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If you’re looking for a unique and beautiful location for your next vacation, you may like to consider Stockholm. Built across numerous islands connected by bridges, Stockholm has an interesting layout and has been voted as one of the best capital cities in the world.
My first visit to Stockholm was during the Christmas season. Prior to visiting Stockholm, I also visited Prague (Czech Republic) and Budapest (Hungary). It was cold both Prague and Budapest. I wondering throughout the trip about what the weather would be like in Stockholm.
Stockholm was cold. But it was manageable and not like what I imagined it would be. I watch a lot of Scandinavian detective mysteries on Netflix and Amazon Prime (Wallander for example). My idea of life in Scandinavia is mostly based on what I see on these TV shows!! I have watched both the Swedish and the British version of Wallander. I loved the older Swedish version starring Krister Henriksson. The British version was much more dramatic and emotional, which is not the style that I like.
The American left has a fascination with Scandinavia also. According to some of them, America should aspire to be like Scandinavia. Free healthcare, free education and some of the “happiest people on Earth”. In India we call such a state, the state of “Nirvana”. The Indian sages know that Nirvana should be the goal, but can never be achieved (remember what a very wise thinker from India by the name Buddha once said “There will always be pain and suffering in the world”). How did the Swedes manage to attain Nirvana? I wanted to find out.
Connection between Philadelphia and Sweden.
Philadelphia is a beautiful city that is an hour south of New York City and three hours north of Washington DC. Philadelphia is my home. The flag of Philadelphia has the yellow and blue colors (vertical), same colors as the flag of Sweden. The seal of the City of Philadelphia is in the middle. The similarity to the flag of Sweden is not an accident. Philadelphia’s flag is designed to commemorate the Swedish colonization of Philadelphia.
Philadelphia and the surrounding areas including Delaware and South Jersey were part of “New Sweden” between 1638 and 1655 (almost a 121 years before the United States became a nation). New Sweden was part of Sweden’s efforts to colonize America. New Sweden was captured by the Dutch Republic in 1655 and became part of “New Netherland”.
Where is Stockholm?
Stockholm is the capital of Sweden. Stockholm is a unique, exciting and a very clean city (at least the parts of the city that I visited). Stockholm is nestled between Lake Mälaren and Salt Bay and is located on the Baltic sea. The city has been built on the mainland of Uppland and Södermanland and stretches across several islands connected to the city center by a network of bridges.
Best Time to visit Stockholm.
Unless you are from a city like Philadelphia and are used to dealing with extremely cold weather conditions including heavy snowfall, avoid visiting Stockholm during winter. In general, I love visiting Europe in winter. Places like Stortorget can feel magical during winter (Stortorget is a small but beautiful square in the medieval old town of Stockholm. The old town is known as Gamla Stan. If dealing with the extreme cold conditions is not your thing, the best time to visit Stockholm would be between the months of June and August. During the summer the temperature averages between 18 and 21 degrees Celsius. August is usually warm, but there is also more chance of rain.
June is a great month to visit Stockholm, as the weather is generally warm, and there are many outdoor events held across the city. You’ll also be able to experience the very long days (Abisko is a town about 800 miles north of Stockholm. From places like Abisko, you will be able to see the midnight sun in June and July). September and October are good times to visit Stockholm also. The weather is reasonable and there are not many tourists around.
How to Get to Stockholm from the Arlanda airport.
Stockholm’s main airport is actually not in Stockholm. It is near a town called Marsta, which is about 23 miles from Stockholm. The airport is called the Stockholm Arlanda Airport. It is a modern airport but it is far away from the city.
You can get to the city from the airport either by bus, taxi or train. I have never taken the taxi. Bus is inconvenient (the bus ride takes about 45 minutes). The easiest and the most convenient way is to take the high speed train (Arlanda Express). The train stops at all the major terminals, operates frequently and will reach Stockholm Central in about 18 minutes. A round trip ticket will cost you about $50.00.
Where to stay in Stockholm.
As a tourist there are only two neighborhoods that I would consider when it comes to staying in Stockholm. The first neighborhood is Gamla Stan and the second is Norrmalm. Both these neighborhoods are right next to each other and most of the popular spots are within walking distance to each other. There are plenty of options to stay (local and chain hotels).
If I have to choose, I would book a hotel within walking distance of the Central Station (the last stop for the Arlanda Express train from the airport). Gamla Stan (old town), where you will be spending a lot of time, is only a 15 minute walk away. Hotels in Norrmalm are slightly cheaper than the ones in Gamla Stan.
