Visby

The Hanseatic city on Gotland

Many cruise ships that start in northern Germany and are about to cross the Baltic Sea (e.g. on the trip to St. Petersburg or the Baltic States) stop in the southern Swedish city of Visby. Visby has around 23,000 inhabitants and is located on the west coast of the island of Gotland. Visby can also be reached by ferry from mainland Sweden. Visby is worthwhile for a day or more! The medieval old town is very well preserved and has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In earlier centuries Visby was a Hanseatic city and an important trading base between northern Germany, Scandinavia and Russia.

The old town and the Gotland Museum

The impressive medieval city wall of Visby (built 1250-1288) is three and a half kilometers long, and 27 watchtowers of the original 29 have been preserved (that’s a record!). If you stroll through the alleys of the old town, you will find numerous pretty photo motifs: There is the powder tower from the 12th century, the church “St. Karin” and the cathedral church “Sankta Maria”. The church “St. Karin” was destroyed in a war between Swedes and Danes in the 16th century and has been a romantic ruin ever since. The cathedral was built in the 12th century in Romanesque style and has a beautiful baroque interior. In the Gotland Museum, visitors can learn about the history of the island, which was inhabited since prehistoric times.

Shopping and trips

Handicrafts (ceramics), lambskins and sweets are popular souvenirs from Visby. There is a large selection in the pretty little shops in the old town! Perhaps there is still time for a stroll through the parks of Visby, the “Almedalen” and the botanical garden. And in the amusement park “Kneippbyn” – located just outside Visby – visitors can take a trip back in time to their childhood: there you can visit the “Villa Kunterbunt”, which appears in the film adaptations of the “Pippi Longstocking” novels. Hikes along the west coast of Gotland lead to fishing villages, secluded cliffs and beautiful sandy beaches.

Göta Canal

The outstanding marvel of Sweden

The Göta Canal meanders through Västergötland and Östergötland and was built 200 years ago. The canal is the largest construction project in Sweden. In the years of its construction, nearly 60,000 people worked literally digging the 87 km stretch with a spade and shovel. The leader of this gigantic project was the engineer Baltzar von Platen, who had recognized the importance of a transport route for goods traffic from the Baltic Sea to the Kattegat. While the Göta Canal played a decisive role in this function in the 19th century, the structure later lost its importance due to strong competition from rail and truck traffic.

The blue ribbon of Sweden

Nowadays the canal is one of the most famous Swedish tourist attractions. The waterway, the guest harbors, museums and sights attract three million tourists every year.
For a hundred years, three steamships have been cruising leisurely across the country by water. If you are looking for relaxation and tranquility and at the same time want to see a lot of Sweden’s beautiful nature, you can take part in multi-day cruises between Stockholm and Gothenburg. Day trips are also possible with other ships, but these should be booked in advance. In the summer months there are also many recreational boats that can also be rented on the canal.

58 locks

The Göta Canal leads through deep forests, pretty towns and yellow fields. The height differences determined by the landscape are overcome by locks. They are what make the Göta Canal so fascinating and are popular excursion destinations for visitors. Tourists can experience the fascinating spectacle of the lock in the cozy restaurants and cafés directly at the locks. The Berg lock staircase with its seven locks is particularly impressive. Here the Göta Canal overcomes almost 20 meters in altitude with the help of seven locks. The lock staircase is also interesting for those visitors who just want to watch the hustle and bustle on the canal and around the locks and have a cozy coffee. There is also an ice bar, a pretty café and a mini golf course.

Gripsholm Castle

A major attraction in Sweden

Mariefred is located west of Stockholm and is a town with narrow streets, neat wooden houses and an idyllic atmosphere. Visitors will find cozy cafés, galleries and many small shops here. The location on Mälaren, Sweden’s third largest lake, is also very beautiful. The most famous sight of the city is Gripsholm Castle, which is clearly visible on the banks of the Mälaren. The castle is known to German-speaking visitors through Kurt Tucholsky’s romance novel of the same name from 1931, which has also been filmed several times. But even without the world-famous writer and his story from the 30s, the beautiful complex meets all the requirements to be considered one of the most impressive sights in Northern Europe: an idyllic location, bright red and shimmering brick walls, four huge round towers and an exciting story. Gripsholm is still used by the Swedish royal family today. In 2001 King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia celebrated their silver wedding anniversary there.

Exciting tours, portraits and a prison tower

There is a state portrait collection in the castle, for which the National Museum in Stockholm is responsible. The imposing collection includes almost 4,500 paintings from the late 15th century to the present day. More portraits of famous Swedes are added every year. For example, there are portraits of Ingvar Kamprad, the founder of IKEA with an Allen key, and of Benny Andersson, the famous ABBA singer. The works from the 19th to the 21st century hang on the third floor of the mighty castle.

