Stockholm at a Glance: Top 3 Sights to Learn About Its Past by Mack Prioleau
Whenever Mack Prioleau visits a foreign city for the first time, he makes it a point to include its museums, historical landmarks, and heritage sites in his itinerary. It’s important for him to know about city’s history and culture because it helps him gain a better understanding and deeper appreciation of its people and traditions. Someday soon, Mack Prioleau hopes to travel to Sweden, and his first stop would be Stockholm.
Stockholm is the capital city of Sweden consisting of several districts. According to statistics, Stockholm welcomes more than ten million visitors per year. In 2015, the country saw a record 12.9 million visitors. Some were for business, others for leisure. It ranks fourth in terms of air quality among all European capitals. Mack Prioleau can’t wait to have a whiff of that fresh air!
If you only have a limited time to explore the city, and you wish to learn a little bit about its history and heritage, Mack Prioleau recommends these three sights/museums:
The Vasa Museum
The Vasa Museum houses the Vasa, a 17th-century warship built in the 1600s. Soon after its launch in 1628 for its maiden voyage, it sank in the city’s harbor. For centuries, the wreckage remained hidden under the sea. More than three hundred years later, it was finally spotted and brought back up. Almost 100% of the ship is original. The restoration was a painstaking and slow process, taking almost half a century to complete. The exhibitions depict life onboard a ship almost 400 years ago. According to what Mack Prioleau learned about it, the museum receives over a million guests each year.
The Royal Palace
The Royal Palace is the official residence of the King of Sweden. With over six hundred rooms inside the structure, it is considered as one of the largest structures of its kind in Europe. The public is welcome to visit the palace and explore its museums and reception rooms. The structure was designed in Baroque architectural style. A parade of soldiers and changing of the guard take place daily so don’t miss it!
Skansen Open-Air Museum
If you wish to see different parts of Sweden in one location, head to the Skansen Open-Air Museum. There are over 100 farms and farmhouses in this open-air museum, each disassembled and transported from different parts of the country, and then re-assembled to create the outdoor museum.
Apart from these, there is also a zoo where you will get to see some native animals. If you’re traveling with kids, Mack Prioleau recommends that you include this in your itinerary. It’s the perfect place to learn about Sweden and meet some locals.
If you can spare the time, you may also want to drop by the ABBA Museum where memorabilia from the band’s tours and concerts are on display, as well as costumes, instruments, awards, and records. You can also Check out the Moderna Museet, Drottningholm Palace, Fotografiska (photo gallery), and Gröna Lund’s Amusement Park (ideal for kids and adults).
For more travel posts from Mack Prioleau, kindly stay tuned to this page.