DECEMBER 2017 businesstraveller.comStockholm
54
Island-hop
around the
Swedish
capital,
taking in
Baroque
palaces
and a well-
preserved
shipwreckWORDS TOM OTLEY
4 HOURS IN...
(^1) Ralambshovsparken
Stockholm is a walkable city that
also has excellent public transport.
Assuming you only have half a day,
it’s a good idea to stay above ground
and see as much as possible, so this
tour can all be done on foot with
the odd boat trip. A good place to
start is the island of Kungsholmen,
once known for its small-scale
industries in the 19th century but
now an elegant residential area of
apartment blocks and a lovely park –
the Ralambshovsparken. Created in
1935, it links in with other parks on
Kungsholmen to make a delightful
place to stroll year-round. You’ll find
cafés, play areas for children, a beach,
a skate park, an open-air theatre
(in the summer) and sculptures
by modern Swedish artists. The
Monument over Yxman (1967) by
Eric Grate will see you off as you
begin the attractive 20-minute walk
to the next stop, at the eastern tip of
the island.
(^2) Stadshuset
Kungsholmen is also home to the
stunning Stadshuset (City Hall).
It was designed by Ragnar Ostberg
in 1923 in the Swedish National
Romantic style, although parts
look almost as if they have f loated
in from Venice – monumental yet
playful, and an arresting sight both
from across the water and from its
attractive terrace, with steps leading
down to the Riddarfjarden bay
f lanked by two statues, Song and
Dance, by Swedish sculptor Carl
Eldh. The golden crest on top of the
106-metre-tall tower is the Three
Crowns or Tre Kronor of Sweden, its
heraldic sign dating from the 1300s.
You can take a guided tour of the
interior if you have time (or if it’s
raining ), taking in the Golden Room,
the Prince’s Gallery and the Blue
Hall, where the Nobel Prize banquet
takes place each December. 90 kr
(US$11).
international.stockholm.se
(^3) Royal Palace
Cross the bridge next to City Hall
and go via Norrmalm then the tiny
island of Helgeandsholmen to reach
Gamla Stan (the Old Town). Take
a little time exploring its winding
streets and souvenir shops before
making your way to the Royal Palace.
You could spend all day here. As well
as the huge expanse of buildings,
there are several museums including
the Treasury and the Royal Armoury.
2