The Stockholm Tourist

Stockholm Fashion Week(s)

2012-01-28T13:53:00.006+01:00

Photo: Nicho Södling, Stockholm Visitor's Board

Over the past decade or so, Swedish fashion has risen in global prominence with such well known brands as Filippa K, Whyred, Fifth Avenue Show Repair, WeSC, J. Lindeberg, Acne, H&M, Odd Molly and Cheap Monday among others. Stockholm has become soooo fashionable, there are actually two fashion weeks coming up.
First out is the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week (Jan 30th - Feb 1st). Noomi Rapace, Sweden's latest export to Hollywood, will be opening the festivities on Monday... followed by three days of fashion shows and other events. Most of the shows will be held in the Mercedes-Benz pavilion in Kungsträdgården or at nearby Berns. Click here for the schedule of events. Expect the city to be overrun by supermodels, designers, stylists and other fashionistas!
Second out is Stockholm Fashion Week (Feb 6th - 12th), with over 800 brands showing their wares during the week... mainly in showrooms and trade fairs. Most of the shows, events and parties during both fashion weeks are for buyers and press, though some events are open for the general public. Of particular interest is the Fashion Play exhibition (12 designers from the alternative fashion scene) going on all week at the Museum of Architecture.
If you want to explore Swedish fashion at your own leisure... head to either the SoFo or Biblioteksgatan districts, where you will find the highest concentration of Swedish designers.

Winter Activities 2012

2012-01-26T11:05:00.004+01:00

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).

Argus Rentals' Stockholm Guide

2012-01-21T13:00:00.003+01:00

Not only is Argus Rentals an excellent booking engine for finding inexpensive car rentals in Sweden, they also have the amazing good taste to choose yours truly as their "local travel expert" for Stockholm! They asked me to put together a Stockholm city guide (what to see, visit, eat, drink, stay, shop, walk, etc;) for their website. Have a look at it by clicking here... a great quick guide of Stockholm (if I do say so myself).

Awards for Best Restaurants in Stockholm

2012-01-20T14:32:00.003+01:00

Pontus! (Seafood Bar)

The award season is upon us... not just in Hollywood, but also in the restaurant world. The White Guide and Michelin star announcements are coming soon, but in the meantime we have the Gulddrake ("golden dragon") awards which are awarded by the respectable daily newspaper Dagens Nyheter. What is good about the Gulddrake awards is that they give an award for different price classes (luxury, middle, budget, bargain as well as bar) instead of just luxury restaurants as other awards do. Here are the winners of each class with the jury's motivation translated into English:
Luxury- Gastrologik. A bit of an upset, a new restaurant that beat out two Michelin veterans. According to the jury: "Gastrologik has successfully created the recipe for a real top restaurant. Here guests will be invited to fabulously well thought-out and top notch cooking, a precise and professional attitude and a lot of heart. The guest is at the center and served in a restaurant experience that is outstanding in every detail.". The other nominees were Mathias Dahlgren and Frantzén/Lindeberg.
Middle- Chez Betty. Jury: "Chez Betty is a place to be happy at. This small neighborhood restaurant is sensational and we were seduced by both rustic meat dishes and freshly made pizzas with rare enthusiasm and a refreshing lack of mannerisms. Magic from the Mediterranean!". The other nominees were Volt and Mäster Anders.
Budget- Blue Light Yokohama. Jury: "Blue Light Yokohama combines a relaxed atmosphere and fast-food style with carefully prepared ingredients. In addition to the nice price. Every detail, from miso soup to sake, are in place and at this newly opened little gem, Japanese food is served at its best.". Other nominees were La Neta and Ramen Ki-Mama.
Bargain- Pontus! (regarding their Birdie Nam Nam Special) Jury: "To eat foie gras is not a human right but to make gourmet food available even for those without the fat expense account is something we like a lot. Pontus! Birdie Nam Nam Special, food at half the price for early and late guests, is almost too good to be true.". Other nominees were Palmyra Kebab and NK's cheese and charcuterie.
Bar- AG. Jury: "That Stockholm's best bar in 2012 serves excellent cocktails is obvious. But the bar at AG has thought beyond that. Here they have matched the drink with perfect finger food, so that the visit becomes more than just drink snobbery. We always begin our evening here and, all too often, never go home.". Other nominees were Little Quarter and Pontus!.

Bar at AG

Hammarby Ski Slope Open!

2012-01-19T13:56:00.003+01:00

It has been an unusually warm winter with very little snow... but the temperature has dropped low enough that the Hammarby Ski Slope has opened two of their runs with the use of snow cannons.

Photo: Ulf Hinds, Stockholm Visitors Board

Hammarbybacken, in local parlance, is quite a unique ski resort as it is located within a central metropolitan area (near the suburb Hammarby Sjöstad). From the top of the hill you have a view of all of Stockholm! It is quite easy to get to from the Rival Hotel with subway and streetcar (approximately a 25 minute trip)... the slope is only a 10 minute walk from the streetcar stop "Sickla Kaj". The resort has 4 slopes, 2 lifts and a kids area, fun park and restaurant. There is also a ski school and ski rental shop at the resort. They are open, as of now, 7 days a week... though I am a little loathe to say what their opening hours are due to the snow situation. If you are staying at the hotel and are interested, check with me and I can see what their updated opening hours are. Otherwise check with their website. You can also look at their webcam to see what the conditions are.

Two of Stockholm's Most Popular Restaurants

2012-01-18T11:42:00.004+01:00

I have written quite a few restaurant reviews... this post is more general information than an actual review.
In my job I often recommend restaurants to visitors, but there are two restaurants that visitors seem to know about before coming to Stockholm: Gondolen and Pelikan. Besides being good restaurants, they are widely written about in various city guidebooks. I think that this is because of a combination of word-of-mouth and good PR on behalf of the restaurants themselves.

The restaurant Gondolen... perched up high!

The first one is Gondolen, a high end restaurant run by celebrity chef Erik Lallerstedt with a menu that is a nice blend of Swedish and international cuisine. The main selling point, however, is the view... the restaurant is perched 33 meters above Slussen with views over the Old Town and the harbor. What is good to note about Gondolen is, because of its popularity, that you should definitely book a table in advance. Booking a table on the same day, especially on the weekends, is almost impossible unless you get lucky with a last minute cancellation. Booking can be either done through me (if you are a hotel guest) or on their website which I have linked above. In the event that that the restaurant is fully booked, I would then recommend visiting their great cocktail bar where you can enjoy the same wonderful views. Otherwise, another good restaurant with a view is Och Himlen Därtill located just a few blocks inland from Gondolen.

The Pelikan

The second is Pelikan, a very different restaurant than Gondolen... this is one of the best places to try more rustic Swedish cuisine (called husmanskost) like meatballs, herring and reindeer. Located in the vibrant SoFo neighborhood on the island of Södermalm, this restaurant has more of a pub or beer hall atmosphere and is popular with locals and visitors alike. What is good to know about Pelikan is that they have a smaller room where they have bookable tables as well as a large hall (with seating for 125) that is on drop-in basis only. So, if the smaller dining-room is full, just drop by... there might be a small wait but you can enjoy a drink in the bar while waiting for your table. The SoFo area is full of restaurants, so if the wait is too long you have more to choose from. If you have your heart set on rustic Swedish cuisine then I can also recommend Blå Dörren.
All four above mentioned restaurants are located on the island of Södermalm, a 5 to 20 minute walk from the Rival Hotel... depending on the restaurant!

Ferry to Djurgården Island

2012-01-13T16:33:00.003+01:00

I wrote about this in one of my first blog entries, nearly 2 years ago, but I thought I would repeat it as it is one of the most useful tips for tourists in general and Rival Hotel guests in particular. Plus, I took some pretty pictures of the ferry in the winter light the other day!
If you look at a map of Stockholm, you will see that the city is made up of a myriad of islands (14 in central Stockholm alone). This can seem daunting when considering how to get from point A to point B, especially when getting to the island of Djurgården which is a little further away and has no subway station. Djurgården is of particular interest to visitors as it is the home of such places as the Vasa Museum, Skansen, Waldermarsudde and plenty of beautiful parklands. Thankfully there are a couple of convenient ferries that connect the island with the center of the city making traveling easy!

Picking up passengers at Slussen/Gamla Stan

Of special interest for our hotel guests is the ferry that runs from Slussen (10 minute walk from the hotel) to Djurgården with a stop at Skeppsholmen (where you will find the modern art museum). The trip just takes 8 minutes and the ferries run year round, every day until about 7pm and depart approximately every 15 minutes. A one-way ticket costs 45 SEK, with discounts for seniors and youths, and tickets can be purchased at the dock. The fare is included in SL cards, though not with SL paper coupons or the Stockholm Card. For more information, click here to visit their website.

Museum Exhibits This Winter/Spring

2012-01-12T16:50:00.006+01:00

Entrance to Fotografiska

I visited the photography museum Fotografiska (a favorite!) yesterday to see the Aitor Ortiz exhibition of haunting black & white photographs. Loved it... very architectural and thought provoking. This exhibition is going on until March 4th. Other exhibitions at Fotografiska include Norwegian photographer Margaret M. de Lange (also until March 4th) and the upcoming (and much anticipated) Anton Corbijn exhibition (Jan 14th to April 15th).

Margaret M de Lange at Fotografiska

Other exhibitions going on this season?
The National Museum continues with their exhibitions Shimmering Silver (through March) and The Four Seasons (until May 27th). Their big upcoming exhibition is Passions: Five Centuries of Art & the Emotions (March 8th to August 12th).
The modern art museum Moderna will be continuing with their showing of their own collection of photography (Another Story) a little while longer (until Feb 19th). Some upcoming exhibitions include Eija-Liisa Ahtila (Feb 11th to May 6th) and Sturtevant (March 17th to May 17th). And keep your eyes open this summer for their Yoko Ono exhibition... should be great!

National Museum of Afghanistan ©Musée Guimet / Thierry Ollivier

The Museum of Ethnography has an amazing exhibtion on the cultural treasures of Afghanistan... precious objects that survíved the Taliban rule. A must see (until March 25th)! Just a couple more weeks to see the Gold Treasures of the Incas, housed in the Skeppsholmen Caverns (until Feb 12th).
At Waldemarsudde they are continuing with their exhibitions of Carl Fredrik Hill (until Jan 29th) and Erik Olson (until Feb 26th) and their new exhibition this season will be Eugène Jansson – Blue Dusk and Naked Athletes (Feb 18th to June 10th). Click here for a list of current and upcoming exhibitions.
There are over 80 museums in the greater Stockholm area... so the above are only some highlights of the current and upcoming exhibitions this season!
Visit Stockholm has a good list of art exhibits on their blog... click here!

100th Anniversary of the Stockholm Olympics

2012-01-10T13:44:00.005+01:00

Photo by Yanan Li, Stockholm Visitors Board

I'm back from vacation and I thought I would start with a little general "head's up" for 2012. There are many great things happening in Stockholm this coming year, but perhaps the biggest theme will be sports due to the fact that this year is the 100th anniversary of the 1912 Stockholm Olympic Games (and therefore the Stockholm Olympic Stadium as well). This anniversary will be celebrated with different events throughout the year- mostly in the form of sporting events (of course!).

Photo by Yanan Li, Stockholm Visitors Board

Some highlights include Anniversary Regatta (June 2nd and July 20th - Aug 5th)), the Special Olympics (June 5th), Olympic Stadium Festival (June 9th), Stockholm Summer Games (July 5th-8th), and Jubilee Marathon (July 14th). But there are plenty of other events all year long... so check their calendar to see if there will be an event happening when you visit Stockholm or visit their website for further information. Both the calendar and website are in Swedish, but in the top right hand corner you have a "translate" option that translates the page to the language of your choice. Speaking of sports, if you are coming to Stockholm this June then it is good to be aware that the European Championships in Football/Soccer are taking place all month long. The matches are being played in the Ukraine and Poland... Sweden has qualified and the Rival Hotel is planning on showing the matches in our theater. Click here for the match schedule.
I will be writing about many of these events in more detail as they come up!

Even a Concierge Needs a Vacation!

2011-12-29T16:57:00.000+01:00

After a great Christmas season with lots of wonderful guests at the Rival Hotel (but no snow), it is time for me to take a little vacation and recharge my batteries. So... it is off to Istanbul.
I will be back on January 10th and will get right to blogging about fun events coming up in 2012 and other useful tips! Until then, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel and require assistance, contact my knowledgable colleagues at the Front Desk at frontdesk@rival.se.
Happy New Year... see you in 2012!

New Year's Eve in Stockholm

2011-12-27T22:08:00.003+01:00

Christmas is finally over... and New Years is just around the corner! If you are visiting the city this coming weekend, then I hope you have already finalized your New Year's Eve plans because it's getting down to the wire. Here are some things you should be aware of when making your plans:

Restaurants- Many restaurants are closed on the 31st. The ones that are open generally serve a traditional multiple course menu called nyårssupé and nothing else. It can be anywhere between 3 and 9 courses and cost anywhere between 500 and 1200 SEK, depending on the restaurant. This means that going out for a simple dinner or quick bite will be probably be problematic unless you are looking at pubs or fast food establishments. These dinners are quite popular and the restaurants tend to fill up, so don't leave it to the last minute! Most of these restaurants have two seatings during the evening... an early (5-8:30pm) and a late (8:30pm-12am).
Nightclubs- Here it is important to plan ahead as well. Tickets to the parties at the nightclubs can be pre-purchased in advance. If you don't pre-purchase a ticket, you can end up standing in long lines in subzero temperatures! Here are some of the nightclub parties this year: Pure, Stureplansgruppen (an umbrella group that runs several nightclubs), Pacha, Café Opera and Berns. These are the more posh nightclub venues... there are, of course, many smaller parties going on at different venues.
Taxis- These are notoriously hard to catch on New Year's Eve... especially after 11pm. This is because of the huge demand. Most taxi companies don't accept prebookings on account of them not wanting their cars tied up waiting for people who don't show up. You don't have to worry about being stranded though... the subways will be running all night long. If nighttime subways aren't your thing, just make sure that you are within walking distance of your hotel. Stockholm isn't that big so this isn't that hard to accomplish.
Fireworks- Locals will be setting off their own fireworks throughout the city, especially in the parks & squares and at midnight. The official fireworks will be shot off above the harbor (eastern side of Gamla Stan). The best places to see the fireworks are along the waterfront, by the City Hall, on Fjällgatan or Monteliusvägen. Some places will be quite crowded, but you will still be able to see the fireworks!
Skansen- Once again, this is the center of Swedish holiday tradition. This is the spectacle that is televised and shown around all of Sweden... kind of like the Swedish version of the ball dropping at Times Square. There will be music and speeches and the official countdown. Skansen is also a great place to see the official fireworks! To be honest, I'm not sure how much someone who doesn't speak Swedish will get out of the event as most of the program is in Swedish... but it is an option. The program starts at 11:10pm and ends at 00:10am.

