be in Sweden for 13 December. It will be on at Skansen, from 13-15 December.

tower

Hovsie:
Seconding the suggestion for Skansen and the Wasa Museum, also City Hall's "Gold Room" is quite unusual and striking...the chsnging of the guard in GamlaStan is quite colorful...but here are some Stockholm pics to give you some feel for the city. You're asking for a long winter trip to at least as far north as mining-town Kiruna if youre interested in ice hotels..even much further north if the Northern Lights are a goal. Table that for another trip, would be my suggestion. (We took an overnight 19-hour train journey from Narvik, Norway.) Plenty to see and do in the vicinty of Stockholm, IMO...a most inviting, beautiful city.

You'll see a pic of SaluHall on Nybrogatan which may be hard to beat for lunch...pick what you want from a massive, delicious display.

I really don't know how many attractions are open and available in winter. Check the guide books or the internet. One thing you can be sure of...c-o-l-d. and another thing, very expensive for almost everything. Home exchange will alter that significantly in your case. Enjoy your visit.

https://picasaweb.google.com/stuarttower/Stockholm#

nytraveler

Assume you have looked at costs of things (Sweden is MUCH more expensive than the US) and the very short daylight hours when you will be there. (It isn't any colder than the NE US due to the effects of the Gulf stream current but you are VERY far north (NY is on a line with Madrid or Rome) so days are super short and I imagine some sights will have shorter hours.

We loved the Skansen museum of traditional swedish life and zoo - but a lot is outdoors and not sure what hours it is open in midwinter.

Agree Wasa is great - also the Royal Palace, Town Hall and explore the old town. There are a number of other indoor museums related to swedish history and art that may be open later - not sure.

kovsie

Hi Odin - you remember well. It is a home exchange, and Rome fell through (to my initial dismay).

kja

In addition to the sites in Stockholm that are most often mentioned, I enjoyed Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde. I also 2nd the recommendation to spend a day in Uppsala. Enjoy!

kovsie

Thanks so much everybody, for your replies.
Tower, I just love your pictures!
Odin, we will be in Stockholm 21 - 30 December. Will thus miss the Lucia festival by a week.
Yes, NYTraveler, of course I have looked at costs ... and temperatures. As Odin said, some Fodorites advised against Stockholm because it will be expensive and cold. I have done some reading, and decided to do it anyway. I will never forget icy New Year's morning 2014 when I saw the sun rise over Charles Bridge in Prague with the swans on the misty river.

OK, have now (with regret) decided to ditch the idea of travelling further north for the Northern Lights. We still have nine days in Stockholm and would like a day trip or two. Nobody reacted to the idea of going to Vispy and Gotland. Please - any suggestions?

Tower: <<Plenty to see and do in the vicinity of Stockholm, IMO...a most inviting, beautiful city.>> Yes, this is what I gathered. Would you like to elaborate please?

kja

"would like a day trip or two. .... Please - any suggestions?" Well, two of us have already mentioned Uppsala.... ;-)

kovsie

Thanks, yes kja - I have not missed that. The description of Uppsala as <Fun, young/hip town> just did not sound like my kind of thing. Perhaps I am wrong? Planning to do some more reading today.

kja

I went in 1989, and while it might be a "fun, young/hip town" (it is, after all, a university town), that was not what made me recommend it. It has a lovely cathedral, very pleasant gardens (some of great historic importance), parts of a castle, easy access to some Viking burial mounds....

kovsie

I have now looked at images of Uppsala. It seems I was wrong - it looks quite pretty.
branderson & kja: What was special for you there? What / where did you eat?

kovsie

Thanks again kja, our posts must of crossed in mid-air. I will do some more homework!

Odin

A ferry trip from Stockholm to Helsinki is recommended, even during the winter. If you get a bright sunny day with snow, the archipelago will be beautiful. Ferries go all through the winter, unless the sea is frozen, which I think is quite rare. I'm going to be in Sweden during Christmas (in the south though) and will be taking the ferry to Denmark. So if you want to go to Visby I would do it but it is a long journey. Best to book train tickets in advance as they will be cheaper.

Or if you don't want to go that far, maybe sample the traditional Swedish Christmas buffet (julbord) on board one of the excursions around Stockholm. These get booked up as they are very popular and I recommend it. Christmas buffets are everywhere during the season and it gives you a chance to try all things Swedish. Try the Christmas beers too.

http://www.stromma.se/en/Stockholm/Christmas-buffet/

Please note is it the Vasa Museum, not Wasa.

http://www.millesgarden.se/opening-h...sion-fees.aspx

kovsie

Hi Odin, I had hoped you would post again!

<If you get a bright sunny day with snow, the archipelago will be beautiful.> This is what I would love to experience! I am actually looking forward to this trip so much.

The Christmas buffets look very tempting. Thanks for that link.

Helsinki may be a bit far for this time, but I can just think how great it would be. I see it is at least a 10hour trip. Next time!

Vasa is on the list of things to definitely do.

I was wondering if there is somewhere in Stockholm where we can experience a sleigh ride?
Do you have any recommendations about Christmas concerts, great music?
Where should we go to church for a Christmas Eve service ... denomination not important - more for the experience of music in a beautiful spiritual place?

kovsie

OK the Christmas lunches are over before we arrive at 21 Dec. Sorry about that. We can still take a ferry to see the archipelago. What would you recommend - where to start and where to go?

Odin

Here is one for the 22nd:
http://stortorgskallaren.se/julbord/
I'll try to find some others.

kovsie

Thanks again Odin, this one seems absolutely fine. Will talk to the family and make the booking.