Commuter Train Useability
The commuter trains are ideal if you want to reach out in to Stockholm County’s suburbs like Nynäshamn or Märsta. Stockholmsmässan is best reached by commuter train as it is located only a 5 minute walk from the Älvsjö commuter train station. The stations are usually in the centre of the community for which they are intended sorrounded by stores, shops and bus connections. Three of the Stockholm commuter train stations, Karlberg, Stockholm Central and Stockholm Södra, are located in Stockholm City itself with the others being largely suburbs.

Journey Planner

With the journey planner you can select your start and end destination, either with stations or addresses. The journey planner automatically selects the best route or routes with both the Stockholm subway, the buses and the commuter trains.

Tickets and Prices
All Stockholm Public Transportation’s utilize the same system, the zone system. There are three zones, A, B and C. When just traveling in one zone you pay two tickets, traveling through two zones cost three tickets and traveling through three zones cost four tickets. This means that you always pay at least two tickets when traveling with public transportation and at the most four tickets which will let you travel from one side of Stockholm to the other.

Zone Tickets
Pre-paid tickets are bought at Pressbyrån.

• Pre-paid ticket, per unit 15 SEK, reduced price* 9 SEK
• Vending machine ticket**, 1 zone 30 SEK, reduced price* 18 SEK

TravelCards
These cards offer free travel during their active periods of all public transportation in Stockholm County. They are active from the moment they are bought until the specified time has passed.

• 1 Day/24 Hour card, 100 SEK, reduced price* 60 SEK
• 30 Day Card, 690 SEK, reduced price* 420 SEK

For further ticket and travelcard options and information including explanation of the stars*, please go here.

Connection With the Rest of the Country
Eight of the commuter train stations allows you to switch to regional and long-distance trains which branch out to Sweden’s other cities like Malmö and Göteborg (Gothenburg). These trains require regular train tickets and do not fall under the Stockholm Public Transportation networks ticket system with tickets and travelcards. For checking times and prices for trains going out in to the country, please go to SJs website.

Behavior Code and Rules
Here you can find a list of thinks you can and can’t do while traveling with the Stockholm Public Transportation network. Keep in mind that regular Swedish laws apply for things like firearms and vandalism and similar acts will not be listed.

You may not:

• Bring bulky objects, such as removal boxes and furniture
• Bring bicycles, however exceptions can be made during off-peak times
• Bring items over 2 meters in length
• Bring inflammable, explosive or foul-smelling substances

You may:

• Bring guide dogs at all times
• Bring as much luggage as you can easily carry
• Bring animals at no extra charge, but keep in mind that there are restricted areas for pets which are clearly marked and hard to miss

A general overview of the Stockholm Public Transportation network is available here. You can read about the Stockholm Subway here and about the Stockholm Buses here.

The National Museum in central Stockholm features some of Sweden’s most precious historical art. It is the premier Swedish museum for 16th to 20th century art.

Collections
The National Museum has several different collections. One of the more prominent Swedish painters, Carl Larsson, is represented with several famous paintings. Carl Larsson’s last major painting, Midvinterblot (Midwinter Sacrifice), decorates one of the museums walls. Paintings dating back as early as the 16th century leading all the way up to the start of the 20th century, can be found in the collections. The museums doesn’t only offer paintings but also craftsmanship in the form of furniture, jewelry, glass and silverware. Some of the most beautiful wooden furniture’s from the 16th and 17th century can be viewed here! The entire collection of the National Museum formidable and if art is something that interests you then a visit to the National Museum is a must.

Phpto: Ana Ulin

Permanent Exhibitions
Apart from the many objects from the general collection the museum also has two permanent exhibitions: The Modern Form (Den Moderna Formen) exhibition displaying iconic designs and shapes in their original form from 1917 to the present day. The exhibition has everything from concrete chairs to plastic telephones and many other objects in almost any material imaginable.
Form in Sweden (Formen i Sverige) exhibition which takes a look at how interior decorating was done in the period 1500 to 1740. It showcases many foreign imports which Sweden made during this period, like Chinese porcelain, Indian silk and American tobacco. A lot of beautifully decorated and timely pieces are on display allowing you to admire the time and effort the carpenters put in to their work.