During the summer months, visitors have the opportunity to explore Gripsholm Castle on their own. If you want, you can of course also take part in a guided tour, which is offered all year round in German. Particularly noteworthy are the guided tours through the creepy prison tower. In the summer there are sometimes interesting guided tours for children.
A large selection of books, postcards, toys and souvenirs can be found in the castle’s boutique. More exclusive items such as glass, textiles, porcelain and other items based on models from the royal art collection are also offered here.

Maritime Stockholm is a classic of nearby destinations. Stockholm is a large and international city with excellent shopping and a diverse cultural life. Located on the shores of the Baltic Sea, Stockholm is a city that is familiar to many Finnish tourists. Good connections and a similar culture make traveling easy.

Stockholm is an archipelago city

The Swedish capital, Stockholm, is located on the eastern edge of the country on the shores of the Baltic Sea. Stockholm is literally an archipelago city, as it is built on 14 islands connected by 56 bridges. In front of the city opens the Stockholm archipelago of about 24,000 islands.

Stockholm offers a wide range of contrasts. Tourists can walk through the city’s fine area of ​​Östermalm to Södermalm’s weekend street market, and continue their journey towards the tourist-filled old town.

The histories of Sweden and Finland are closely intertwined, as the current neighboring countries have been one and the same state for centuries. Stockholm’s cultural life has always had a huge impact on Finnish culture, and Finnish tourists have remained loyal to the neighboring capital.

Today, more than 700 years old, Stockholm is the largest city in the Nordic countries and is especially known for its design, shopping and nightlife. Stockholm’s most famous places to visit and attractions include the Old Town, Skansen, the Vasa Museum and Junibacken.

Shopping is one of the most popular activities on a Stockholm holiday.

Stockholm’s climate

The climate in Stockholm is similar to that in the coastal cities of Finland. Winters are relatively mild and summers warm. The coldest time in Stockholm is in January – February, when the average temperature is a couple of degrees. The warmest is in June, July and August, when daytime temperatures rise to over 20 degrees.

Many trips are made to Stockholm from Finland, especially in summer, but the city is still a year-round tourist destination. For example, the atmospheric Christmas market attracts Finnish travelers for Christmas shopping.

Take a city break to Stockholm

Stockholm is primarily a city holiday destination, but the city also offers plenty of activities for tourists who need it. In addition to great shopping, interesting museums and a wide range of restaurants, you can climb the rooftops of Stockholm, paddle in the archipelago in front of the city and explore the city’s parks, not forgetting the great sea jogging or cycling routes.

From a Finnish point of view, Stockholm is by no means particularly affordable, but it is also not an expensive city destination. Popular tourist seasons, such as summer and school holidays, are reflected in the price level of hotels in Stockholm, which is also affected by currency fluctuations between the Swedish krona and the euro.

Travel safely and speak Swedish

Stockholm is a safe travel destination, and Finnish tourists do not experience major cultural differences in the city due to the cultural similarity between the countries. However, you should be careful about Stockholm taxis, as the city’s taxis are known for their stick sticks, which can put tourists at an outrageous price for a taxi ride.

Swedish is, of course, spoken in the Swedish capital, but if the second native language is not so fluent that you dare to use it, English will also work well in the city. If you spend a lot of time outside the city center or in places where there aren’t a lot of tourists, it’s worth a few Swedish phrases to recall before your trip.

FLIGHTS, ACCOMMODATION AND MOVEMENT IN STOCKHOLM

Stockholm’s Old Town is one of the city’s most popular places to visit.

Flights and trips to Stockholm

Finland has good connections to Stockholm. The most popular and well-established way to move to the neighboring capital is to hop on a ship. In addition to scheduled trips, shipping companies also offer a lot of package tours to Stockholm.

Shipping companies operating in Stockholm include Viking Line and Tallink Silja . Cruise and itinerary prices to Stockholm vary widely, as trips cost around € 30-150, depending on the time and cabin class.

You can also get to Stockholm from Finland by plane. The nearest airport to Stockholm is Bromma Airport, located about ten kilometers from the city. However, most of the flights land at Arlanda, Sweden’s largest and busiest airport, located about 40 kilometers from Stockholm. From the airport, you can reach central Stockholm by bus, Arlanda Express or flat-rate taxi.

Flights to Stockholm are operated by Finnair , SAS and Norwegian . Flights to Stockholm cost around € 30-120. Cheap flights to Stockholm can be conveniently found, for example, with the help of Rantapallo flight search.

Hotels and accommodation in Stockholm

There are hundreds of hotels and other accommodation services in Stockholm. In addition to hotels, you can also live in a hostel, rental apartment or campsite in the Stockholm area. Many of the hotels are located in the city center in the Norrmalm and Södermalm areas.

Stockholm hotels are generally high quality. A hotel night in Stockholm costs on average around 80-100 euros. Many hotels offer discounted rates on weekends, and on weekdays also on weekdays.

