Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

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Sweden : Stockholm - August 2008

Country Code: Dial for Sweden

August is a great month to visit the fl oating capital of Stockholm. Everywhere you turn you’ll see water, boats, bridges and people making the most of the long days. And the lengthy evenings are perfect for alfresco dining, followed by open-air clubbing. Victoria Larsson takes it outside

Getting around

Airport is 8km west of the city.

Bus: Flygbussarna buses link the airport with Stockholm’s bus/train station, Cityterminalen. The journey costs €14/ SEK 130 return and takes 20 minutes, with departures every 20 minutes at peak times.
Taxi: Licensed cabs are available outside the terminal. The fare to the city centre is about €20/SEK 186.
Tourist information: The main office is at 27 Hamngatan, with the entrance on Kungsträdgården (tel. , stockholmtown.com).

KUNGSHOLMEN

This island has some great shopping and good restaurants, as well as quiet streets and impressive architecture.

Sleep soundly – First Hotel Amaranten has a gorgeous, hangar-size lobby and a range of fabulous spa treatments.

Must eat – Accessible by boat (or foot), Kungsholmen (Norr Mälarstrand, Quay 464, tel. ) is like an upscale food court where you choose your dinner from seven separate open kitchens. Head to Ett Litet Kök (20 Alströmergatan, tel. ) for an inexpensive but innovative meal in a large, airy space.

Must drink – Sit at the long bar at El Diablo (43 Norra Agnegatan) and sip a margarita – here it’s made with fresh fruit, herbs, berries and tequila.

Dance the night away – La Isla (51 St Eriksgatan) pulls in Latin music lovers eager to show off their salsa and merengue moves.

Shop til you drop – Shopping centre Västermalmsgallerian (corner of St Eriksgatan and Fleminggatan) is home to H&M, Björn Borg, Apple and trendy outfitter Solo. Hantverkargatan has quirkier shops, such as modern furniture store Inneboende (71 Hantverkargatan) and 59 Vintage Store (59 Hantverkargatan), which is good for ball gowns from all eras.

GAMLA STAN

Stockholm’s old town is very touristy, but you can escape the crush by leaving the main drags and exploring the side streets.

Sleep soundly – Boutiquey Victory Hotel is decorated throughout with nautical antiques.

Must eat – Victory Hotel’s Michelinstarred Leijontornet (5 Lilla Nygatan, tel. ) is an organic restaurant that focuses firmly on Nordic ingredients and local produce. Soak up the ambience of the old town square at Chokladkoppen (20 Stortorget, 3170) while you fill up on big salads, oversized sandwiches and rich pastries and cakes.

Must drink – Le Bar Rouge (17 Österlånggatan) is done out in red velvet and has a darkly seductive atmosphere. Capitalise on the long evenings and step out on to the terrace.

Dance the night away – Debaser Slussen (1 Karl Johans Torg) plays host to DJ nights and live entertainment throughout the week. It’s delightfully unpretentious and always busy.

Shop til you drop – There are some gems among the dime-a-dozen souvenir and sweet shops, such as Zanzlöza Zmycken (8 Storkyrkobrinken), which has long been a staple for those in search of unusual accessories.

DJURGÅRDEN

This green oasis is located east of the city centre, and is easily accessible by bus, tram or boat. There are two famous amusement parks here, making it a good choice if you’ve got the children in tow.

Sleep soundly – The romantic Villa Källahagen (10 Djurgårdsbrunnsvägen, tel. , kallhagen.se, rooms from €240/SEK 2250) feels as though it’s in the heart of the countryside.

Culture vultures – Commune with your inner Lotta before visiting Pippi Longstocking’s house at Junibacken (Galärvarvsvägen), a theme park based on the works of Sweden’s most famous children’s writer, Astrid Lindgren. Gröna Lund (9 Lilla Allmänna Gränd) is Sweden’s oldest fairground – this year it turns 125. There are more than 30 attractions here, a great selection of restaurants and bars and plenty of live entertainment too – August’s musical line-up includes appearances from Gentleman and Salem Al Fakir.

Must eat – Josefina (10 Galärvarvsvägen, tel. ) has a wonderfully kitschy patio, which comes complete with palm trees and coloured lights. It also enjoys great views of the royal castle.

Compiled by Victoria Larsson