| With its maritime bent and cosmopolitan flavour, | | | | children, the appeal of Gröna Lund is obvious: |
| Stockholm is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful | | | | there's the Jetline roller coaster, the Power Tower |
| national capitals in the world. This lovely, lively city, is | | | | which drops you into an 80-metre free-fall at 100 km/h, |
| ideally situated on the coast with the 24,000 islands of | | | | the giant windmill and classic Luna Park type |
| the skärgård (archipelago) protecting the | | | | attractions such as the funhouse, the haunted house |
| urban islands from the open seas. | | | | and dodgem cars. Adults and those with an interest in |
| What surprises most first time visitors to Stockholm is | | | | calmer pursuits will also enjoy Gröna Lund. A |
| the water; there's as much of it here as there is in | | | | wide variety of concerts featuring both Swedish and |
| Amsterdam and Venice. The city is also captivating | | | | international artists are held on the park's soundstages. |
| because each neighbourhood has its own unique | | | | A 'green card' costing 100 kronor provides free entry |
| 'character' so a short stroll often turns into a long | | | | to the park and its summertime open-air concerts. |
| walking tour; and ambling around the city's waterways | | | | Eight restaurants and 25 attractions (ranging from |
| and parks is simply a glorious way to spend a morning | | | | peaceful to petrifying!) all come together at this very |
| or afternoon. | | | | well-liked amusement park. |
| You can cover the entire city centre on foot in a | | | | Skansen |
| couple of hours. In the same amount of time, you can | | | | Founded in 1891, Skansen is Stockholm's largest and |
| shop till you drop at an impressive number of designer | | | | most popular outing destination and the world's first |
| establishments all within a stone's throw of one | | | | open-air museum. What's more, Solliden, Skansen's |
| another. In the evening, you can choose to visit the | | | | highest point, offers one of the best views of |
| theatre or the opera; there are outdoor stages, | | | | Stockholm you can find, looking out over the Baltic and |
| beautiful movie houses, musicals to see and sports | | | | the seaway to the city. Some 150 historic buildings, |
| arenas that frequently host concerts. When your | | | | houses, farms, workshops and other fun areas have |
| stomach begins to rumble, you've only got to decide | | | | been collected at Skansen to portray how people lived |
| what you feel like eating - the world's cuisines are very | | | | in the past. It's a Sweden in miniature, representing |
| well represented here. | | | | diverse periods and social circumstances from the |
| This is partly due to the fact that of the two million | | | | Middle Ages to the twentieth century (the staff all |
| people that live in Stockholm, over 15% of them are | | | | dress in period costume by the way) and it is a fun |
| immigrants, so as you stroll through the city's quaint | | | | and very educational experience. The kids will enjoy |
| streets you'll hear anything, from Polish and Japanese | | | | demonstrations of handicrafts such as glasswork, the |
| to Arabic and can savour everything from sushi to | | | | old print shop and the bakery. You could easily and |
| shwaramas. | | | | gladly spend the whole day here. |
| Stockholm and children | | | | Stockholm's only zoo is at Skansen and has |
| High chairs in restaurants, children's menus, ramps for | | | | Scandinavian animals such as elk, wolves and bears |
| prams in the Stockholm underground and dedicated | | | | while exotic snakes and monkeys can be seen at |
| rooms for eating packed lunches in museums and | | | | Skansen-Akvariet. Skansen's brown bears are the |
| many more such child-friendly facilities are taken for | | | | favourites of many, especially in April when the year's |
| granted in Stockholm; the city and its surrounding areas | | | | new cubs are presented. There is also Lill-Skansen, a |
| will spoil you with their attention to children's needs and | | | | zoo especially for children, with goat kids, hedgehogs, |
| are both fun and convenient to visit with little ones in | | | | piglets, ducks and even adorable little kittens. |
| tow. | | | | Other museums |
