A Holiday Week in Stockholm

stockholmA week in the beautiful city that is Sweden’s capital invites you to a sleek experience of terracotta buildings, vibrant nightlife and amazing culture. A winter break will place you in a white holiday to remember, and this is a popular period for many travellers. A week is a sufficient amount of time to visit the heart of Scandinavia and experience a holiday week in Stockolm’s highlights, here are our recommendations.

The Sights of Stockolm

Walk the cobbled streets of the old town Gamla Stan and visit as many gift shops as desired. You can rest in a variety of restaurants and ice cream parlours for the Stockolm tradition of fika: sharing coffee and some cake with friends. There are plenty of boutiques and retro shops in up-market and stylish Ostermalm. Royal Palace StockholmThe Royal Palace sits majestically on the island as its regal crown. Those who like a historical feel will appreciate the palaces and rich culture offered amidst the 700 years of historical buildings so perfectly kept intact. Stand in awe as you gaze upon the gothic churches.

Sightseeing Outside The City

While enjoying your holiday week in Stockolm, there are some sightseeing tours going out of the city to the rocky islands of the archipelago. The capital may come as a surprise to you with its land spread across 14 islands. From Lake Malaran, view the Baltic Sea and soak up the crystal blue skies and crisp winter air. Continue your historical journey across the islands sights by taking a ferry to the island of Djurgarden; the island boasts the 100 year old town called Skansen embellishing a foray of tradition in pottery, bakery, saddle-making and glass blowing. Ferry rides from Stockholm’s city centre to the islands are quite regular so you can partake of some more fika and just head across for the next ferry. Continue your historical Scandinavian journey and visit Uppsala and Sigtuna for some real culture and contemporary excitement. Fan of the Steig Larsson’s Millennium Trilogy books? Visit the location setting for the tales at Sodermalm, a popular choice and the Millennium Tour can be booked in Stockolm.

Shopping in Stockholm

If shopping is your reason for being in Stockholm, the city centre will tempt you into a number of big fashion stores. Visit some real Nordic shops selling designer fashion, household objects and other Swedish apparel. Nordiska KompanietFor cosmetics, visit NK or Nordiska Kompaniet for stylish shoes, cosmetics, and Nordic crystal. Take a peek in PUB on Drottninggatan; if you like designer art glass and varied household objects, take a peek in Ahlens. This store offers the latest in Swedish fashion. Enjoy your holiday week in Stockolm, the true majestic Swedish city.

Paris: a city full of delights

Eiffel ower ParisWhat can you do in Paris? The French capital has many famous sights to visit, but also lesser-known delights to explore. You can travel around easily by underground trains – le Métro – or bus, and it is also a pleasure to walk through the streets of the centre of the city, or further out on a former railway line which has been transformed into a green walkway. Rain or shine, there is always plenty to see and do in Paris. Tour MontparnasseWhat can you do in Paris to get an overview of the city? The most iconic sight in Paris is the Eiffel Tower, which at 324 metres high was the tallest structure in the world when it was built in 1889. From the top you have a panoramic view of the city, with the River Seine snaking through it. Other places worth a visit for a bird’s-eye view are the Tour Montparnasse and the Institut du Monde Arabe. The latter is one of the “Grand Projets”, the big architectural projects undertaken by President Mitterand in the 1980s. These also include the glass pyramid in the courtyard of the Louvre museum and the Grande Arche de la Défence, which is a contemporary version of the Arc de Triomphe – there is a splendid view from one to the other. What can you do in Paris in bad weather? Notre Dame cathedral ParisOn a rainy day you can take the opportunity to see the interiors of the great buildings of Paris, such as Notre Dame cathedral, the white basilica of Sacré Coeur and the great museums. See the paintings of the French impressionists in the Musée d’Orsay. Both the building and the paintings will show you something of how Paris looked in the 19th century. For something less well-known, visit La Pagode, a genuine Japanese pagoda imported in 1895 and subsequently turned into a cinema, where you can watch films in a sumptuous interior and, if the rain has stopped, take tea in the oriental-style garden. Otherwise, sit on a covered terrace outside one of Paris’ many cafés and watch the elegant Parisians walking by. What can you do in Paris on foot? Place de la Bastille ParisYou can spend an fascinating morning window-shopping in Paris – looking at the latest fashions in the rue de Rivoli, fabulously-arrayed gourmet delicacies in Fauchon and mouth-watering cakes in almost any patisserie. For a rather different walk, take the Promenade Plantée from the Place de la Bastille in a south-easterly direction. The first one and a half kilometre section is elevated, and planted with trees, roses and other flowering plants. You feel as if you are in the country. You can continue to walk until you reach the Bois de Vincennes and return by Métro.