Current Exhibition
It’s almost worth a trip to Stockholm in itself just to see the current exhibition, The Deluded Eye (Lura Ögat). The exhibition is all about tricking the eye with threedimensional painting. All of the 150 pieces that make out the exhibition are well worth viewing and will most likely have you confused and amazed. The aim of the exhibition is to blur the line between fiction and our percieved reality.
25 September 2008 to 11 January 2009

Coming Exhibitions
The Pre-Raphaelites (Prerafaeliterna) is an exhibition of English art which shocked contemporary society and still fascinate today. Instead of conforming to the current idea of what art was supposed to be, as dictated by the mid-19th century, the Pre-Raphaelites sought honesty and reflection upon society in their paintings. The painters took the name Pre-Raphaelites from their inspiration of the era before the Renaissance painter Raphael.
26 February 2009 to 24 May 2009
Hans Hammarskiöld - Profiler (Hans Hammarskiöld - Profiles) is an upcoming exhibition of profile photographies shot by Hans Hammarskiöld, one of the biggest names in Swedish photography history. The photographies will be depicting royalty, culturally important persons and his own family, although the objects will be exclusively Swedish. The exhibition will be free and shown in the Gravyrgallery on the entry floor.
15 January 2009 to 30 August 2009

Entry Fee
Free admission with the Stockholm Card.
Full price is 100 SEK
Reduced price is 80 SEK
The reduced price is granted to students, senior citizens and groups of 15 or more.

Opening Hours
1 June to 1 August:

• Monday closed
• Tuesday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Wednesday-Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

1 September to 31 May:

• Monday closed
• Tuesday & Thursday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Wednesday & Friday-Sunday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Getting To
The National Museum is located at Blasieholmen. The best way to reach the museum is to take the Stockholm subway to Kungsträdgården and then walking about 400 meters along the beautiful dockside.

Visit The National Museums homepage for more information: www.nationalmuseum.se

The Djurgården Line (Djurgårdslinjen) in central Stockholm is a heritage tramway with the line number 7 which runs from Norrmalmstorg out to the beautiful island of Djurgården with the end of the line being at Waldermarsudde.

Sites and Sights on Djurgården
When you ride the heritage tram out to the island of Djurgården you are offered an incredible sight of the waters of Stockholm and many historical and mesmerizing buildings on the other side. You will also have the pleasure of being able to enjoy the amusement park Gröna Lund, the zoo/museum Skansen and the historical Vasa Museum.

Riding the Tram
Regular travelcards for use with the Stockholm Public Transportation are valid, however zone tickets are not. If you do not have a travelcard the ticket will cost you 30 SEK for a two-way trip with the historical tram. The tramway ticket is valid for travel on the day it is bought. The trams normally provide service every 12 minutes with extra trams being brought in if needed.

Ride Availability
The line is operated from 21st of March until 21st of December on the following schedule:

• On Saturdays & Sundays 21 March - 27 April, 10.40 to 17.00
• On Saturdays & Sundays 1 May - 25 May, 10.40 to 18.00
• Every day 31 May - 31 August, 10.40 to 18.00
• On Tuesdays 24 June - 5 August, 10.40 to 22.00 for the Allsång på Skansen televised musical-sing-a-long program taped at Skansen on Djurgården. More information on the Skansen page.
• On Saturdays & Sundays 6 September - 28 September, 10.40 to 18.00
• On Saturdays & Sundays 4 October - 21 December, 10.40 to 17.00

Apart from 24 June - 5 August, the tramway line is also operated on holidays.

The Café Tram
During the open hours there is also a special café tram operating on the line. While riding this tram you’re guaranteed a window seat and you get a coffee, tea, chocolate or soft drink with a cake of your choice apart from the trip itself. Prices for the café tram are as follows:

Adults 60 SEK
Children 7-15 years of age and retired folks 50 SEK
Children under 7 years of age 30 SEK
Holders of a valid tram ticket 30 SEK

Note: A regular tram ticket is 30 SEK (non-Café tram) if you do not have a Stockholm Public Transportation-valid travelcard.

