SWEDEN : STOCKHOLM - SIGHTSEEING
Stockholm is an easy city for tourists to visit. The centre of the town
is is largely flat and strolling around is a pleasure. For journeys
further beyond the centre, there is an excellent public transport system
with trams, underground trains, buses and ferries servicing all areas of
the city and the surrounding towns and villages.
Stockholm has been described by poets, historians, and foremost by the
Stockholmers themselves in poetic and vivid descriptions. They all have
one thing in common; they all agree that wherever you stay at the time,
however beautiful this spot might be, no place is like Stockholm. The
Old Town was perfectly preserved by Sweden’s neutrality in World War II.
This Old Town (or Gamla Stan) is the epicentre of the city, which boasts
many historical buildings, tourist shops, cafés, as well as the
impressive Royal Palace – the largest royal palace still in use in the
world. North of the Old Town is the main part of the more modern city,
whose districts are home to numerous attractions, such as the impressive
City Hall, the Museum of National Antiquities and the Stringberg Museum.
Across the water, via ferry, is Djurgarden – a playground with a funfair
park, Stockholm Zoo and Sweden’s most visited museum, the Vasa Museum,
which is home to a 17th-century galleon that has been impressively
raised from the chill waters of Stockholm’s harbour.
Away from the charms of the Old Town, the modern city showcases the neat
and innovative design standards for which Sweden has become globally
renowned. Much of Stockholm’s present day wealth comes from the new
light industries, such as information technology and computing, with
world leading companies often occupying prime real estate in the city
centre or filling up the new business parks on the city fringes.
Many museums are closed on Mondays. The city has recently gained a
reputation for stylish shops, bars and restaurants, making it the
Scandinavian capital of cool. Beyond the centre of the city, over 10,000
islands and rocky islets in the Stockholm Archipelago wait to be
explored.
