Stockholm is the capital city, and the largest one too, of Sweden and is a popular port of call on Scandinavian cruises. You may get a tease of the city as a port of call, returning later to take full measure of it, or you may discover it in depth with a few extra days before or after your sailing.
International flights will arrive at Stockholm-Arlanda International Airport (airport code ARN), about 25 miles north of the city. Take the Arlanda Express into the city center, about a 20 minute trip. A cab or bus will take about 45 minutes.
Stockholm is home to the Swedish government, parliament, prime minister, and the official residence or the Swedish royal family. The architecture surrounding these official sites is impressive, to say the least, but once you’re done ooohing and aaahing, what next?
Here are 5 themed tours that may give you another look at Stockholm:
ABBA City Walk – Offered by the Stockholm City Museum, the ABBA City Walk is a look at the city where this successful pop group lived, worked, and played. ABBA topped the music charts from 1972-82 and are the fourth best-selling music artists in history. Yes, they were BIG! The tour will be a favorite with ABBA fans, as well as music lovers in general, and gives you glimpses into the lives of the musicians and what Stockholm was like during the 1970s.
Bird’s Eye View – Everybody can get a bird’s eye view of the city on this rooftop hiking tour. If you’re afraid of heights you’ll probably want to pass this one by, but if you’re not, this unusual combination of climbing and sightseeing gives you a look at Stockholm that few people will ever see.
Boat Sightseeing – Stockholm consists of 14 islands, connected by 57 bridges, and is part of a larger archipelago of 30,000 islands and rocky islets. It’s pretty safe to say that water is an important part of the culture of Stockholm! Seeing the city from the water – and the smaller areas where a cruise ship can’t go – is to feel a special connection with the city. Popular choices include boat tours Under the Bridges of Stockholm, Royal Canal, Historical Canal, and if you’re a morning person you may like Good Morning Stockholm. Tours range from 50 minutes to 2 1/2 hours.
Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour – Giving you the independence to plan your own tour itinerary, this type of tour is popular in cities around the world. You board an open-top double-decker bus and hop off at any attractions where you wish. When your done at that stop, just hop back on and head off to the next. The bus circles the route regularly, giving you the opportunity to see what you’re interested in and pass on those that don’t.
Millennium Tour – Fans of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy (also known as The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo series) will be eager for this tour that follows Blomkvist and Salander’s footsteps from the book (the two protagonists of the book). The tour also gives a little additional background about the author as well as the characters. If you haven’t read the books, a Scandinavian tour is a great time to start them.
Whether you choose to explore the city on your own, opt for an organized shore excursion, or find a city tour on your own, there’s plenty to fall in love with in the Baltic port city of Stockholm