Winter Activities 2012

I recently blogged about the Hammarby Ski Slopes opening for the season... snowy weather has continued here in Stockholm, so I thought I would write about some other possible winter activities.

A favorite activity every winter, for both visitors and Stockholmers, is ice skating at the outdoor rink in Kungsträdgården park (located in the downtown area). The rink is open daily until March 4th, closing at 6:30pm most days except for Tuesdays and Thursdays when they close at 8:30pm. Rental skates are available... 50 SEK for adults and 20 SEK for children. There are several cafés situated around the rink if you want a bite to eat or some hot chocolate. Kungsträdgården is just on the other side of the Old Town from the Rival Hotel (about a 20 minute walk).

Photo: Henrik Trygg, Stockholm Vistors Board

For those of you who are a little more adventurous... the Stockholm area, with hundreds of lakes, inlets and waterways, is considered one of the best places in the world for long distance tour skating. However you should not attempt this without a professional guide who knows the ice conditions and waterways. One great company is Ice Guide. They offer group tours, private guides as well as introduction classes. Included in the price are all skating & safety equipment, lunch and transportation.
If skiing is more your cup of tea... Visit Stockholm has a list of all the major slopes in the greater Stockholm area (including the aforementioned Hammarbybacken).