Overview:
Sweden’s capital city spreads out over 14 islands in Lake Mälaren and looks out proudly to the Baltic Sea to the east. Her grand public buildings, palaces, rich cultural history and museums tell her 700 year-old history beautifully. Nowhere is this better illustrated than in the Old Town (Gamla Stan); expect and get cobblestone streets, crooked but beautifully preserved buildings, the Royal Palace, gothic churches and excellent cafés, bars, restaurants and Swedish design-ware shops.
Holiday price from £ 655 per person based on availability and a sharing accommodation in a standard double/twin room
| SEASON |
DEPARTURES |
| All year |
Daily |
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrival in Stockholm
Upon arrival in Stockholm Arlanda Airport, take the Arlanda Express train to city centre. Trains are operated about every 15 minutes and duration of the journey is just 20 minutes. Accommodation in Stockholm at the hotel of your choice. Enjoy the rest of your day exploring the capital of Stockholm. We highly advise taking a boat tour of the city and inner archipelago.
Days 2 – 3: Exploring Stockholm & Optional Excursions
Breakfasts at the hotel followed by a free time to explore the city. Stockholm, the capital of Sweden is built on 14 islands and you are never far from water. Well-preserved medieval buildings stand alongside modern architecture, and just outside the city, the archipelago of 24 000 islands is waiting to be explored. Sights of interest include the Vasa Museum, Skansen Open Air Museum, City Hall and the Old Town (Gamla Stan). We can offer a great variety of sightseeing options in Stockholm, please ask us for details!
Day 4: Departure from Stockholm
After breakfast at your hotel, check out and take the Arlanda Express train back to the airport. Return flight.
PRIVATE SIGHTSEEING:
Stockholm Old Town by Foot
An authorised local guide will join you on a 3-hour guided tour by foot in the city of Stockholm. You will visit the Old Town of Stockholm (Gamla Stan). Located on a small island with narrow stone streets and old buildings, this is a charming area to walk about. Sights of interest are Storkyrkan, the Royal Palace, the Royal Opera, Stadshuset, Kungsträdgården and much more. (Entrances excluded).
Price*: £230 3 hours sightseeing with private guide/ Extra hour £75
Explore Stockholm with private guide + driver
A private guide and driver will pick you up from your hotel for a 3-hour private sightseeing tour of Stockholm. The guide takes you around Stockholm, providing you with an idea of the pulse of the city and giving you tips on what to visit, where to shop and where to eat. The freedom of having your own car and driver during your visit to Stockholm is wonderful! You can decide yourself which sights and museums you would like to visit.
Price/s*: By taxi, max 3 persons £455 / Extra hour: £135
By large taxi, max 6 persons £560 / Extra hour: £170
*Special rates during public holidays apply
PUBLIC SIGHTSEEING:
Nordic Experience Food Tour
This guided walk will give you a fantastic opportunity to explore some of Sweden´s best food. You will taste delicious food samples at specially selected locations while learning about the food, history and culture. Together the samples add up to a perfect meal. Most of this tour will take place in Vasastan, an area in central Stockholm that holds many of the old classic restaurants. In recent years this area has seen a boom of inventive and upcoming restaurants. We will visit both classic and modern establishments to create the perfect experience! We sample food and enjoy stories from enthusiastic bakers and chefs with a passion for flavors and high quality ingredients, and season it with local background stories from our guide as we walk. We visit enough places to make most people more than full and satisfied. Since we take no more than 12 people on our tours, you are guaranteed an exclusive experience with our tour guide as well as the food artisans you meet.
3.5 Hour walking tour
Price: £75 per person
Drottningholms Slott
Welcome to Drottningholm, home of the Royal Family! This tour includes a return boat trip to and from Drottningholm. The boat departs from the City Hall, ‘Stadshuset’ for a one hour trip on Lake Mälaren to Drottningholm. Entrance tickets to Drottningholm are not included in this tour but can be pre-booked at a supplementary cost.
Available daily from Mar 28 – Oct 25.
Price: Adult £30, Children 6-11 years: ££15, children 0-5 years: free of charge
Abba, The Museum Boat Tour
Enjoy listening to the story of ABBA, one of the most famous pop-bands in the world, from the waterfront. See the epic places where parts of ABBA The Movie were recorded and experience several of the places where the iconic pictures of ABBA were shot. And of course you get to hear many of the popular ABBA hits along the way. Sightseeing by boat around Djurgården. The guiding onboard is in the same spirit and storytelling as at ABBA The Museum but in a sightseeing format. The manuscript has been written by Ingmarie Halling, curator at the museum and author of the new book "ABBA - The Backstage Stories". The boat takes you around the beautiful and peaceful Djurgården and the tour finishes at ABBA The Museum at Djurgården where you can walk in the footsteps of ABBA and get that special ABBA feeling!
