Lux Stockholm

Stockholm is a city filled with beauty and beer. In Stockholm, pubs line the streets in droves, and with so much choice it can be overwhelming. But fear not, because, with this guide to the top 5 awesome and best pubs in Stockholm. If you stick to this guide we’ll have you covered on your next trip to the Swedish isles. The following top 5 pubs are in no particular order and are all awesome in their own right!

1. WIRSTRÖMS PUB 

If you are looking for a down-home Swedish pub with the feel of an American sports bar, then you need to make WIRSTRÖMS PUB a stop on the list. The pub offers great food, traditional beers and has been serving Stockholm since 1600. This is a hot spot for any tourist so it is imperative that you book a table to avoid disappointment. The pub is open until 1 am Monday through Saturday and closes at 12 am on Sundays and it is located at Stora Nygatan 13 111 27 Stockholm.

2. THE QUEENS HEAD 

For a Swedes take on the British pub, visit the popular QUEENS HEAD pub for a very traditional and cozy experience. The pubs’ menu offers seasonal foods and a fine selection of whiskey and ales handpicked for you. This pub is a favorite of Lee at ManCaveKings, who says the beers here beat what he’s got in his man cave’s beer fridge!  The pub offers Whiskey and Beer tastings and they offer open tastings for those not in groups of 8 or more. The pub is located at Drottninggatan 108 113 60 Stockholm

3. AKKURAT 

For a lively Tavern, experience then look no further than AKKURAT. With a large selection of traditional beers and whiskeys on offer. This pub is the place to be for live music and the fun of great traditional food and the classic whiskey tasting if that takes your fancy. The pub is located at Hornsgatan 18, 118 20 Stockholm.

4. SNOTTY SOUND BAR 

If you are into a pub with alternative Swedish music then SNOTTY SOUND BAR is the place for you! With a mix of wild music and great drinks like Campari, you are sure to enjoy this dive for hours on your next trip to Stockholm. The pub hosts local talent live so this could be the place for you to see the next Basshunter if you are into all of that. The pub is located at Skånegatan 90, 116 37 Stockholm, Sweden.

5. OMNIPOLLOS HATT 

If you love a woodfire pizza with your beer and some cozy company, then head on over to OMNIPOLLOS HATT for your next awesome pizza. The drinks in the pub are reasonably priced and the food is to die for. The place is a little small and is always very busy so be in for a bit of a wait to get a table. The smell of the food and the taste in your mouth is well worth the wait. The pub is located at ökens gata 1A, 116 46 Stockholm.

There are so many great pubs in Stockholm and there is always something to cater to everyone’s taste. Many of the pubs in Stockholm follow the same format, but the rooftop bars are the best way to see the beauty of the cities night sky or to enjoy the daily breeze of the crisp European air. Good luck on your next trip to Sweden and have a drink for us!

If you have kids and are interested in a family vacation in Stockholm, you will be pleased because this is a kid-friendly area. You and the kids will love the many indoor attractions and the abundance of outdoor spaces to laugh, play and enjoy. Stockholm will not disappoint you or the kids. You can count on Stockholm to deliver and provide for you and your family. There is plenty of fun awaiting you in Stockholm.

Some Great Ideas

Traveling with children does not need to be hectic or chaotic when you come to Stockholm. Everyone can have something to look forward to when you choose Stockholm for your family fun. There is so much to do and see. You and your kids will not ever get bored with a few great ideas. Include the following on your list of fun:

