Overview Stockholm is the capital of, and largest city in, Sweden. Stockholm is a lively city that is actually composed of a number of islands that are connected by many bridges. Within this beautiful city you're sure to find many historic buildings, good shopping and a ton of museums. One of the most popular tourist spots in Stockholm is Old Town (also known as Gamla Stan - see below for more details).
The hottest months of the year in Stockholm are typically June and July, while the coldest are usually January and February. Because of its usual weather (due to its Northern Europe location), cruises are usually only offered departing from Stockholm between May and August. Stockholm is also featured as a port of call visiting during a decent number of Northern Europe cruise itineraries.
Destinations The following destinations can be visited on a cruise leaving from Stockholm, Sweden:
Northern Europe
Transatlantic Cruises
Currency The official currency is the Swedish krona (SEK). ATM machines are available, but make sure you use one that works with the card you're using. ATM machines will usually give you a better exchange rate than a bank or hotel. Using a credit card is a great way to avoid having to exchange currency. Many stores will accept Euros as well.
Language The official language of Sweden is Swedish. However, most people speak English as well.
Tourist Attractions Gamla Stan (Old Town, in English) is the oldest section of Stockholm. With its medieval streets, great shopping, ancient mansions and buildings, this section of the city is quite popular among tourists. The oldest building in Stockholm is Riddarholmskyrkan (also known as Riddarholmen Church), dating back to the 13th century. It is the burial church of the Swedish monarchs, located close to the Royal Palace.
Stockholm Palace is the official residence of the Swedish monarch. It's located on an island known as Stadsholmen, in Old Town.
The Royal Dramatic Theatre, simply known as Dramaten in Sweden, is one of the most famous theatres in Europe. About one thousand shows are held in this amazing building each year. The Royal Swedish Opera, located in the center of Stockholm, is another one of this city's popular entertainment venues. It originally opened in 1782.
Stockholm has a seemingly endless number of museums within it. The most popular of them is probably the Nationalmuseum, holding the largest art collection in Sweden. In fact, some of the pieces showcased there date back to as early as the 16th century. The works of famous artists such as Rembrandt are housed there. The Museum of Modern Art is another popular museum in Stockholm, featuring the works of Picasso and Dali, among many others.
Port Location There are three locations where cruise ships may dock in Stockholm. Most ships will dock at Stadsgarden pier, located only about a mile from Old Town. Smaller ships may dock right in Old Town. When the docks are very busy your ship may have to dock in the large commercial port, located about 3 miles (about 15 minutes away driving) from downtown Stockholm.
