The Port of Stockholm
OVERVIEW – On this page you can see information about Stockholm and some suggestions of Things to Do. We reflect on our visits which include the Royal Palace of Stockholm which is the King’s official residence. However we also visit Drottningholm Palace, the private residence of the Royal Family.
Video(s) of our visit(s) accompany at the foot of this page.
ABOUT
Stockholm, the capital of Sweden and largest city in Scandinavia, is a stylish, walkable metropolis built on 14 islands connected by over 50 bridges. Known as the “Venice of the North”, it blends medieval history in Gamla Stan (Old Town) with modern, eco-friendly designs.
Stockholm was founded around 1252 by Birger Jarl to Protect Sweden from naval invasions and control trade between Lake Malaren and the Baltic Sea. Like many cities of its era it faced plague and wars but eventually became Sweden’s economic hub and has been the capital city since 1634.
In the 19th and 20th Centuries the city grew beyond the original boundaries. When it hosted the Olympic Games in 1912 there was a huge modernisation prgramme including a subway.
Today the city remains remains the cultural and political centre of Sweden.
Population of the City is just under 1 million
Currency is the Swedish Krona (SEK)
THINGS TO DO
From the extraordinary archipelago that greets you as you cruise towards the city to the historic sites, Stockholm has much to offer.
Boat trips give you a more intimate look at the archipelago and the nearby islands.
Walking tours give a flavour of life there over the centuries.
Visiting the ABBA Museum enables you to walk in the footsteps of this extraordinary group.
Meanwhile the Vasa Museum concentrates on Stockholm’s Maritime History. It’s main exhibit is the Vasa ship, a warship launched in 1628 that sank in the harbour on her maiden voyage.
You can a Hop On Hop Off bus and/or boat tour, or perhaps try local food.
On top of all that there are Royal Palaces to visit one in the city itself and another a short drive outside of the city. These feature below.
OUR FAVOURITE THINGS TO DO
We have been lucky enough to visit this beautiful city on a number of occasions over the years. Here we try to give you a flavour of our experiences.
The City
With a city dating back so far in history there is plenty to see. We have walked through the city on a number of occasions and marvelled at the more modern architecture. Many are magnificent and worth looking at in their own right. Often they are built on the waterside and they are in close proximity to each other. The pictures show some of the prominant buildings we have seen on our travels through the city.
Parliament House. Built between 1897 and 1905. Tours of the building are available but can only be booked on site.
Grand Hotel opened its doors in 1874 and has seen many celebrities and high profile events over the years.
The National Museum was established in 1792 and contains extensive collections of paintings, sculptures and applied arts from the 16th century to the present.
As with most major cities there is a plethera of statues to marvel at. Their detail is quite exquisite and their subject matter is often closely tied to the history of the city.
King Charles XII reigned from 1697 to 1718 and was known for his miliatary prowess.
A predecessor, King Gustav II Adolf reigned from 1611-1632 and is credited with the rise of Sweden as a European power.
The Royal Palace of Stockholm
The Royal Palace of Stockholm is His Majesty The King’s official residence and is also the setting for most of the monarchy’s official receptions. It is a combination of royal residence, workplace and cultural-historical monument.
A castle has stood in this location for centuries. Previous structures were lost to fire, however this palace was built in the 17th Century evoking a Baroque style.
The palace has more than 600 rooms divided between eleven floors with a state apartment facing the city and smaller living rooms facing the inner courtyard.
In addition there are three other museums on the site which can be viewed including the Treasury.
As with many palaces the Changing of the Guard is very popular with visitors, although the timing of our visit didn’t coincide with it.
Guided Tour of the Palace
We find in many cases that there are excellent guide or self guide facilities at most public buildings. This palace is no exception.
Our visit was on an organised tour and we had a very knowledgeable tour guide with us. This really enhanced the visit. However you can find details on the Palace Website about the free Palaces App. Here you can find various audio guides to enable you to visit independently.
Below you can see some of the rooms we visited during our guided tour.
The Royal Armoury
Nestled in the basement of the Royal Palace is the Royal Armoury Collection (TIP: there is a separate entry fee for this museum). We had time on our side so we decided to visit the collection. We had heard that it was quite an extensive set of exhibits and we weren’t disappointed. The exhibits are carefully curated and exhibited and the collection dates from the 17th Century to the present day.
It is Sweden’s oldest museum, founded in 1628, and houses royal, ceremonial, and military artifacts, including armour, clothing, and Royal carriages.
It all makes for a fascinating and unique display of Royal artifacts and militaria and we would recommend a visit.
Drottningholm Palace
We have also visited Drottningholm Palace situated on Lovön island near Stockholm. The original mansion on this site was constructed in 1580 by King Johan III and called Drottningham or Queen’s Island.
This building burnt down in 1661 and a replacement was commissioned. The new build was very much in the Rococo style and dubbed the `Versailles of Sweden’.
Today the Palace is the permanent home residence of their Majesties the King and Queen who occupy one wing. Meanwhile the remainder of the Palace, Grounds and Theatre are open to the public.
Inside the Palace
Our guide escorted us through the main entrance of the Palace and into an entrance hall. We were then led up a stunning staircase to the upper rooms.
The baroque influence of the era is everywhere. Ornate decor and stunning centre pieces adorn the rooms.
We saw state bedchambers, magnificant portrates and an enormous tapestry. In order to preserve many of the furnishings light and temperature is monitored.
The Palace Gardens
These gardens are perhaps the reason why the Palace got the nickname of the `Versailles of Sweden’.
While we toured the Palace our guide stopped us at this vantage point. We were all given time for a photo stop – and you can see why.
This window was designed to enable a view directly over the formal gardens – and yes, it is very much in the style of Versailles.
Known as the Baroque Garden its formation dates back to the 17th Century when the Palace was built. Other gardens include those around the Chinese Pavillion and an English Park.
The best time to see the gardens are in the spring when the bulbs are in flower. However we could have spent hours just wandering and enjoying the views.
Drottningholm Palace Theatre
There are not many palaces that can boast their own on-site theatre but Drottningholm is one of them.
The Theatre was built in 1766 for Queen Lovisa Ulrika. Behind its simple façade lies one of the world’s best-preserved 18th-century interiors, featuring painted marbling, papier-mâché corbels, and plaster pilasters.
The stage features a sophisticated wooden mechanical system that is still in use today and is entirely hand-operated. Cranks, rollers, drums, pulleys, ropes, and counterweights enable quick and dramatic scene changes. it is the world’s only 18th-century theatre that regularly uses its original stage machinery in performances.
1777 to 1792 was a golden era for the theatre producing everything from opera to ballet. But on the death of King Gustav III it closed and fell into obscurity.
In 1921 it was rediscovered, updated and re-opened. It hosts opera, theater, and dance performances, concerts, guided tours, and other events. We had a fascinating tour with an excellent guide and thoroughly recommend it.
ACCOMPANYING VIDEOS
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