Stockholm guide
The capital and largest city of Sweden is located on fourteen islands, located between Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea, in the east of the country. The winners of the Nobel Prizes are regularly announced here, and in 1912 the Olympic Games were held here. About 1 million people live here.
Accommodation
Whether you are traveling for business or leisure, Stockholm offers accommodation for everyone, represented by large international hotel chains such as Best Western, Courtyard by Marriott, Hilton Hotels & Resorts, Sheraton or Park Inn by Radisson. You can find here wide range of accommodation, from the budget accommodation, for example City Backpackers Hostel, Castanea Old Town Hostel, as well as apartments (Residence Perseus) to hotels (At Six, Miss Clara by Nobis, Hotel With Urban Deli). We can recommend Quality Hotel Globe near the Globen hall.
History
The roots of the town date back to the 13th century, the first written mention is from 1252, when Count Jarl Birger built a fortress - the basis of later Stockholm - on an island near Lake Mälaren. Its original function was to avert an attack on the city of Sigtuna. The importance of the city was constantly growing and it became an impregnable defense center, gradually began to develop trade and handicrafts. During the conflicts with Denmark, the city fell under the rule of the Danish king for a time before King Gustav Vasa recaptured it. In the 18th century, almost a third of the population fell plague and the city was destroyed by fire, but already in the 18th and 19th centuries it began to transform into a center of art, education and science. Especially in the second half of the 19th century, the city experienced a huge expansion, with wide boulevards and modern neighborhoods on the outskirts. The city has become a successful modern European metropolis and a popular tourist destination, which can certainly offer many even to the most demanding travelers.
Monuments and interesting places
The city center is located on the island of Gamla Stan, the architecture is greatly influenced by the long-term influence of Austria and Germany, so tourists can feel like they are in Vienna or Berlin for a while. Drottningholm Royal Palace, which was once the seat of the Swedish royal family, is a very popular tourist destination. The royal family is housed in the Stockholm Palace today, on the site of an old fortress. The dominant feature of the town is the town hall, where the Nobel Prizes are awarded and whose tower is topped by three golden crowns, which Sweden has in its emblem. The wooden cemetery, where Greta Garbo, for example, is buried, is definitely worth a visit. Be sure to visit the local open-air museum, where you can explore Swedish history and include a small zoo. A few steps from here you will come across the wreck of a ship that sank in 1628, was pulled out and restored in the 20th century. Sport fans will certainly not miss a visit to the Globen hockey hall, which is the largest semicircular structure in the world, with a diameter of 110 meters and a height of 85 meters.