STOCK ‘N STROLL
Tom Davidson reckons you’ll soon be having the time of your life if you head to the beautiful birthplace of Abba
Stockholm might not be first on your list when you think of a European city break – but you Abba-solutely should take a chance on it.
An attractive, elegant city packed with culture and nightlife, the Swedish capital is made up of 14 islands of varying sizes. The waterways which run through the city may remind you of Amsterdam, though not with such a frenetic fight for space.
And Stockholm, of course, has an entirely unique charm.
The city is home to the ABBA museum, which is far more than just the token cash-grab it could have been (abbathe museum.com, €24).
Instead it provides an interactive journey through the life of one of history’s most famous pop bands, and even the hard of heart will find it difficult not to enjoy a singalong to Waterloo.
You can even record your efforts and download them from the internet at a later date.
But if that is not your thing, the city also offers around 80 more museums and attractions including Fotografiska – museum of photography (fotografiska. com/sto, €16.00).
Four unique large exhibitions and about 20 smaller exhibitions are presented annually at the museum which itself offers a great view of the city.
Stockholm is currently undergoing a €1.7billion of infrastructure improvements, but don’t let that deter you from visiting.
The construction work is of such a huge scale it attracts a fascination on its own, with pedestrians peering into gaps in the boarding
Even the hard of heart find themselves singing along to Waterloo
surrounding the building sites. And there is no need to worry about disruption, with the city having a simple and cheap metro system.
It’s also a great place for walking, with charming cobbled streets flanked by beautiful buildings.
The best way to see it all is a highly recommended rooftop tour on top of the old parliament building on the island of Riddarholmen.
After a climb up several flights of stairs to an attic, you don a helmet and safety harness and head out 140ft above the streets (ourwaytours. com, €58).
With a guide in front and one behind, you get a 360-degree view of the city as you stroll on a foot-wide walkway.
It takes an hour (I could have stayed up there longer) but it provides an eye-opening, if slightly scary, look at a city which forbids any skyscrapers.
One of the tallest buildings is the historic Radisson Collection Hotel at Strand Stockholm in Ostermalm.
It was built in 1912 for the Stockholm Olympics and was once a favourite of Swedish legends Greta Garbo and Ingrid Bergman.
Now it has had new life breathed into it in a €16million project which overhauled all 170 rooms to an impeccable standard and includes a striking selection of Swedish
artwork. The listed building was sold by the Freemasons in the 1970s who subsequently bought it back in 2011.
The hotel’s all-day brasserie The Strand, serves Swedish cuisine with stunning views of Nybrokajen Bay.
But it is the restaurant’s atrium which grabs the attention – where 360 pendant lights hang indoors, giving the gorgeous illusion of starlight as you enjoy your meal.
Stockholm is full of interesting places to drink and eat – and a quirk of the licensing laws allows most places to be able to sell alcohol without, provided it is 3.5% or below – so the city was my first real introduction to “beer cafes”.
The quaint and friendly Folk and Friends in the Hornstull area of the hip Sodermalm island is a firm recommendation.
While Gamla Stan – the Old Town and home to the stunning Royal Palace – is the most tourist-friendly part of the city, it was Sodermalm which really grabbed my interest with its shopping, restaurants and much of the city’s nightlife.
At Debaser Strand you can enjoy a concert or go dancing almost every day of the week.
My overall impression of Stockholm is one of a beautiful city with so much to offer.
True, it’s expensive compared to other cities around Europe – so a city break is ideal.
And I reckon you’ll find it’s definitely a case of My, My, How Can I Resist You.