• A trip to Tom Tits; enjoy spending a day exploring and experimenting. You and your kids will be thrilled with the many experiments in the halls of discovery. Exploring will be half the fun. Everyone will have a blast when they challenge all fears and allow their brains to go wild. Spark the imaginations with a visit to Tom Tits in Stockholm.
• If you enjoy a free activity, try one of the many playgrounds. You may even find a playground filled with animals just waiting to be loved. The indoor and outdoor playgrounds are in abundance in Stockholm.
• Exploring the land of Pippi Longstocking will be a marvelous adventure for the entire family. You and your kids will find Pippi’s land right at Junibacken. Exploring this world by train will be an adventure to treasure for years to come.
• Grona Lund is filled with fun for everyone; This is a seaside amusement park. You’ll find more than 30 grand attractions. Amusement, stimulation and much more can be found at this park. There are plenty of schedules to choose from. The boat is a fantastic way to travel through the magnificent city.
• A boat trip to cherish for years to come; water is plentiful in Stockholm. You can take the kids on a ferry or a boat to see the city. Allow the water breeze to provide an interesting view. Boats provide an exceptional way to enjoy the city. There are several schedules available to accommodate you and your kids. Enjoy the views of the islands as you glide through the gentle waters.
• Aquaria; you and your kids will adore the tropical exhibits and the stunning ocean environments. The aquatic life is stunning to experience and enjoy. The tropical rainforests will delight your senses and inspire the whole family.
• Enjoy and experience Skansen; this is an original open-air museum. This will be devoured on the beautiful 74 acres on a hilltop. Explore over 150 historic buildings. These are buildings that had been transported from different parts of the country. Enjoy a taste of variety and see the log cabins, grass-roofed cottages and the quaint shops. Old-fashioned and unique will be found in this space. You and your kids can enjoy a taste of the past.

The Fun Doesn’t End in Stockholm

If you are looking for fun and intrigue, you and your kids will have plenty of it in Stockholm. This is a kid-friendly hot-spot waiting to welcome you.

Image By Holger.Ellgaard – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Link

If you’re the sort of person who enjoys going to old school arcades and spending your coins on games of Pac-Man and other classics, then you might be looking for a fun places like that in the city of Stockholm. Unfortunately, this craze that swept America and Germany in the 1980s isn’t quite as alive in Sweden. But don’t let that get you down! There are still a few places around town to get your gaming on, if you’re up for the challenge.

Ugglan Boule & Bar

This right here is really the #1 place to go for all of your retro gaming needs. It’s got your old school arcade games (arkadspel in Swedish), though the options here are limited. You can play Pac-Man, Pong, Asteroids, Sprint, and some retro Sega games. But here’s the thing – there are like the original old school arcade cabinets and they don’t work so well sometimes. So, you might make the trek here just to discover that your preferred gaming is being finicky at the moment. So, keep that in mind. Oh, and you should definitely make a reservation on their website to make sure your arcade game is available for you.

What really makes Ugglan special is that it’s not just retro arcade cabinets. They have pretty much any type of game that you want to play. You can throw darts with some buddies while you down some Swedish beer. My personal favorite is the collection of pinball machines, which is pretty awesome. And if you’re feeling a bit more cerebral, then you can challenge a mate to a game of chess while you sip on a cold brew.

Bring a whole group of friends and chose from the assortment of board games for a fun night out. Ugglan also has pretty much any table game that you can think of. This includes shuffleboard tables, foosball tables, pool tables, air hockey tables, some ping pong tables and probably some more that I’ve forgotten about right now! There is truly no shortage of gaming tables there.

They even have a game there that I’d never heard of before. It’s called boules and it’s a French game that is well known in Paris. So you can even try games that might be new to you!

Make no mistake though, this is a classy place and not the usual type of dive bar where you’d find an assortment of games like beer pong and dart boards. They have great beer on tap and excellent food.

You can find Ugglan at: 116 40, Närkesgatan 6, 116 40 Stockholm

HEY STHLM

If you like retro Japanese arcade games, then HEY STHLM is definitely the place for you to go! here you can find more than 30 different arcade games to play, some of which you will recognize and other you might not. They also have some pinball machines for the enthusiasts like me.

This place is a lot of fun and the arcade cabinets aren’t as finicky as they are over at Ugglan. However, this place is small and darker than Ugglan. So, keep that in mind as you decide on what type gaming experience you want to have.

Maybe you’ll just be satisfied cursing at Ghosts ‘N Goblins since that game is so freaking difficult! Or, bring a friend and challenge him to a game of Street Fighter!