Tramway History and Resurrection
The tramway operated daily from 1877 to 1967 as means of public transportation. Through the 90 years of operation the tramway handled many of Sweden’s inner city commute traffic and lines ran all over the city. The trams stopped running when Sweden switched from left hand to right hand traffic. The tracks were gradually removed from the city streets until members of the Swedish Tramway Society (Svenska Spårvägssällskapet) received permission to start operating the Djurgården Line as a heritage tramway in 1991. The service has been well received and the non-profit organization keeps the trams running to this day. The responsibility for servicing the tracks have since 2005 been signed over to SL, the major company in charge of the Stockholm Public Transportation network.

The Stockholm Subway (Locally Tunnelbanan) is part of the Stockholm public transportation network and runs both above and below ground and is an easy, carefree and cheap way of transportation across Stockholm. Stockholm and particularly Stockholm City is also easily navigated by taxi or public transportation buses.

Layout and Stations
The Stockholm subway is composed of three major lines divided in seven different subroutes which are based on a station-to-station basis with either end being on the other side of Stockholm City. Out of the 100 stations that make out the Stockholm subway network about 25 of them are in the very heart of Stockholm offering you extreme accessibility for getting around. In total the network runs 110 km however each route is approximately 19 km with two being around 27 km running from end to end of their respective lines.
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Finding the Stockholm Subway
The Stockholm subway is marked with a T for Tunnelbana on the outside of the subway stations, lit during the night. When on a subway station you can view the real-time arrival times of the next train and the two trains that follow it as well as their destinations on displays by the platforms making it hard to get lost. A map of the stations are available on the subway platforms and in the trains themselves and are extremely comprehensible. You can pick up a timetable of arrival and departure times in the bus, in one of the ticket booths or from one of their service centers in by the stations of T-centralen.
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Connectivity with the Commuter Trains
The Stockholm subway is connected with the commuter trains and transitions between the two networks can be done at the T-Centralen subway station at the heart of the Stockholm subway system in the middle of Stockholm City. You can also switch at Sankt Eriksplan although you will have to walk a short distance outside to the Karlberg commuter train station. The commuter trains use the same tickets as the Stockholm subway but run on its own network, reaching other stations. A list of stations are available here, courtesy of SL.
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Stockholm Subway Map
This map over Stockholm’s subway shows you all three major lines as well as the names of all the stations and where you can change between them. T-centralen gives you the ability to switch between all of them as the map clearly shows.

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Journey Planner

With the journey planner you can select your start and end destination, either with stations or addresses. The journey planner automatically selects the best route or routes with both the Stockholm subway, the buses and the commuter trains.

Using the Stockholm Subway
The Stockholm subway system, including buses and the commuter train, are divided in to three different zones, A, B and C. When riding with the Stockholm Public Transportation network you will pay two units for traveling one zone, three for traveling two zones and four for traveling all three zones. The Stockholm subway runs only through the A zone so if you don’t plan on switching to a bus outside Stockholm City or the commuter train your journey will only cost two tickets. The tickets are called Zone tickets while Travel cards and the Seasonal and Annual travel cards will allow you free travel in any number of zones. When one ticket is used, it is active and usable for travel for the next hour. Further information about the different tickets and cards and their pricing for usage with the Stockholm subway and other means of public transportation will be explained below:

Zone Tickets
Cast tickets are bought in the ticket booth while you enter the subway station while pre-paid tickets are bought in shops. The best option for pre-paid tickets are shops called “Pressbyrån” which are found at most subway station terminals. If you go there first and buy a ticket instead of buying it off the person who stamps the ticket, you’ll save money. The tickets are active from when they are stamped and an hour forward.

Zone Tickets
Pre-paid tickets are bought at Pressbyrån.

• Cash ticket, per unit 20 SEK, reduced price* 12 SEK
• Pre-paid ticket, per unit 15 SEK, reduced price* 9 SEK
• Vending machine ticket**, 1 zone 30 SEK, reduced price* 18 SEK

TravelCards
These cards offer free travel during their active periods of all public transportation in Stockholm County. They are active from the moment they are bought until the specified time has passed.

