Immediate boarding for Stockholm – Sweden

If you are looking for an additional incentive to travel to royal Stockholm this Fall… here’s one. SAS the scandinavian airline recently launched an offer: book a R/T ticket thru November 30, 2011, to either Stockholm or Copenhagen (from Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Luxemburg, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, or the UK) and pick up a complimentary 24 hr City Card on arrival at the airport (simply present your e-ticket).

The Stockholm 24hr City Card (45 € value) includes 80 partner offers throughout the city, a guided boat tour and public transportation for free.

Need five more reasons to visit this most livable “European Green Capital 2010” beyond its 57 bridges, 14 islands, biking trails, hop on/off boats, culture, food, design, fashion…?

1) the Fotografiska museum (Stadsgardeshammen, 22) opened in May ’10 in the old docks near the ferry terminal (go up to top floor café for the view) is featuring thru Jan 2012 Nick Brandt and his African wildlife photographies.

Continue your visit through this Södermalm melting pot area with a shopping spree through SoFo where vintage boutiques, tags, old cottages, skateboarders and affordable designers let loose. And end your day with drinks on Medborgarplatzen buzzing with loud cafés and outdoor terraces sought by the local crowd.

  

2) take a day trip (and super warm poncho) to the northern archipelago (2,5 hrs one way up to Sandhamm island – home to the Royal Yacht Club, pine forest, wood cabins), stopping for dinner on the way back on Naka Strand @ J Restaurant right on the water (feels like Newport, RI)

3) climb the city hall tower for the hovering views of the harbor, followed by a stroll along verdant Malarstrand, stopping for a coffee along the way by the water

     

4) in the Ostermalm area, food lovers will head to the Saluhall market to pick up smoked herring, marinated salmon, kötbullar or saussage for a picnic on nearby Skeppsholmen island, home to the Modern Art Museum (featuring a Turner/Monet exhibit thru Jan 2012) and offering stunning waterfront views all around. This is where I first discovered american artist/graphist Ed Ruscha!

Or, lunch in the kitchen/library-like room at Lydmar Hotel near the Opera, followed by a visit of the VASA Museet which houses the world’s best preserved 17th Century ship. Either way, make sure to make time for a stop at Svenkst Ten boutique (Götgatan, 25), created eight and a half decades ago by Josef Frank – and home to the crème de la crème Swedish arts, crafts, fabrics, design

5) modern art buffs will head out to Galerie Nordenhake (Hudiksvallsgatan, 8 ) – if they missed the Art Basel fair in Miami – in the Vasastaden area, before shopping the streets of the cosmo-chic Norrmalm / Stureplan neighbordhood. For dinner in this yuppy district, make reservations @ Sturehof brasserie or @ Restaurant Riche (Birger Jarlsgatan, 4).

Where to stay? the bohemian chic boutique hotel Lyndmar (accross the water from the Royal Palace) or the contemporary Story Hotel (Stureplan) are both ideally located for shopping, culture and night-life.

Tip 1:  ride the Arlanda Express in to town from the airport
Tip 2: you can’t make it to Stockholm this Fall and are curious about up and coming Swedish designers? Visit Höganäsgruppen, honouring local heritage and the talents of modern day artists and potters in the area of ceramics.

P.S. : Copenhagen feature coming soon