Medieval Sights & Vibrant Culture: Why Winter Is The Perfect Time To Visit The Friendliest City In Europe
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Traveling to Europe in winter just isn’t an concept that appeals to most folks:
It’s chilly, for positive, daytime are restricted, particularly up north, and throughout many international locations, locals are usually not precisely at their most welcoming selves––can you actually blame them when it is 23°F out?
Like the whole lot in life, there may be all the time an exception to the rule: on this case, not the freezing temperatures, however how thrilling, vigorous, and welcoming a metropolis may be regardless of the grim climate, or extra curiously even, in consequence of it.
Believe it or not, Stockholm is the excellent metropolis break in the course of the festive break, rating the best for friendliness throughout the pond, in keeping with Condé Nast Traveller, and providing a fairytale-like winter expertise (with the medieval Old Town and interesting History to go along with it).
It’s removed from being a sunny getaway, but it surely may as nicely soften your coronary heart:
Discover Sweden’s Colorful Medieval Capital This Winter
The capital of Sweden, Stockholm is built across 14 islands distributed round an archipelago on the Baltic Sea, all related by as many as 50 bridges, an intensive underground system––which we’ll get to in a bit––and a number of ferry routes.
With a inhabitants of over 1.6 million folks, it’s the largest metropolis not solely in Sweden, however the entire of Scandinavia, so it could possibly really feel a bit overwhelming at first, with a lot to see and so little time, however when you’re visiting this winter, a very good place to start out is Gamla Stan.
Swedish for ‘Old Town’, this centrally-located island is known for its cobbled streets and thin, ocher-colored homes courting again centuries.
It’s true Stockholm is kinder to sightseers in summer time when it is (considerably) nice out, and there is extra sunshine in comparison with the remainder of the yr, however we might argue winter is when it is at its most magical:
It is the friendliest metropolis in Europe, as per the most recent survey performed by Condé Nast Traveler, the place it scored a formidable 94.07, and certainly, strolling into any bakery or restaurant or asking locals for instructions, you will be greeted civilly and a hospitable smile.
Maybe it is the mysa spirit, perhaps it is the actual fact you’ll be able to by no means get grumpy with a contented tummy filled with cinnamon buns from Café Saturnus, the satisfaction and pleasure of Stockholm’s coffeeshop scene; both manner, Swedes are able to welcome you with open arms.
And you already know what they are saying, there is not any dangerous climate, simply dangerous clothes:
It’s So Beautiful You Won’t Mind Being Outside
Stockholm is supposed to be seen on foot, and you will be spending numerous time outdoors.
Temperatures vary from the mid-20s to low 40s in winter, and that is the Baltic Sea, in spite of everything, so it will get windy––positively be sure you put on sufficient layers to guard your self from the teeth-chattering chilly and do not maintain again on the mulled wine and sizzling choccie.
Warning given: do not miss a snow-dusted, Thirteenth-century Storkyrkan Cathedral dominating the skyline, the majestic Kungliga Slottet Royal Palace, the official residence of the Swedish Royal Family––yep, they’ve one in every of their very own, in case you did not know!––and the spearing, red-brick City Hall.
For unashamed wintery enjoyable and an overload of tradition, be sure you pay Skansen a go to: a brief ferry trip away from town heart, that is Stockholm’s world-famous people park, depicting life in a rural a part of Sweden as if it was nonetheless the olden days.
Add to that winter markets full of stalls, providing a variety of merchandise, from nice smithing and ceramics to Swedish road meals faves like sausages and pickled herring, and historic celebrations with conventional music and dance, and also you get the gist of it.
Escape The Cold Underground
Stockholm is hella chilly this winter, and whereas there’s positively some sightseeing to be executed, and the freezing temperatures should not hold you from exploring the picturesque Gamla Stan, you’ll be able to all the time take refuge in one in every of many indoor sights:
Check out Moderna Museet, an enormous assortment of contemporary and modern artwork housing lesser-known work from artists like Matisse and Picasso, or Vasa, a museum fully centered round a well-preserved, Seventeenth-century warship.
The ABBA Museum is one other must-do whereas in Stockholm, an exhilarating exhibit (and celebration) of Sweden’s best musical act, and do not forget in regards to the often-overlooked Stockholm Metro:
‘Wait, the metro?’
Yes, the metro.
Forget about London’s soiled tube seats and the rampant pickpocketing plaguing the Paris underground: Stockholm’s is a literal gallery of surrealist artwork, with stations which have ceilings that appear to be boiling lava or spaceships and some other inventive design in between.
We’re not speaking about one or two stations: every of them has a selected, particular person attribute that units them aside, with brilliant colours or psychedelic patterns, and the metro system itself is taken into account the world’s longest artwork gallery.
All we are able to say to you is pleased exploring!
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
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