Season: 27 June 2015 - 09 August 2016.
Price: Adult £20, Children 6-11 years £10, Children 0-5 years free of charge
Kayak in Stockholm City
Spend time leisurely paddling in a kayak while taking in views of Stockholm from the water. Stockholm is situated on 14 islands and linked by 57 bridges: No wonder it has earned affectionate nicknames such as “The Venice of the North.” We set off in stable two-person kayaks and there is no need to worry about tides or dangerous currents. See the city from a different point of view - from the water in a unique kayak city tour. You will feel the pulse of the city in a different way and explore the impressive buildings from the water, the way it was meant to be. Our guides are all locals, and throughout the tour, they offer insight into local customs, history, culture, and way-of-life. The guide will meet you under the bridge “Djurgårdsbron” next to Sjöcafet (cafe) in the heart of Stockholm. Our trips are suitable for beginners as well as those with kayaking experience. Also, you won’t need much muscle-power to enjoy it. All our trips are run by English-speaking guides and are approx. 2 hours long. Included: Double sea kayak with all necessary equipment. Experienced kayak guide. You must be able to swim to partake in this tour
Season: Jun - Sep 2016. Price: Adult £48
Kayak in Stockholm Archipelago
If you could do just one nature excursion in Stockholm, then you should kayak in the outer archipelago. This watery world consists of thousands of uninhabited small islands which are among the most unique areas in Europe. Take the bus 434 your self from metro station Slussen in the city departing at 08:48 to the small port of Stavsnäs, east of the city. It is about a 45 minute ride. From Stavsnäs take the taxi boat for a short "archipelago cruise" to our kayak base on the island of Runmarö. The taxi boat is included in the price. The tour leader will meet you at the jetty and we continue on with trying out our equipment and learning paddle technique. We start off paddling with a short stretch to our first stop where there is time for a swim before lunch. After, we continue paddling at an easy pace and later into the afternoon head back to our starting inlet. Lunch and Swedish "Fika" snack is included. Arrival at Slussen between 18:00 and 19:00. Duration: 8-9 hrs Live guide: English. Starts at Meeting Point: Slussen at 8.48 am. You have to be able to swim 200 metres to partake in this tour.
Season: May – Sep 2016. Price: Adult £145
Stockholm Sightbeeing by Bicycle
Biking is certainly one of the best ways to tour Stockholm, with this tour you won’t miss a beat! The bike tour will of course stop at popular sights such as Gamla Stan (Old Town) and the Royal Palace, but the true highlight of our bicycle tour will be cruising through the many islands to explore some of the city’s hidden jewels. This tour is guided by experts – the knowledgeable guides will introduce you to Stockholm’s historic past and colourful present whilst exploring beautiful places not accessible by bus or boat. Keep in mind that Stockholm is a bike-friendly and safe cycling city with many bicycle ways and green stretches where cars are not permitted.
Duration: 2-hrs
Live guide: English
Starts at Meeting Point: Kungsbro Strand 21
Price: Adult £39
Package Includes:
- Direct flights from London to Stockholm and return (we can arrange flights from other airports upon request)
- 1 piece of check-in luggage per traveller (up to 23 kg)
- 3 nights' accommodation in a standard double/twin room at the hotel of your choice (single supplement available)
- Breakfast daily
- Return Arlanda Airport Express train tickets
- 24 hour emergency contact
- ATOL protection
- All taxes
Enquire now »
Will I see the Northern Lights?
Please scroll down to see the specifics for the country you wish to visit:
Iceland:
The Northern Lights are in the Northern sky from September through April but are only visible when the sky is clear and free of clouds. Like many of natures wonders, it’s ephemeral – they may be visible, they may appear for a bit and then be gone. But it’s worth it to be patient. Because they’re a winter event, you need to be prepared to wait outside, while looking for them. It’s best to dress very warmly, in layers, with good footwear, gloves, hats and whatever else will make you comfortable while you await this truly amazing event. The Northern Lights can be pretty spectacular, and for the best photos we recommend using a tripod. Much of Iceland offers a very a good chance to see the Northern Lights when conditions are right. Remember – the Northern Lights are natural phenomena, not guaranteed, but appreciated all the more for their elusive qualities.
