One of my favorite things about living in Europe is how easy it is to pop over to other countries. Like when Dan and I returned from our time in the mountains and my Aunt Hege announced that we were all going to Stockholm for my grandmother’s birthday weekend! And an 8 hour train ride from Oslo later, we were in Sweden’s capital.
Now, for a beautiful country, Norway has a pretty ugly capital. I can’t tell you how many people have told me they were thoroughly disappointed by Oslo. But the opposite is true of Stockholm – for an ugly country, its capital is quite pretty!
Okay fine, Sweden isn’t exactly ugly, but without tons of mountains and fjords it would have a bit of trouble competing with Norway in a beauty contest, you know? Kidding of course – Sweden is absolutely beautiful, I’m just jealous that they have Stockholm!
While I didn’t see any mountains ready to rival Norway’s, Stockholm is set in a lagoon with hundreds of islands (the city itself spreads out over 14 islands), which I guess isn’t so bad. And Gamla Stan’s old medieval buildings and cobblestone streets might even have made me briefly consider moving to Sweden.
We spent most of the weekend eating all the seafood we could (obviously), wandering through the picturesque streets, and visiting some museums.
Now, you might remember that I have a weird intolerance for museums, but Stockholm has one museum that didn’t leave me slumped over on a bench dying of boredom. Can you guess?
The ABBA museum!
It’s kitschy and will leave you humming ABBA tunes for the next week, but really, what could be better than posing with wax figures of the group, looking through their old costumes, and singing karaoke on stage together with giant holograms of the band members?
That’s right, nothing.
I’ve also heard the Vasa Museum is pretty cool, but I’m afraid I can’t tell you anything about it because when the rest of my family + Dan decided to go, I bailed. Luckily for me my cousin and uncle seem to suffer from the same museum phobia as me. And that’s when I remembered why my Uncle Steve is my favorite: he took us to Gröna Lund!
Because I’m pretty sure roller coasters are just as culturally enriching as museums, right?
I hadn’t been to an amusement park in ages, and Gröna Lund is pretty perfect, as it’s right by the ABBA museum, the rides offer gorgeous views over Stockholm, and even on a beautiful sunny summer day we never had to wait in line more than 15 minutes.
All in all I was thoroughly charmed by Stockholm, and maybe even a tad bit jealous that Norway doesn’t have quite such an impressive city. Then again, the über stylish looks all the locals were sporting – every girl was wearing a white crochet or lace dress, while all the guys had slicked back hair with blazers complete with pocket handkerchiefs – might have been a bit much for me. I’m definitely not swanky enough for Stockholm. Hot tip: if you’re heading to Stockholm, bring your dressy clothes!
There was only one small disappointment. I had read so much about the art in Stockholm’s metros – from blog posts likening it to a cooler, modern version of the Moscow metro to articles naming it “the world’s longest art exhibit” – so I was pretty excited to see it for myself.
But… it sort of just looks like kids’ school projects down there?
I mean, it was cool, and more interesting than having no art at all, but I guess the photos I had seen of it online made it look a little more impressive. In fact, I feel like even my photos are making it look more impressive, which is bizarre considering my utter lack of photography skills.
It’s okay though, Stockholm, you can’t win them all. And you really don’t need to when you’re already one of Scandinavia’s most beautiful cities.
Have you been to Stockholm? Did you go on the roller coasters???
16 Hours in Belgrade
Isabel says
I’ve never pictures Stockholm to be so colorful and lively. No wonder people fall in love with this city! Amazing pictures!
Silvia says
I hadn’t quite realized how pretty it is either, but now all that Stockholm love makes sense!
Heather @ Ferreting Out the Fun says
I recently spent five days in Stockholm and was also thoroughly charmed by the pretty architecture, all the bridges, and delicious food! I (stupidly) skipped the ABBA museum, but can confirm that the Vasa museum is indeed very cool. As is the royal palace! The Skansen open-air museum was my favorite though. Because animals.
Silvia says
Animals is definitely a good reason to visit a museum. I’ll have to go to Skansen next!
Nick says
Oh my how the ABBA museum is germane to my interests. If you haven’t, please watch “Muriel’s Wedding”, ASAP. For this scene, if nothing else:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3U4kDzwZAMk
Silvia says
Haha oh wow, now I need to go and watch the whole movie. And you need to go to the ABBA museum!
Emily says
Wow, Stockholm does look beautiful! I think I’d love it there, but I agree that perfectly dressed citizens would be quite intimidating!
Silvia says
Yeah, next time I go I’m definitely going to do a little shopping first.
Rachel says
Love it! I’m not swanky enough for Stockholm either, even the backpackers in the hostel I stayed in last Dec were dressed to kill, I had to flee to Finland, I felt like a bag lady, hahahaha.
I never went down into the metro so I can’t comment, but hey, don’t diss your photography, your photos are gorgeous!
Silvia says
Haha seriously, why are the Swedes so swanky?
Camille says
Any place that is likened to Venice, I want to go to…so yes to the Venice of the North! I’d love to stay on one of the boat hostels 🙂 And I know what you mean about the fashion – at least if it’s anything like in Copenhagen. I saw a girl ride by on a bike wearing a great black cape-type coat there some years ago, and I’ve been obsessed with finding a similar one ever since!
Silvia says
Haha these stylish Scandinavians! I’m going to have to up my fashion game here – though at least Norwegians aren’t quite as extreme.