The Rival Hotel- our restaurant is already fully booked! However our bars are open until 2am and there is no entrance fee (rare on this evening). There will be a DJ playing and the square in front of the hotel is a popular place for the locals to light their fireworks.

Christmas Church Services 2011

2011-12-24T12:12:00.007+01:00

There are many churches offering services in several languages during the Christmas weekend. The main denominations are Church of Sweden (Lutheran) and Catholicism. Here are the mass times that can be of interest:

Storkyrkan (Lutheran)- located in Gamla Stan.
-December 24th: Christmas prayer at 5pm and midnight mass at 11pm. Both in Swedish. They will be playing Christmas music at 4:30pm.
-December 25th: High Mass at 11am in Swedish.
-December 26th: High Mass at 11am in Swedish.

St Jacob's Church (Lutheran)- located next to Kungsträdgården.
-December 24th: Christmas prayer in Estonian at 2pm and Worship in English at 6pm.

Katolska Domkyrkan (Catholic)- located on Södermalm.
-December 24th: Christmas service in Italian at 9pm and in Croatian at 10pm. Midnight Mass (Swedish/Latin ?).
-December 25th: Mass in Italian at 8:45am, High Mass at 11am, in Spanish at 2pm, in Polish at 5pm and in Swedish at 6:30pm.
-December 25th: Mass in Swedish at 09:45am and in Croatian at 11am.

St Eugenia (Catholic)- located next to Kungsträdgården.
-December 24th: Christmas prayer in Swedish at 8pm, mass in Swedish at 10pm and midnight mass (12am)in English.
-December 25th: High Mass in Swedish at 11am and Christmas Mass in English at 6pm.

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-24T11:40:00.000+01:00

From little old me and the entire Rival Hotel staff... Merry Christmas! We hope you have a wonderful and safe holiday season. We look forward to welcoming you to the hotel and Stockholm in 2012!

Santa Claws says... Ho! Ho! Ho!

Swedish Candy Canes

2011-12-22T21:49:00.001+01:00

One more blog entry to get you in the holiday spirit! Let me introduce you to Polkagris, the Swedish version of candy cane. Generally speaking it tastes and looks like candy cane... though without the hook and it can come in different flavors other than peppermint. Polkagris was first made in the town of Gränna, along the shores of Lake Vättern, in 1859. The Polkagris bakeries in Gränna are a popular tourist attraction these days. But you don't have to travel all the way to Gränna to see Polkagris being made (and to purchase it, of course). The Polkapojkarna in Gamla Stan (The Old Town) is the only polkagris bakery outside of Gränna where you can watch Polkagris being made.

So head down to the store (location) to pick up some authentic Swedish candy canes... just a 12 minute walk from the Rival Hotel. Or just stop by to watch them make the popular peppermint sticks!

Winter Solstice Celebration This Weekend

2011-12-16T14:53:00.002+01:00

Photo: Marie Andersson, Skansen

This year the Winter Solstice (longest night of the year) falls on December 22nd, but already this weekend (Dec 17 & 18) you can celebrate at Skansen. Skansen is the best place to take part in Swedish holiday traditions and this weekend is the last weekend to visit their popular Christmas Market (Sat & Sun 10am to 4pm). Besides the market there are a couple of other events going on to celebrate the Winter Solstice: between 12 and 4pm they will be doing ice carving and sculptures at the Solliden stage area followed by the "Fire and Ice" show at 4pm... a magical show with fire, ice, music, food & drink. The fact that the nights will be getting shorter is surely a reason to celebrate!

Photo: Marie Andersson, Skansen

The easiest way to get to Skansen from the Rival Hotel is by the Djurgården boat ferry. The boats leave every 10-15 minutes from Slussen and the trip takes just 8 minutes.

Shops During the Holidays

2011-12-14T15:03:00.002+01:00

One of the most popular questions I get from people planning their vacation in Stockholm during the holiday season is how the stores are open. Generally speaking, stores tend to be open on the 24th (though they close early) and closed on the 25th. Smaller stores will often be closed on the 24th as well and maybe even on the 26th. The really big shopping days in Sweden are between Christmas and New Years during what we call mellandagarna (literally "the middle days"). You will see signs all through the city advertising their sales (rea or mellandagsrea) and you can really get some good deals if you don't mind the crowds. Last year I wrote a little more in depth about these sales and you can read about them here.

Shopping crowds in front of NK

I can't give you the opening hours for every store, but here are the special hours for the larger stores and shopping centers in the city:

NK Department Store- Dec 24th 10am to 2pm, closed Dec 25th, Dec 31st 10am to 5pm and closed Jan 1st.
Åhlens City Department Store- Dec 24th 9am to 2pm, closed Dec 25th, Dec 31st 10am to 5pm and closed Jan 1st.
Gallerian Shopping Center- Dec 24th 10am to 2pm, closed Dec 25th, Dec 31st 11am to 5pm and closed Jan 1st.
Sturegallerian Shopping Center- Dec 24th 10am to 2pm, closed Dec 25th, Dec 31st 10am to 2pm and closed Jan 1st.

As I said, these are just the large stores and shopping centers, though the opening hours can be a guide for how other stores will be open. All are located in the downtown area... about a 25-30 minute walk from the Rival Hotel, otherwise 3-4 subway stops. Subways & buses run all through the holidays! If you are staying at the hotel and are interested in a specific store's opening hours... contact me directly by e-mail.

This Weekend- Nobel Awards & Lucia Celebration

2011-12-09T20:17:00.003+01:00

Lucia at Skansen. Photo: Marie Andersson

Quite a busy weekend in Stockholm! Tomorrow evening (Saturday Dec. 10th) the Nobel Prize ceremony will be at the Konserthuset followed by the dinner at Stadshuset. Unfortunately there is not much for the tourist to see (besides on TV) as it is all invitation only. But what is good to know is that parts of the downtown area around the two venues will be cordoned off between 2pm and 7pm due to the fact that royalty, dignitaries and prize winners will be shuttling back and forth. There will also be a political demonstration or two. So... stick to walking or subways during this time!
Next Tuesday (Dec 13th) is St Lucia Day which is often celebrated with concerts in churches and other venues. These concerts start with a candlelit procession led by a girl (Lucia) wearing a wreath of candles in her hair. However, this weekend you can jump start on the festivities... at the Seglora church in Skansen park there will be a Lucia concert at 1pm and 2:30pm on Saturday and at 2pm and 3pm on Sunday. There will be additional Lucia concerts in Skansen's Ordenshuset on Sunday at noon and 2pm. Remember that Skansen also has a great Christmas Market open on both days between 10am and 4pm!

Seglora church, photo: Marie Andersson

Museums During the Holidays- 2011/2012

2011-12-08T22:39:00.003+01:00

Skansen! Open every day. Photo: Marie Andersson

As you can expect, museums in Stockholm are closed on certain days during the Christmas and New Year holidays... some more than others. To help you plan your holiday vacation in Stockholm, I have made a list of the top museums and which days they are closed during this period.

Vasa Museum- Closed 23rd, 24th and 25th of December as well as the 1st of January.
History Museum- Closed on Mondays and the 24th, 25th and 31st of December.
National Museum- Closed on Mondays and the 24th, 25th & 31st of December as well as the 1st of January.
Nobel Museum- Closed on Mondays and the 24th, 25th & 31st of December as well as the 1st of January.
Fotografiska (photography museum)- Closed on December 24th.
Moderna (modern art museum)- Closed on Mondays and the 24th, 25th & 31st of December as well as the 1st of January.
Medieval Museum- Closed on Mondays and the 24th, 25th & 31st of December as well as the 1st of January.
Nordic Museum- Closed on the 24th, 25th and 31st of December.
Museum of Natural History- Closed on Mondays and the 23rd and 24th of December.
Royal Palace- Closed on Mondays, the 24th, 25th, 26th & 31st of December and 1st of January.
Stockholm City Museum- Closed on Mondays and the 24th, 25th & 31st of December as well as the 1st of January.
Drottningholm Palace- Closed December 12th through the 30th. Open daily December 30th to January 8th.

There is one museum that is open 365 days a year... Skansen! This is the outdoor cultural museum, the zoo as well as a park! It is also the best place to go to see traditional Swedish ways to celebrate the holidays. Museums may have shorter opening hours on certain days. Check their websites (linked above) for their hours. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly for the opening hours of other museums.

Gingerbread House Competition

2011-12-05T10:58:00.002+01:00

Photo by Matti Östling

The Architecture Museum's (Arkitekturmuseet) annual, and popular, gingerbread house competition has started.Over a hundred bakers, architects, children and happy amateurs have created gingerbread houses for the competition in different categories. The theme this year is "pride and prejudice" and shines a spotlight on the problem of bullying in schools. It is the visitors to the museum who vote for the best creations! The competition/exhibition ends on January 8th... so stop on by to admire the houses and cast your vote.

Photo by Matti Östling

The museum is located on the island of Skeppsholmen just adjacent to the Modern Art Museum (Moderna).
Entrance costs 60 SEK (free for youths under 19) and you can buy a combination for both museums (architecture & modern art) for 140 SEK. Free admission for holders of the Stockholm Card. Pictures in this blog entry are from the 2010 competition.

Holiday Inspiration

2011-12-01T16:26:00.002+01:00

It has been an unusually warm autumn and we are still waiting for our first snowfall here in Stockholm. But that doesn't mean we don't have any Christmas spirit! Here are some pictures I took yesterday evening during a walk through the Old Town (Gamla Stan) to help you get in the mood...

40 m high gorgeous Christmas tree

Abstract Santas in storefront window

Christmas market, where you can purchase...

...hand-made Santas and...

...angels galore!

Free Walking Tour of the City

2011-11-30T16:00:00.003+01:00

Photo by Yanan Li, Stockholm Visitors Board

I have blogged earlier about private walking tours of the city that I recommend and I would like to add another option... Free Tour Stockholm. As the name suggests, the tours are free of charge- though if you like the tour please tip your guide! The walking tour is 1½ hours long, guided in English and has gotten some great reviews recently. The guides are all passionate about Stockholm history and promise a fun & interesting tour. There is no need to make a reservation. You just show up at the appointed time to join the tour. The tours are run no matter the weather or amount of participants. The meeting place for the start of the tour is at the top of the big staircase at the square Sergels Torg. Click here for a map. Generally speaking, they offer 2-3 tours a week starting at 10am. Check their website, linked here and above, for actual dates and times.

Christmas Smörgåsbord at Sea

2011-11-25T11:35:00.001+01:00

Photo by Magnus Rietz

I have blogged earlier about the traditional Christmas smörgåsbord, called julbord, now available in restaurants throughout Sweden. Yesterday I was invited by the sightseeing company Strömma to the season premiere of their combination julbord and boat excursion. It was delicious and a great idea for locals and visitors to Stockholm alike. Not only do you get to try traditional and seasonal Swedish cuisine, but you also get to enjoy a nice boat ride (either in the inner archipelago, Lake Mälaren or Stockholm harbor) on one one of their historic and refitted ships. Another great thing about Strömma is their flexibility... seven of their ships will be serving julbord this season of different variations. Classic, seafood, "with a twist" and Swedish/American are some of the different themes. You also have the option of enjoying the julbord for lunch, in the afternoon or in the evening... there is even a full day trip to the Christmas market on the island of Utö with julbord served on the way back to the city. As you can see, there is something for everyone!

If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly and I can help you with making a reservation. Otherwise contact your hotel or visit Strömma's website (linked here and above) for more information and to make a reservation.

Christmas Special at the Rival Hotel

2011-11-23T14:16:00.001+01:00

Receive a free Christmas holiday upgrade!

All guests staying between December 21st, 2011 and January 8th, 2012 have the possibility of getting a free upgrade. All you have to do, after making your reservation between these dates above, is “Like” us on Facebook and write your Christmas wish under this picture of “Santa Claws”.
This Picture can be found somewhere on our Facebook page for The Rival Hotel.

Upgrades are a subject to availability and will only be provided to reservations made directly with us or on our website http://www.rival.se/ for Economy, Standard, Superior or Deluxe room.

From all of us to all of you... have a very merry Christmas!

The Holidays at NK Department Store

2011-11-18T14:20:00.004+01:00

Photo by Jeppe Wikström, Stockholm Visitors Board

I have written earlier about the NK Department Store... Stockholm's answer to Harvey Nichols or Bloomingdale's. Now that the holidays are approaching, the store is even more popular with visitors and Stockholmers alike.
The store kicks off the holiday season this Sunday (November 20th) at 11:50am with the traditional unveiling of the Christmas store window decorations. A very popular tradition with the locals. Father Christmas will arrive at the store in a horse drawn carriage (the reindeer are apparently resting up) and after the unveiling will be seated in the main atrium listening to the Christmas wishes of children. Plenty of other fun events all during the afternoon... concerts, storytelling and decorating. Not in Stockholm this Sunday? Don't worry... Father Christmas, or a special hand-picked representative, will be there daily on the fourth floor until December 23rd.

