Stockholm
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Sweden
Mikael Ibanez Lavesson
HFT 3713
International Travel and Tourism
FIU
Stockholm
Sweden is the country that brought us ABBA, the zipper, Greta Garbo, IKEA and Absolut Vodka as well as the smorgasbord, and the Volvo.
Since
the devaluation of the Swedish crown, Sweden has become quite affordable; at any
rate, the simple joys of fresh air, landscape and culture are among the least
extravagant and most rewarding of pleasures available to visitors. Stockholm,
the country's capital, is a progressive city, though there are pockets which
have a village feel. Once you get out of town, Sweden's starkly beautiful
forests and giant lakes lend themselves perfectly to outdoor activities from ice
skating to moose spotting.
Quick
facts on Sweden
Full
country name: The Kingdom of Sweden
Area:
450,000 square km (173,745 Square miles)
Population:
8.9 million
Capital
city: Stockholm (pop: 1 million)
People:
90% Swedes; 3% Finns; 0.15% Sami (native inhabitants)
Language:
Swedish, but English is widely spoken
Religion:
Lutheran
Government:
Constitutional monarchy
Environment
Sweden
is the biggest of the Scandinavian countries. The dominant characteristics of
the landscape can be attributed to glacial activity, with the rocky South-west
coast along the Baltic Sea and the Stockholm archipelago on the south-east coast
most notable for their fjords and skerries. Finland is called the land of 10,000
lakes, but Sweden beats that with its 100,000 lakes.
History
Written
records survive only from late in the Middle Ages. But the number and variety of
fortifications, assembly places, votive sites and graves is impressive.
Humankind and metallurgy made late appearances and only in the Bronze
Age, after the arrival of Indo-Europeans, there was rich trade. The country's
early cultural life is still vividly represented in the hällristningar
(rock paintings) that survive in many parts of Sweden. In the Mälaren valley,
the first known trading posts were established and monuments with runic
inscriptions appeared.
In
1814 the military enforcement of the union with Norway was Sweden's last
involvement with war.
Industry
arrived late but was based on efficient steel making and the safety match, a
Swedish invention. Iron-ore mining, important for at least 300 years, and then
steel manufacture, began to expand, creating a prosperous middle class.
Sweden
declared itself neutral at the outbreak of WW I and was governed bilaterally
until 1917. But food shortages caused unrest and consensus was no longer
possible. For the first time a social democratic government took control. The
social democrats dominated politics after 1932, reworking the liberal tendencies
of the 1920s to join economic intervention with the introduction of a welfare
state. These trends were scarcely interrupted until the 1970s when economic
pressures began to cloud Sweden's social goals. It was then that support for
social democracy first wavered, looking particularly shaky after the
assassination of Prime Minister Olof Palme in1986.
Economic
Profile
GDP:
US$219 billion
GDP
per capita: US$25,000
Annual
growth: 0.8%
Inflation:
2%
Major
industries: Timber, iron, vehicles, communications, ball bearings
Major
trading partners: EU, US
Culture
The
best known members of Sweden's artistic community have been writers: chiefly the
influential dramatist and author August Strindberg and the widely translated
children's writer Astrid Lindgren, creator of Pippi Longstocking. The Gustavian
balladry of Carl Michael Bellman, rarely heard outside Scandinavia. Vilhelm
Moberg, a representative of 20th century proletarian literature, won
international acclaim with The Immigrants and The Emigrants. Carl von Linné was
an 18th century scientist who made pioneering field studies of plant species
using Latin names. Still better known is Alfred Nobel, first patron of the Nobel
Institute and the coveted international prizes.
Swedish
is a Germanic language, belonging to the Nordic branch, and is spoken throughout
Sweden and in parts of Finland. Swedes, Danes and Norwegians can make themselves
mutually understood since their languages are similar. Most Swedes speak English
as a second language
Hungry
Swedes tuck into fish that is usually poached or fried in lard. Pickled herring
is especially popular and the potato is basically indispensable. As well as
being the vegetable of ubiquity, spuds are critically important in the
production of excellent Swedish Aquavit. Strong beer, wines and spirits are sold
by the state monopoly Systembolaget
at outlets in the cities and towns, which are open weekdays.
Events
and Holidays
Midsummer,
(last weekend in June) is Sweden's most enthusiastically celebrated festival.
Pagan rites, such as maypole dancing, mingle with public holiday tie-loosening
and liberal helpings of schnapps.