Find it at: Gyldéngatan 2 113 27 Stockholm

Heron City

If table games are more your style, then you might want to venture out to Heron City. At O’Leary’s Bowling you can not only bowl a few games, but they have a handful of pool tables that you can play on. While that doesn’t exactly quench a thirst for some old school gaming, it’s still pretty cool that you can play billiards or bowl here, if that interests you.

It’s definitely not cheap, and it doesn’t offer the same experience that you get at Ugglan. However, it is nice for a change of pace.

It’s been almost 3 years since I was last at Heron City, but they also used to have around 40 arcade cabinets where you buy a card, which you then use to play games. Sort of like Dave and Busters power cards in America. I’m not sure if this is still the case, but it might be worth checking out if you’re interested and can’t get to Ugglan.

Find it at: Dialoggatan 2, King Curve

Do you know of any other places in Stockholm that are good for gamers? If so, drop a comment so that I can add it to the list!

image credit: ugglanboulebar.se

Stockholm is the political, economic and cultural center of Sweden and the Nordic region. The city boasts numerous attractions ranging from the beautiful islands in Lake Malaren overlooking the Baltic Sea to the imposing Kungliga Slotten palace, gothic churches and excellent restaurants. The city is home to 3 World Heritage Sites, The Woodland Cemetery at Skogskyrkogarden, Brika and the Drottnigham Palace. The city has an extensive public transportation system that includes trams, ferries, boat, buses and intercity trains. A sightseeing tour by boat provides a perfect opportunity to visit various major spots in the city in style. The largest airport in the country, Stockholm-Arlanda International Airport is located 25 miles north of Stockholm. If you haven’t visited Sweden, but are enthusiastic about traveling, here are 5 attractions you are missing out on:

1. Try Out Segway Stockholm City Tours

The segway or airwheel city tours are increasingly becoming one of the most preferred and cheapest ways to sightsee the 700 year old city. You can tear into the heart of Stockholm on a 10 kilometer ride to see the best attractions the city has to offer with these new set of wheels. Tour companies like Segway Stockholm Airwheel offer scheduled group tours and private tours around the city every single day when the weather is clear. Stockholm city tours cost as little as €50 per person, starting from the meeting point at Valhallavagen 114.

2. Visit the Old City

The picturesque Old Town or Gamla Stan is the most mythical and legendary sight to visit in the whole of Stockholm. The center has an historic center that tells a story of ancient events and activities that took place in the middle ages. The other historical attractions to see and study in this magnificent neighborhood include the legend of St. George and the Dragon and The Stockholm Blood Band. There are several tour companies in Stockholm that organize private and group tours to this historical neighborhood.

3. Enjoy White Christmas at Gallery Hantverket

Christmas markets are a must visit places in Stockholm during the festive season. This is precisely the reason why your winter tour in Sweden will never be complete without visiting the popular Gallery Hantverket on Gotgatan 63, Soldermalm. The gallery exhibits an amazing collection of art pieces made from various materials, including glass and ceramics. There is also an amazing collection of sculptures and handicrafts that you can buy as memorabilia. The gallery is open Tuesday to Friday from 11 am to 6 pm and during the weekends

4. Take Private Viking Tours

Take a guided tour to Viking archaeological sites and other places of great cultural importance to the Vikings. If you are lucky, you might get an opportunity to wear a captivating Viking Helmet as you learn more about the Viking history dating back from the Ice age to the modern era. Various tour companies, including Time Travel Tours organizes tour to various Viking sites around the capital and the outlying areas. The tours are led by local guides who perfectly understand the stories of the Swedish Vikings.

