Living close to an airport definitely has its advantages, especially with so many beautiful European cities on our door step, waiting to be explored. With an unexpected free weekend in the diary, one late Friday night, we decided to go somewhere for the coming weekend. With a quick browse, we found some cheap flights to Stockholm. We checked the weather and with a quick glance at a map, booked the Radisson Blu Strand Hotel. Taxi arranged for 6am, all that was left was travel money. In a moment of haste we ordered some Euros to collect from the the airport, a destination guide downloaded and a few clothes thrown together we were all set.
Feeling rather smug that the plan had come to fruition within half an hour of the whim, it suddenly dawned on us that Swedish currency was in fact Swiss Kironas. After correcting the minor blip, the alarm was set to wake up in merely six hours. As much as we love looking forward to holidays there’s something exciting about a last minute, spontaneous getaway. With twenty minutes to landing, an itinerary mapped out, and a few restaurants bookmarked it all seemed to just fall into place. Before we knew it we had arrived in Stockholm.
The Radisson Blu Strand is centrally located and boasts a great waterfront in the heart of the city. It’s only forty five minutes from the airport and it’s a great base to walk around to explore Stockholm.
The rooms are comfortable and well appointed and look over the Herr Julius restaurant.
The breakfast spread at Herr Julius was delightful, with delicious fresh pressed juices, pastries and a continental spread.
With less than forty eight hours to explore Stockholm we aimed to see the main sights and savour as much of the local cuisine as possible. First stop was for Fika – coffee and a traditional pastry from Brod & Salt. The cinnamon pastry topped with sugar crystals was served warm, and was delicious. It was quickly decided we would be fitting in a few Fika breaks throughout the course of the weekend.
Whilst wandering through the picturesque old town of Gamla Stan we spotted a quaint café and couldn’t resist stopping for an inpromptu large soup bowl of frothy hot chocolate with a meringue floating around. After a few giggles, trying to figure out whether to sip from the bowl or slurp from the spoon we were recharged for some more sightseeing.
Gamla Stan has such a historic feel to it and the feast at the The Hairy Pig Deli was the perfect spot for lunch.
Wondering through the royal palace by day, we spent a relaxed evening dining at Cadier Bar at the iconic Grand Hotel.
We caught a glimpse of a glowing bride at the entrance, and it’s no wonder as the Grand Hotel is the most prestigious venue in Stockholm to marry in. The hamburger was succulent and the fish and chips were outstanding. It’s a lovely place for a celebration. It’s stylish and sophisticated and a hot spot in Stockholm.
Stockholm is an archipelago of fourteen islands bridged together. Following a self guided walking tour of Stockholm, we spent a sunny morning on the water. The under the bridges boat tour of Stockholm is the perfect way to explore it and give your feet a rest.
The Nordic Museum and the Vase museum are definitely worth a look in. The resurrected iconic ship from the 18th century left us in complete awe. The intricate carvings and history it captures is just
A weekend in Stockholm is a lovely break. Its amazing how much you can do in just 48 hours. Stockholm is full of culture, style and history. It’s great for a mini-moon for those short on time as a prequel to the full Honeymoon, or a celebratory birthday or anniversary weekend. Catching the sunset over the bridges is just the perfect end to a memorable weekend with a lot of walking.