• 1 Day/24 Hour card, 100 SEK, reduced price* 60 SEK
• 30 Day Card, 690 SEK, reduced price* 420 SEK

For further ticket and travelcard options and information including explanation of the stars*, please go here.
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Behavior Code and Rules
You may not bring bicycles onboard the train. Exceptions may be made during off-peak periods in traffic. There is no extra charge for bringing pets when riding the Stockholm subway but you must have them restricted in a leash or locked in a cage. Some areas are marked as pet-free, make sure to take this in consideration and remember that someone can be allergic. Guide dogs are permitted. You may take any luggage you can easily carry with you and there is no particular weight limit, however bulky items such as furniture or removal boxes are not permitted as well as objects over two meters in length. When you are getting on the train you should keep in mind that it is customary to let people get off first to ensure that the traffic flows smoothly.
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History and Development of the Stockholm Subway
The Stockholm subway was designed to overlay many already existing tram lines which were at the time of construction doing a lot of the people transportation. As Stockholm was, and still is, a growing city the capacity of the trolleys and buses were getting swamped and a subway was the way to move forward. In 1950 the first line of the Stockholm subway was complete and in 1951 the subway branched from one end of the city to the other. The latest addition to the Stockholm subway was made in 1975 when the Kungsträdgården-Hjulsta route was completed and opened to the public.
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The official website for the Stockholm subway is available here.

Casino Cosmopol Stockholm is located in central Stockholm City and is one of Sweden’s four casinos, all operated and run by the government organisation Svenska Spel (Swedish Games). As it is run by Svenska Spel you can expect high security for both yourself and any money you bring to gamble with or spend.

The Games
When looking for gambling in Stockholm, Casino Cosmopol is the only place to be. You can treat yourself to some slots, Black Jack, baccarat (Punto Banco) or the ever-popular roulette. The Casino also offers Texas Hold’Em and regularly holds tournaments of varying sizes and buy-ins. Other poker variants that are available are 7 Card Stud and Omaha poker. There’s almost always a cash game going if you’re looking for some card action, from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Buy-ins and limits
Buy-ins are as follows (Higher limits are available per request):
Fixed limit:
50/100 (Min buy-in 1000 SEK)
50/100 (min buy in 1000 SEK)
100/200 (min buy in 2000 SEK)
200/400 (min buy in 4000 SEK)

Pot Limit:
20/20 (min buy in 1000 SEK)
50/50 (min buy in 2500 SEK)
100/100 (min buy in 5000 SEK)
200/200 (min buy in 10 000 SEK)

No Limit:
20/20 (buy in 500-2000 SEK)
50/50 (buy in 1000-5000 SEK)
100/100 (buy in 2000-10 000 SEK)
200/200 (buy in 5000-20 000 SEK)

Dining and Events
Casino Cosmopol’s staff of 450 are ready to assist you in making the evening a memorable experience. Apart from the games you’re offered exquisite food from Restaurant Twentyone and drinks and snacks from the Jackpot Bar. Casino Cosmopol also offers events, such as Poker Monday with food and drinks followed by a Texas Hold’Em lesson for 195 SEK and Ladies Casino Night on wednesdays with food, drinks and mingling for 195 SEK. Hotel packages are, of course, also available including Clarion Hotel and Radisson SAS Royal Viking Hotel.

Getting in
When you arrive at the Casino you will be expected to pay an entrence fee (price) of 30 SEK and, for your own and everyone else’s safety, have your photograph taken. You will also be expected to present a photo ID, we recommend you to use your passport or driver’s licens. You are expected to dress smartly.

Location
Casino Cosmopol Stockholm is located at Kungsgatan 65, near the Hötorget subway station. It is also in walking distance to most inner city locations, including restaurants, shops, Old Town and hotels, such as the Grand Hotel Stockholm.

For further information, please see the official website.

Stockholm City Hall (Stadshuset) lies on the island of Kungsholmen in the center of Stockholm City. Completed in 1923 after twelve years of construction, Stockholm City Hall is one of the worlds most famous buildings. Stockholm City Hall is today open for visitors and is a popular tourist attraction while still remaining an active office building for 200 politicians and civil servants governing the City of Stockholm.