Not only is NK a great place to do some Christmas shopping, the store is located at the end of Kungsträdgården square where you will find a Christmas market (see times below) and an outdoor ice-skating rink. So plenty to do to get you in the holiday spirit! To get to NK from the Rival Hotel, it is either a 20-25 minute walk through the Old Town or else 3 subway stops (red line) to T-Centralen.

One of this year's windows... Santa in drag!

Christmas Markets 2011

2011-11-16T12:09:00.002+01:00

This weekend (Nov 19th & 20th) kicks off the Christmas season in Stockholm! Besides the unveiling of this year's Christmas light decorations on Sunday at 4pm throughout the downtown area, it is also the premiere for the first Christmas markets. These markets are the perfect places to get into the holiday spirit and to purchase Swedish holiday goodies... ornaments, handicrafts, winter accessories, candies and local delicacies. I did write about the different markets in detail last year, but I thought it would be a good idea to update the dates and times for the different markets throughout the city for 2011.

Old Town (Gamla Stan)- located in the main square Stortorget, this market has its premiere on Nov 19th at 1pm and will then run daily (11am to 6pm) until December 23rd.
Skansen- located on the island of Djurgården, the open-air museum (and zoo!) will hold its Christmas market each Saturday & Sunday (10am to 4pm) on the four weekends leading up to Christmas starting on November 26th.
Kungsträdgården- This market kicks off already on November 19th. It starts off being open on the last two weekends of November before being open daily between the 2nd and 22nd of December (11am to 6pm). Located in the middle of the city, this park is also where you find the outdoor ice-skating rink!
Sergels Torg- this market, located right around the corner from Kungsträdgården, opens on November 25th and runs daily until December 23rd (no opening hours posted yet).

These are the four main Christmas markets. There will be some smaller or unique markets open for one weekend or one day only and I will be sure to list them as well a little later on.

A Christmas Carol

2011-11-11T13:38:00.004+01:00

Photo: Johan Lygrell

Bah Humbug! With the exception of opera, the vast majority of shows and musicals playing in Stockholm are in Swedish for obvious reasons. However, this December Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol will be performed in English at the Maxim Theater- located in the Östermalm district. There are shows daily between the 8th and 23rd of December (except the 12th, 13th and 19th) with matinee showings on certain days. Click here for show dates & times and ticket information. Otherwise tickets can also be purchased at the Tourist Information Center on Vasagatan. There will be several shows at the theater at the Rival Hotel in December including Astrid Lindgren's Ronja Rövardotter (Ronia Robber's Daughter) for children. While this show is in Swedish, there are several Christmas concerts playing as well where knowledge of Swedish isn't really necessary. Click here for more information.

Stockholm Christmas 2011

2011-11-09T13:11:00.004+01:00

http://www.cityisamverkan.se/stockholmsjul/

Some new information as well as a repeat of some old information...
Stockholm is celebrating Christmas this year in a big way with a new light/decoration project called StockholmsJul. Starting on November 20th, thirty streets and squares in the center of the city will be lit up with 671,647 energy-saving & environmentally friendly LED lights. It is all part of Stockholm's goal to become the #1 Christmas destination in Scandinavia. They are busy setting up & hanging the decorations and you can follow their progress on their Facebook page. Here, at the Rival Hotel, we are waiting in anticipation to see how the Christmas tree in the square in front of the hotel will look like this year!

Photo: Henrik Trygg, Stockholm Visitors Board

I wrote quite a lot about Christmas in the city in my blog last year. I will be writing more this year, of course, but it feels a little silly to repeat most of the information. Here are some posts from last year that you may find of interest in making plans for you holiday trip:

Just keep in mind that these blog entries (linked above) were written in 2010 so some of the information (dates, times, prices, etc;) may be incorrect. But it will give you a good idea of what to expect this year. I will also be posting updated information for 2011 as it comes in...

Restaurant: Fem Små Hus

2011-11-07T21:28:00.004+01:00

Entrance to the restaurant...

My colleagues and I paid a visit yesterday evening to a classic Stockholm restaurant: Fem Små Hus. This restaurant, located in Gamla Stan- just a stone's throw from the Royal Palace, has been around for over 40 years and is a great place to try some Swedish cuisine. The menu is filled with great local Swedish produce, such as chantarelles, herring, salmon, cloudberries, reindeer and elk. We had the gravad lax (marinated salmon) for the first course, followed by a fillet of veal with a morel sauce... all were delicious.

Besides the wonderful food, the historic atmosphere makes this restaurant worth a visit. The restaurant is spread out through 5 connected houses (the name literally means "five small houses") and is comprised of 9 vaulted cellar rooms. There are stairs and passageways connecting the rooms and the walls are covered with paintings, tapestries and candles... all of which add to the historic atmosphere. Parts of the restaurant actually date back to 1651.

Stairs leading down to the restaurant

The restaurant, an easy 15 minute walk from the Rival Hotel, is open 7 days a week.
Click here for some other restaurant recommendations!

Stockholm International Film Festival 2011

2011-11-05T16:53:00.001+01:00

It's November which means that it is time for Stockholm's Film Festival! The festival starts on November 9th and runs through to the 20th. During this time there will be many great films shown in different theaters throughout the city. Click here to see the film schedule. Besides the movies, there will be parties, events, seminars as well as red carpet screenings. There is, of course, a festival competition as well as two special awards being presented. The first is the Lifetime Achievement award to French actress Isabelle Huppert and the other is the Visionary Award to Mexican director/writer/producer Alejandro González Iñárritu. Visit the festival's website (linked above) for tickets and more information.

All Hallow's Eve

2011-11-04T16:00:00.003+01:00

Photo: Alexander Dokukin @SVB

The first Saturday in November is All Hallow's Eve in Sweden... which is this weekend (Nov. 5th). I have a couple of activities that can help you celebrate the holiday while visiting Stockholm.
Stockholm will have its first ever Halloween parade this Saturday called "Shockholm"! The pre-parade party starts at 2pm at Slussen (10 minute walk from the Rival Hotel) and the parade starts at 4pm. The parade route goes through Gamla Stan, ending up at the park Kungsträdgården where there will be a post-parade party until 8pm. Everyone and anyone is welcome to take part in the parade and parties (no entrance fee)... though you should dress up if you are walking in the parade!

Skogskyrkogård, photo: Susanne Hallmann

For a more somber and thought provoking All Hallows experience... head out to Skogskyrkogården, Stockholm's largest cemetery and on the UNESCO World Heritage list. I have reported on this beautiful cemetery before, which was designed by architect Gunnar Asplund. Many Swedes light candles and place them on the graves of family and friends this day & evening... adding to the beauty of the surroundings. After 2pm there will be music in the Chapel of the Holy Cross and the Visitors Center will be open from 10am to 8pm. To get there from the hotel, take the subway (green line) south in the direction Farsta Strand, exit at the Skogskyrkogård station and then follow the signs.

Viking Restaurant Aifur

2011-10-29T17:51:00.002+02:00

I rarely write about restaurants that haven't opened yet, but this one has piqued my interest. On November 4th the restaurant Aifur will open its doors for the first time. The theme (cuisine, decor, music and staff) of the restaurant is the Viking Age. Behind this restaurant is the Swedish pop-star E-Type (Martin Eriksson) who has long been a vocal enthusiast of Swedish Viking heritage. The website, linked above, is still under construction and an English version hasn't come out yet... but it looks interesting. The ingredients used in the menu seem to be completely taken from the forests of Sweden with a lot of fun Old Norse names. According to the press release, many of the staff members have worked at the Birka excavations (Viking Age merchant town) which I have written about earlier. This means that they will be knowledgeable in the subject matter. Good idea!

While I think the idea is fun, the real reason the restaurant has piqued my interest is the location: right on Västerlånggatan in the Old Town, the main tourist thoroughfare (see blog entry below). Up until now, almost every restaurant on the street has been Italian. They aren't bad restaurants, I've just always felt that the street has lacked a Swedish restaurant (after all, isn't that one of the reasons tourists travel to another country?)... and what is more Swedish than Vikings?
I am going to try and visit the restaurant as soon as possible, and I will be back with a report!

Shopping: Souvenirs!

2011-10-28T16:41:00.002+02:00

One of the questions I get asked the most is where do we go to buy souvenirs & postcards? The answer is pretty simple: The Old Town (Gamla Stan) and more specifially... the pedestrian street Västerlånggatan. This street runs the length of the western side of the island, starting in the south at Slussen and then running north to the Parliament (Riksdagen). Most of the shops are pretty cheesy, selling a variety of Stockholm themed trinkets and other souvenirs. But if you are looking for a Pippi Longstocking doll for your daughter, a horned Viking helmet for your son, a t-shirt portraying two moose mating for your funny uncle or a commemorative plate of the crown princess and prince for your grandmother... then this is the place to go! Many of the shops also sell postcards, guide books as well as film & memory cards for cameras. There are some more classy souvenirs to be purchased here, like Swedish glass, crystal and ceramics. Or else you can head over to the other side of the island where you will find the pedestrian street Österlånggatan. This street is quieter than Västerlånggatan and you can find a better grade of souvenir... handicrafts, crystal and art. Both streets are just a 10 minute walk from the Rival Hotel!
Click here for more Stockholm shopping tips!

The Strindberg Museum

2011-10-25T15:59:00.002+02:00

August Strindberg is one of Sweden's most famous artists throughout history; a playwright, essayist, novelist and painter... he was also one of Sweden's most prolific artists. The apartment in central Stockholm, where he spent the last four years of his life (1908-1912), has been turned into the Strindberg Museum. The apartment's interior has been reconstructed as it looked when Strindberg died. Most of the furniture is the original pieces while other details (wallpaper, textiles, etc;) are copies. The building is also quite interesting... when it was completed in 1907 it was one of the first buildings in Stockholm with telephone lines, electricity, indoor plumbing, an elevator and central heating. Besides the apartment itself, the museum also has exhibitions showing different aspects of Strindbergs life and work as well as a library which holds an extensive collection of books by and about the author/playwright. Of special note- next year (2012) will be the 100th anniversary of Strindberg's death, expect special events both at the museum and in the city!

As I mentioned, the museum is located in central Stockholm and is easy to get to from the Rival Hotel... just take the subway (green line) at nearby Slussen, heading north, and exit at Rådmansgatan (4 stations). The museum has shorter than normal opening hours- 12am to 4pm, Tuesday through Sunday. Entrance is 50 SEK for adults and free for children under 19. Free with the Stockholm Card. A special thanks to my roving reporter Matte B for the tip and pictures!

Art Exhibitions This Fall

2011-10-20T17:48:00.003+02:00

Nationalmuseum

There are some great art exhibitions showing at different museums and art galleries in Stockholm this Fall and early Winter. A little something for every type of art lover!

"Turner, Monet, Twombly" at Moderna (modern art museum)- an exhibition featuring three of the great painters from the last 150 years. Showing until January 15th, 2012. Another current exhibition is their collection of photography featuring the likes of Newton, Penn, Arbus and Mapplethorpe (until February, 2012).
"The Peredvizhniki" at the Nationalmuseum (national art museum)- Social realism and folktales... Pioneers in Russian painting (until January 22, 2012). Another current exhibition is "Four Seasons", a look at the changing seasons through the eyes of Swedish painters from the late 1800's (until May, 2012).
"On This Earth, a Shadow Falls" at Fotografiska (photography museum)- black and white photography of African wildlife taken by photographer Nick Brandt.
"Carl Fredrik Hill" at Waldemarsudde- an exhibition of the work of Carl Fredrik Hill in the celebration of the 100th anniversary of his death (until January 29th, 2012).
"Hell" at Liljevalchs- an appropriately titled exhibition looking at "the dark to which art constantly returns". A mix of 19th century and modern art. Showing until January 8th, 2012.

Here are some other good art galleries and exhibition venues worth checking out: Sven-Harry's Gallery, Bonnier's Konsthall, Hallwylska Museum, Thielska Gallery and Millesgården. If I stumble upon any other interesting art exhibition this Fall, I'll be sure to post it here!

Fotografiska

Trivia: Fall Flowers

2011-10-19T17:52:00.002+02:00

I reported earlier about the planting of flowers throughout Stockholm for the Spring & Summer months... well, now there are new flowers for Fall. In flower beds and pots throughout the city, they have planted purple and white heather. I'm not sure what the theme for the flowers are this season, but they are pretty! The pictures here are taken in the square Mariatorget just in front of the Rival Hotel. So head out and enjoy the Fall flowers as well as the changing colors of the leaves!

Private Walking Tours of the City

2011-10-14T15:05:00.006+02:00

Photo: Stockholms Visitors Board

Stockholm is a city made for walking... and if you would like to avoid the big bus and boat tours and get a more personal tour of the city, then a walking tour is a great idea. There are many companies, both large and small, that organize tours and in many cases it is a set tour that is offered. The Old Town (Gamla Stan) is the most popular tour itinerary and the most interesting district from a tourist's point of view with its palaces, churches, cobblestone streets and long history. Other districts have become popular with walking tours, especially the Södermalm district (where the Rival Hotel is located) which also has a lot of great history.

