Looking at going to Stockholm for three days in the spring. When would be a better time to go April or May? What are the best things to see and do in that period of time? I have heard that Stockholm has very snobby door policies at most of their nightclubs and I would have a hard time getting in cause I am half black is that true? I would I be better going somewhere else?
Any info would be good
strife
1
bjoern
You have been posting about skin color and nightclubs and discrimination i Europe since 2003 http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/message.jspa?messageID=2728512#2728512
What did you experience back then?
If you think discrimination is so bad in Europe why do you want to work in Norway or Ireland then?
May is better - in average - due to weather and temparatures normally being more "spring"-like.
2
storyseller
Well, door policies are less strict than in for example Denmark, Norway or Holland but you can still forget getting into any hot clubs with American-style baggy-ish jeans and/or sneakers. Swedish men (in Stockholm, that is) are in general very fashion-aware on the border to metrosexual and clubs there are equally picky. Think New York.
About being half-black I really doubt it will be a problem anywhere unless you're dressing up like a ghetto guy and arrive with lots of other foreign-looking people.
In general though, Stockholm is quite metropolitan and absolutely not to be mixed up with Russia or other eastern countries.
As to when to go and what to see... well going as close to summer as possible is preferable, in your case May. As usual it is impossible to say what to see unless you specify your interests.
Don't miss hanging out drinking beer up on Skinnarviksberget (Söder) when it darkens, amazing views over all of central Stockholm and the water from a mountain about 60 meters up. Stunning for anyone.
Edited by: storyseller
3
verityb
While the nightclubs can be very picky (and as you said snobby) about which shoes you are wearing I don't think there is too much discrimination based on skin colour. The society is generally very open and accepting (although of course there are some nasty undercurrents which are unavoidable no matter where you go). But I would be extremely surprised if you would be rejected based on your race. In general it seems that at nightclubs they are more ageist than anything else, if you are a guy and look too young they might not let you in even with id.
I would recommend May if you want better weather. Sometimes there can still be snow (or slush) in April. If you want it to be warmer then going as close to Summer is better.
The typical touristy things to do are skansen and the vasa museum. Skansen is an open air museum/zoo with preserved houses from all over Sweden. It is pretty fun and can be a nice day when combined with the Vasamuseet (this huge ship that sunk on its it maiden voyage and they managed to drag it up again recentlyish). Don't miss the old-fashioned bakery in Skansen. Walking around in Gamla Stan is a must, the streets are old and pretty and it might be nice to just spend a day walking around that area and looking at the shops in the city. If you want to try traditional Swedish food and drink some really good beer (from microbreweries around Sweden) The Glenfiddich warehouse on Västerlångatan is really good. It is really expensive though (the food in particular - the beer isn't so bad although more expensive than normal at a pub). The Swedish meatballs köttbullar there are the best I have ever tasted. If you don't want to eat, it can just be a nice place to pop in for a very good beer and then be on your way.
I must admit I am not much on the clubbing scene, but it seems like the area around Stureplan is very popular for that.
My favourite new thing to do in Stockholm is the Millesgården, a sculpture garden set on the edge of the harbour with the artwork of Carl Milles. If art is your thing (and even if its not it makes for a nice half day if it is sunny) it is really beautiful there. There is a cosy cafe with quite good food in the garden. You can also have a look inside his house which is quite lovely.
4
storyseller
i'd say for nightlife:
upscale, posh = area around stureplan
more bohemian, bar-like = area söder
rock = go to "debaser"
5
biancakugler
I would suggest when it comes to sights to check out the famous and the very beautiful archipelago, its a must; www.waxhomsbolaget.se
Skansen is an open air museum in central Stockholm with a few resturants, a mini zoo and shops and amazing views over Stockholm. Djurgaden is a lovely park with a fun fair and very nice to walk around. Its the home for all the embassies and many interesting museums like Gustav Vasa and many other.
The City Hall where the Nobel Prize takes place and from there you can take a boat to Drottningholm, the second home of the Swedish Royal family. Drottningholm is a nice place to visit and some evenings they have theatre performances.
The Royal Castle is very beautiful and jsut next door is Gamla Stan (the old town) with narrow streets and a fantastic athmosphere.
6
biancakugler
I would suggest when it comes to sights to check out the famous and the very beautiful archipelago, its a must; www.waxhomsbolaget.se
Skansen is an open air museum in central Stockholm with a few resturants, a mini zoo and shops and amazing views over Stockholm. Djurgaden is a lovely park with a fun fair and very nice to walk around. Its the home for all the embassies and many interesting museums like Gustav Vasa and many other.
The City Hall where the Nobel Prize takes place and from there you can take a boat to Drottningholm, the second home of the Swedish Royal family. Drottningholm is a nice place to visit and some evenings they have theatre performances.
The Royal Castle is very beautiful and jsut next door is Gamla Stan (the old town) with narrow streets and a fantastic athmosphere.
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