If you need slightly cheaper accommodation solutions in Stockholm, hostels, hostels and camping sites are affordable accommodation.

Getting around Stockholm

It is easy to get around Stockholm on foot or by rented bicycle. Many of the city’s attractions are within walking distance.

For slightly longer journeys, you can get around Stockholm by bus, metro and local train. Located right in the city center, Stockholm Central Station is the city’s metro, bus and local train hub.

A one-time ticket for a public transport costs about four euros. In addition to single tickets, the traveler can purchase travel cards that include multiple trips or travel dates. More information on train and bus timetables and ticket prices can be found on Storstockholms Lokaltrafik’s website .

If you plan to travel a lot on Stockholm’s public transport, you may want to get a travel card, which is available for either a day, 72 hours or a week. A valid 24-hour travel card goes unlimitedly to all SL’s means of transport and costs about 12 euros.

In the Stockholm area, taxi prices are at the same level as in Finland.

TIPS AND HINTS…

When you think of Sweden, you immediately think of red painted wooden houses, picturesque lakes and large forests. As a holiday destination with a great variety of nature experiences, the most densely populated country in Scandinavia is an exciting travel destination. According to countryaah, Sweden is a country located in northern Europe.

… FOR THE TRIP TO SWEDEN

It rarely gets full, because 10 million people live on the 447,000 square kilometers. On the following pages we have put together a range of useful information about your trip to Sweden. Find out in advance to be well prepared.

ENTRY

Since Sweden is a member of the EU, travelers generally do not need any further identification documents. However, it is advisable to carry an identity card or passport with you for customs controls. You can find out more under the heading Getting to Sweden.

LANGUAGE

The national language is Swedish, which is one of the North Germanic languages ​​and is closely related to Danish and Norwegian. In addition, English is spoken at a good level by a large part of the population. Read more about this in the section on the Swedish language.

CURRENCY

In Sweden you pay with Swedish krona, in Swedish krona (plural kronor, abbreviated SEK or kr), which is divided into 100 ore. International credit cards are generally accepted everywhere. In addition, cash machines are available for collection in front of banks. Cashless payment is very common in Sweden, so that even the smallest amounts can be paid by credit card. You can find out how and when it is best to shop in the section Shopping in Sweden.

CLIMATE AND CLOTHING – TEMPERATURE – TRAVEL TIME

Summers in Sweden are short but often warm and sunny; the best travel time is from May to September. In the south of the country, the night lasts a few hours in summer, while beyond the Arctic Circle the sun never sets. Late summer and autumn are considered the wettest seasons.

In the south of the country, the proximity to the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream ensure mild temperatures despite the northern location. Malmö has an average of 0 degrees throughout winter. Except in the extreme southwest, snow falls regularly. In the east the winters are colder, so in Stockholm the mean temperature is below freezing from December to February. Lapland and the regions beyond the Arctic Circle have polar climates. The winters are very cold with average temperatures of minus 12 to minus 14 degrees. Lower temperatures are reached again and again. In Haparanda at the northern end of the Gulf of Bothnia, permafrost prevails from November to April. Read more about the climate and the best time to travel to Sweden.

EVENTS

Short for SE by abbreviationfinder, Sweden offers a wide range of events throughout the year. It is best to plan your next visit after the interesting event. We have put together a selection of our event highlights in Sweden for you.

SWEDEN INTRODUCTION

When you think of Sweden, you immediately think of red painted wooden houses, picturesque lakes and large forests. As a holiday destination with a great variety of nature experiences, the most densely populated country in Scandinavia is an exciting travel destination. It never gets full, because 9 million people live on the 447,000 square kilometers.

SWEDEN, THE LAND OF THE ARCHIPELAGO

From the wider archipelago in the south to the Sami areas in Lapland, it is worth getting to know many facets of Sweden. In addition, pulsating metropolises such as Stockholm and Malmö offer the amenities of the big city, such as diverse shopping opportunities in connection with major sights.

Sweden is also ideal for active travelers. Numerous hiking trails and nature parks invite you to go on long tours to be active in the fresh air. In addition, crystal clear rivers and a widely branched water system offer canoeists the best conditions. Those who like things a little quieter look for delicious berries and mushrooms in the woods. And if you fancy a little more company, there are plenty of opportunities in Sweden’s cities to spend the day in museums, galleries and shops.

In the winter months you can also be active in the fresh air. Well-groomed trails invite you to cross-country skiing, in the north of the country there are lifts for downhill skiing. Snowshoe hikes and snowmobile safaris are also enjoying increasing popularity.

Sweden can look back on a varied history and has now become a model for many other countries, especially because of its neutral position in international conflicts and its appreciation of equality. You will get to know the down-to-earth attitude inherent in many Swedes on your trip to Sweden. Find out more about your trip to Sweden in our practical tips for Sweden section.