It is often a good idea to book a tour directly with the company as there are many details to iron out (when, where, what as well as payment). I can recommend some good companies that I have used in the past. One such is Stockholm Stories. Their guide Maria, a 4th generation Stockholmer, is very personable and has a wealth of information about the city and its history. Another popular tour company is Story Tours which offer several themed walking tours. A third option is to book one of the 400 authorized guides through the Stockholms Visitors Board. An advantage here is that you have the option of personalizing your itinerary as well as if you wish to have the tour in a language other than Swedish or English. Booking a tour with any of these companies can be made on their websites which I have linked above.

Restaurant: AG

2011-10-12T14:12:00.006+02:00

Entrance to AG

On an unassuming side street in the Kungsholmen district you will find Restaurant AG- a meat-lover's paradise! There are seafood and vegetarian dishes on the menu but, as you step in and see the glass encased refrigerator filled with meat dry-aging, you quickly realize that meat is the focus of this popular restaurant. The name "ag" (the chemical symbol for silver) is a reference to the fact that the restaurant is located in an old silver workshop. The factory history of the locale is apparent as the restaurant has a real industrial feel to its interior design with lots of white tile, metal and exposed pipes. They dry age their own meat and these glass refrigerators are an interesting part of the decor as well.

Meat... dry aging before your eyes

I was there yesterday evening with a couple of colleagues and enjoyed tapas and wine in their bar... a perfect place to start the evening before heading over to the dining room. Steakhouses have been a big trend in Stockholm's culinary landscape for the past couple of years and AG has the reputation for being one of the best in the city. If words like porterhouse, entrecote and cochinillo make you drool, then this is the place for you! It is about a 10 minute taxi ride from the Rival Hotel... but well worth the trip! You can also take the subway- green line from Slussen to Fridhemsplan.

Dining room with a real industrial feel

Flea Markets

2011-10-11T14:22:00.004+02:00

Sunday flea market at Hötorget

Rummaging through flea markets in foreign cities has become more and more popular in the past few years... I often get asked where one can find a good flea market in Stockholm. Smaller flea markets pop up around the city from time to time, but the biggest (and permanent as well) flea market in Stockholm can be found out in the suburb of Vårberg. Called Loppmarknaden (literally "the flea market"), they in fact advertise themselves as being the biggest flea market in Scandinavia. They are open 7 days a week and have around 250 stalls/booths selling everything from second hand clothes to antiques to LP's and CD's. It is good to note that entrance is free during the weekdays (a small entrance fee on the weekends) and that the market is indoors. It is easy to get to from the Rival Hotel... just take the subway (red line) towards Norsborg and hop off at the Vårberg station. The trip takes just 20 minutes.

Sunday flea market at Hötorget

If you are looking for something a little closer, then there is a flea market at Hötorget, located in the downtown area. Monday through Saturday it is a popular outdoor fruit and flower market, but on Sunday it turns into a flea market. It is a bit small and I wouldn't go out of my way to visit it, but if you are in the area then stop by for a bit of rummaging...

Those Creative Swedes!

2011-10-08T14:49:00.006+02:00

Photo: Nicho Södling, Stockholm Visitors' Board

The Martin Prosperity Institute recently released its annual Global Creativity Index, a ranking of 82 countries based on creativity (as a way of showing economic competitiveness). And... Sweden ranks as #1. Several factors are used in compiling the GPI: number of patents per capita, openess and tolerance as well as the number of people employed in creative fields.
Even though the population of Sweden is only about 9.5 million, the country is an international powerhouse in the fields of design, fashion, music, literature and the performing arts. Swedes' creativity is quite apparent if you keep your eyes and ears open while wandering the streets of Stockholm.
And you don't have to travel to Sweden to enjoy Swedish creativity. I can guarantee that in the past few days you've either worn Swedish fashion (Acne, H&M, Whyred, Fillipa K), used/admired Swedish design (Ikea, Asplund, Kosta Boda), listened to a Swedish singer/act (ABBA, Swedish House Mafia, Robyn) or Swedish produced music (Lady Gaga, Britney Spears, Pink), read something by a Swedish author (Stieg Larsson, Henning Mankell, Tomas Tranströmer), seen a movie or TV show with a Swedish actor (Malin Åkerman, Stellan & Alexander Skarsgård) or used technology invented by a Swede (Spotify, Skype)!
It's all part of our plan for world domination...

Chocolate Festival 2011

2011-10-06T13:21:00.006+02:00

Photo: Peter Segemark @Nordiska museet

As if this coming weekend's Beer and Whisky Festival wasn't enough... there is another sinful festival on the horizon: The Chocolate Festival. This popular festival is celebrating its 10th anniversary and will be held from 14th to 16th of October at the Nordic Museum (Nordiska Museet). Not to be missed if you are a chocolate lover!

There will be lots of activities and things to see during these three days. In the main hall you will find a chocolate marketplace where suppliers and patisseries will display their wares for tasting and purchase. There will be demonstrations, shows and competitions on the stage including a chocolate sculpture competition and the prestigious "Cake Maker of the Year" (on the 14th).

nordiskamuseet.se

Entrance is 120 SEK for adults and 60 SEK for children between 6 and 18 years of age. Children under 6 come in for free. The Nordiska Museet is located on the island of Djurgården next to the Vasa Museum... to get there from the Rival Hotel, just take the Djurgård ferry from Slussen (a 10 minute walk from the hotel).

Facebook

2011-10-05T14:09:00.003+02:00

Just a friendly reminder to follow us (the Rival Hotel) on Facebook... a great way to see what is happening at the hotel as well as in our bistro, bars, café and theatre. You can also find discounts and recommendations from our staff! Thanks to modern technology, you can even make your room reservation. Click here to come to our Facebook page.
Another great Facebook page to follow before an impending visit to Stockholm is Visit Stockholm's page. Click here to come to their page. Lots of great tips for tourists!

Julbord - the Christmas Smörgåsbord

2011-10-01T14:59:00.002+02:00

Photo by Henrik Trygg, Stockholm's Visitors' Board

I know, I know... it's the 1st of October and I'm already writing about Christmas. My apologies! But people are booking rooms and planning their December visit to Stockholm, and I think it is a good thing to be aware of a certain Swedish Christmas tradition that takes place throughout the month of December: julbord! Julbord, which literally means Christmas table, is very similar to the famous smörgåsbord. This buffet-style meal has all of the traditional dishes found on the smörgåsbord like different types of pickled herring, smoked salmon, gravad lax, meatballs, sausages, paté and desserts as well as the addition of several more Christmassy dishes like ham, lutefisk and rice pudding.
The reason why this is good to be aware of in advance of a December visit is that many restaurants serve this (and only this) during the month of December (up until Christmas Eve). This can either be good or bad news. Good if you want to try this Swedish holiday tradition and bad if you are planning on having dinner at your favorite restaurant where you choose dishes from the menu. Another good thing to know is that you should definitely pre-book julbord, especially if you want good quality! All types of restaurants serve julbord in December... from budget to high end. Some serve the traditional julbord while others have a more modern variation. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly and I can help you with recommendations and reservations.
If you require further information about Stockholm during the holidays, you can check my blog writings on the subject from last year.

Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival 2011

2011-09-30T14:04:00.005+02:00

stockholmbeer.se

Munich isn't the only city celebrating beer this month! The Stockholm Beer & Whisky Festival, one of the biggest of its kinds in the world, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. It will be going on all this weekend (Sept 29th - Oct 1st). But if you can't make it then, you have another chance next weekend (Oct 6-8th). The festival area is split in two... in Hall 1 you will find beer, whisky and calvados while in Hall 2 (called "Taste Experience") you will find wine, champagne, rum, tequila and cognac. Good news... your entrance ticket (199 SEK) gives you access to both halls as well as a tasting glass and Beer Class 1. You have to be 20 years of age to attend the festival. There will be hundreds of beer, whisky and other spirits on exhibit and to taste... but that isn't the only sustenance available. There will be several restaurants in the festival area to keep you well fed! Click here for more information, including times, tickets and communications.

stockholmbeer.se

The festival is held in Nackastrandsmässan, located in Nacka Strand. To get there from the Rival Hotel... take bus 71 or 443 from Slussen (a 10 minute walk from the hotel).

The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo Movie... Coming Soon!

2011-09-29T11:41:00.007+02:00

Well, perhaps not soon...but it will be released on December 21st (USA & Scandinavia- Boxing Day in the UK).
You would have to be living under a rock to have missed the phenomenon that is the Millennium book trilogy, written by Swedish writer Stieg Larsson., with millions upon millions of copies sold worldwide. They have already been made into popular Swedish movies, but now it is Hollywood's turn to adapt the books into movies. The trailer has been released and it looks good. I am so happy that they decided to film the movie here in Stockholm and Sweden (where the story takes place)! In fact, the books and movies have been a real boon to Stockholm tourism.
The books and movies (Swedish or Hollywood) are great to read/see if you have been to or are planning on visiting Stockholm... especially the Rival Hotel. Why is that? Well... the majority of scenes take place (and were filmed) just a few blocks from the hotel. Lisbeth Salander's apartments, Mikael Blomkvist's apartment and office as well as different cafés and bars they visit. If you are in Stockholm while the movie is showing... remember that all movies are shown in the original language (in this case English) with Swedish subtitles, which makes seeing a movie easy for foreign visitors. If you can't get enough of the books & movies then I can recommend the Millennium Walking Tour arranged by the Stockholm City Museum.
Check the movie's official website to see a longer trailer and for more information...

Restaurant: Pontus! and Pontus Seafood Bar

2011-09-28T16:38:00.002+02:00

Open kitchen at the Seafood Bar

Restaurant Pontus!, located in downtown Stockholm, has been open since 2007 and is run by celebrity chef Pontus Frithiof, along with his popular Pontus by the Sea in Gamla Stan. The White Guide ranked Pontus! this year as one of the top 10 restaurants in Stockholm. The restaurant has recently gone through some renovations and changes and I stopped by yesterday to check out these changes and try their new Seafood Bar (a restaurant within the restaurant).

Colorful ceviche...

The main dining room on the basement level with its quirky interior has thankfully stayed the same... the changes have mainly come to their street level. Their entrance has moved just around the corner to the street Norrlandsgatan and they've expanded, adding a sleek new bar and lounge. Another new addition is their Seafood Bar at street level. The design is very modern, in stark contrast to the cozy-at-home feel of the downstairs dining room, with a large open kitchen in the center of the room. The menu, as the name suggests, is pure seafood... caviar, shellfish and fish of all sorts. You will find classic Swedish dishes as well as grilled and cold dishes (ceviche, sashimi, etc;).

The downstairs dining room Pontus!

Gowalla's Stockholm Guide

2011-09-24T13:49:00.006+02:00

Gowalla is a location based social network where users "check in" to spots using smart phones (Iphone, Android, Blackberry, etc;). Users can share pictures, stories and knowledge of these spots with others as well as create "trips" by listing up to 20 spots with different themes... like nature, history or landmarks. Users can then use these trips as city guides... completing the trips by "checking in" to the various spots on the trip's itinerary using their smart phones. Gowalla has recently updated their website, changing their focus even more to travel and adding guides to major cities around the world.
I am proud to say that Gowalla contacted me to create featured trips for them in their Stockholm Guide! I created two, both aimed for first time visitors to Stockholm and based on a three day visit to the city (i.e. long weekend). The first trip is for visitors coming during the summertime and the other for visitors coming during the cooler months (click on links to see trips). I've tried to design the trips so that visitors get to see the most well known Stockholm landmarks and museums as well as a bit of shopping, some great restaurants and authentic Stockholm life. There is, of course, much much more to see in Stockholm... but these trips are a good start!

Restaurant: Zink Grill

2011-09-17T14:12:00.002+02:00

I paid a visit to Zink Grill the other evening... a great restaurant & bar located on the street Biblioteksgatan near the Stureplan district which is known both for its high end shopping as well as nightlife. The restaurant has a real Parisian feel in both appearance and the menu which is split between a bistro menu and a grill menu (as their name suggests). I had the roast piglet in honey and ginger which was delicious! The bar and outdoor seating are very popular with Stockholmers as a watering hole... especially "after work" or to warm-up before heading to one of the nearby nightclubs. Zink Grill isn't a large restaurant so it can get quite crowded and booking a table is recommended. It is also one of the few restaurants, not cafés, which is open for breakfast (Monday through Friday from 8 to 10:30am)! Click here for more information regarding the shopping in the area.
To get there from the Rival Hotel... take the subway (red line) northbound to Östermalmstorg. Exit to Stureplan and from there it is just two blocks away. Otherwise it is just a five minute taxi ride away.

Swedish Cuisine: Löjrom (Bleak Roe)

2011-09-14T15:59:00.003+02:00

Löjrom (Bleak Roe or Kalix Caviar) is a Swedish delicacy that is often found on menus in Sweden year round... but during the end of September and beginning of October is when you can get löjrom at its freshest! It is the roe from the whitefish bleak/vendace that is harvested during their spawning season (starting middle of September and 5 weeks on) in northern Sweden along the shores of the Gulf of Bothnia. It is golden orange in color and has a mild and elegant flavor. The most common way löjrom is served is with creme fraiche, diced red onion & chives, a slice of lemon, a dill sprig and either toasted bread or blini. You will also often find löjrom as a garnish (on Toast Skagen for example) or in sauces. Many restaurants will incorporate the delicious fish eggs into their menus this time of year as löjrom is at its freshest. What to drink with löjrom? A nice, crisp white wine or champagne is perfect!
You will find löjrom on the menu at most restaurants serving Swedish cuisine... some good choices are Lisa Elmqvist in the Östermalm's Saluhall, Sturehof or Riche. But if you are staying at the hotel then you don't have to go far... löjrom is on the menu in our Bistro Rival!