5. Enjoy Stockholm Winter Tour

A visit to wintery Stockholm by boat is worth every second of your time, thanks to the abundant attractions you get to see along the way. Tour guided boats offer an array of refreshments such as the classical hot mulled wine and meals that can be pre-ordered to keep you nourished as you make stops from one city quay to the other. One of the companies that offers comprehensive winter tour packages in the city is Stromma. The company has a combined winter tour by boat and bus service.

image attribution: By Soman (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Christmas markets and fairs mean color, magic, beautifully decorated trees, spectacular lights, mulled wine and appealing sweets, carols, and an enchanting atmosphere. Each year, at the end of November, almost all major cities markets in Europe turns into fairytale places for locals and especially for tourists. Nothing can be more beautiful in anticipation of Christmas than a short vacation, even for a weekend at one of the Christmas fairs in Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Berlin, or Stockholm.

Stockholm or the “Venice of the North” is a splendid city in summer and in winter time. It is built on 14 islands in an archipelago with more than 24 000 islands. A few winter days spent in Stockholm will fill your soul with magic and romance especially during the holidays. The whole town is decorated in the spirit of Christmas, on the streets of the picturesque medieval town linger an inviting smell of gingerbread, roasted chestnuts and glögg (hot red wine flavored with cinnamon, vanilla, nuts, raisins) and the snow that settles over the city gives it a special glow.

There are several Christmas markets in Stockholm that will pleasantly surprise you, charm and win you over irremediably.

Christmas Market in the Old Town

This Christmas market take place in the beautiful Stortorget Square and it has a tradition longer than a century. It is the most known and appreciated market of its kind in Stockholm and you will be impressed with traditional Christmas sweets (especially gingerbread saffron named saffransbullar), delicious seasonal food, mulled wine named glögg, many decorations for the Christmas tree, beautiful toys or gift ideas for family and friends. You can skate, enjoy the concerts organized especially during the holiday season, walk through the city, and spread smiles and happiness all around.

You must taste the smoked reindeer and elk meat and sausages, which are delicious, bagels with saffron and ginger biscuits. Also, do not miss jewelry and pottery handmade by local artisans!

The Old Town (Gamla Stan) with his glorious architecture still preserved a medieval scent, but also has numerous taverns, breweries, cafes, and fine restaurants. Here you can enjoy all your senses tasting different Scandinavian delicacies and admiring many and various art objects handmade by Swedes artisans. Then you can warm yourself up with a cup of mulled wine or coffee and watch guard changing at the Royal Palace, a show that takes place every day at noon. In the afternoon, you can visit the Royal Palace, the Cathedral, and the Nobel Museum.

The market is open from 19 November to 23 December 2016, every day from 11 am to 6 pm.

Skansen Christmas Market

Skansen Christmas Market, first opened in 1903, is one of the most unusual Christmas markets in Europe, being considered the largest open-air museum in the world.

All cottages at Skansen Museum are heated and equipped with tables specially prepared for Christmas. Visitors can find here popular handicraft products, traditional straw ornaments, and many other specific products such as traditional buns “St. Lucia” with vanilla and cinnamon, fresh out of the bakery oven in Skansen. Masters in the kitchen, Swedes delight the tourists with sausages, salmon, eels, saffron buns and glögg (mulled wine).

In Seglora wooden church, located in the middle of the park, you can enjoy a concert dedicated to St. Lucia. December 13 marks one of the most popular celebration in Scandinavian culture, when Swedes celebrate with joy and enthusiasm Saint Lucia (from lat. Lux = Light), one of the first Christian martyr. On this day, various festivities and concerts are held in churches and parks in Stockholm, and the most picturesque of them is Saint Lucia procession. Young girls dressed in white and wearing crowns of lit candles on their heads and in their hands, sing traditional songs and carols. This opens the festivity of Christmas and New Year celebrations and is meant to bring hope and joy on the faces of people in cold winter days.

The market is open from 26 November to 27 November 2016; 3 December to 4 December 2016; 10 December to 11 December 2016; 17 December to 18 December 2016. The opening hours are to 10 am to 4 pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Rosendal Place Christmas Market

Nearby Skansen it’s organized another Christmas market in the garden of Rosendal Palace. Here you can buy wooden handicrafts products, local delicacies and obviously, gifts and ornaments. There is also a traditional nativity scenery. Market opens on 25 Novemberand ends on 22 December 2016; opening hours are from Tuesday to Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm, closed on Mondays.