Norway:
Northern Norway is one of the world's best places to experience the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis). In Northern Norway, Northern Lights occur in up to 90% of every clear night in the period from late September to late March. Most Northern Lights occur in the time span from 6pm to slightly after midnight, with an absolute peak at around 10-11pm.
In Norway, the area north of the Arctic Circle is prime aurora territory. The various destinations in the High North have a distinct personality, and are well worth exploring. Major places in Northern Norway are Tromsø, Kirkenes, Alta, Bodø, Lofoten and Vesterålen Islands and Svalbard.
Finland:
The best place to see the Northern Lights in Finland is in the Northern Lapland region, which is almost entirely located within the realm of the Arctic Circle. During the dark winter months here, when the sun rarely peaks its head over the horizon, you can expect to see the Finland Northern Lights with regularity, and other peak seasons include February through March and September through October. The most common colours of the Northern Lights are greenish-yellow and red.
The Finnish term for the Northern Lights, Revontulet, meaning fox fire, comes from an old tale where the fox was believed to swish its bushy tail on the snowy fell landscapes, throwing sparks into the air.
As mentioned, Lapland is the best place to see the Finland Aurora Borealis, with the Kilpisjarvi area offering the most abundant opportunities. The best time of the day to see the Finland Northern Lights is between 9 pm and 11:30 pm, though they are certainly not restricted to this time frame.
Sweden:
In Northern Sweden, the Northern Lights usually occur during the winter months through late March or early April, but they can be spotted as early as September in the Northernmost parts. Your best chance of catching a glimpse of the Northern Lights is on cold winter nights when the sky is clear and cloudless. You need to be away from city lights, which dilute the effects of these natural phenomena, so head out into the countryside. On clear nights, the Northern Lights can be visible from most locations in Swedish Lapland, occurring between 6 pm to and 2 am, with the strongest shows happening between 10 pm and 11 pm. For those willing to brave the cold on winter nights, here are some of the best locations in Swedish Lapland for viewing these phenomena:
Abisko National Park
Abisko National Park, a couple of kilometers north of Kiruna, is a prime location for viewing the Northen Lights. The scientifically proven “blue hole” — a patch of sky over the Torneträsk lake that usually remains clear despite overcast weather in surrounding areas — gives Abisko its own micro-climate, which is suitable for catching the lights.
Jukkasjärvi and the Torne Valley
Not only does the village of Jukkasjärvi (population roughly 541) boast the world’s first ice hotel (rebuilt ever year from Torne River ice), it’s also one of the best regions to view the Northern Lights. ICEHOTEL organizes guided tours for guests which takes the to the Esrange Space Center located 30 minutes from Kiruna. You can dine at a wilderness camp and get the chance to scan the Arctic winter sky for aurora borealis.
Other regions in Swedish Lapland
As mentioned earlier, if weather conditions are just right (clear, dark, cold, and cloudless), you might catch a glimpse of the Northern Lights from any location within subarctic and arctic Sweden — even close to larger towns such as Luleå, Jokkmokk, Arvidsjaur, and Gällivare.
Greenland:
The northern lights - or Aurora Borealis as it is officially known - actually occur all year round, but cannot be seen during the summer months in Greenland due to the midnight sun. The phenomenon is often seen around midnight and is best experienced on a dark, clear night in the period from September to the beginning of April. If you are travelling during this period, you can see the Northern Lights from anywhere in the country, whilst in South Greenland the northern lights can be seen from as early as the end of August.
Car Rental
You can rent a car, as long as you have a valid EU or international driver's license. Most cars will have manual transmission.
Transportation
Railway mostly serves domestic routes and is used as an easy and quick way to get from the capital to major cities of the country. There are some international routes, like to Moscow and St. Petersburg, but time spent on the way will be quite long.
Buses are one of the most convenient ways to travel between the Baltic States. Eurolines will get you between Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn. One way tickets will cost £ 15 - £ 20 and approximate travel time is 5 hours between the cities. Ticket reservations in advance are recommended.
Taxis are the quickest and most convenient way of travelling round the city. You'll find them located close to the main hotels. Usually it's quite easy to catch a taxi on the street, however, it's much better and safer to order one by phone. Taxi costs in all of the Baltic countries and Poland are approximately the same and a ride in the centre of the city will cost you approx £ 5 - £ 7. Taxis in Finland and Russia are considerably more expensive. It is always a good idea to get your hotel to book a taxi for you and ask approximately how much the trip will cost before you get in.
We would not recommend you to take public transportation within the city, as it's usually crowded and it may cause you unnecessary anxiety about where to stop.