Activities for Children This Autumn

2011-09-10T15:23:00.004+02:00

Photo: Henrik Trygg, Stockholm's Visitors Board

We recently had a family with small children staying at the Rival Hotel and, during their stay, I helped them find suitable activities for the whole family. It wasn't a difficult task... Stockholm is a great city for children of all ages! Besides miles and miles of park lands and fun boat trips, there are plenty of child-friendly attractions and museums that should keep the small ones busy.
If animals (whether wild, tame or even extinct are of interest) then you have quite a lot to choose from:

Skansen- not only an outdoor cultural museum and park, it is a zoo with both Nordic animals (moose, reindeer, wolves, bears, etc;), exotic animals and a petting zoo. A good time to visit is in the early afternoon during feeding time. There are also daily activities for children in their calendar. Open year-round.
Aquaria- The Stockholm Aquarium. On the small side, this aquarium is just a stone's throw from Skansen and here you will find aquatic life from Nordic, tropical and rain forest environments. Open year-round.
The Butterfly House- an indoor tropical rainforest located in the Haga Park. Besides hundreds of butterflies, you will find birds, fish, insects and tropical frogs. Open year-round.
Kolmården- Scandinavia's largest wildlife park located south of Stockholm with several attractions like Marine World, Safari and Tiger World. It is an hour and a half trip by car or train, so plan for a full day. It is open only on weekends until October 2nd when it closes for the winter. They do open for a week later in the Fall (October 29th to November 6th) when Swedish children have their Autumn break.
Museum of Natural History- if your children are more interested in dinosaurs and prehistoric mammals, then this is the place to visit. The museum has great exhibitions on Nordic animals as well and is also the location of the Imax theater Cosmonova. Open year-round.

Perhaps pure frivolity? Amusements parks, story-telling and toys...

Junibacken- Indoor amusement park based on the writings of Astrid Lindgren (Pippi Longstocking, Karlsson on the Roof, the Brothers Lionheart, etc;). Rides, story-telling, shows and play areas. Open year-round.
Toy Land (Leksakslandet)- a museum dedicated to toys. A nostalgic place where you can show your children the toys of your childhood! Open year-round.
Gröna Lund- outdoor amusement park with rides, games and shows. Closes for the winter months on September 25th.

And for those interested in science, space or history...

NASA, a Human Adventure. Photo by Anna Gérden

Medieval History Museum- see how Stockholm grew in the Middle-Ages. Many hands-on exhibitions which makes it a great place to take children. Open year-round.
Museum of Science & Technology- also a great museum for children with many hands-on exhibitions. Of special interest right now is the exhibition NASA- A Human Adventure which is going on until November 6th. See a real lunar module, space suits, and NASA hardware... and feel the G-forces of space travel in a simulator.
Tom Tit's Experiment- located in the town of Södertälje, just south of Stockholm. Rides, experiments and experiences designed to increase knowledge and interest in science and technology.

As you can see... plenty of fun activities for children of all ages and interests!

Entrance to Junibacken...

Museums in Stockholm

2011-09-08T13:27:00.005+02:00

Fotografiska- the photography museum

As the weather gets cooler, it is time to concentrate more on indoor activities instead of the outdoor variety. One great way to spend an afternoon in Stockholm is to visit one of the many wonderful museums. And I do mean "many"... there are around 75 museums, historic churches, gardens and cultural landmarks in the greater Stockholm area! And they cover about every subject of interest imaginable... not only history, art, religion, culture and nature but even more off beat subjects such as alcohol, post, toys, dance and sport.
The top ten most popular museums (in no particular order- though Skansen & Vasa are the top 2) in Stockholm are:

Skansen- open air museum of Swedish culture as well as the zoo.
Vasa Museum- impressive museum built around the 17th century warship Vasa.
National Museum- classic art & design museum.
Fotografiska- photography museum.
Historiska- museum of Swedish history (including Vikings).
Nordiska- museum of Nordic culture.
Moderna- museum of modern art.
Naturhistoriska- museum of natural history
Medeltidsmuseet- museum of medieval Stockholm.
Nobel Museum- museum of Alfred Nobel and the Nobel prizes.

National Museum

The Royal Palace also has a great collection of museums... including the Treasury and Armoury. I have written about all of the top ten museums (as well as others), click here to see my blog entries regarding these museums. Otherwise the website stockholmmuseum.com has all of the museums and palaces in Stockholm listed by category. The Stockholm Visitors Board has a great fold out map as well where all of the museums are marked, listed and described. We have this map here at the Rival Hotel for our guests, otherwise you can pick up a copy at the Tourist Information Center on Vasagatan or at the Arlanda airport (terminal 5).

Nordiska- Nordic museum

The Stockholm City Hall (Stadshuset)

2011-09-06T14:18:00.006+02:00

Photo by Jeppe Wikström, SVB

One of the most famous buildings in Sweden, and a symbol of Stockholm, is the City Hall or Stadshuset. It is the seat of the city government as well as a popular tourist site. Not only is it a strikingly beautiful building, but visitors can climb the tower to enjoy the view, visit the Tower Museum and take guided tours. One explanation for the building's popularity with visitors is the fact that it is the venue for the annual Nobel banquet where the Swedish king & queen host the Nobel prize winners (an event that is televised and seen by millions around the world).

Looking up at the tower..

The City Hall was completed in 1923 and construction took 12 years using nearly 8 million red bricks. The 106 meter high tower is topped with Three Crowns, the historic symbol of Sweden. The building is located on the eastern edge of the island of Kungsholmen... just a stone's throw from Gamla Stan (Old Town) and the central train station. From the Rival Hotel it's a 25 minute walk through Gamla Stan, or else you can take the subway to T-Centralen (all lines).

The fake tomb of Birger Jarl

Located on the eastern side of the building, looking out over the city, is the gold-plate sarcophagus of the founder of Stockholm: Birger Jarl. It is a fake tomb... his remains are actually buried in Varnhem Abbey. Visitors can climb the tower on their own. Because of the limited space, only 30 people are allowed into the tower at a time (in 40 minute intervals). Admission is 40 SEK, free for children under 12 and for holders of the Stockholm Card. To visit the rest of the City Hall, for example to see the Blue and Golden Halls, one needs to take a guided tour. Prices change depending on the season, 40-90 SEK, but children under 12 are free as well as holders of the Stockholm Card. The tour takes approximately 40 minutes... check their website for tour times and languages.

The park/garden in front of city hall

Sightseeing Tours During the Fall

2011-09-03T12:44:00.002+02:00

Many sightseeing tours stop running at the end of August... but there are still many that run through the Fall. Be aware that while many tours run through the Fall, they usually don't have as many start times as they do during the Summer. Check the timetables in the links I provide below for the times, prices and more information. Here is a list of your choices of tours provided by the tour company Strömma:

Hop On Hop Off- both the blue and yellow bus lines run year round. The hop on hop off boat will only be running until September 11th.
The sightseeing bus tour Panorama also runs year round!
Sightseeing boat tours- while the Historic Canal tour is over for the season, the Under the Bridges tour runs until November 6th and the Royal Canal tour until December 18th.
Boat tours out to Drottningholm Palace will be running until November 6th.
The Little Archipelago boat tour will be running into December, but only daily until September 25th after which it will run on the weekends until December 31st.
Only a few more days to take advantage of the boat tours to the Viking city of Birka. Last tour runs on September 11th.
The Cinderella boats, that take you outer archipelago are also in their final weeks... last trips on September 18th!

Inca Gold Exhibition

2011-08-26T11:47:00.003+02:00

We've had a great summer here in Stockholm and at the Rival Hotel, lots of wonderful visitors and interesting things happening in the city. But just because the weather is getting cooler it doesn't mean that there still aren't great things to look forward to! Number one on the list of exciting events this autumn is the Inca Gold exhibition.

http://www.worldculture.se/inca/

Last year the Museum of East Asian Antiquities held an amazing exhibition of Terracotta Warriors from the X'ian province in China. The exhibition was held in the vast underground system of caverns (Bergsrummet) located on the island of Skeppsholmen and was a big success. And now, following on this success, the Swedish National Museums of World Culture will be showing an exhibition of Inca gold artifacts in the same caverns.

http://www.worldculture.se/inca/

The exhibition consists of about 300 objects (with some of the very latest discoveries) on loan from 15 Peruvian museums. The artifacts show the wealth of the Inca Empire and the symbolic power of gold in their culture. The exhibition opens on September 10th and runs through February 12th, 2012. It will be open every day from 10am to 8pm with a few exceptions (see website for dates) and the entrance cost is 150 SEK for adults and free for children up to 19 years of age. Tickets can be bought online or by phone (see website), otherwise they can be purchased at the door or at any of the World Culture Museums in Stockholm.
Click here for other ongoing or upcoming exhibitions!

Three Days in Stockholm- Summertime

2011-08-23T20:25:00.005+02:00

Picturesque archipelago on way to Sandhamn

I recently had 6 family and friends visiting me... and for 4 of them it was their first time in Stockholm. So I took a few days off to show them the city. Now what does a Stockholm Concierge show his own personal guests on their first time to the city? I thought it would be interesting to share our itinerary to help other first time visitors plan on what to do. I have already blogged about the majority of the stops, so I'll link to older posts and not go into too much detail here.

Day One:

Day Two:

Full day boat trip to the archipelago, in this case: the island of Sandhamn (lunch at Seglarhotellet)
Dinner- Kungsholmen (website)

Day Three:

Skansen (website)
Lunch- Rosendal (website)
History Museum (website)
Cocktails- Rival's Bar of course! (website)
Dinner- Fjäderholmarna's Krog (website)

Wolverines at Skansen

For me, this is a perfect itinerary for a first time visitor to Stockholm... in the summertime. All the must-see's are included and a great way to experience several facets of Stockholm as well as Swedish culture. As we get into September, I will do an itinerary for first time visitors during the non-summer months. Are you coming to the Rival Hotel and have already visited Stockholm? For tips on what to do for a return visit to Stockholm... contact me directly!

Viking gold at the History Museum

Disclaimer: my guests were more interested in history than art. For those that are more interested in art, substitute Fotografiska, Moderna or National Museum (depending on what type of art you are interested in) for the History Museum. I was present with my guests the whole time and acted as a guide for them, if you are interested in your own guided tour during your visit... then I recommend the Under the Bridges boat tour. The best comprehensive tour of Stockholm in my opinion.

Gamla Stan- "the Old Town"

2011-08-17T17:15:00.007+02:00

It's a little embarrassing that I've been writing a tourist blog about Stockholm for over a year and I haven't written about the number one tourist attraction: Gamla Stan. I guess it's mostly because this island is so centrally located, just a ten minute walk from the Rival Hotel, that visitors can't help but visit it at some point during their stay in Stockholm.

Buildings in the Stortorget square

Gamla Stan, which literally means "old town", is the original core of Stockholm and where the city was founded sometime in the 13th century. Geographically it is the center of the city and almost all traffic (foot, car, bus & subway) going between the northern and southern sections of central Stockholm passes through or under Gamla Stan. It is also the border between the Baltic Sea to the east and Lake Mälaren to the west.

Up the hill to... Storkyrkan

Gamla Stan is the perfect place to stroll around for half a day or more to soak up some history. There are many interesting sights to see/visit like the Royal Palace, the Treasury, the Nobel Museum, the church Storkyrkan and the square Stortorget. There is plenty of interesting architecture to look at with most of the buildings dating back from the Middle Ages. Shopping is also a good option... a great place for souvenirs, antiques and Swedish handicraft. There are also plenty of good restaurants to be found on the island. Some that I can recommend are Kryp In, Pontus by the Sea, Le Rouge, Fem Små Hus, Pubologi, Djuret and Den Gyldene Freden. Some parts are more "touristy" than others... especially the street Västerlånggatan, a pedestrian street filled mainly with souvenir shops and Italian restaurants (for some strange reason). But don't let the amount of tourists put you off, you should definitely visit Gamla Stan when coming to Stockholm!

The Royal Palace

Outdoor Movies

2011-08-17T11:01:00.000+02:00

If it wasn't enough with the Culture Festival in Stockholm this week... there is another festival going on as well. This one is more cinematic in nature. The Stockholm Film Festival takes place every November in the city, but one week every summer the festival shows excellent movies outdoors. Starting tonight (Wednesday, August 17th) they will be showing a different movie each evening (until Sunday) in Rålambshovsparken, located on the island of Kungsholmen. It is free of charge and the movies start (rain or shine) at 8:30pm though people start arriving already around 6pm with picnic baskets in hand. Some great movies will be shown, including Black Swan and the Buena Vista Social Club. Click here for their program.
To get to the park from the Rival Hotel... take the subway from Slussen, green line northbound to Fridhemsplan. From there it is a short walk south to the water and the park.

Culture Festival

2011-08-11T16:39:00.005+02:00

kulturfestivalen.stockholm.se/

We are gearing up for the next big festival in the city... this coming week, August 16th-21st) we have the Culture Festival (Kulturfestivalen) taking place in Stockholm. Culture of all sorts take to the streets and squares of central Stockholm and 99% is free of charge! There will be 500 shows performed by 250 artists during this week and there will be something for everyone: music, theater, film, literature, dance, performance art, etc; When it comes to music you can enjoy everything from jazz to rock to opera with a little Motown thrown in for good measure. While many cultures, like Turkish, African and Latin, will be represented... this year's theme is Norway, which has taken on special significance since the terrible terror attacks in Norway a couple of weeks ago. Besides culture, there will also be food and drink tents in the festival area.

Photo: Thomas Karlsson

The festival will be held in three centrally located squares and their side streets: Gustav Adolfs Torg, Sergels Torg and Brunkebergs Torg as well as Kulturhuset. You can access the program (with times) for each venue on their website by clicking here. If you are traveling with small children, then Brunkeberg Torg during the daytime is the place to take them... called Maxed Out for the Small Ones, this mini children's festival will be filled with activities where children can play, dance, sing and listen to stories.

