7 points of interest you should not miss in Stockholm

The picturesque metropolis of Stockholm boasts a wealthy maritime heritage, gorgeous structure, and a powerful array of museums and points of interest. With a lot happening, town has one thing to supply each customer. From the Viking powerhouse of Birka to the longer term cities exhibit within the Nationwide Museum of Science and Expertise, right here we propose seven very completely different points of interest that gives you an perception into Stockholm’s previous, current and future.

No matter you select to see while you’re within the metropolis, you may prefer to look into the Stockholm Go Metropolis go as this may permit you to save as much as 50% on Stockholm points of interest.

Vasa Museum

One among Stockholm’s most iconic points of interest, the Vasa Museum, is devoted to the one preserved seventeenth century ship on the earth, the Vasa. It’s a kind of locations that may make your jaw drop from the second you enter. The Vasa was constructed between 1626 and 1628 as a warship commissioned by King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden.

It tragically sank on its maiden voyage in 1628, solely to be rediscovered within the Nineteen Fifties and raised from the seabed earlier than being meticulously restored. At this time it stands as a surprising testomony to Sweden’s naval historical past and you’ll’t assist however be captivated by the sheer measurement and ornate craftsmanship of the ship.

Reveals inform you extra concerning the ship’s development, its tragic sinking, and the following restoration course of, whereas multimedia displays assist to carry the story of the Vasa to life. The museum additionally homes a powerful assortment of artifacts recovered from the ship, offering additional perception into life aboard the Vasa in the course of the seventeenth century.

A go to to the Vasa Museum isn’t just about seeing a ship (unimaginable although it’s!); it’s about understanding the cultural and historic context of maritime Sweden, making it an unmissable attraction for anybody visiting Stockholm.

The Royal Palace

It’s arduous to know the place to start out with The Royal Palace as it’s actually a number of points of interest in a single: the Royal Guard (Högvakten), the Three Crowns Museum (Museum Tre Kronor), the Royal Flats and Treasury (Representationsvåningarna och Skattkammaren), the Royal Armoury and Riddarholmen Church. The Royal Guard is chargeable for defending the Swedish royal household and is a major a part of Stockholm’s army preparedness. The altering of the guard takes place on daily basis (aside from sure holidays) at 12.15pm.

The Three Crowns Museum provides guests a singular alternative to discover the historical past of the unique Tre Kronor Fort, which stood on the identical web site till it was destroyed by a devastating fireplace in 1697. On the opposite facet of the Royal Palace, on the Royal Flats and Treasury, you may study concerning the way of life of the Swedish royal household, discover the palace’s northern wing the place residences showcase a group of lavishly adorned rooms, and see the Council Chamber – a grand and historic room that has been used for hundreds of years for essential authorities conferences.

The Royal Armoury (not included within the Palace ticket) may be discovered deep contained in the stone vaults of the Royal Palace and is without doubt one of the oldest museums in Sweden. Its collections of antiquities and different memorabilia hint the royal historical past of Sweden from the sixteenth century to the current day.

And eventually, the thirteenth century Riddarholmen Church is the ultimate resting place of many Swedish monarchs, together with Charles XII, Gustav III and Karl Johan, in addition to different notable figures, corresponding to Jean Baptiste Bernadotte, who was adopted by Charles XIII and have become King of Sweden.

Metropolis Corridor

Accomplished in 1923, Stockholm’s Metropolis Corridor, or Stadshuset, is an iconic constructing – a placing architectural masterpiece that stands as a logo of town itself. With its waterfront location and famend, distinctive towers, it isn’t solely an essential administrative constructing but in addition a well-liked vacationer attraction, drawing guests from all over the world.

Inside, Metropolis Corridor options a wide range of lovely halls and rooms, and a guided tour of the Blue Corridor, the Council Corridor and the Golden Corridor gives you insights into the position the constructing performs within the cultural lifetime of Stockholm. The Blue Corridor is legendary for internet hosting the annual Nobel Prize banquet, the place laureates rejoice their achievements. It’s characterised by grand arches and stylish simplicity.

The Council Corridor is the place Stockholm Metropolis Council holds its conferences. It’s an essential venue for native governance and decision-making, with a mode influenced by Nordic Classicism; it’s lit by massive, tall home windows and has lovely wood-paneled partitions and ceilings, with intricate carvings that replicate Swedish craftsmanship.

The tour finishes with a go to to the Golden Corridor – designed by the architect Ragnar Östberg – which is adorned with gorgeous mosaics that depict Swedish historical past and mythology. Some 18 million mosaic tiles cowl an space of round 1,500 sq. meters, with one of the crucial well-known photographs being the Queen of Lake Mälaren. She sits on a throne that represents Stockholm and is surrounded by figures that symbolise different components of the world, demonstrating its position as a worldwide metropolis and the connection between Sweden and the broader world.