Kungstradgarden Christmas Market

Kungstradgarden Christmas Market provides everything, from textiles and wooden handicrafts, delicacies from the forest and the sea, warm clothes, and other gifts. Also, there are lots of good things to eat, specialties of Sweden and not only.

Market opens on November 28 and ends on December 22 2016; opening hours are from Monday to Sunday form 11 am to 6 pm.

Kungstradgarden is Stockholm’s favorite location for ice skating. Ice-skating rink in the middle of the city is one of the popular attractions for many winter tourists to Stockholm. This place has a lovely atmosphere with live music and stands with hot drinks and various treats.

The outdoor ice rink is open from mid-November until March, if it’s cold enough for the ice. Opening hours are Weekdays 9 am – 9 pm, weekends 10 am – 9 pm.

Image: By Michael Caven from Stockholm, Sweden (Christmas market in Stockholm Old Town) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Sweden’s capital is a vibrant city with many individual island districts that present something for every person. The City plans to give modern art reinforced shows, exciting nightlife, and historic village sporting events this November. You can achieve a lot of things depending on your stay in Stockholm. You can visit the Fotografiska (The Swedish Museum of Photography), Stockholm Royal Palace, Moderna Museet (Museum of Modern Art), Drottningholm Palace, Vasa Museum, Skansen, or the Stockholm City Hall.

1. Trip to the Stockholm Royal Palace
You can visit the King of Sweden official residence that has up to six hundred rooms with Italian eighteenth-century Baroque styles while in the Sweden capital. You may consider touring the beautiful reception interior rooms like the Chivalry Orders Halls, Rikssalen, and the Ordenssalarna. You may also witness the Palace’s Treasury, the Gustav III’s Museum of Antiquities, or even the Tre Kronor Museum. You can also voyage the Royal Palace’s Armory that has excellent Royal Stable coaches, coronation carriages, high armor, as well as costumes. Ensure you witness the daily parade and change of the Palace Royal Guards while visiting the Palace.

2. Tour to the Modern Art Museum/Moderna Museet
You can also visit Moderna Museet, the leading modern art museum in Stockholm. The Moderna Museet, found on Skeppsholmen, is a forty-five minutes walk from the King’s Garden. You may also take the commuter buses as the most convenient alternative. The museum is endowed with masterpiece drives from all over the world including, Matisse, Dali, and Picasso works. At the Moderna Museet, you will also find contemporary Swedish artistry and other European master’s work. You can scan through the numerous artwork collections. Ensure you first stop by the fourth-floor displays that have Early Modernism exhibition works of Wassily Kandinsky and Edvard Munch. Take your time to witness the Museum’s 1970s Post-War Era shows that cover the expressionism and pop art periods.

These Apollo displays are the works of Robert Rauschenberg’s Monogram and Henri Matisse. Observe the Contemporary and Minimalism exhibition sculpture displays from Barbara Kruger and Eva Hesse. Make sure you do not miss out on the Le Jardin and Henri Matisse paintings. You may also enjoy complimentary Sunday Family events where art educators take you through guided trips around the exhibition stands. The tours are followed by an opportunity to do painting at the museum paint workshops. You can later enjoy meals at the museum restaurant; with its cuisine influenced by the Swedish Malin Söderström television chef. The dining section offers lovely city views, Östermalm, and Djurgården districts.

3. Trip to the Drottningholm Palace
Consider Drottningholm day tours and experience the highest standard historical, social environment. Experience the Palace’s equally majestic medieval park, salon, and a different Chinese Pavilion palace theater. You get to witness the grand Baroque garden imposes laid out during the prehistoric period. You also get to behold the most preserved regular basis original stage machinery at the theater. The park, palace, and theater are always open for you to experience the magnificence of the royal private family rooms in the Southern mansion.

