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The northern European country of Sweden is so long that if you were to flip it over lengthwise, its northern tip would reach Rome. But no need to do engage in such trivia as there is much to see and do in this fascinating and modern country. Stockholm, the capital, is located on the eastern coast, in the belly of the country. The city is actually located on an archipelago composed of many islands connected by 14 bridges. One island especially worthy of a visit is Gamla Stan, which means "old town." With narrow cobblestone streets, this town has a charm all its own. The Royal Palace is located here, and although the Royal Family has moved out of the city to Drottningholm, the palace is still well-worth a visit. Every day at noon, one can see the changing of the guard. During the summer months, you may even encounter the guards as they march the town center to the palace. If you arrive in Stockholm in winter, you'll find a city all dressed in white. As the seasons change and winter turns to spring, leaves appear, flowers bloom and the city transforms itself. Everything seems to come to life. In summer, residents and visitors alike enjoy the abundant outdoor seating offered by the various restaurants. People can be found lying on the grass in the city's many parks, such as Kungstragarden right in the city center. Here, the winter ice skating rink turns into an outdoor auditorium for summer concerts. One of the most relaxing experiences which cannot be missed when the ice melts is a boat ride around the Stockholm archipelago. From the pier in front of the Grand Hotel, boats are lined up waiting to take you to any of the numerous islands nearby. Stockholm is well-known for the quality of its accommodation facilities and the Nordic Hotel is one of the city's jewels. Situated beside the entrance to the high-speed express train service to Arlanda and Central Station, the brand new Nordic Hotel has 542 rooms and is the largest hotel in the Swedish capital.
Made up of two distinct buildings, the hotel has two contrasting halves joined by an underground passage. On one side, the post-functionalist Nordic Light is remarkable for the sparseness of its interior and a spectacular lighting. On the other, the Nordic Sea with its warm interiors and magnificent 9,000-liter aquarium bring a soothing calm to the spacious lobby. Just as you would pick a pair of pants from the shelf in your local clothing store, you can choose a room size to fit your needs at the Nordic. They come in all sizes from extra small to extra large. But whatever your choice, all the rooms have the same high standard in equipment and design. Similarly, if you want to hold a conference, a board meeting, a customer gathering, a seminar, a training course or a simple face-to-face meeting, there is a room designed to meet your needs. These acclaimed features have resulted in the hotel's appointment to the exclusive international hotel group Design Hotels. This is an astonishing achievement for the men behind the project, Jan S'der and Lars Pihl, who at the outset had no real experience in interior design. Guests will find the unique surroundings supplemented by a warm welcome and an extremely friendly and helpful staff. For a more traditional experience, the Elite Hotel Stockholm Plaza is an excellent choice. Situated on Birger Jarlsgatan, near Stureplan, the Elite is an imposing building which was built in 1884. Scheduled for destruction in 1979, the residence was saved from demolition by the present owner Bicky Chakraborty in association with the Stockholm City Museum.
It is an elegant environment where no detail was thought too small. Even the original stucco work and tiled stoves have been retained. This is a definitely a hotel for guests who demand high quality. One of the most unforgettable experiences for any visitor would be a visit to the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjärvi. The hotel is located alongside a frozen river from which it derives its ice. In the winter, the temperatures average between -25 and -40 degrees Centigrade. In November, each year the Ice Hotel is built from scratch, taking a unique form each time. The temperature inside the Ice Hotel is a constant -5 degrees Centigrade. The structure is shaped like a giant igloo. The past winter, there were 16 suites with sculptures from a variety of artists as well as 60 regular rooms. During the day, there are many activities near the hotel to keep you busy. You can take a tour of the town with a Saami guide, a native Swede, and learn about their heritage. The guide takes you into a tent and cooks reindeer meat over a fire while telling you the history of his nomadic people. The hotel offers other activities such as dog sledding or snow mobiling over the frozen river itself. For those who are brave, there is a sauna on the river, where you are given the opportunity to jump into the freezing river water and then warm up in a heated steam bath on the ice. It is the perfect way to stimulate your blood and keep you warm for the rest of the night. For more information of these hotels:
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Stockholm's archipelago beckons travelers to a sophisticated northern metropolis steeped in history.
The Elite Hotel's 1884 facade brings back a glamorous era of Stckholm's past.
Nordic Hotel's minimalist entrance leads to a designer's dream interior.