Photo: Karin Nilsson

To get to the festival area from the Rival Hotel... it's just a 20-25 minute walk through the Old Town or else three subway stops (red line north to T-Centralen, exit Sergels Torg).

Midnattsloppet (Midnight Race)!

2011-08-10T17:04:00.003+02:00

Photo: Yanan Li, Stockholm Visitors Board

This Saturday (August 13th) is the date for the Midnight Race (Midnattsloppet). This 10 kilometer race has been held annually since 1982 and has gotten more popular with each year with thousands of runners and even more spectators. The race is run around the island of Södermalm with the home stretch down the street Hornsgatan right past the Rival Hotel. What makes this race unique is the carnival atmosphere along the route (there is even a costume competition) as well as the late start time... it's a staggered start with the first group starting at 9:30pm and the last group at 10:30pm.
If you are not participating in the race, then you can always choose a spot along the course, enjoy the atmosphere, and cheer on the racers!

High End Shopping on Biblioteksgatan

2011-08-10T13:49:00.008+02:00

The start of Biblioteksgatan

Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week is going on in Stockholm right now and Swedish designers are busy showing their Spring & Summer collections for buyers and agents. This Thursday, August 11th, the general public can take part in the fashion extravaganza... during Fashion Night. Stores along Stockholm's premiere shopping street, Biblioteksgatan, will be open late in the evening (11pm) with special offers for customers. There will be a large screen set up in Norrmalmstorg square where you can watch Tiger of Sweden's fashion show plus give-aways, a champagne bar, dj's and more.

Photo by Nicho Södling, Stockholm Visitors Board

Perhaps a few words about Biblioteksgatan are in order? This is a pedestrian street located in the downtown area, starting at the square Norrmalmstorg and running north three blocks to Stureplan. The street and surrounding side streets are filled with high end shops mainly of Swedish origin... Acne, Whyred, Marc O'Polo, Filippa K, WeSC, J. Lindeberg, etc; At the north end of the street you will find the Sturegallerian shopping center for more upscale shopping options and just a block from Norrmalmstorg you will find the luxury department store NK. So, you see, you can spend the whole day in the area shopping for Swedish and international brands! It is easy to get to the area from the Rival Hotel... it's either four subway stops going north on the red line (the stop is Östermalmstorg), 7 minutes by taxi or a 30 minute walk.
Do you only have a short time in Stockholm? Then I would recommend the personal shoppers at Smart City Shopping to help you navigate the stores... otherwise here are some more shopping tips!

Strandvägen Waterfront & Esplanade

2011-08-05T14:30:00.005+02:00

Strandvägen with Strandbryggan in the foreground

Strandvägen is the waterfront road located in the Östermalm district with some of the most prestigious addresses in Stockholm. With its tree-lined esplanade, boat quays and gorgeous architecture, it has become a favorite promenade for tourists and Stockholmers alike. It is about 1 kilometer in length and connects the downtown area with Djurgården (where you will find popular sights like the Vasa Museum and Skansen Park). Along the way (in the summertime) you will find a few cafés and casual restaurants. One of special note is Strandbryggan Sea Club, a floating restaurant & bar that I've mentioned earlier just at the base of the bridge over to Djurgården.

The palace guard cavalry marching on Strandvägen

On the western end of the street, along the shores of the Nybroviken inlet, you have the starting point for the Strömma and Cinderella boats heading out to the archipelago. Don't feel like walking? The Djurgård Streetcar line runs along Strandvägen taking people from the downtown area out to Djurgården and back. Want to walk even further? The Djurgårds Canal walking/jogging path starts at the Djurgårds bridge. The easiest way to get to Strandvägen from the Rival Hotel is by subway... red line, 4 stations to Östermalmstorg and then it's just a ten minute walk down to the water.

Streetcar that traffics Strandvägen

The Swedish Museum of Natural History

2011-08-02T14:26:00.002+02:00

The Museum of Natural History, or Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet as we call it here in Sweden, is located a little north of the city right next to the main campus of the Stockholm University. While this museum isn't as large and encompassing as its counterparts in London and New York, it is a great museum to visit if you are at all interested in nature and/or prehistoric animals... especially if you are traveling with young children. I was there yesterday and took in the museum as well as a film in their IMAX theater: Cosmonova. There I saw the 3D movie about flying prehistoric reptiles called "Flying Monsters" which was great! They have several different movies playing during the day, check their website (linked above) for the program. They are narrated in Swedish, but they have receivers & earphones for English speaking guests. They have several great exhibitions at the museum... of special note are the "Swedish Nature" and "Prehistory" exhibitions. The exhibitions are very interactive so they are great for children. My only complaint is that some of the smaller exhibitions weren't well marked in English.

To get there from the Rival Hotel take the subway (red line, direction Mörby Centrum- about a 15 minute ride) to Universitet, turn left as you exit the station and follow the signs. Just a ten minute walk. Click here for more information about opening hours and admission fees.

Stockholm Gay Pride 2011

2011-07-29T14:30:00.007+02:00

Photo by Yanan Li, Stockholm Vistors Board

Just around the corner (August 1st-7th) we have Stockholm's largest festival and Scandinavia's largest gay pride festival... Stockholm Pride! It is a week long festival culminating in a huge parade through the city on Saturday, August 6th. If you are not a member of the LGBT community, you don't have to feel left out- the festival is open for everyone. In fact, that is the theme for this year's festival: openness. In past years the festival has been held in parks on the outskirts of the city, but this year it will be smack dab in the middle of Stockholm at Kungsträdgården park and Sergelstorg square. Another change this year, in accordance with the theme, is that entrance to the festival area will be free of charge! There will be music, performances and events going on all week in the festival area as well as plenty of food & drink. Some highlights are the opening ceremony on Monday, family night on Tuesday, Eurovision(Schlager) night on Thursday and the post parade party on Saturday. You will find the full program here! The parade on Saturday is a huge event in Stockholm... past years have seen over 50,000 participants with about half a million spectators lining the parade route. This year the parade will be starting at 1pm on the island of Södermalm at Tantolunden. The parade will then make its way down the street Hornsgatan, past the Rival Hotel, through the Old Town into the downtown area. It is expected to reach Sergels Torg at about 3pm. Besides the official festival parties, there will be plenty of parties and events going on at other venues and nightclubs throughout the city. If you are staying at the hotel, come talk to me if you are interested in more information about the different parties. Otherwise more information can be found at information booths in the festival area.

Phot by Yanan Li, Stockholm Visitors Board

If you are visiting Stockholm this coming week and gay pride isn't your cup of tea, then there a few things you should be aware of. Generally, Swedes have a liberal view when it comes to sexuality and the LGBT community here has equal rights on a broad front, including marriage. In fact, in a recent international survey called Metropolitan Report, Stockholm rated as the second most gay-friendly city in the world after Amsterdam. After the recent horrific events in Norway by a right-wing extremist, I believe this year's festival will be seen by many (regardless of sexuality) as an important political manifestation. Otherwise, as a visitor, you will probably just notice an increase of happy people and rainbow flags in the city. Be also aware that the parade on Saturday will cause some traffic problems if you are traveling by car or bus in the city.
Click here, here and/or here for more information about LGBT Stockholm.

Day Trip to Saltsjöbaden

2011-07-28T14:25:00.006+02:00

It's the high season here in Stockholm now with some great weather... and on these days many visitors want to head out to the archipelago to cool off. This can mean long lines to crowded boats. However, there is a way to get a feel of the archipelago without traveling by boat: the seaside resort town of Saltsjöbaden. It is located just south-east of Stockholm and is easy to get to using the commuter train line called Saltsjöbanan. The train runs twice an hour, traveling between Slussen (just a 10 minute walk from the Rival Hotel) and Saltsjöbaden. The trip takes 30 minutes and all SL tickets & access cards as well as the Stockholm Card work, otherwise it is 45 SEK for one-way ticket. As the trains go quite often, you can choose to spend a full or half day there.

I took the trip yesterday with my parents, just to get out of the city and enjoy a relaxing lunch by the water. Saltsjöbaden is a sleepy town and boat harbor. There is a hotel there and several restaurants, including Holmen and Aqua. Many Swedes go to Saltsjöbaden to enjoy the beach or go boating. There is a gated sandy beach area called Salsjöbadens Friluftsbad where they have slides, trampolines, a restaurant as well as changing areas. To get there, just walk down to the harbor and cross the small bridge to the island and then follow the path around to the other side. The price is 60 SEK for adults and 30 SEK for children between 7 and 15 years of age. On a budget? People do enjoy the sun and swim from the nearby rocky outcroppings.

Eating on the Water

2011-07-22T15:08:00.008+02:00

Loopen Marina

Swedes have many favorite pastimes in the summer... three of which are soaking up sunshine, eating & drinking and being on the water. Now restaurants are catering to these pastimes by building floating bars and restaurants. Every year more and more of these places open up in Stockholm. Generally speaking, people go to these establishments more for the drinks, sunshine and atmosphere than for dinner... but food is available! Since Stockholm is built on a myriad of islands with sunshine late in the evening, there is a lot of waterfront and time to enjoy the outdoors. Here is a list of some favorites:

Mälarpaviljongen- a personal favorite, located on the Kungsholmen waterfront.
Loopen Marina- closest to the Rival Hotel, located on Hornstull Strand.
Strandbryggan- located at the bridge netween Djurgården and the mainland.
Piren- newly opened, located on the north-west coast of Kungsholmen.
Kungsholmen/Pontonen- also located on the Kungsholmen waterfront.
Flyt- on the south side of the Old Town, also close to the hotel.
Thai Boat- Thai food on a parked boat located in Södermalm.

So... join the Stockholmers out in the sun for a bite to eat and a cocktail. Be aware that at several of these restaurants booking a table is not possible. Just show up!

View from Mälarpaviljongen at 8:30pm

Thanks to Allt om Stockholm for the list.

Best Tourist Experience in Stockholm?

2011-07-19T16:35:00.006+02:00

Bears at Skansen- potential winners?

For the fourth year in a row the Swedish Travel and Tourism Union (Rese- och Turistnäringen i Sverige) will be giving an award for the "Best Experience in Sweden". 30 travel agents and tour operators from 8 countries decide first on the nominees and then choose an eventual winner. Past winners have been the Ice Hotel in Jukkusjärvi, the Vasa Museum in Stockholm and the Göta Canal Steamship Company. The nominees for the 2011 prize have been announced and several are from Stockholm:

Fotografiska- the photography museum
Skansen- outdoor cultural museum & zoo
Junibacken- Astrid Lindgren theme park for children
Stockholm Adventures- travel company specializing in nature experiences

Four worthy and diverse nominees in my opinion! So take the opportunity to try these experiences while you are in Stockholm... and see if you agree when the winner is announced in October.
If you are curious about the nominees this year outside of Stockholm, they are... the hiking trail Kungsleden, Astrid Lindgren's World, Selma Spa and the Kosta Boda Art Hotel.

A Rerun of Some Summer Favorites!

2011-07-16T14:04:00.007+02:00

Photo: SBR- Stockholm Visitors Board

My blog was up and running last summer... and I managed to do quite a lot! I thought I would dig into the archives and list some highlights that would be of interest this summer as well.

Day Trips
The Stockholm Archipelago
The island of Finnhamn
The town of Sigtuna and Skokloster Castle
The Viking town of Birka
The sculpture gardens of Millesgården (½ day)
Haga Park (½ day)
Woodland Cemetary (½ day)

Summer Activities
Renting a Kayak
Walking & Jogging Paths
Beaches & Pools
A few bicycle options

Summer Restaurants
Kungsholmen (good year round, but especially popular this time of year)
Mälarpaviljongen
Fjäderholmarnas Krog
Rosendal Gardens (lunch)

Summer Tips
Internet Research tools
Summer Events & Festivals
Restaurants that are Closed During the Summer
Stockholm Port Information
General Sightseeing Tips

-Please remember that many of these blog entries are from last summer (except for "summer tips") so some information may have changed slightly (prices, opening hours, times etc;). Check their websites (linked in each entry) for up-to-date information, or contact me directly if you are staying at the Rival Hotel.

Art Galleries at "Puckeln"

2011-07-14T17:04:00.004+02:00

Right around the corner (literally) from the Rival Hotel there is an interesting street that locals call Puckeln. This means "the hump" in Swedish and refers to its shape. It runs parallel to the main street Hornsgatan, from Mariatorget to Slussen, except that it rises slowly in elevation before sloping back down to meet the main street again (as seen in the picture above). This cobblestone street is lined with art galleries, handicraft stores and cafés. Paintings, ceramics, crystal, jewellery... it's perfect for strolling down on a warm sunny day and do some shopping (or at least window shopping!). The art galleries have a website- click here -where all of their individual websites can be accessed. Another great store located on Puckeln is trendy Efva Attling which specializes in silver jewellery and accessories. You can read my blog entry about Attling here.

Swedish Cuisine: Toast Skagen

2011-07-12T16:25:00.004+02:00

It is impossible to visit Stockholm and not see Toast Skagen on a menu at some point. This signature Swedish dish was created by famous restauranteur Tore Wretman (Operakällaren, Stallmästargården, etc;) in the 1950's. The name is a little misleading as Skagen is a region of Denmark... but it is a very Swedish dish! There are some slight variations on how different restaurants prepare the dish, but generally it is toasted white bread topped with a mixture that consists of fresh peeled shrimp, mayonnaise, dill, salt and pepper. It is usually served with a slice of lemon, a sprig of dill and a dollop of bleak roe (löjrom). Some restaurants use creme fraiche instead of (or with) the mayonnaise and some might add a bit of Dijon mustard to the mix.
Most restaurants in Sweden serve Toast Skagen as an appetizer, but often are willing to serve a larger portion as a main course. It also makes a great lunch! Swedes love this delicious dish and it shouldn't be missed during a visit to Stockholm. If you are staying at the hotel then you don't have to go far to try a Toast Skagen. We serve it in our own restaurant: Bistro Rival. Otherwise any restaurant serving Swedish cuisine should have it on their menu.

