48 Hours in Stockholm

Nov 2, 2012 | 2012, Food, Nikon D90, Site, Stockholm, Stories, Sweden

Last weekend, Ben and I rendezvoused in Stockholm for two days that felt like five minutes. Ben had briefly visited Stockholm before while in transit to Paris, but I had never been. The primary reason for choosing a weekend in Stockholm was for its geographical convenience – almost midway between Paris and Umeå – as Ben and I wanted to see each other before he returns to the States from France tomorrow.

We stayed on the east end of Södermalm, a bohemian neighborhood on the south island in Stockholm, at Hotel Zinkensdamm, a large but cozy hotel and hostel. Though Stockholm is composed of 14 islands, the city is small and very walkable.

The beginning half of our first day we spent exploring Södermalm, visiting a few (out of what seemed like hundreds) vintage and second hand stores recommended to me by a Swedish classmate. Though Sweden as a whole is very expensive, the selection in vintage and second hand stores is fabulous with extremely affordable prices, even more so than US prices. It’s also common for higher-end name brands, like Swedish Acne, to have their own second hand and past season stores. Aside from shopping/browsing, we went up to the Katarina Elevator for a beautiful view of Stockholm. Though cold, we couldn’t have asked for better weather.

Södermalm, Stockholm

Stockholm Panorama from Katarinahissen (Katarina Elevator) – Södermalm, Stockholm

View of Stockholm from Katarinahissen – Södermalm, Stockholm

For lunch we went to Herman’s Vegetarian Restaurant, which a Danish classmate of mine recommended. It was AMAZING. The restaurant is located on the coast with an excellent view of the other main islands. The weekend lunch buffet featured a great selection of both hot and cold items, with homemade bread to die for. The only downside was the shared seating, which put us with an interesting mother and son duo whom we joined in theorizing about how personal technology devices and their constant connections to satellites is causing global warming…

Hermans Vegetariska Restaurang – Södermalm, Stockholm

We later went wondering through Gamla Stan and up to the neighborhoods of Norrmalm and Vasastan in search of a soup restaurant Ben read about in the Lonely Planet, only to find it closed as they were installing a new oven. We instead found a decent Italian restaurant and stopped for dessert at a Blå Dörren, a really cool restaurant and bar in an old bank building back in Södermalm that we returned for dinner the following night.

Norrmalm, Stockholm

Norrmalm, Stockholm

Dessert at Blå Dörren – Södermalm, Stockholm

During our second day we pretty much headed straight to Gamla stan, or Stockholm’s old town, to explore the old cobbled streets and royal buildings. The architecture was remarkably beautiful but the area in general was a bit too touristy and our cafe lunch was a crash and burn.

Gamla stan, Stockholm

Chillin’ with our gnomies – Gamla stan, Stockholm

Stockholm (Royal) Palace – Gamla stan, Stockholm

Gamla stan, Stockholm

Helgeandsholmen (Parliament House) – Gamla stan, Stockholm

Goofing off – Gamla stan, Stockholm

More goofing off – Gamla stan, Stockholm

We then walked by the water through Östermalm, the wealthiest neighborhood in Stockholm, making our way to Djurgården, the (Royal) Game Park. This island contains lots of museums, historical buildings, monuments, and extensive forests and parks. We hit up the Vasamuseet, which houses the 17th century Swedish warship that sank just outside of Stockholm harbor in 1628, and was salvaged largely intact in 1961. The exhibit is very impressive, the story of the ship, not so much. Due to bad design, the Vasa was top heavy with insufficient ballast, causing it to tip and sink within a nautical mile on its maiden voyage.

Östermalm, Stockholm

Östermalm, Stockholm

Vasamuseet – Djurgården, Stockholm

Vasamuseet – Djurgården, Stockholm

After Vasamuseet we continued to explore Djurgården before the sun set, making our way to the delightful Rosendals Trädgård Cafet, situated in an old greenhouse and recommended by a Swedish classmate. Feeling like authentic Stockholmers, we stopped for fika, before making our way back to our hotel.

Rosendals Trädgård Cafet, Djurgården, Stockholm

Rosendals Trädgård Cafet, Djurgården, Stockholm

Stockholm sunset

Stockholm sunset

Stockholm at night

Stockholm at night

Stockholm at night

Last but not least…

Ben…