The days are short. The list of things to do is not. Stockholm in winter is dark, cold and quiet. It is also the season when the city goes outside on purpose. People skate in the middle of town, ski in city parks, sit in a hot sauna and then climb into a hole in…
Stockholm’s Old Town is small. What it shows you depends on the month you walk it. Gamla Stan is where Stockholm began. The city is first named in writing in 1252, and most of the old street plan is still here. You can cross the whole island on foot in about fifteen minutes. You can…
Where your ship docks decides your whole day. Here’s what you actually need to know. Fact-checked 29 September 2026 · By Zayera Khan, Stockholm-based guide Your ship can dock in one of a few places around Stockholm, and it makes a real difference to your day ashore. Frihamnen sits about 3.5 kilometres northeast of the…
Stockholm is one of Europe’s most visitor-friendly capitals — until you hail the wrong taxi. Here’s what’s really happening with unregulated fares, the numbers behind it, and exactly how to protect yourself before you get in the car. Stockholm gets a lot of things right. The transit system is genuinely excellent. The city is walkable,…
One card, 360 museums, twelve months. Here’s the real math on whether Finland’s Museum Card pays for itself — and how to use it properly once you’ve bought one. I bought my first Finland Museum Card almost by accident. I’d gone into the Ateneum for one exhibition, saw the price at the desk, did some…
Sweden holds the world record for most islands — over 267,000. Stockholm alone sits in an archipelago of more than 30,000. Here’s the geology, the history, who actually lives there, and the islands that genuinely deserve a place on your itinerary. Sweden has more islands than any other country on earth. Not more than Indonesia….
How I pay for the metro, buses, trams and boats in Stockholm — and which ticket saves you money. I live in Stockholm, and I guide visitors here. How do you pay for the metro? The answer is simpler than most people think. SL runs the metro (tunnelbana), the buses, the commuter trains, the trams…
Five ways from Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) to the city center, from 18 minutes to SEK 43. Updated 30 September 2026. I checked all prices on the official websites of Arlanda Express, SL, Vy Flygbussarna and FlixBus. Arlanda is about 40 km north of Stockholm. You can take a fast train, an airport bus, a…
What non-EU travelers must know about Europe’s two new border systems: EES, which is now in use, and ETIAS, which has no start date yet. Update (30 September 2026): In July 2026, the EU removed the Q4 2026 start date for ETIAS. There is no new date yet. EES has been fully operational since 10…
How to see the northern lights in Swedish Lapland: the best time, Abisko and Kiruna, costs and practical tips for your trip.
Quick answer June–August = warmest temps, long days, festivals (highest prices). (Source: Visit Sweden) September–October = fall colors, better hotel deals, fewer crowds. November–March = winter sports + best odds for Northern Lights in the far north. (Source: Swedish Tourist Association) April–May = shoulder season, blossoms, rising daylight. Sweden by season (what to expect) Summer…
What is Stockholm Kulturfestival? Stockholm Kulturfestival is the city’s biggest free cultural event, transforming central Stockholm into an open-air stage for five days every August. In 2025 it ran 13–17 August, with free entry and programming for all ages across music, dance, theatre, film, talks, and workshops. It’s produced by the City of Stockholm. Kulturfestivalen…
Eight days in Mauritania, from the Rosso border to the desert towns of Atar and Terjit, and on the iron ore train from Zouérat to Nouadhibou. A diary with photos and film.
