Beautiful buildings that treat your eyes with a pleasant mix between centuries, verdant areas, and the feeling of fresh air, while at the same time you’re close to the calm waters. These are distinctive traits of Sweden’s most extensive archipelago, Stockholm. This place is made up of 14 islands spread between Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea, and are connected by 57 bridges. If you want to know the history that hides between the streets of those astonishing islands, then you should definitely go into this adventure.
Part of Stockholm is a confusing maze of picturesque streets and alleys, which farçades are painted up with warm colors like vivid reds, oranges, and yellows. One of the biggest attractions is the incredible Kungliga Slottet, the Royal Palace, which is the official residence of the Swedish royal family.
The Swedes have learned to make the most of their short summer season, this is the best time to visit Stockholm if you’re not a lover of the darkness that comes with the winter. People take advantage of the long summer days to make late-night visits to the city’s parks and many outdoor spaces.
The best months for exploring the archipelago that spreads out to the east of the city are June, July, and August. The islands are well-known for being low, rounded, and also for getting their unique shape as a consequence of the last ice age. The ice affected them in a way that the weight pulled them under the sea, and now since they have been set free, they continue rising.
Sailing is really popular in Sweden, but it’s important for you to know that they treat those waters as if they were part of a lake, when the reality is that they are part of the Baltic Sea. The way in which the channels are made up between islands is perfect to do island hopping, be it by sail, motorboat or ferry. The shorelines of the islands are usually covered with evergreen trees, surrounded with old rocks, and sprinkled with wood cabins and boat sheds.
In order to get a taste and the true isolated beauty of these islands, you should head to Nämdö which is a whole world away from the city center. In there you will see moss-covered forests and meadows dotted with wildflower, also there are some hiking trails where you will see roe, fallow deer, and even some elk swimming here from other islands. Additionally, at the northern end of this place, there is a high vantage point with a tower, which offers a really good view of the archipelago, and it’s perfect to see the sunsets that turn the sky and water into gold.
Just for you to know
Scandinavian Airlines flies to Stockholm from different countries. The world’s largest fleet of steamships operates between the city and the islands of the archipelago. Don’t forget that schedules may vary with the season. Also, we recommend you to take a bus from Stockholm to Stavsnäs, and then the one-hour ferry ride to Nämdö.
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