4. Tour to the Vasa Museum
It is the only seventeenth-century preserved ship art treasure. Witness the spectacular ship’s triple masts on the outside roof that resembles the ship’s original masts. Be part of the various exhibitions around the ship that give further guides about the ship’s onboard life. Enjoy meals at the Museum’s well-stocked restaurant and shops as you watch the Vasa film.

5. The Skansen Open-Air Museum Sport Event
Skansen presents you with the oldest open-air museum. This is where you can enjoy the views of Scandinavian native Stockholm zoo animals. You can also experience its spectacular sporting events, Midsummer Swedish traditions, Lucia, and the Walpurgis Night. Take your day out and observe the multiple farm animal dwellings assembled from across the world.

6. Visit to the City Hall
Paying the Stockholm City Hall a visit is the most fabulous thing you can do in Stockholm. Witness its magnificent triple golden crowns and silhouettes. Take a tour through its fantastic politician and official offices that are full of uniquely assembled artworks. Observe and be part of its unique shops that feature created souvenirs.

7. The Fotografiska Art Gallery Exhibition
The Fotografiska is the largest collection of modern photography. You can visit its uniquely significant exhibitions that present you with the unbelievable photo galleries. You can also acquire souvenirs at its shops.

The Swedish capital city is full of events this November. Apart from just taking tours and visits to some of its most fabulous destinations, you get a share in artistic illumination, Joining Stockholm Nobility, entering medieval Stockholm, buying Swedish designs, and picking up modern Swedish art. The city has a lot of activities and events this November. Hence, it presents something for everyone regardless of age.

Image by Sxenko at English Wikipedia, CC BY 2.5, Link

Stockholm is an incredible city full of modern architecture and cultural monuments to see and explore. However, it can also be an expensive city to visit due to its strong currency and healthy economy. If you are on a budget, then one of the best ways to see the city’s cultural spot is to hit up one of the many free museums dotted throughout the Swedish capital. This list will show you the best of Stockholm when it comes to exploring the city on a budget.

The Färgfabriken

The Center for Contemporary Art and Architecture is a great museum that overlooks the bay of the city. You can take one of the many water taxi right to its front door. It is also located near the old naval marina where you can see ancient ships used by the Swedish navy. This museum is attached to an institute or school that is linked with events on the program to bring contemporary art and architecture to life. It is a fun hands on museum where you can experience some of the best Swedish and international design. This is great place to spend a few hours on a cold winter day. You can even grab lunch or a snack from the on-site cafe!

The Forum för levande historia

The Living History Forum is fabulous museum to start your free adventure through Stockholm. You will explore the history of humanity from pre-history to modern times at this unique museum. It is a sobering reminder of the world’s constant struggle to remain at peace. Start your tour at this museum to get a glimpse at the Swedish interpretation of world events from a country that has remained steadfastly neutral in major world wars.

The Haga Parkmuseum

The Haga Park Museum is located in the lush park of Solna. The park itself has many great monuments to visit such as the structures modeled after architecture from Turkey and Chin. It also has the abandoned site of an unfinished castle near a lovely lake that is breathtaking in winter or summer. The museum is easy to access on public transportation from the center of town.

The Etnografiska Museet

The Ethnographic Museum is located in the northern part of the city, but is easy to find with a local bus. It houses a large selection of artifacts that documents Sweden’s influence on world issues. In the summer, its darling tea house is open for the public to explore and get a taste of Japanese culture.

Stockholms Medeltidsmuseum

One of the coolest places to see for free is the Museum of Medieval Stockholm. You can see how the capital looked centuries ago thanks to this museum housed in an underground cavern. Here you can see ruins of an old fortress that made up the original foundations of the city.

Kulturhuset

This museum offers a revolving door of expos each season that feature on anything cultural from fashion photography to musical concerts. This museum is a great place to unwind and see the latest things happening in the city’s burgeoning art market. You will not want to miss the exhibitions as they change regularly which makes it an attractive option for those who will be visiting Sweden for an extended period of time.

As you can see, Stockholm has plenty of great places to visit when you do not have much money to spend. It is a great place to explore, but its winter weather means to cannot spend all of your time outdoors!