Design and Construction
Stockholm City Hall is situated on the same site where Eldkvarn (Literally Firemill), a large gristmill with a steam engine from 1805, stood until 1906. A contest was held to decide who should design Stockholm City Hall and Ragnar Östberg came out on top. Östberg incorporated many elements from the runner up, Carl Westman’s, project including the tower. Stockholm City Hall is considered Sweden’s foremost example of national romanticism in architecture. Construction started in 1911 and before the work had been finished in 1923 almost eight million red bricks had been used.

Decorations and Commemorations
On the eastern side you can find a gold-plated cenotaph in honor of Birger jarl, the founder of Stockholm in the middle of the 13th century. In the south-east end of Stockholm City Hall you can find a 20 meter tall pillar with a statue of Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson on top, a rebellion leader who, in the 15th century, helped the Swedes unite against the Danes, which eventually led to Gustav Vasa’s victory and rule of a unified Sweden in the early 16th century.

The Blue Hall
The Blue Hall (Blå Hallen) is a large hall within the Stockholm City Hall, best known for hosting the annual Nobel Prize banquet that follows the awards. It is host to Scandinavia’s biggest organ with 10,270 individual pipes. The organ loft sits on a balcony along the Blue Hall’s eastern wall over the seven portals to the Golden Hall. The hall itself was intended to be plated with blue glazed tiles along its walls, however Ragnar Östberg modified his drafts during construction and removed them. The hall retained its name the Blue Hall from his drawings and is still referred to as such today. Stockholm City Hall allows booking of the Blue Hall for different occasions such as dinners, celebrations and dances.

Photo: Chris Lee
The Golden Hall
The Golden Hall (Gyllene Salen) is named as such from its 18 million gold mosaic pieces that dress the walls around it. The walls motifs depict various events and stories from Swedish history in a byzantine inspired style. The Golden Hall is located just above The Blue Hall and is accessible through a staircase. It is, by comparison of size, the smaller of Stockholm City Hall’s inner halls.

Stockholm City Hall’s Functions Today
Inside of the majestic walls which make up the Stockholm City Hall there isn’t only halls and locales for visiting but also a myriad of offices and conference rooms. Stockholm City Hall is home to some 200 city employees with varying responsibilities. Once every other week the county representatives convene and discuss different political and managerial topics about how to best govern the great city of Stockholm. Stockholm City Hall will continue to be a representable and functional piece of both Stockholm’s and Sweden’s political life.

Tours of Stockholm City Hall
If you want to see the insides of Stockholm City Hall your best bet is with a tour. Tours are available daily in both Swedish and English at 10 a.m. and 12 a.m. with no advance reservation (max 10 people), all year around. During the summer months more frequent tours are available and are also offered in additional languages.

Tour Prices
Prices for Adults are 60 SEK
Prices for Seniors/Students are 50 SEK
Prices for Children 12-17 years old accompanied by parent/guardian 30 SEK
Prices for Children 11 years or younger accompanied by parent/guardian Free
With the Stockholm Card Free

Location and Getting to
As Stockholm City Hall sits on Kungsholmen it is located in the very heart of Stockholm City. The City Hall itself is more or less a symbol for Stockholm. It is best accessed by taking the subway to the T-centralen subway station and then walking a short distance across the bridge.

Drottningholm Palace (Drottningholms Slott) is one of Sweden’s Royal Palaces, located in the western part of Stockholm and it is a popular tourist attraction with its appealing looks and surroundings, nearby theater and café. It is the summer residence of the Swedish Royal Family.

Design and Construction
Drottningholm Palace was designed and supervised during its construction by Nicodemus Tessin the Elder for Hedwig Eleonora, starting in 1662. When Hedwig Eleonora bought the grounds they housed an older renaissance building built by John III of Sweden in 1580 for his wife Queen Katarina Jagellonica, however this building burned shortly after her purchase, which prompted Hedwig to hire Nicodemus for the rebuilding and redesigning of the palace. The palace was almost complete by 1681, when Nicodemus Tessin the Elder died. His son, Nicodemus Tessin the Younger, architect of The Royal Palace among other famous historical buildings, stepped in to finish the work.

