Travellers Tips to Sweden Stockholm

Stockholm is generally referred to as "Beauty on Water" (photo) or "Venice of the North" or "City of Islands" which is built upon 14 islands. It is surrounded by Lake Malaren and by the Baltic Sea.

Airport Information

Name of airport: Arlanda Airport

Distance to city: 41 km

Airport tax: SEK 263

Transportation between airport and city:

Bus
- fare: ~SEK 60
- frequency: every 10 min
Taxi
- fare: ~SEK 400

Flying hours from Hong Kong on direct flights

10 1/3 hours

Visa

Not required for HK passport holders for a stay less than 90 days

Required for Hong Kong Certificate of Identity( CI ) holders

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Customs allowance

200 cigarettes / 50 cigars / 100 cigarillos / 250 grammes of other tobacco products for passengers of 15 or older.

1 litres of spirits or 2 litres of liquor and 2 litres of non-sparkling wine for passengers of 20 or older.

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Currency

Swedish krona (SEK)

Approximately 1SEK = HK$1.1605 = US$0.1488

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Exchange offices:

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All the banks in Stockholm and Forex. Banks are opened from 0930 - 1500. Some offices are open 1 and even 2 hours longer. On Thursday most banks are opened until 1800. The bank in Arlanda Airport is opened daily from 0700 - 2200. Forex normally give you the best exchange rates.

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Forex offices:

The Centralstation, open daily 0700 - 2100
City Terminalen, open Mon - Fri 0900 - 1900, Sat 1000 - 1500
Sweden House (Sverigehuset), Hanngton, open Mon - Fri 0900 - 1900, Sat - Sun 0900 - 1700
Vasagtan 14, open Mon - Fri 1000 - 1800
Arlanda Airport Terminal 2, open daily 0600 - 2200

Time Zone

GMT: + 1

Difference from Hong Kong: - 7

Transportation

Trains

Bus

Taxis

The Underground

Tram

Boat

Tourist Attraction

Stadshuset (photo) - the Government office and the symbol of Stockholm. It is built in 1923.

Vasa Museum - housing the 17th century royal warship Vasa, which sank in 1628 and was salvaged in 1961, after 333 years on the ocean floor.

Skansen - the world's largest and oldest open-air folk museum, with approx. 140 old, showing Swedish cultural, history and animal life. There are a zoo, an aquarium, terrarium and a tobacco museum.

Gamla Stan (The Old Town) - the oldest parts of Stockholm. Narrow alleys and very special atmosphere, art galleries, plenty of good shopping and numerous restaurants.

The Royal Palace, the Stockholm cathedral and Riddarholm church are in this area.

Grona Land - amusement park

Drottningholm Palace - a "Sweden's Versailles". Residence of Sweden's royal family

Ulriksdal Palace - 350 years old. The palace theatre Confidencen, puts on concerts, ballets, operas and plays.

City Hall - The Gold Room with its mosaics and The Blue Room, where the Nobel banquet is held each year.

Cosmonova - new exciting attraction is situated in the Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet. Planetarium shows and exhibitions in a unique omnitheatre. Fascinating films is the world's largest film format.

Medieval Museum - displaying restored sections of the medival city wall of Stockholm.

Aquaria Water Museum - follow a river from a tropical rain forest into the sea with sharks, other fishes and live coral reefs.

Milles Estate - home of sculptor Carl Milles (1875 - 1955)

Waldemarsudde - home of Prince Eugen (1865 - 1947), "the painter prince"

The National Museum - includes a unique collection of 17th century Dutch paintings.

The Modern Museum - contains an internationally famous collection of 20th century art.

The Historical Museum - ten thousand years of Swedish history, in particular the history of the Vikings. Unique findings from Brika, Sweden's first town. The museum also features Northern Europe's finest collection of wooden sulptures and handicraft.

Kaknas Tower - the tallest building in Scandinavia, 155 metres. Panoramic platforms, restaurant and tourist office.

Shopping Guide

Hamngatan

Drottninggatan

Sergels Torg

The Old Town

Sture Galleria

Market of Ostermalmstorg

Market of Hotorget

July and August are the months of the summer sales in Stockholm. Incredible bargains everywhere!

Food in Stockholm

"Lunch of the day"

available at most restaurants Monday - Friday. Approx. SEK50 will buy a meal comprising salad, main dish, bread and butter, a drink with your meal and coffee. Tip included.

Special Events

Veteran Steamboats Day

In the beginning of June, Stockholm's proud white fleet on parade.

Midsummer celebrations

In the mid summer, end of June, the people celebrate the sun with music and dancing in the light summer night.

Stockholm Water Festival

On the second week of August. It is to celebrate the city's pure water. Hundreds of activities bustling 24 hours a day, including World fire Championships, swimming races, midnight marathon, shooting the rapids in the city centre, music, art, dancing and water sports, stc.

Nobel Prize Festival

On 10th December, prizes for literature, physics, chemistry, medicine and economics are presented in the presence of the Swedish King and Queen. The festival ends with a banquet in the magnificent rooms of the City Hall.

St. Lucia festival

On 13th December, old, traditional midwinter festival

Weather

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Summer	June - September, with warm weather, light, balmy evenings and the odd shower. Average tempreature is 18 C
Autumn	October - November, cool and the nights are frosty
Winter	December - February, with an abundance of snow, frozen waterways
Spring	March - May, warm and the days grow longer

Sweden

STOCKHOLM