Places to see in Stockholm.
There are many places to see and things to do in Stockholm. Here are a few of my favorites.
- Visit the Gamla Stan: Gamla Stan means Old Town (many Indians refer to India as “Hindu Stan” as in the land of the Hindus). Gamla Stan is located on an island, dating back to the 13th century and the city’s ancient heart. The town is steeped in history, with beautiful old buildings and cobbled streets. There are some nice bars and cafes, and the island is also home to the Royal Palace and Noble Museum. It’s best to avoid the old town when the cruise ships are docked in the city as the island quickly becomes overcrowded. Stortorget is inside the old town and is one of my favorite squares in all of Europe.
- Explore Stockholm’s archipelago: A visit to Stockholm wouldn’t be complete without a boat cruise around its various islands. There are many different boat trips available that provide visitors with stunning views and commentaries about the city’s history. Choose from a canal tour, a cruise between Lake Mälaren and Sigtuna, or a day trip between Strömma and Sandhamn. For the more adventurous traveler, kayaks can be hired to explore the canals and waterways.
- Visit the Vasa Museum: To learn more about Stockholm’s maritime history, visit the Vasa ship, which sank outside the city in 1628 on her maiden voyage. Amazingly this warship spent 333 years on the seabed before being salvaged and repaired. The Vasa is one of the most visited places in Stockholm.
- Visit “Abba: The Museum”: When I think of Sweden, three things come to mind. Saab, Abba and the Swedish meatballs at the IKEA! This museum was inspired by the Beatles Museum in Liverpool. “Abba: The Museum” is actually not a museum. It is more of an experience. Find out all about the lives and achievements of ABBA at this unique museum. You will see the band members’ costumes as well as gold records, personal items, and memorabilia. The museum also offers a virtual reality where you can experience what it would have been like to be in the band. You will be able to see what you would have looked like in ABBA’s stage costumes and can then go on stage with the band. An excellent experience for any ABBA fans. “Friday night and the lights are low … Looking out for a place to go …. !!”
- Visit the Skansen Museum: The Skansen Museum was opened in 1891 and became famous as the world’s first open-air museum. You’ll be able to explore Sweden’s history over the last five centuries by viewing historic buildings and over 150 homes and community buildings. You can also experience traditional Swedish folk dancing and buy handicrafts from the museum shop.
- Hangout at Sergels torg: Sergels torg is a fantastic modern square that is walking distance from the Central train station. This square is a nice place for people watching. Drottninggatan (Queen Street) passes through Sergels torg. It is mostly a pedestrian street. Walk towards Gamla Stan and enjoy the views. This whole area is very active in the evenings and a nice place to hang out and relax.
Final thoughts on Stockholm.
I like Stockholm and Sweden in general and I would definitely go back again if I get the opportunity. But traveling in Sweden and reading about Sweden before and after my trip gave me a better appreciation of the American system.
In Sweden, college education is free. But surprisingly students in Sweden carry a lot of debt (about $19,000 compared to $24,000 in the United States). Debt to income ration for Swedish students is about 80% compared to 60% in the US. There are a few reasons for this. First Sweden is a very expensive country to live. Rent and cost of food and other essential items are very expensive compared to the US. Second, kids leave their parents home earlier than most of the other Western nations.
Sweden has free health care also. But the trust that the citizens of Sweden have in their health care system is rapidly eroding. Sweden’s “free” health care system is tax payer funded and most people in Sweden pay more than 50% of their income in taxes!! Swedish law mandates that patients should not wait more than 90 days to see a specialist or have surgery (which is a long wait in itself), but 33% of the patients wait more than 90 days!!
Another myth about Sweden and other Scandinavian countries is that they are socialistic. Sweden is the perfect example of “Democratic Socialism” they say. Leftist Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders once said “I think we should look to countries like Denmark, like Sweden and Norway and learn what they have accomplished for their working people.” But are Norway, Denmark and Sweden socialist? The then Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen responded “I would like to make one thing clear, Denmark is far from a socialist planned economy. Denmark is a market economy.”
When it comes to ease of doing business, Denmark, Norway and Sweden are in the top 10. This is an indication of how capitalistic they are. Sweden in my view is a free market economy just like the US. But unlike the US, they believe in high taxation. I think most Americans, and human beings in general, would have a problem with that. Because we know that governments inherently are inefficient and somewhat corrupt. So why give your hard earned money to an entity that keeps on taking!!
What are your thoughts on Sweden?
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