| With its broad pavements, pedestrian areas, green | | | | In a town with more than 70 museums it is easy to |
| parks and location right on the water, Stockholm is a | | | | find one which interests you. If you are visiting with |
| great place for running, jumping and discovering. You | | | | children, be sure to go to the Museum of Science and |
| can leave the car at home, as virtually all of | | | | Technology (Tekniska Museet), the Aquaria Water |
| Stockholm's attractions can be reached via the | | | | Museum (Aquaria Vattenmuseum), the Swedish |
| underground and buses. | | | | Museum of Natural History (Naturhistoriska |
| StorStockholmsLokaltrafik (SL for brevity's sake) is in | | | | Riksmuseet), the Cosmonova and the National |
| charge of local public transport and operates | | | | Museum of Cultural History (Nordiska Museet). Many |
| underground trains, buses and commuter trains | | | | museums arrange various children's activities in |
| covering the entire County of Stockholm. Children | | | | connection with school holidays and mostly all staff |
| under seven always ride free when accompanied by | | | | speaks English. Stockholm museums are open every |
| and adult and on weekends, from 12 noon Friday | | | | day except Mondays, when most are closed. For |
| through to Sunday, a single paying adult can bring along | | | | public holidays it's best to check the opening times with |
| up to six children under twelve at no extra cost. | | | | the Stockholm Visitors Board tourist information office |
| When to visit | | | | at the Cultural Centre (Kulturhuset) at Sergels torg. |
| I would be lying if I said it would be Ok to visit Sweden | | | | Haga Park |
| in the winter months - when the truth is that those | | | | Haga Park is pleasant for walks, bicycle tours or |
| travelling from Gulf countries would find the cold | | | | strolling between museums. Here you'll find the |
| especially bitter and this could have a negative effect | | | | Fjärils & Fågelhuset (Butterfly House), |
| on what would have otherwise been a wonderful | | | | an artificial tropical environment with free-flying birds |
| holiday. | | | | and butterflies. There's also a shop and café |
| So although to visit during snowy months would be | | | | Kungliga Slottet |
| magical, give much consideration to a winter trip to | | | | Kungliga Slottet is the largest royal castle in the world |
| Sweden before making that decision. Remember also | | | | still used for its original purpose. It was constructed on |
| that changing nappies when 3 or 4 layers of clothes | | | | the site of the 'old' royal castle, Tre Kronor, which |
| and snowsuits have to be removed each time soon | | | | burned down in 1697. |
| wears thin! | | | | Junibacken |
| Most of Sweden has a cool temperate climate, and it | | | | This is a wonderful children's play world which brings to |
| rains in all seasons, but the southern part of the | | | | life author Astrid Lindgrens' (Pippi Longstockings) story |
| country has a warmer temperate climate. Stockholm | | | | world. |
| has an average of about nine hours of sunshine daily | | | | The Vasa |
| from May to July so summer is definitively the best | | | | This is an almost entirely preserved rigged warship |
| time to visit the city and it fits in well with the Northern | | | | from the seventeenth century which sank on its |
| hemisphere school holidays too. | | | | maiden voyage. The smell of tarred timber, exhibitions, |
| What to see and do | | | | multimedia and interesting artefacts that were rescued |
| Here's a selection of attractions and activities that you | | | | from the ship can all be found in the Vasa Museum, |
| can enjoy on your visit to Stockholm:- | | | | which fascinates visitors of all ages. |
| Gröna Lund | | | | Stockholm has the appeal of a village yet offers all the |
| Since 1883 Gröna Lund ('green grove') has been | | | | attractions of a big city. Its people are modest and |
| a popular amusement park and is as pretty and as | | | | charming and this, combined with exciting sightseeing |
| unusual as its name would imply. Situated on the island | | | | opportunities and activities makes Stockholm a great |
| of Djurgården, the park's reflection glitters on the | | | | family destination. |
| waters of the Baltic at the gateway to Stockholm. For | | | | |