The
Lucia festival
(13 December) has only been celebrated for about 60 years but has become very
popular. As well as commemorating the martyrdom of a pious Sicilian girl, Lucia
celebrates the coming of Christmas with processions of robed youngsters, plenty
of glögg (a hot alcoholic fruit
punch) for the grownups, and singing. Christmas trees are decorated with straw
animals and stars, cookie baking begins, and Santa Claus makes his final
assessments of children's behavior and does the last minute shopping. Santa
obviously favors Swedish kids as he delivers presents in person rather than just
chucking them down the chimney. Most households serve ham at Christmas time, and
many families still partake in the tradition of 'dipping in the pot' when slices
of bread are soaked in ham juices.
New
Year's Eve is
a highly social time when friends get together, often setting off fireworks.
Easter
in Sweden
incorporates the pagan belief that witches hang out with the devil in hell for
the duration. Kids dressed up as witches and knocks on doors in their
neighborhood, scamming candy in exchange for drawings.
Walpurgis
Night (30
April) is a pagan festival which celebrates the end of winter with bonfires and
fireworks.
May
Day (1 May)
is observed by marches and labour movement events.
When
to Go
Sunshine
junkies should visit Sweden between late May and late July, scooting out before
the August rains. Monthly average temperatures in Stockholm are highest in July
at about 17 degrees Celsius, when you can rely on nine hours of tan time.
Sweden's northern latitude means that it never gets really dark from mid-May to
late July, with the trade-off being a pervasive December dimness. Annual
rainfall is greatest around Gothenburg at well over 700 mm and falls mainly as
snow in Lapland, blanketing the region for 200 days of the year. Many coastal
ports are frozen all winter, while the Stockholm archipelago can be iced in for
a couple of months.
Many
youth hostels, camping grounds and attractions open only in summer, from late
June to mid-August. Summer in Sweden can be hot, sunny and beautiful, but travel
in winter should be better planned and restricted. Big cities are in full swing
all year round.
There
are a number of hostels in central Stockholm, but the boat hostels moored at
Skeppsholmen and south of Gamla Stan are increasingly popular. The city center
has a number of inexpensive to mid-priced restaurants offering a good variety of
meals. Kungsgatan, east of the city center, is the place to be if you want to
visit some of the local bars and night clubs.
The
medieval town of Stockholm is like no other capital in the world. Built on
fourteen islands, it rises gracefully from water so clean that you can go
swimming or fishing in the very heart of the city. Its waterfront is alive with
boats, from ferries to shuttle you around the city to sailboats and yachts that
cruise out into the vast archipelago. Stockholm expanded along the Baltic Sea,
where an archipelago of 24,000 islands, skerries and lumps of rock have
protected it from the open seas, making it ideally situated for trade and
maritime activities. Most of the landmasses are uninhabited, although the
popularity of the area for boating means it can be hard finding anchorage in
high summer. The city is best seen from the water, but you'll enjoy seeing the
parklands of Djurgården or the
alleys of Gamla Stan (Old town) on
foot. Of course getting around doesn't require a boat--you can walk, bike, drive
or take advantage of the city's impeccable mass-transit system.
Old
Town of Stockholm
Gamla
Stan,
situated on the island of Stadsholmen, is Stockholm's old town, which emerged in
the 13th century. Its medieval streets are linked by a fantasy of lanes, arches
and stairways. The present Royal Palace was completed in 1760, replacing the
original, which was burned down in the 17th century.
East
of the city, the larger island of Djurgården
offers wonderful parklands and a concentration of fine museums. One not to miss
is Skansen, the world's first
open-air museum, where exhibits from all over Sweden give it a rural feel.
Skansen also includes a zoo, aquarium, forestry pavilion and a tobacco museum.
On the western shore of Djurgården is the famous Vasamuseet, which grants you a look into the lives of 17th-century
sailors. It's also a brilliant achievement in marine archaeology.
The
Vasa Museum
In
the early 17th century, Sweden was busy building an empire around the Baltic Sea
in northern Europe. A strong navy was essential. During the 1620s Sweden was at
war with Poland. In 1625 the Swedish king Gustavus Adolphus ordered new
warships. Among them the Vasa. The ship was to be the mightiest warship in the
world, armed with 64 guns on two gun decks. In 1628 the ship was ready. Sunday
August 10 was the day of the Vasa's maiden voyage. The beaches around Stockholm
were filled with spectators. The maiden voyage was to be an act of propaganda
for the ambitious Swedish king.
The Vasa set sails and fired salute. But only
after a few minutes of sailing the ship began to heel over. She righted herself
slightly - and heeled over again. Water started to gush in through the open gun
ports. And, to everyone's horror and disbelief, the glorious and mighty warship
suddenly sank! 30-50 of the 150 people on board died in the disaster.
The warship Vasa in the Vasa Museum.
When Vasa had been salvaged in 1961,
archaeologists found the remains of 25 skeletons.
