Sightseeing Tours Start for the Season!

This Easter weekend marks a soft start of the tourist season for Stockholm. Not the beginning of the busy, high season (which doesn't start until the summer months), but it does mean that several of the main sightseeing tours from the Strömma company start running again after a winter break. Generally, these tours will start out with a couple of departures during the weekdays with more on the weekends and holidays. During the summer high season they will have multiple departures daily. Here are the tours starting up again in April:

• Royal Canal Boat Tour- this tour is 50 minutes long and takes you through Stockholm harbor and around the island of Djurgården, where many of the main Stockholm attractions are located. It is guided, through headphones, in multiple languages. This tour is a good introduction to the city and is especially good if you are just here for a short visit and don't have time for a longer tour.
• Under the Bridges Boat Tour- this more comprehensive tour is 2½ hours long and takes through both the harbor and around Södermalm island to Lake Mälaren and back, letting you experience both the historical and new parts of the city. It is guided, through headphones, in multiple languages. They have, unfortunately, had to reroute this tour in recent years due to the ongoing construction at Slussen. This makes the tour, in my opinion, a little repetitive at times as they have to travel the same route back and forth. But it is always great to be out on the water and the information itself isn't repetitive. 
• Archipelago Boat Tour with Guide- (actually runs for most of the year) this nearly 3 hour long tour is a good introduction to the vast and beautiful Stockholm archipelago. It is guided in person in English and Swedish. It gives you a taste of the archipelago and is a good option if you don't have a full day free in order to properly explore the islands. You also have the option of eating lunch onboard or getting snacks at the cafeteria. 
• Hop On/Hop Off Bus Tour- this bus tour takes you around central Stockholm, making stops at most of the main attractions. It is guided as well, through headphones, in multiple languages. The closest stop to Hotel Rival is at nearby Slussen (5-10 minute walk). This is a good option if you want to combine a guided tour with visiting attractions. Both 24 and 72 hour tickets are available. If you were to stay on the bus for the whole route, it would take about 1½ hours. Just keep in mind that the bus does stop every 10 minutes or so to pick up and drop off passengers. 

These are the just main public tours offered by Strömma. Besides sightseeing tours, Strömma will also be offering day excursions, archipelago transportation and lunch/dinner cruises during the high season. There are a few smaller sightseeing companies which offer tours as well, both public and private. They also offer tours with more specific interests, off the beaten path experiences and other activities. OURWAY Tours and Stockholm Adventures are two of my favorites.