Christine@ Apple of My Eye says
LOL. I totally laughed out loud when you mentioned how ugly Oslo is. I COMPLETELY agree. Oslo does have some endearing features, though, like Frogner park. This will forever be my favorite statue –> http://imgc.artprintimages.com/images/art-print/hart-kim-statue-of-a-man-and-babies-frogner-park-oslo-norway-scandinavia-europe_i-G-38-3832-XU2YF00Z.jpg
I’m (hopefully!) going to be traveling to Norway with my family next summer, but for now, I will fulfill my traveling urges vicariously through you 😉
Silvia says
Hahahaha best statue ever! I’m glad I’m not the only Norway-lover dissing Oslo, but seriously, it’s not the best. You’ll have to let me know if you guys make it up to Trondheim next year!
Sam says
I love Stockholm so hard! My husband and I have several friends living there and have been multiple times together and separately. We were most recently there for pride, which was a wonderful celebration, full of rainbows and glitter! It really is a beautiful city, but I do know what you mean about the art in the metro – it’s not really that special!
Silvia says
Oh wow, I can imagine that pride in Stockholm would be amazing!
Marni says
Well, now I have Dancing Queen stuck in my head for the rest of eternity. Oh well 🙁 Stockholm looks very nice, and I have to say I find your pictures wonderful!
Silvia says
Aaaand now it’s stuck in my head too, haha.
Pinay Flying High says
“Now, for a beautiful country, Norway has a pretty ugly capital. I can’t tell you how many people have told me they were thoroughly disappointed by Oslo. But the opposite is true of Stockholm – for an ugly country, it’s capital is quite pretty!”
That had me laughing out loud. Lol. Although I’ve never been to any of the two, I have heard a lot about how ugly Oslo is. I’ve seen a blog post though about it and there were some parts of it which are actually pretty but you’re right, not as pretty as Stockholm.
So for how long were you singing Abba tunes after visiting the museum? :p
Silvia says
Oslo definitely has some pretty parts, but as a whole the city isn’t so impressive, and definitely not a fair representation of Norway’s beauty!
Emma says
The ABBA Museum looks amazing! I’d probably have to be dragged off the karaoke stage!
Silvia says
Haha yup, people were pretty excited over it 🙂
Leah says
Gahhh I’m SO EXCITED! I fly to Stockholm in 4 days! I had no idea any place in the world had an ABBA museum haha that’s hilarious. I’m like you though in that I tend to usually give museums a pass (except for the cat museum in Kotor that cost 1 euro entry) and I’m not even sure ABBA can sway me. Everything else though, count me in! Important question: is Stockholm big on brunch?? Because I’m craving morning mimosas something FIERCE.
Silvia says
Oh you KNOW Stockholm has got the brunch covered. Make sure to try the herring!
Rika | Cubicle Throwdown says
What a beautiful city!! I’d love to be able to get away to another country for a weekend. I live on a little Caribbean island, so getting to and from is pretty tricky and expensive.
Silvia says
I used to live on a tiny island in Japan so I can absolutely feel your pain there!
becky hutner says
Dancing onstage with ABBA holograms, whaaaa? It’s actually on my bucket list to do the singing tour of Stockholm where your guide incorporates ABBA songs into all of the sights. The city clearly has a lot to be proud of.
Silvia says
Right? You are going to love getting your ABBA on in Stockholm.
Vanessa @ The Travelling Colognian says
I haven’t been to any of the Scandinavian cities nor countries yet, but Stockholm is very high on my list. I wish I could attend the TBEX there next year, but I don’t know yet where I will be in summer 2016. If not next year, I will travel to Stockholm another time and I will definitely visit the ABBA Museum. Oh, and Stockholm underground photos like all of the photos looks very pretty, I wish the Cologne underground would be a little bit like that, but ours is quite ugly compared to most undergrounds I have seen in other cities.
Silvia says
When you finally do make it to Scandinavia you’ll have to stop by Trondheim too!
Victoria@ The British Berliner says
I haven’t been to Stockholm yet but it looks amazing. TBEX is holding the European conference there next year so it’s going to be great I’m sure. I’ve already blocked out two weeks so that I can explore the Nordic States to my heart’s desire.
I don’t like roller-coasters after losing my glasses and bursting into tears n’ stuff, but the ABBA museum sounds like just the thing.
p.s. I love museums. In fact, Berlin has just had it’s long night of museums. I started at 6 p.m and managed to keep going until 1 a.m in the morning where I was so exhausted that museum staff thought (strangely) that I was hanging too far back out of the window and was going to jump.
Perhaps they thought that I hated the art LOL!
Silvia says
Hahaha um 7 hours of museums sounds insane to me, and would definitely leave me wanting to jump out a window.
Patricia says
I agree that the metro looks better on pictures than in reality 😀 I haven’t realized that people could actually call it an art gallery until I read it somewhere. Some of the stations might be pretty impressive, but not in the peak of the day for example.
Silvia says
Yeah, it was a little disappointing compared to some other great metros around the world, but I guess at least there’s some art down there!
Rumman says
Spent a weekend in Stockholm fairly recently, and whilst my bank account was grateful to leave, a weekend definitely wasn’t enough for me! Such a lovely, beautiful, peaceful, friendly place! I’d never considered the amount of history there before but it was quite cool to soak it all in.
Silvia says
It really is such a cool place!
Miriam says
So, being from Stockholm, I thing it’s lovely that you like my hometown. But really… calling Sweden ugly?!? What have you seen of Sweden that can possibly make you say that? I know Norway is beautiful, but that doesn’t make Sweden ugly! What we lack in fjords we make up for in a million other ways! 🙂 And mountains we do have plenty of! 🙂
Silvia says
Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry you took that seriously – it was a joke! I was just teasing Sweden like Norwegians do, but of coooourse Sweden is an absolutely beautiful country! I’ll go back and change the post, as I didn’t think anyone would take that seriously. Sorry 🙁
Claudia says
Now, Stockholm metro is much cooler than before. Especially at Radhuset T-bana, with the burning cave look. I was really impressed when I visited the city. You shoud try to visit the city again!