Cultural
Capital '98
During
all of 1998 Stockholm will be celebrated as the Cultural Capital of Europe, an
honor bestowed by the European Union. Hundreds of special events are being
planned that will offer a unique opportunity to experience modern Swedish
culture and the celebration of Swedish traditions. Some of them are a Sami
(Lapp) Festival, exhibitions of Swedish design, a fire sculpture competition, a
Baltic Tall Ships race and the inauguration of a new Museum of Modern Art and
Architecture--the largest museum of its kind in Europe--are only a few of the
highlights.
Moderna
Museet
The
new museum of modern art is a 20,000 square
foot museum replacing the old one. It is located on the island of Skeppsholmen
with a panoramic view over Djurgården island. The museum also houses the museum
of Architecture and Photography. It
opened in February of 1998.
Cruise
to Finland
Travel
from Stockholm to Finland. All the ferry lines running between Stockholm and
Finland (Turku, Helsinki, Mariehamn) offer super cheap "cruises" (Kryssningar")
for a couple of dollars. These are usually good for two nights on the ferry and
a full day in Finland.
Eat
While
in Stockholm, make the most out of your food budget by eating the big meal at
lunch time. Most restaurants have a choice of daily specials (dagens
rätt) for about 50 Skr (US$ 6.50). These offers are generally from 11 a.m.
to 2 p.m. and generally include all-you-can-eat salad, coffee, etc. Don't be
tricked into eating at fast-food burger and kebab places. By the time you get
the sandwich, drink, fries etc, it will cost just as much as a nice sit down
daily special. Don't miss a visit to Kungshallen,
located in the center of Stockholm, where you can taste food from all over the
world in this multicultural shopping center.
Tunnelbanan
The
subway (Tunnelbanan) have is an art exhibit by it self. The platforms, ceilings,
and the walls have all been decorated by different modern artists for the last
two decades. In the spring of 1999 most of the subway stations will be converted
into huge photo galleries, displaying some 750 photos, this will become the
worlds largest exhibition of photography.
The
royal palaces
Built
in the 1700's, the royal palace occupies the northeastern corner of Gamla Stan
(Old Town), which has been royal territory since 12th century. The
palace has 608 rooms - one
more than Buckingham palace. Many of them are open to the public. The
present day palace wwas built over the ruins of the medieval castle - Three
Crowns that was destroyed in a fire in 1697.
Drottingholm
Palace and Court Theatre
Is
located on the island of Drottingholm in Lake Mälaren close to Stockholm. This
water front palace with its baroque gardens, Chinese pavilion and Court theatre
was recently placed on UNESCO's World
Heritage List for its great cultural and historical value. Almost all of the
gardens are open to the public without any entrance fee. If you are lucky you
will see the Swedish King or someone in the royal family since this is their
permanent residence.
Activities
Touring
by balloon has become one of the very best ways to discover Stockholm itself, as
long as the weather allows.
Getting
out and about in Sweden is largely dictated by the weather. When winter hits,
there is skating wherever the ice is thick enough. Stockholm's lake and canal
system is exploited by the local children and enthusiasts seeking the longest
possible 'run'. Downhill and cross-country skiing are popular in and around
Stockholm.
Cycling
in and around the capital is becoming more and more enjoyed by both tourists as
well as by residents. There are designated bicycle roads covering the whole
Stockholm county. If you'd rather be on the water, there are heaps of canoeing
or kayaking possibilities from the excellent areas on the lakes and canals.
Hiking and orienteering are popular
everywhere, with many families forming orienteering teams for weekend
competitions.
Beach
umbrellas may be less useful than ear muffs here, but Stockholm does have some
good swimming beaches. Scuba diving is one of the sports that are becoming more
and more popular. In the archipelago you have the possibility to swim close to
resident seal populations. Viewing the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) is most
spectacular from the mountains in the north, but can be seen from Stockholm as
well.
The
main international airport is Arlanda, half an hour's bus ride north of
Stockholm. There are daily services to and from most European capitals. Sweden
is easily accessible by air from North America. There are four airlines to chose
from: Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), Finnair, Icelandair, and American Airlines.
It takes about 8 hours from New York, and discounts are often available. Most
flights from North American and Asian centers fly through Copenhagen where you
may have to change planes. An airport tax of 14 Skr is included in ticket
prices. Buses and trains link up with ferries to provide services to and from
Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Germany, Poland, Estonia and the UK. Swedish
ports of entry include Gothenburg, Helsingborg, Malmö and Stockholm, although
ferries from north-western Finland head straight for Umeå and Skellefteå in
northern Sweden and services to Germany leave from Trelleborg.