Decay and Restoration
During the 19th century Drottningholm Palace stood largely empty and was left without maintenance, until 1907 when Oscar I of Sweden decided that it should be restored. Electricity, heating and sewage was installed during this restauration, modernizing the palace. The latest maintenance was done in a 5 year period up to 2002, with cleaning and refurbishing of the exterior walls.

Tours and Heritage
Today Drottningholm Palace is available for tours, which are included in the entrance fee should you choose to enter the palace itself. The tours last an average of 50 minutes and showcase the insides of Drottningholm Palace and its rich heritage. Drottningholm Palace was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991, which includes the theater and Chinese Pavilion (Kina Slott), a Chinese-inspired royal pavilion built in 1753.

Gardens and Inspiration
Drottningholm Palace is host to several gardens and parks both by the palace itself and in the grounds around it. The baroque garden was created by Hedwig Eleonora herself and stretches itself out in front of the palace, giving a grand and majestic appearance. The English garden, founded by Gustav III of Sweden, is located north of the baroque garden and is, much like the baroque garden, filled with interesting sculptures. The English garden is designed to surprise its visitors with artworks sticking out where one expected to see nature. Both of the gardens and the other greens around Drottningholm Palace are well suited for pick nicks and social games like rounders or frisbee throwing.

Drottningholm Palace Theatre
In the near vicinity of Drottningholm Palace lies the Drottningholm Palace Theatre (Drottningholms Slottsteater). Finished and opened in 1766, the Drottningholm Palace Theatre hosted plays until 1792, when the assassination of King Gustav III left the theatre to be forgotten. However, in 1920, under direction of the Swedish theater historian Agne Beijer, the theater was restored. It saw fitting of electrical lights and other modernizations but for the most part retained the original architecture and style. Today the theater is open to the public for both plays and guided tours, both of which are available from the theater’s homepage, located here.

Recommendations and Pricing
Drottningholm Palace is excellent for a days trip with a pick nick, perhaps a tour of the palace or the theater or just some fresh air in the many green areas and gardens in the area.
Price to enter the Drottningholm Palace is 70 SEK for Adults, 35 SEK for children ages 7-18 and free for children ages 0-7.

Location and Getting to Drottningholm Palace
Drottningholm Palace is located in Drottningholm. It is built on the island of Lovön. For getting to Drottningholm Palace we recommend taking the subway to Brommaplan and from there changing to bus 301-323 to Drottningholm. During the summer you may also take the boat which departs from Stadshuskajen in Stockholm City. Operator of this line is Strömma Kanalbolaget and information about the boat trip is available here.

For more information about Drottningholm Palace, please see the official website.

The Royal Palace (sometimes Stockholm Palace) is the official residence of the Swedish Royal Family located at the heart of Stockholm City and is one of Europe’s largest palaces. The palace was rebuilt in to its current form in 1830 and has over 600 rooms.

History and Construction
Orginally the site housed the castle Tre Kronor (Three Crowns), a fortress which intended use was to defend the Stockholm Harbour area. The fortress burned to the ground in 1697, more than 400 years after its construction, and left only a foundation. It was rebuilt by Nicodemus Tessin the Younger with construction starting to be finished in 1734 but only considered fully complete in 1830, when Lejonbacken (The Lion’s Slope) had finished construction. The results of these reconstructions in to the Baroque style is what we can see today.

The Royal Guards
The Royal Palace is guarded by Högvakten (Swedish Royal Guards), part of the Swedish Armed Forces. The guard has a rich history dating back to the 16th century and it is considered an honor to have the guard duty. There are often ceremonial marches during the summer around the Palace by both mounted guards and guards on foot. The marches are usually accompanied by elite military bands, allowing you to listen to their inspiring marching music.

Museums in the Palace
The Royal Palace is more than just the home of the Swedish Royal Family, it is the host of The Royal Armoury (Livrustkammaren), which among other things display the crown jewels, and Gustav III Museum of Antiques. The Museum of Antiques contains ancient sculptures from Italy among other things. The Tre Kronor Museum is also located in the Palace, and is able to offer a unique insight in to the original Castle. The entrance to the museum is located through a five-meter thick wall from the 1200s.

Thanks to its central location in Stockholm City, the Royal Palace is easily accessible by public transportation and is close to hotels, such as the Grand Hotel Stockholm which has a variety of rooms overlooking the Palace, various shops and plenty of interesting, worth-visiting restaurants. For more information, see the official website.