Royal Haga Boat Tour

2011-07-07T15:13:00.003+02:00

I have blogged earlier both about Haga Park and Hop On Hop Off Sightseeing. Now Strömma Kanalbolaget has made getting to and around the park easier for visitors with a relatively new bus line out to the park as well as a boat tour on the lake (Brunnsviken) in the park. Both the bus and the boat are of the Hop On Hop Off variety giving you the opportunity to explore on your own.
I've been to Haga Park many times, but yesterday I was invited by Strömma to try their tours for the first time and I was impressed with the trip. Haga and northern Djurgården make up a huge park complex with many interesting sights spread throughout the area. The Royal Haga boat tour is a guided tour with six separate stops along the lake shore. The boat stops at every dock once an hour and a ticket allows you to get on and off as you wish. Some highlights of the tour are The Natural History Museum, The Butterfly House, The Copper Tents, Haga Palace, the Bergianska botanical garden as well as acres of beautiful parkland and gardens in the English style.

To make matters easier, Strömma has created a new Hop On Hop Off bus line (green line) which takes visitors from downtown Stockholm to the boat dock in Haga Park. The green line meets up with the blue and yellow lines at several spots in the downtown area which makes it easy to combine them. The Royal Haga boat tour costs 120 SEK (24 hour ticket), and you can combine it with the Hop On Hop Off green line for 220 SEK. A Supreme Pass costs 350 SEK and is a 24 hour ticket for all Hop On Hop Off boats and bus tours including the Royal Haga boat tour as well as special discounts at some of the sights along the routes.
Click here for other sightseeing recommendations...

Restaurant Villa Godthem

2011-07-06T14:27:00.004+02:00

Photo: Stefan Andersson

A new restaurant has been added to Stockholm's culinary landscape: Villa Godthem. Behind the restaurant you'll find celebrity chefs Melker Andersson and Danyel Couet, who have opened many other popular restaurants in Stockholm... Le Rouge, F12, Kungsholmen and Grill to name a few. The restaurant is inside a newly renovated house first built in 1874 and used as a restaurant since 1897. On the menu you'll find their interpretation of traditional Swedish cuisine using a lot of seasonal and locally grown produce.

Photo: Stefan Andersson

The location can't be beat... you'll find Villa Godthem on the leafy island of Djurgården, just a stone's throw from the Vasa Museum and Skansen park. A great place to eat dinner after a day of sightseeing on the island. Their Garden Bar & Café are open during the day for lunch as well. It is also easy to get to from the Rival Hotel... there is a commuter ferry that takes you from Slussen to the island of Djurgården leaving approximately every 15 minutes.
Click here for more restaurant recommendations...

ÅF Offshore Race- Sailing Regatta

2011-07-05T14:24:00.003+02:00

Photo by Oskar Kihlborg

The classic race Gotland Runt ("Race around the island of Gotland"), the largest offshore race in the Nordic region, has made some changes this year. It is now called ÅF Offshore Race. The start of the course has changed as well. The elite class and the classic boats will now start in Stockholm and race to Sandhamn first before continuing on to Gotland with the other racers. This is great for visitors to Stockholm... the harbor will be filled with sailing boats and thousands of onlookers can now watch the start.
The race will start at 11am on the Wednesday July 6th and the starting line will run from the island of Kastellholmen south to the Fotografiska museum on Södermalm. The best places to view the start will be on the north-east coast of Södermalm (near the museum and just a 15 minute walk from the Rival Hotel), as well as the south coasts of the islands of Kastellholmen, Skeppsholmen and Djurgården. Between the 4th and 6th of July, an event area will be open for visitors by the restaurant Josefinas, next door to the Vasa Museum.

Stockholm Trivia

2011-07-03T19:48:00.003+02:00

We are often asked what the sculpture in the fountain in front of the Rival Hotel is supposed to depict. The sculpture is called "Tors Fiske" (Thor Fishing) and was created by sculptor Anders Wissler and raised in 1903. It depicts the Norse god Thor raising his hammer Mjölner to do battle with Jörmungandr, the Midgard Serpent. This battle was described in The Prose Edda, an Icelandic collection of tales of Nordic mythology. The fountain is in the center of the Mariatorget square (where the hotel is located) and a popular place for the locals to meet on a warm summer day...

Stockholm Adventures

2011-07-01T12:41:00.003+02:00

Photo: Stockholm Adventures

The biggest trend in tourism these days is eco-friendly and adventure tours. Travelers are moving away from the packaged bus tours and are choosing more adventurous ways to see cities and countries. Adventure tourism tends to have less of a negative impact on the environment as well as being more fun and memorable. It's also a nice way to see a part of the city and countryside not covered in guide books. Stockholm, with its archipelago, forests and national parks, is the perfect city to try a bit of adventure tourism.

Photo: Stockholm Adventures

The tour company Stockholm Adventures is a great place to start. They offer many different sightseeing tours and adventures, something for every taste and ability level. Here are some highlights of what they have to offer:

Hikes- they have both urban wanderings in the city as well as hikes in Tyresta national park and the archipelago.
Bikes- tours of the city.
Kayaks- from shorter tours in the city to full-day tours in the outer archipelago.
Wildlife Safari- see moose, boar and deer... just a 20 minute ride from the city.

So, take a chance to see Stockholm off the beaten path and/or experience Sweden's beautiful natural landscape and wildlife. Tours can be booked on their website, at the Stockholm Tourist Center or, if you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly and I can help you make a reservation.

Stockholm Green Festival

2011-06-30T13:46:00.001+02:00

http://www.stockholmgreenfestival.se/

The next summer festival is coming up this weekend (July 1st-3rd)... Stockholm Green Festival. This is the second year they've run this festival and, as the name suggests, it celebrates "green" products and promotes a more sustainable lifestyle. Sweden is very proud of its green movement and enviromental consciousness, so why not celebrate it? After all, Stockholm was the awarded the title European Green Capital in 2010. The first city to be designated so! The festival takes place in Kungsträdgården, located in the downtown area. Entrance to the festival is free and it's open between 11am and 11pm on Friday and Saturday and 11am and 8pm on Sunday. There will be live music, seminars, fashion shows and plenty of fun activities for children. There will also be a food court where visitors can enjoy organic food and drink. It's just a 25 minute walk through the Old town to get to the park/festival from the Rival Hotel... otherwise you can take the subway to T-Centralen (exit Sergelstorg).

Travel Advisory- Subways This Summer

2011-06-29T16:54:00.003+02:00

http://www.sl.se/

Stockholm is in the process of building a new commuter train line, running north-south, called Citybanan. It will run under Stockholm City through a 6 kilometer long tunnel that is being built right now. Because of this ongoing construction, the subway's blue line between Kungsträdgården and Rådhuset will be closed between June 20th and October 19th.
As a guest of the Rival Hotel, this shouldn't disturb your travel plans too much as the hotel is on the red line. However, as I have blogged before, there is some great art in the Stockholm Metro system... and two of the "prettiest" subway stations will be closed during this time.

Restaurants Closed This Summer (2011)

2011-06-26T14:36:00.005+02:00

It is a Stockholm phenomenon... just when hordes of tourists descend on the city, many of the top gourmet restaurants close for a few weeks for summer vacation. I've really never understood the concept, but there you go. There are, of course, plenty of restaurants still open... but it is good to have a list of restaurants that are closing (and for which dates) to help plan your stay a bit better.

Lux Stockholm- closed July 17th through August 15th.
Fredsgatan 12 (F12)- closed July 10th through August 7th.
Grill- closed July 10th through August 1st.
Brasserie Le Rouge- closed July 3rd through August 10th. Their bar, Le Bar, is open all summer.
Smak på Restaurangen- closed June 24th through August 4th.
Operakällaren- closed July 11th through August 15th. They will be serving their smörgåsbord next door in the Café Opera dining area until August 28th (thurs-sat).
Teatergrillen- closed July3rd through August 3rd.
Esperanto- closed June 23rd through August 11th.
Frantzén/Lindeberg- closed July 10th through August 11th.
Sjögräs- closed July 17th through August 8th.
Pontus!- closed July 4th through August 8th. Their Bar and Seafood Bar will be open during this time.
Djuret- closed June 24th through August 29th. During this time they will have a restaurant, called Svinet, open in their garden.
Mattias Dahlgren Matbaren & Matsalen- closed July 15th through August 8th.
AG- closed July 3rd through August 7th.
Rolf's Kök- closed through August 7th.

I will add more restaurants to the list as I find them. You may have noticed that all of Stockholm's Michelin Star restaurants close... so, if you are a foodie, don't come to Sweden at the end of July! If you are going to be staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me for help with recommendations for restaurants as well as eventual reservations.

What is Open This Midsummer Weekend?

2011-06-22T15:06:00.010+02:00

Photo by Yanan Li - Stockholm Visitors Board

This coming weekend (June 24th to 26th) is the Midsummer holidays here in Sweden. Most visitors to Stockholm don't realize what a large holiday this is in Sweden (it rivals Christmas). Every year the city is filled with tourists wondering why the city resembles a ghost town. It is a very friends & family orientated holiday with Swedes escaping to their country homes to celebrate in true pagan style. Many stores, restaurants and museums are closed for part or all of the weekend. But all is not lost... here is a handy list of what is open each day during the weekend.

Friday, June 24th- Midsummer's Eve
Skansen is open! This is where you want to be to experience the Swedish traditions surrounding the holiday. Song, dance and the traditional maypole as well as a handicraft market.
The Vasa Museum is also open!
The Royal Palace (museums are closed though) in the Old Town as well as Drottningholm Palace are open.
All other major museums are closed.
The amusement parks Gröna Lund and Junibacken are open for business.
Shopping- Major department stores, like NK and Åhlens, close early (2pm). Most shopping centers are closed. Smaller stores will close early or are closed. Liquor stores (Systembolaget) will be closed.
Sightseeing bus & boat tours will be running as normal.

Saturday, June 25th- Midsummer's Day
Skansen, the palaces and the Vasa Mueum are open today just as they were on Friday (see above). Other museums opening today are Fotografiska, Moderna (modern art), Nordic and Nobel museums.
The amusement parks Gröna Lund and Junibacken are open for business (see links above).
Shopping- Major department stores, shopping centers and most smaller stores are closed. Liquor stores (Systembolaget) will be closed.
Sightseeing bus & boat tours will be running as normal.

Sunday, June 26th
All museums, stores and sightseeing are open again as usual!

As for restaurants... the majority are closed during the weekend. A safe bet are hotel restaurants which will be open as normal. A few restaurants in the Old Town and downtown will be open. The worst day will be Friday. The Rival Hotel's Bistro is open all days for both hotel guests as well as for guests not staying at the hotel.

Here are some more valuable Midsummer tips from the Stockholm Visitor's Board!
.

Robert Mapplethorpe Exhibition

2011-06-21T22:13:00.003+02:00

One of this summer's most anticipated art exhibitions has just opened. Fotografiska, Stockholm's popular photography museum, is following up their successful Annie Leibovitz, Fashion and Albert Watson exhibitions during the past year with a retrospective of Robert Mapplethorpe. The exhibition contains nearly 200 prints of Mapplethorpe's work, many never shown in Sweden before. His work has been called beautiful, shocking, significant and controversial... but never boring. The exhibition will be running all summer into the fall (June 17th to October 2nd) and is one of several great exhibitions at Fotografiska this summer- including Eleanor Coppola and Edward Burtynsky.
Fotografiska is located on the waterfront on the island of Södermalm, just a 15-20 minute walk from the Rival Hotel. The museum is open daily from 10am to 9pm (closed on Midsummer's Eve and Christmas Eve). Entrance costs 110 SEK, 80 SEK for seniors & students and free for children under 13 as well as holders of the Stockholm Card.

Stockholm Jazz Festival

2011-06-17T16:23:00.001+02:00

I'm back from my vacation... just in time for the Stockholm Jazz Festival, which starts today (Friday June 17th) and runs through the whole weekend. The big news this year is the change of venue... it will be at the Solliden and Galejan stages in the Skansen park. The festival has changed a bit through the years from a pure jazz festival to a mix of jazz, R&B, soul and blues with both Swedish and international artists. The main headliners this year are LaGaylia Frasier, David Sanborn Trio, Bobby Womack and Angie Stone. Click here for a complete list of artists and scheduled times. You can either buy a one day pass (595 SEK) or a three day pass (840 SEK). Tickets can be purchased at the door or on the Tickster website. Now let's just hope for some good weather!
Skansen is located on the island of Djurgården and is easy to get to from the Rival Hotel. Just take the Djurgård Ferry from Slussen... the trip just takes 8 minutes and then it is a short 5 minute walk to Skansen.
Click here for more festivals and events this summer!

Even a Concierge Needs a Vacation!

2011-05-22T16:51:00.005+02:00

Summer is nearing and it is time for me to take a little vacation before the summer season gets going in Stockholm! So it is off to San Francisco and Hawaii for 3 weeks to recharge my batteries. It looks like we are in for a busy summer... lots going on in the city with loads of wonderful visitors already booked in. A record number of cruise ships will be visiting Stockholm as well which is good news. A special thanks to you who have visited and read my blog... I've been writing it for a year now, with over 180 posts and almost 30,000 readers to date. But now the blog will be silent while I'm on vacation. While I'm gone, have a look at the essential research tips I have for someone coming to visit the city, as well as some sightseeing tips, museum tips, restaurant recommendations as well as some general tourist information. I look forward to welcoming you to the Rival Hotel and Stockholm this summer!
Future hotel guests: If you have any urgent questions regarding the upcoming few weeks, please contact my knowledgeable colleagues in the Reception at frontdesk@rival.se or else you can keep sending me inquiries at concierge@rival.se. My colleagues will be monitoring my e-mail, otherwise (if it is regarding matters for a later date) I will answer upon my return.
I'll be back in the middle of June!