Getting
Around
Daily domestic flights crisscross the country. All flights in Sweden are non-smoking. For schedules and information on all domestic flights visit the Sweden Civil Aviation Administration. Tourists can purchase the SAS "Visit Scandinavia Air Pass," which includes 1-6 coupons that can be used any time of the year on all SAS routes linking Scandinavian cities, including domestic services. They cost $80-$100.
Sweden's extensive bus and train systems render flying unnecessary unless you're really pressed for time. Trains are the basis of Swedish transport outside cities, serving regional centers more quickly than buses. Buses are often the only option once you get off the beaten track. Swedish roads are of a high standard, marred only by their popularity with moose, reindeer and elk around dawn and dusk. You need only a recognized full license to drive in Sweden: an international license is unnecessary unless you want to rent a car. Although car rental isn't too expensive, gas prices are. One liter (1 gallon = 3.75 liters) of gas costs about 1.20 US$.
Women should ask for discounts in Stockholm taxis at night.
The motorways are not open to cyclists but the long, specially designed and scenic cycle routes are better anyway.
The total tourism industry in Stockholm generated about 50 billion Skr (about 6.4 billion US$) and employed 62.000 people. This is an increase of 5% since 1996. Most of this money was spent on lodging, restaurants, and shopping.
Tourists
in Stockholm spend a lot of money on taxis and public transportation.
Tourism
constitutes 3.3 % of the total GNP.
Sweden
has about 3 million international visitors every year. In the world there is
about 600 million trips made each year, which means that Sweden has about 0.5 %
of the total world market. Compared to Sweden's part of the world trade which is
1.7 %.
About
80 % of all tourism in Sweden consist of travel made by Swedes.
Nights in Hotels by American tourists 1988-97
In 1997 there where 6.3 million guest nights
in hotels, inns, youth hostels, and camping in Stockholm. Out of these 2.1
million where by foreigners. 5.7 million of theses where spent in hotels.
American tourists had about 345.000 nights in hotels, inns, camping, and youth
hostels. Hotels dominate with over 95 % of the total number of nights. In 1988
the American tourists where responsible for 8,3 % of all foreign nights in
hotels.
Most
visitors come from Germany, Norway, Finland, and Denmark. The most important
foreign markets are in the Scandinavian countries, Germany, Holland, Great
Britain. One market that is becoming more and more important is Russia, Poland,
and the Baltic States. Traveler from America and Asia is relatively low today.
Why
do people travel to Sweden?
According
to WTO the most common reasons are:
1. Leisure time, recreation and vacation
2. Visit relatives and friends
3. Business and congress
4. Health
Stockholm
– "City of congress"
Stockholm
has a high capacity as a congress and conference city. Most of the hotels are
equipped for small or larger conferences. With more than 700 restaurants,
Stockholm has more than any other city in Europe of equal size. There are six
major convention and conference centers in Stockholm. The biggest on is called Stockholmsmässan.
In 1997 they held more than 300 congresses and conferences, almost 40
exhibitions and 1 350 seminaries. The second biggest one is called Sollentunamässan and is located in the suburb of Sollentuna 15
minutes north of Stockholm. They arrange about 50 exhibits and 1000 seminaries
every year and have more than 1 million visitors.
The
Baltic Sea
With
a more stable political and economical development in the Baltic countries, more
and more travel between the countries will encourage tourism. One of the most
important things with travel on the Baltic Sea is the Tax Free shopping. The
European Union wants to stop the Tax Free shopping on the ferries between the
countries.
Travel
Facts
Visas:
Stays of up to 90 days are usually visa free, but citizens of South Africa, Hong
Kong residents with Chinese passports and residents of many African, Asian,
South American and some Eastern European countries should check requirements
with Swedish embassies.
Money
& Costs
Currency:
Swedish Krona (Skr) (1 US$=7.8 Skr)
Relative
costs:
Cheap
meal: US$7
Restaurant
meal: US$15 and up
Cheap
bed: US$15
Hotel
room: US$50-90
Hotels
in Stockholm: about 200
Stockholm
is very expensive, but it can be bearable if you're careful. If you bring a tent
or stay in hostels, buy travel passes, eat at buffets and keep off the booze you
might be able to get by on $40 a day, but you'll be pushing it. Double that
budget and you can eat a good meal at least once a day, stay in hotels, visit
museums and travel around a bit.
You
should encounter few problems if you carry cash in any convertible currency or
travelers checks. If you've got a credit card or a Cirrus card, bring it - ATMs
all over the country will accept it. Forex (a currency exchange office) do cheap
and easy currency conversions, though they'll charge you a fair bit more for
travelers checks. They can be found in different places around Stockholm, such
as the central train station or at the Arlanda airport.
References
A
magazine for visitors to the royal kingdom of Sweden (Printed by Swedish Travel
& Tourism Council)
Information from the Swedish board of commerce
