Stockholm Cruise and Stay Holidays and Deals

Introduction

Known as the “Venice of the North”, Sweden's capital city of Stockholm is famed for its impressive art, design and food scenes. From medieval to modern, the city is part-museum, part-gallery of modern art, stretching across 14 islands linked by an array of canals and bridges. Gamla Stan, the city's famous old town, offers the postcard-perfect view, with tall multi-coloured houses, razor-thin winding streets and a host of historic sites tucked around every corner.

OVERVIEW

STOCKHOLM

Covering the area where Lake Mälaren flows to the Baltic, Stockholm has an indisputable link with the sea, and locals frequently refer to their city as "Beauty on Water". It also plays an important role in Stockholm's traditional cuisine, and the city is known for the incredible array of fresh seafood and organic produce from the surrounding farmlands. Stockholm's food scene doesn't stop there - the city is famously food-obsessed. From street food to fine dining, you'll find everything from traditional meatballs and herring, Asian-fusion to classic French amongst the restaurants, cafes and carts of Stockholm.

Aside from the walkable, living museum of Gamla Stan, visitors can choose from perusing grand palaces and cathedrals to taking in the sights along the water, dusting off their dancing gear at the ABBA museum to a picnic on the beach at Tantolunden Park. Art Galleries and museums are plentiful and often free, giving visitors the chance to see works by local and international artists from the past to present day.

After dark, Stockholm's stylish night-time crowd arrives in the cosmopolitan bars and clubs that dot the city's islands, with plenty of options for cocktails, quiet drinks or dancing until the sun comes up.

THINGS TO DO

STOCKHOLM

Archipelago Boat Tour

One of the best ways to see Stockholm is from the water, cruising under the city's bridges and along the canals, or by heading out to the scenic Archipelago, consisting of some 30,000 islands. There are plenty of tours and boats to choose from - whether you want to hop-on-hop-off or rent your own rowing boat.

The Royal Palace

One of the largest and grandest palaces in Europe, the Royal Palace in Stockholm is King of Sweden's official residence. The vast building has more than 600 rooms, and houses five museums, as well as an impressive display of armour and dress within the Royal Armoury. The most popular time to visit is during the changing of the guard.

Skansen

The family-friendly Skansen museum was the world's first outside museum, with buildings dating back to the 14th century. Vistors have the chance to see what rural life once looked like in Sweden, with more than 150 historical buildings and displays set within a large park. With a zoo, costume-clad actors and plenty of interactive displays, kids and adults alike will love an afternoon spent at Skansen.

ABBA The Museum

Fans of cult Swedish pop band ABBA won't want to miss this interactive exhibition at Djurgården. Alongside browsing through the vast collection of memorabilia, visitors are transported back to the 70's and made to feel like "the fifth member of the band". There are sing-alongs, dancefloors to show off your moves and holograms of the band. Everything is recorded so that you can relive your experience when you get home.

Gamla Stan

Stockholm's old town is one of the city's must-see attractions. With colourful houses, medieval streets dating back to the 1200s and historical sites hidden around every corner, no visit to Stockholm would be complete without walking around Gamla Stan. Look out for the Stockholm Cathedral and the Nobel Museum, both of which are found in the old town.

Moderna Museet

A contemporary museum on the island of Skeppsholmen, the free Moderna Museet features works from some of the greatest artists of all time, including Dali, Picasso and Andy Warhol. With pieces dating from the early 1900's to the present day, this is a great place to get a feel for Stockholm's modern art scene.

Tantolunden Park

Make like the locals and spend a sunny day in Tantolunden Park. With its own beach, this park is the ideal spot for a picnic and a swim during the summer months, or a spot of ice-skating in the winter when the harbour freezes.

Stadsbiblioteket

The largest public library in Sweden, Stadsbiblioteket is home to more than half a million books. But it's not just bookworms who will love this building - it's one of Stockholm's most notable works of architecture, designed by renowned Swedish architect Gunnar Asplund.

Katarinahissen

For one of the best birds-eye views of the city, head to Slussen and the Katarinahissen, or "Katarina Elevator". The lift itself has long been out of use but you can still take the stairs to the top for unrivalled views over Gamla Stan, Lake Mälaren and out towards Stockholm’s other islands.

NIGHTLIFE

STOCKHOLM

Riche

The Swedish sister of Café Riche in Paris, head to this stylish bar to mix with the local professionals for late evening drinks and enjoy their extensive wine list. If you feel like making a night of it, stick around and wait for the young crowd to arrive for Riche's club nights.

