Sweden : What to do, see and eat in Stockholm, if you only have a weekend.

If you only have the weekend (or slightly longer than the weekend) to spare but you do not wish to stay home, Stockholm can be an option, assuming you are within north, central and west Europe.

Depending on your preference and departing location, you could either take the flight, train or ship.

Compared to other Scandinavian countries, Sweden is the least expensive place to live in. So, it is the perfect place to shop and to enjoy your meals, while you are there.

One of the shopping malls in the town

Take a canal tour to get introduced to Stockholm city. You may hop-on and hop-off at every stop to explore the places, should you find them interesting.

Alternatively, you may also explore Stockholm by walking.

You will notice that there are ticket booths along the waters of Stockholm, offering canal tours or cruises. If you have more than a weekend to spare, do try the cruise which takes you island hopping. it is however, recommended during summer or spring when the weather is more gentle.

I was in Stockholm last December and look at the thick snow! It certainly will not be a pleasant trip should you take the canal tour then, assuming the tour is still available despite the harsh weather.

On a positive note, you may ski in Sweden during winter if you are not a city person. A friend once told me that you could take a bus from Copenhagen to the ski place in Sweden. Unfortunately, I could not remember where it was, nor had I tried it myself -.-

I like the old town of Stockholm (Gamla Stan, as how the locals call it).
It is charming and beautiful, be it during summer or winter. Check out Sweden Tourism official website for information on the latest promotions and details of tours.

 You will not miss catching the Swedish antique ship in Gamla Stan, whether by boat or by foot. It is one of the important landmark of Gamla Stan.

 Mårten Trotzigs Gränd - the narrowest alley in the city

Stortorget

 The Turkish Church

 A row of canons displayed at the Royal Palace.

 The Royal Guard. I prefer the uniform colour of the Danish Royal Guard compared to the Swedish. Do catch the Changing of Guard at The Royal Palace.

Taking a walk in the Stockholm city is not without temptations that lure you to spend some money shopping. That is especially true if you are from a neighbouring country, that has a higher living cost than in Sweden.

One thing that will probably catch your attention, if you love beautiful things - Crystal art. I bought one myself!

Going to Stockholm without tasting the famous Swedish meatball is incomplete, especially it is the special delicacy and the pride of Sweden.

It is unfortunate that there were only 3 meatballs in the plate! 

Next attraction, the Skyview. It is a glass gondola that takes you up along the exterior of the Ericsson Globe, which is the largest spherical building in the world. Once you reach the top, you could view the Stockholm city. It is 130 metres above the sea level.

 The entrance fee, as at 2010

 The top interior of the Skyview

After all these, if you still have some time, stop by at the Kungsholmen (The Stockholm Court House). The nearest station is Rådhuset.

Lastly, reward yourself with a glass of beer is always a good way to wind down after a long, tiring day.