+31 61 055 6678 | The Hague | info@travoley.nl

Flag_of_Ukraine_s

Stand For Ukraine UNITED 24

Facebook Ovaicon-instagram Tiktok Youtube Linkedin
0
Your Cart is Empty

Stockholm

Travoley
Stockholm
Weather data of this location not found.

Stockholm Travel Guide

  • About Stockholm
Sweden’s capital – a Nordic vision of waterways, parks and spire-filled skylines – is justifiably renowned as one of the most handsome cities in Europe. Spread over no less than fourteen islands and surrounded by literally thousands of smaller, rocky islets, it combines the drama and open skies of Scandinavia with the verve, dynamism and urban cool of Western Europe. As with any destination of this scope (there are nearly 1 million residents in the city), the soul of the place lies in its many faces: the stucco walls of the Old Town, the contemporary pulse of the galleries and the consumerist buzz of the shopping heartlands. Then there are the peaceful parklands, the thumping bass of the nightlife and the gourmet draw of the restaurants. Stockholm’s location on the shores of the Baltic Sea means that visitors can experience both a beautiful summer evening and the winter charm of its frozen lakes and snow-fringed skylines. In fact, the city is known as Isdrottning (Ice Queen) by Swedes from the provinces, though this is more a dig at the capital’s perceived sense of self-importance rather than its wintry weather. “You wonder what it thinks it is doing there, looking so important,” said the legendary Swedish auteur Ingmar Bergman, who thought of Stockholm more as a “large village” than a city, set as it is amidst forest and lakes. It’s true that modern Stockholm maintains a unique character, which is one of the reasons tourists keep coming in the face of stiff competition from other urban destinations in Europe. On top of the city’s exhibitions, museums and concerts, it enjoys a deeply romantic setting of well-preserved medieval architecture, sweeping water vistas and lively nightlife. As for Stockholm’s famous cutting-edge design, you’ll find it standing proud with modernist high-rises and boutique fashion houses, as well as sleek museums and baroque facades. Ultimately, though, for a city two-thirds comprised of water and parks, Bergman’s words ring true. Despite being the most populated urban area in Scandinavia, Stockholm is so green and natural that it hardly feels like a city at all.
  • Stockholm History
Stockholm’s earliest years are unclear but according to the Eric Chronicles, it was founded by Birger Jarl to protect Sweden from invasion. The earliest mention of its name dates back to the middle of the 13th century, by which time it had become the largest city in Sweden. During the years of the Kalmar Union which united Sweden with Norway and Denmark, it became a key trading port, although relations with the Danes were often strained and there were a number of violent conflicts. In 1497, the Hans of Denmark succeeded in taking Stockholm, and for the next two decades, the city pinged between Danish and Swedish ownership before the conflict between the two nations culminated in a particularly gory clash in 1520 known as the Stockholm Bloodbath. Danish King Christian II executed 100 nobles and clergymen, many of whom were decapitated. With the ascent to the Swedish throne of Gustav Vasa in 1523, Stockholm’s fortunes changed, with the Danes beaten back to Copenhagen and the city once again becoming a hub for Swedish life. Vasa also oversaw a building boom in the wake of the fire that destroyed much of the city centre in 1625. Nine years later, Stockholm was proclaimed capital of Sweden, but endured a troubled period. In 1710, over a third of Stockholm’s population died of bubonic plague and the city stagnated. Scientific and artistic breakthroughs in the late 18th and 19th centuries, however, heralded the constructions of many of the fine buildings still standing today. Swift industrialisation followed, and within a few years of the city hosting the 1912 Olympic Games, Stockholm was home to more than 350,000 people whose houses now spilled out into the archipelago. The physical expansion of the city was reflected by a stronger finance sector, and by the 1980s the krona had become a powerful currency. Today, Stockholm remains the hub for Swedish financial and cultural life, and its most popular tourist destination to boot.
  • Did you know?
Stockholm’s name translates as ‘Log Island’. Stockholm established the world’s first national urban park in 1995 when it unveiled the Royal National City Park. Founded in 1891, the Skansen was the world’s first open-air museum.
  • Weather in Stockholm
Stockholm has a humid continental climate. Summer is from June until August, Winter is November until March. Average temperature in the summer is around 16°C (61°F), with highs of 22°C (71°F). Average temperature in the winter is -2°C (28°F), with highs of 0.5°C (33°F). Snowfall occurs mainly from December through March, but can start as early as October. Due to the northerly latitude, daylight varies from more than 18 hours around midsummer to about 6 hours in December, making Stockholm sunnier than Paris or London. During the summer months, Stockholm is one also of the warmest cities in Northern Europe. Light rainfall can occur at any time, and there are around 170 wet days a year, so whenever you choose to come, it’s advisable to bring wet-weather clothing as a precaution.

CONTACT A TRAVEL EXPERT

1-to-1 Service | Reply within 24hrs | Expert’s Advice

Click here