Nationwide Museum of Science and Expertise

The Nationwide Museum of Science and Expertise, or Tekniska Museet, is a captivating vacation spot for anybody enthusiastic about scientific discovery. It’s devoted to showcasing the evolution of know-how and its influence on society and has a variety of interactive reveals. Study historic innovations and the event of transport, communication and vitality.

We actually loved the insights into future cities and studying extra concerning the notion of the 15-minute metropolis – an city planning idea the place every day requirements and companies can all be simply reached in simply quarter-hour.  This would cut back automobile dependency, promote a more healthy way of life and allow sustainable residing, with the hope that it’s going to enhance the general high quality of life for metropolis dwellers.

There are many hands-on shows and reveals such because the facial recognition software program which goals to detect age, gender and temper. Not solely correct however spectacular nonetheless!

On the highest ground of the museum, youngsters – and perhaps some adults too – will love the outdated pc video games and consoles, lots of which you’ll be able to play on. The gathering has been acquired from a museum that was sadly compelled to shut. I even noticed the pc from my childhood – the once-popular Commodore 64!

Military Museum

For these intrigued by army historical past, the Military Museum (Armémuseum) in Stockholm is a must-visit attraction. Housed in a lovely constructing courting again to the 18th century, the museum gives an in-depth have a look at Sweden’s army historical past from the Viking Age to the current day.

There’s a wealth of artifacts to view, together with uniforms, weapons and gear, that narrate the story of Sweden’s army involvement over the centuries.

Reveals spotlight vital occasions in Swedish army historical past and there are shows devoted to varied conflicts, such because the Nice Northern Struggle and World Struggle II. Learn the way these occasions have formed the nation and delve into the lives of troopers and the influence warfare has had on Swedish society.

On the bottom ground of the museum, there’s presently a transferring and poignant exhibition known as ‘Crossroads’ which seems at Sweden’s and Ukraine’s historical past by the final 1,000 years – a collaboration between the Swedish Nationwide Museums of Army Historical past, the Nationwide Archives and the Nationwide Museum of the Historical past of Ukraine within the Second World Struggle. It begins with the Viking Age – and the wedding between Olof Skötkonung’s daughter Ingegerd and Yaroslav I (the Sensible) of Kyiv – and takes you throughout to the current battle.

Haga Ocean Butterfly Home

Nestled inside Haga Park, a 10-minute drive north of Stockholm metropolis centre, the Haga Ocean Butterfly Home is like two points of interest mixed into one – a lush atmosphere that’s dwelling to a surprising number of butterflies and tropical crops, and a marine aquarium that’s dwelling to all method of aquatic life, from coral to clownfish.

Designed to resemble a tropical rainforest, the Butterfly Home is full with waterfalls, unique vegetation and, after all, numerous butterflies. See these unimaginable specimens up shut as they feed off fruit that has been put out for them and watch them fluttering round… they might even land on you as they did with us!

Watch the place you stroll – not solely as a result of the butterflies land on the bottom, but in addition as a result of there are small frogs hopping about freely. Marvel too on the chrysalis board the place you’ll see a whole lot of pupae and admire the metamorphosis course of first-hand.

Along with the butterfly reveals, there’s a small aquarium the place the spotlight is a big tank with a number of sharks and different fish. It’s not an in depth show like another aquariums in Europe however would undoubtedly be loved by households with younger kids.

Birka: The Viking Metropolis

Take a scenic boat experience from Stockholm to Birka, positioned on the island of Björkö in Lake Mälaren. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage web site and one in all Sweden’s most vital archaeological websites Sometimes called the primary Stockholm or the primary city in Sweden, it was was established in the course of the Viking Age and have become a thriving centre of European commerce and tradition.

A guided tour of Birka is a good way to study extra concerning the city’s historic significance, permitting you to think about what life was like for the inhabitants of this bustling settlement. The encompassing panorama can also be price exploring and there are some fabulous views of the lake to be loved from the Monument of Ansgar on the highest level on the island.

You possibly can go to historic burial mounds and the foundations of homes and workshops, in addition to full-scale reconstructions of Viking-era buildings and boats, historic Norse crops, and livestock, to realize a greater perception into what life was like on this earliest of Swedish settlements.

The Birka Museum additionally gives precious context for the location, showcasing artifacts recovered from the realm, corresponding to instruments, jewellery, and weapons, which illustrate the craftsmanship and every day lifetime of the Viking folks. Why not keep the evening after the vast majority of vacationers have departed, get pleasure from a particular glamping expertise and have a deeper reference to the wealthy heritage of Sweden’s Viking previous?

Disclosure: Our journey was kindly supported by Go to Stockholm.

Paul Johnson

Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxurious Journey Weblog and has labored within the journey business for greater than 30 years. He’s Winner of the Improvements in Journey ‘Greatest Journey Influencer’ Award from WIRED journal. Along with different awards, the weblog has additionally been voted “one of many world’s finest journey blogs” and “finest for luxurious” by The Telegraph.