Eriks Gondolen

You'll hear Stockholm's most famous bar commonly referred to as simply "Gondolen", and with some of the best views in the city, it's easy to understand why it's so popular. Located 33m above the water, arrive at sunset, order a cocktail and soak in the incredible Stockholm skyline.

Grill

If you can't decide what kind of bar you're in the mood for, head to Grill. This swanky venue features different rooms, each with its own theme and stylish decorations. There are up to eight themes running at any one time, from a Moulin Rouge boudoir to a Far East, Orient Express theme. The cocktail list is plentiful and music lovers can also catch live performances throughout the week.

Café Opera

Around since the 80's, Café Opera is an opulent club just off Kungsträdgården, frequented by celebrities and VIPs. You'll find a packed dance floor, theme nights and, should you find that all of that dancing makes you hungry, a late-night menu.

Imperiet

Dance 'till dawn, or at least 3am, at Stockholm's popular club in the heart of Söder. Split across two levels of a skyscraper basement, drinkers can warm up with a drink in the Imperiet bar before hitting the dancefloor.

EVENTS

STOCKHOLM

Smaka På Stockholm

This five-day event celebrates Stockholm's varied food scene. Taking place in the first week of June in Kungsträdgården (King’s Garden Park) the festival features gourmet food stalls from some of the best restaurants in Stockholm, as well as live entertainment and cooking demonstrations.

Stockholms Kulturfestival

Visit Stockholm during Kulturfestival to join in the city's biggest street party. Taking place during the second week in August each year, this free festival has everything from street opera to food stalls, sidewalk theatre performances to Bollywood shows.

Stockholm International Film Festival

Held in November, the Stockholm International Film Festival sees the country's top actors and directors come together for a celebration of both local and international cinema.

Stockholm Jazz Festival

One of Stockholm's biggest summer events, the Stockholm Jazz Festival's main venue is on Skansen, with various other performances held at venues across the city. As one of the oldest festivals in Sweden and one of the most highly acclaimed jazz festivals in Europe, the festival attracts top jazz musicians from all over the world, with past performances from Jamie Cullum, Angelique Kidjo and the Wayne Shorter Quartet.

RESTAURANTS

STOCKHOLM

Nook

One of Stockholm's most loved international fusion restaurants, Nook is the brainchild of Korean-born chef Claes Grännsjö. Mixing traditional Swedish dishes with Asian flavours, the restaurant has a part-street food, part-fine dining feel.

Den Gyldene Freden

Believed to be the oldest restaurant in the world, serving since 1722, Den Gyldene Freden is a Stockholm institution. The historic interior is the ideal setting for the traditionally Swedish menu, complete with smoked reindeer, meatballs and herring. For those who like to see where their meal is coming from, the lower-floor kitchen is visible from above.

Bleck

One of Stockholm's hidden gems, Bleck is situated in Lilla Blecktornsparken park, on Södermalm. Family-friendly and popular with the hipster crowd, Bleck is an ideal weekend brunch spot, serving up traditional meals alongside creative additions like elk. During the summer months, the park-side outdoor seating is the perfect place for people watching.

Prinsen

If you're looking for a fine dining experience in Stockholm, head straight to Prinsen. The city's elite has been frequenting this famous restaurant since it opened in 1897. The menu offers a range of classic dishes, but you shouldn't leave without trying their famous take on Biff Rydberg.

Esperanto

For a unique, high-end dining experience, Stockholm has no rival to Esperanto. Housed in a former theatre in the Östermalm district, Esperanto offers a fusion of Nordic and Japanese tasting menus, from Thai-born chef Sayan Isaksson. Menus are perused on leather-bound iPads and, after ordering from the five or eight-course tasting options, guests can watch Isaksson and his team prepare the food from the open kitchen.

Stockholm

Introduction

OVERVIEW

STOCKHOLM

THINGS TO DO

STOCKHOLM

Archipelago Boat Tour

The Royal Palace

Skansen

ABBA The Museum

Gamla Stan

Moderna Museet

Tantolunden Park

Stadsbiblioteket

Katarinahissen

NIGHTLIFE

STOCKHOLM

Riche

Eriks Gondolen

Grill

Café Opera

Imperiet

EVENTS

STOCKHOLM

Smaka På Stockholm

Stockholms Kulturfestival

Stockholm International Film Festival

Stockholm Jazz Festival

RESTAURANTS

STOCKHOLM

Nook

Den Gyldene Freden

Bleck

Prinsen

Esperanto

Annual Average Temperature

Popular Cruise Lines that visit Stockholm

When would you like to go?