Photo: Göran Schmidt - The Royal Armoury

The Royal Armoury (Livrustkammaren) is Sweden’s oldest museum, founded by Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden in 1628, the same year the Vasa sunk. The museum itself hosts Royal artefacts, including the crown jewels, and clothing from the Kings, Queens which have resided in and around Sweden’s throne throughout the ages.

The Collection
The Royal Armoury features many famous pieces in its collection such as the clothing ranging from Charles XII’s muddy clothing from Fredriksten’s Castle where he fell in 1718 to richly decorated saddles and weapons. The museum even offers a view at stuffed horses in the lower level exhibition of Royal carriages.

Guided Tours
Tours are available, offering easily understandable and interesting facts about Sweden’s Royal Family and Court through the ages and the stories behind the artefacts and museum pieces on display. It is possible to book special tours if you’re interested in just an area of the museum, for example armours or clothing.

Current Exhibition
From November 23, 2007 the Royal Armoury has an exhibition on War-booty, collected during Stormaktstiden, or the “Age of Greatness” during which Sweden was a major European power. As war-booty was a legitimate part of war during this era most of the booty has remained in swedish hands, and the most interesting of which is now available on display for the visitor.

The museum is open:
Sept-April Tuesday-Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm & Thursdays 11 am to 8 pm
May Daily 11 am to 5 pm
Jun-Aug Daily 11 am to 5 pm
Closed 18/3, Midsummers Eve, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Years Eve and New Years Day

Prices and Admission:
Prices are 60 SEK for 19 years or older.
Admission is free for children 0-18 years of age.

Getting to the museum
The museum itself is located in the Royal Palace in Old Town with entrence from Slottsbacken 3.
The nearest communication is the subway station Gamla Stan and there is also a carpark nearby in Skeppsbron and an underground parking facility at Slottsbacken 6 by the Royal Coin Cabinet.

Because of its central location the Royal Armoury is easily accessible and has access to Stockholm City hotels, such as the Grand Hotel Stockholm, and Stockholm’s many restaurants and shops.

For more information, please see The Royal Armoury’s Official website.

Photo by: Nick Lott

The Vasa Museum offers its visitors the oppurtunity to view the actual ship with their own eyes. The Vasa sunk during her maiden voyage out of the Stockholm harbour area when a gust of wind tilted here such that water was allowed in to her lower gun ports due to serious design flaw. She was raised 333 years later and now resides inside the museum named after itself.

When you visit the Vasa Museum you will have the chance to take a guided tour which will offer exciting insight into the life of 15th century sailors, the construction of the ship, the views of the king on the navy and the reasons as to why she sunk. You will also be able to walk around inside the museum yourself and view the many displays and monitors which cover the Vasa and her sorroundings.

After being raised the Vasa has been in constant conservation. The Vasa has remained in the condition she is in thanks to the protection from the toxicated waters of Stockholms ström which killed many of the organisms which usually eat away at sunken ships, and later, after being raised, by being sprayed with polyethylene glycol. The warship continues to reside in a humid environment inside of the museum. In the spring of 2009 a new exhibition in the museum will open, allowing you to observe how the ship is being continually perserved as the effort continues on this longterm project.

Being a warship, the Vasa had a total of 48 cannons. All of the cannons went down with the ship. Some were salvaged during the 17th century using diving bells while others can be seen on display inside of the museum today!

When you’ve experienced the Vasa museum and seen the warship in all its might you can swing by the museum shop and buy a souvenier cannon, a model of the Vasa or perhaps some glass ornaments and vases.

As the museum is located in central Stockholm several hotels are available nearby, including Grand Hotel Stockholm. It also offers easy access to the Stockholm subway and Stockholm City with its many restaurants and shops.

The Vasa Museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from September 1 to May 31 and 8.30 a.m. to 6 p.m. from June 1 to August 31. The Vasa Museum is closed December 23-25 and January 1.

Price and admission:
Entrence fee is 95 SEK per adult
50 SEK for students with valid ID showing expiration date
Free for children (ages 0-18)

For more information, please view the Vasa Museum website.