Stockholm Trivia: City Flowers

2011-05-21T17:09:00.003+02:00

The "official" Stockholm flowers are in full bloom! This year the theme for the late Spring flowers is the light Nordic summer nights using a base of white pansies with accents in purple and red, as well as white hyacinths and candy cane colored tulips. The city government has 5,762 square meters of space to plant flowers every year... in 706 urns and 27 flower beds, including the flower beds in the Mariatorget park just in front of the Rival Hotel (pictured here). So don't forget to admire the flowers while wandering through the city!

Source for information: Metro newspaper

Stockholm Marathon 2011

2011-05-20T18:04:00.002+02:00

Photo by Rickard Forsberg

Next Saturday (May 28th) we have one of Sweden's largest sporting events of the year taking place... The Stockholm Marathon. This year is the 33rd year the marathon is being run and over 20,600 runners from 80 countries have entered. What does this mean for you as a visitor? On the positive side... it is quite a celebration with people lining the streets, helicopters overhead and music playing. The race course goes all through the city (twice!) so it almost impossible to miss. Stop a few minutes and cheer the runners on, they could use the support. Especially if it is a hot day! On the negative side... traffic comes to a standstill for most of the day. Avoid taxis and buses! Stick to subways and boats and you will be just fine. The race starts at 11:30am and goes into the early evening.
Are you running in the marathon and staying at the Rival Hotel? Our head chef has added a special pasta to the menu Friday evening so that racers can load up on carbohydrates for energy... there's no need tiring yourself out the evening before the race looking for an Italian restaurant! To make a reservation: mailto:bistro@rival.se

Photo by Rickard Forsberg

Smorgasbord!

2011-05-18T17:02:00.004+02:00

Part of the smörgåsbord buffet.

Smorgasbord, or Smörgåsbord as we spell it here, is probably the most familiar Swedish word around the world. It has even made it into the English language as a word to describe "a collection containing a variety of sorts of things". Here in Sweden it means a traditional buffet overflowing with delicacies like pickled herring, shrimp, gravad & smoked salmon, meatballs, patés, sausages, desserts and more.

Beautiful, historic dining room.

Swedes traditionally eat smörgåsbord around midsummer and Christmas (then called julbord), but visitors to Stockholm don't need to wait until these holidays to try this Swedish tradition. Yesterday I was invited by the restaurant Operakällaren to try their smörgåsbord ahead of the summer season. The restaurant has had a long tradition of serving smörgåsbord and they are now bringing it back for Summer 2011. I do recommend trying this when in Sweden... it is a good way to sample well-known Swedish favorites like different types of pickled herring, gravad salmon and, of course, Swedish meatballs. They will be serving the smörgåsbord every Thursday through Saturday all summer starting on May 26th and the cost is 390 SEK per person (all you can eat). It will be served in their historical dining room within Café Opera (next door to the entrance to Operakällaren). For more information, including history, buffet items and contact details, click here. The restaurant is located in the Royal Opera House, smack dab in the middle of the city.. next to Kungsträdgården.

First course... shrimp & herring!

Looking for another option for smörgåsbord? Then try the Grand's Veranda. And for other restaurants that serve classic Swedish cuisine... click here!

Festival: Smaka På ("A Taste Of") Stockholm

2011-05-17T14:07:00.002+02:00

Photo: Gunilla Sikström, Smaka på Stockholm

One of my favorite yearly festivals is coming up in a couple of weeks (June 1st - June 6th). It is the restaurant festival Smaka På Stockholm (A Taste of Stockholm)... and this year they are celebrating their 20th year! Over twenty restaurants are represented in different tents throughout the festival grounds, serving a wide variety of cuisines: Swedish, Thai, Spanish, Latin American, Cajun, Indian, Vietnamese and much more. Besides food they will be serving refreshing drinks... beer, wine, champagne, soft drinks, etc;. There will be live music and other performances on the main stage as well as cooking demonstrations and cook-offs by some of Sweden's best chefs. Of special note... on June 2nd at 5pm there will be a cooking show on the main stage where the public can watch 5 Swedish medalists (and 1 Norwegian!) from the prestigious cooking competition Bocuse d'Or. 100 or so lucky members of the public will be able to sample their food.

Chef Johan Jureskog. Photo: Peter Backman, Smaka på Stockholm

I really like this festival... a great place to stop by in the day or evening for a bite to eat, enjoy some music and people watch in a relaxed atmosphere. The best thing? No entrance fee! The festival goes on from June 1st to June 6th both day and evening and everything happens in the park Kungsträdgården. To get there from the Rival Hotel: it's just a 20-25 minute beautiful walk through the Old Town, otherwise the closest subway station is Kungsträdgården (blue line).
Click here for other festivals and events during Summer 2011.

Restaurant B.A.R.

2011-05-16T18:10:00.003+02:00

Also known as Blasieholmen's Akvarium och Restaurang, B.A.R. is a relatively new restaurant owned by the same fellows (Henrik Norström and Peter Johansson) that own Michelin star restaurant Lux Stockholm. I was here last night with my colleagues from the Rival Hotel. We go out a few times a year together to try new restaurants and B.A.R. was at the top of our list. This is deconstructed dining at its best. Designed like an indoor market place (saluhall), diners walk up to the counter and choose the cut of meat, filet of fish or shellfish they want... then order the side orders and sauces from the waitstaff. There is even an aquarium filled with spry lobsters waiting to be chosen. There are also "constructed" dishes on the menu (as well and starters and desserts) but I would recommend going for making your own entree. The meat, fish and shellfish are fresh and of the highest quality.

The waitstaff are very knowledgeable, but even the service is deconstructed. Bottles of water and wine that you order are placed on the table and it is left up to you to pour yourself a glass. Personally, I find this refreshing and it frees up the waitstaff to concentrate on the food. On Sundays the counter is closed and instead they have a special menu of skewers (fish & shellfish and meat). You get two skewers of any combination and then choose your own sauces and side orders at the counter. One word of advice: this restaurant has become quite popular so it is good to book a table in advance, which you can do by e-mailing or calling the restaurant (info on their website linked above) or contacting me if you are guests at the Rival Hotel.

The restaurant is located in the downtown area, a stone's throw from Kungsträdgården and the Royal Palace. The closest subway station is Kungsträdgården (blue line). Click here for other reviewed restaurants!

Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing

2011-05-14T13:30:00.002+02:00

Are you only visiting Stockholm for a few days and wondering how you are going to manage to do both a sightseeing tour as well as visit the main attractions? Well the Strömma company has the perfect solution... Hop-On Hop-Off sightseeing tours. This is a guided sightseeing tour which stops at all of Stockholm's main attractions. You can choose when and where you want to get off and, whenever you are ready, you can board a new bus to continue your tour. The busses go every half hour which makes it very convenient. There are two bus tours/routes to choose from, or you can buy a combination ticket which is good for both. One tour, the Blue Line, concentrates on the downtown area, Djurgården and Östermalm. The other tour, the Yellow Line, concentrates on the Old Town, Kungsholmen and Södermalm. The two tours do meet at three stops (central train station, Gustav Adolf Square and Kungsträdgården) which makes it easy to move from one tour to the next if you buy the combination ticket.

I took a trip on the Yellow Line yesterday, which has a convenient stop a 10 minute walk from the Rival Hotel at Slussen. The busses are double deckers and the top floor has no roof... which means you can work on your tan while sightseeing! The guided tour is available in 8 languages and can be heard via headphones at each seat. Each tour costs 220 SEK and a combination tour costs 260 SEK and tickets are good for 24 hours from when you first board the bus, which means you can start in the afternoon and then continue the next morning. Tickets can be bought online or on board the bus(cash only- SEK or Euro). Guests staying at the Rival Hotel can also buy tickets through me!
There is also a Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour which stops at a variety of places like the Royal Palace, Fotografiska, Gröna Lund, Vasa Museum and Skeppsholmen. 24 hour tickets cost 100 SEK, otherwise there is a supreme bus & boat combination 24 hour ticket which costs 350 SEK.
Click here for more sightseeing tips!

Tourist Information Centers

2011-05-09T14:04:00.005+02:00

Summer is just around the corner and already tourists are flooding into the city. I have blogged earlier about the new Stockholm Tourist Information Center on Vasagatan 14, across the street from the central train station, but this summer you will have many more choices to get personal service. Besides the aforementioned tourist center, there are a few more places... both permanent and temporary (during the summer).

Arlanda Airport- just outside terminal 5 you will find a tourist information center run by Stockholm Visitors Board. The center is open 24 hours a day and staffed between 6am and midnight. They also have information counters at terminals 2 & 4.
Gallerian Shopping Center- a private tourist information center, centrally located in a shopping center. Open weekdays from 8am to 8pm and weekends from 9am to 6pm.
Sweden House- Stockholm Visitors Board is opening a temporary information counter during the summer in their old offices across the street from the NK department store. Opens on June 1st.
Stockholm Panels- a realtively new way to get information out to visitors. At 300 stations throughout the city you will find unmanned computer terminals where visitors can get vital tourist information. They are located at places where tourists tend to be... like the train station, cruise ship terminals, shopping centers and certain hotels.
On Bicycles- once again, this summer, staff from the Stockholm Visitors Board will be biking through the city helping visitors with information and brochures. Keep your eyes open for them... they will be carrying blue flags and are hard to miss!

The Main Stockholm Visitors Center on Vasagatan 14 has the following opening hours this summer... 9am to 7pm on weekdays, 10am to 5pm on Saturdays and 10am to 4pm on Sundays. If you are staying at the Rival Hotel then you don't have to go very far for personal service... just stop by the Front Desk and talk to me or any of my knowledgable colleagues!

Guided Cycling Tours & Bike Rental

2011-05-05T14:20:00.003+02:00

bikesweden.se

There are many ways to take a sightseeing tour of the city... walking, jogging, boat and bus tours are available, and now even bike tours as well! The tours are offered by Bike Sweden which is located right in front of the Museum of National Antiquities (Historiska Museet). They offer three set tours. A three hour tour around the nearby island of Djurgården (500 SEK per person), a four hour tour out to the Woodland Cemetary- a UNESCO World Heritage site (695 SEK per person) and a six hour tour out to the Drottningholm Palace- also a UNESCO World Heritage site (1195 SEK per person, including boat tour and lunch). Their multilingual guides will keep you informed of your surroundings and all tours include a sandwich and a soft drink.

bikesweden.se

If you are interested in biking on your own then they offer bike rentals as well. They offer rentals for different durations... from 3 hours up to 7 days. They have different types of bikes available, like mountain bikes and city bikes. They also have children's bikes, child seats and child carriers available. Click here for a price list. For more information, check their website (linked above) or contact them at info@bikeguide-stockholm.se

The closest subway station to the Museum of National Antiquities is Karlaplan (red line), five stations away from the Rival Hotel.

The Amusement Park: Gröna Lund

2011-05-03T15:33:00.002+02:00

Gröna Lund opens for the summer this Saturday, May 7th! The amusement park has been around since the 1880's and is Sweden's oldest amusement park. Here you will find rides and attractions for children of all ages.... haunted house, ferris wheel, tea cups as well as a free fall and several roller coasters. They even have cafés, restaurants, carnival games and a boardwalk. It is also a popular outdoor concert venue and there will be concerts and shows all through the summer. This tivoli has a real old-time carnival atmosphere and is definitely worth a visit! It is located on the southern waterfront of the island of Djurgården and very easy to get to from the Rival Hotel by taking the Djurgård ferry from Slussen. Gröna Lund is located close to other major attractions such as the Vasa Museum, Skansen and Junibacken.

gronalund.com

Entrance costs 90 SEK and 180 SEK on evenings when they have concerts. Free for children under 7 and adults over 64 as well as holders of the Stockholm Card. The opening hours vary by the day and through the summer. The best thing to do is check their calendar for the opening hours and concert schedule.

Stockholm City Bikes

2011-04-30T12:04:00.006+02:00

Warmer weather means that the Stockholm City Bike season has started. I have blogged about it last year, but there are a few changes this year (besides their appearance)... so here is an update!

Stockholm City Bike station

The Stockholm City Bikes are a great way to see the city and an inexpensive way to take a bike ride on a sunny day. You can either buy a season card or a three day card. The three day card is what is most interesting for a visitor so I will concentrate on that. The cost is 125 SEK, but as of June 1st it will be raised to 165 SEK. This is due to that the optional 50 SEK insurance will no longer be optional. I often get the question if there isn't a one day card available. The answer is no, but the cost of their 3 day card is much cheaper than renting a bike for one day at a regular bike rental store.
To buy a card: If you are staying at the Rival Hotel then we do sell the cards for hotel guests in the Reception... just talk to me! Otherwise you can buy a card at the Tourist Information Center at Vasagatan or in the Gallerian shopping center. They are also for sale in the SL Centers in certain subway stations (Slussen, T-Centralen and Fridhemsplan).
Rules: You have to be 18 years of age to rent a bike. There are about 90 bike stands throughout the city and they are open between 6am and 10pm every day. You check out your bike using your card and then you have the bike for three hours at a time. If you require a bike longer then you can check in and then check out a new bike at any of the stations.
Please note: There are no bike stands on the island of Skeppsholmen (Modern Art Museum, etc;) and only one bike stand on the island of Djurgården (Vasa Museum, Skansen, etc;). This is beacuse the islands are government owned and there are special laws regarding advertising. So plan accordingly!
If you are interested in renting more advanced bikes (mountain, city, children, etc;) or cycling guides... click here!