This is part of the Trip Report Welcome to the Cold where I went from NYC to:
If you’re just tuning in now be sure to read how I ended up with this unique itinerary by checking out The Original Plan: The $77,000 Trip Heard Round the World, the subsequent Change Up: Riga, Latvia? and the Mongolia angle: IGLOO-GER: The Helsinki-Ulaanbaatar Trip Report.
What should you do when you are surveying Stockholm? Consult TPOL’s Travel Guide using the Guns & Butter methodology:
- A trip is composed of two factors: Labor And Lazy
- Anything on the line (Production Possibilities Frontier for my fellow economists) is an efficient use of your time depending on your tastes and preferences.
- Anything inside the line is inefficient as should be avoided.
- Anything outside is aspirational but may be impossible to do given the constraints of time and resources.
- The opportunity cost (what is given up) for relaxing and being Lazy is gained by being adventurous in the form of Labor and vice versa.
You may be looking at this graph and remarking that it is very similar to the Helsinki Travel Guide. You would be correct. On a related point, a wise man once said there is no point in traveling to more than one city in Eastern Europe since you will always find the same thing: a church, a castle, a river, and a bridge. Though funny and true, there is still reason to go explore.
Here’s what to do in Stockholm in order of difficulty: My apologies for the lack of pictures, I was too busy having fun.
Sleep
Unlike Finland, it did get dark(er) affording the weary traveler a chance to get some rest. The challenge of sleep is a result of the great cafes that line the streets and the next obstacle on the list, the nightlife.
Nightlife
Stockholm has the nightlife and it’s easy to find. If you’re staying at the Radisson Strand on a Sunday night, sleep is not an option since you can hear the music across the water at Soap Bar. If the 3AM shut down is too early for a Sunday outing head on over to a dodgy spot that plays great hip hop called Lab.
Saturday nights the place to be is Stureplan and the after hours spot is Hell’s Kitchen. They aren’t so kind at the door so going with a celebrity is advisable.
Local Food
Vacationing isn’t only about going to the club. It’s about drinking and eating too. Like Helsinki, the tourist ‘must eat’ food is Swedish meatballs. Don’t worry these aren’t made from reindeer. The local beer is Falcon which wasn’t that impressive. I stuck with Stockholm version of Heineken.
Stureplan and City Center
From the Strand Hotel, Stureplan and the City Center are within walking distance. Playing the 7-11 Game is a good way to see the city and save money on the cost-prohibitive pastime of beer binging.
Old Town
The best thing to do in Stockholm is get lost in the old town. A few steps from the Strand Hotel, Old Town Stockholm is right there waiting to be explored. There are shops, pubs, and restaurants along with hidden alleys and narrow staircases. No guidebook is necessary as you make your way through Old Town. Each turn brings a welcomed surprise.
The Ikea Museum
There’s no need to go to the Ikea Museum. Return to your Radisson room and you’ll see living history by way of the room furnishings.
Gothenburg
The NYC to our LA or maybe it’s the other way around. Gothenburg is Stockholm’s rival and worth a visit.
Sweden in General :
I would say that I was short-changed by my Sweden experience because I had to get to Mongolia for work and had to cut the trip shorter than anticipated. I will certainly go back and do more but if you’re in a similar circumstance as I was then this guide will be more than adequate for a great time .
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