Ballongflyg Upp Och Ner

An exciting way to see Stockholm is from a hot air balloon; it's one of the few cities where balloons are allowed to fly right over the city centre. This company (tel: 695 01 00; www.uppner.se) offers trips of varying length, starting with a one-hour flight with champagne 'christening' for first-timers. Several other companies also offer flights, including City Ballong (tel: 34 54 64; www.cityballong.se).

Stockholm Sightseeing

The main source for sightseeing tours of the city by water, Stockholm Sightseeing (tel: 58 71 40 20; www.stockholmsightseeing.com) runs interesting hourly cruises from early April to mid-December. The cruises leave from Strömkajen (near the Grand Hotel) or Nybroplan and take sightseers around the central bridges and canals. The one hour 'Royal Canal' and 'Historical Canal' tours go to Kungsholmen and the archipelago (Fjäderholmarna), respectively. The 'Historical Canal' tour only runs from early June to mid-August. 'Under the Bridges of Stockholm' is an illuminating tour with entertaining commentary; it takes two hours and passes under 15 bridges on its way around Södermalm (May to October only). Several other tour options are available, all with commentary in English.

A Top Day in Stockholm

Nothing in Stockholm happens without coffee, so the day would begin with a cup of the strong stuff and a cinnamon roll at one of the city's many chandelier-lit cafes. Then I'd stroll the narrow, cobbled streets of Old Town, ideally early enough to beat the crowds. If it's a warm day, I might indulge in some peculiarly Swedish flavours of ice cream, such as cloudberrry, saffron or black licorice. In bad weather, I'd hold out for a steaming bowl of fish soup at Hötorgshallen, a cavernous basement food market near the city center. I'd wander the bridges or hop a ferry to Skeppsholmen for a visit to Moderna Museet, then maybe a little more coffee. Afterwards, I'd stroll down to Södermalm, Stockholm's bohemian southern island, for a peek into chic shops and galleries and a beer at one of the neighbourhood's cosy pubs. I'd finish off the night with some live music at Mondo and a grillad korv (hot dog) from a kiosk.

Author: Becky Ohlsen

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