Page 27 - Sphere No.24 (Mar 2009)

Urban splendour and pristine wilderness: Stockholm is one of the most picturesque
cities in Europe, while dog-sledding is popular in Lapland in the far north of the country.
SPHERE 25
CEO of Hutchison’s container port operations in Sweden.
One of the best ways to explore the city is to take an organised
tour. Three-hour bike trips around Djurgarden – a former royal
hunting ground which has been transformed into a lush city park
– take in the major sites including the Vasa Museum whose cen-
trepiece is a salvaged 17th century sailing ship, and the Rosendal
Palace. Or visitors can simply go at their own pace with a walking
trip around the old town, Gamla Stan, which is crammed with
some of Stockholm’s most interesting landmarks and attractions.
The changing of the guard takes place outside the Royal Pal-
ace, while the 18th century Stock Exchange Building in the Great
Square, Stortorget, is where the Swedish Academy meets every
year to choose the winner of the Nobel Prize for literature. One
of the most unusual statues in Stockholm – commemorating
the poet Evert Taube, together with his trademark sunglasses
perched high up on his forehead – stands in Jarntorget, which
was formerly the centre of the city’s iron and copper industry.
Shoppers will find plenty of stores to browse along Vast-
erlanggatan, especially the antique shops. Indeed, there are
numerous opportunities for retail therapy in Stockholm, and
visitors can make a sizeable saving by reclaiming value added
tax at the airport before departure.
In addition to Vasterlanggatan, one of the most attractive
shopping areas in Stockholm is Skansen, where many crafts
people – especially glassblowers – display their wares. And Gal-
lerian is reckoned to be among the city’s best malls, as it con-
tains mainly local shops rather than international brand names.
More mainstream mementoes are piled high at the Stockholm
Tourist Souvenir Shop, which stocks Dala horses, embroider-
ies, Viking statuettes, and glassware.
A sense of history is evident almost everywhere in Stockholm,
and nowhere more so than its hotels. The most prestigious ac-
commodation is the Grand, which opened in 1874. Quite apart
from its incredible harbour-front location, the signature Math-
ias Dahlgren restaurant is one of the best in Scandinavia, while
the rooms are all marvellously ornate, and the recently refur-
DESTINATION
SWEDEN
A country with something for everyone
By Ed Peters
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