After a long week of meetings, weekend finally arrived. Stockholm here we come...
Linkoping C
 |
| Morning at Linkoping C |
The most convenient way from Linkoping to Stockholm is to take the regional train, the whole journey duration is about 2 hours plus. Alternative is the faster high-speed train, but you will pay double just to save 15 minutes of times. Not really recommended for budget traveling.
The ticket counter opens late in the morning, around 10 am. Thus, it is best to book online and print out the ticket in advance or download to your computer. As i booked the ticket using my Tablet, i print the ticket using the e-Kiosk in the station.
www.sj.se (Link to online ticket booking)
 |
| Regional Train |
A thing to note!!! Do not board the wrong train, the fine is
1000 kr.
Stockholm C
The journey to Stockholm is smooth and comfortable. The scenery along the way are beautiful and signs of autumn are every where.
The train stopped by several stations along the ways to pick up few passages. A comfort and peaceful morning train journey to Stockholm.
It is 10.25 am at Stockholm Center Station. The platform was crowed with only people alighted from this train. Following the sign and walk down of the platform, then up to the main hall.
There wasn't any signs to direct us to Gamla Stan. But once out of the Central Station, the direction became very clear. Facing the main road, on the left is the shopping district and the right is the Gamla Stan. The buildings tell us and show up the way.
Gamla Stan
The walk to Gamla Stan is cold is wonderful. Along the ways are buildings of old architectures, which is quite difference from other parts of the Europe. Noticed the churches have narrow and tall clock tower.
 |
| Crossing the bridge to Gamla Stan and looking at Riddarholmen . |
 |
| The House of Nobility |
 |
| History of The House of Nobility. |
The first landmark we passed by is The House of Nobility. From here, just cross the street and we will enter into the heart of the Gamla Stan.
 |
| Walking toward the cathedral, Storkyrkan. |
The main attractions of the Gamla Stan. The central square, Nobel Museum, Royal Palace and ....
 |
| Nobel Museum. |
 |
| Square Stortorget. |
 |
| Square Stortorget. |
 |
| Royal Palace. |
 |
| Royal Palace. |
 |
| Entrance to Royal Palace's Gift Shop. |
 |
| Georges Sculpture |
 |
| Georges Sculpture |
 |
| Walking back to the shopping district for lunch. |
Cosplay at Kungsträdgården
Interesting to see people of Sweden gathered at the central of Stockholm having cosplay party.
Lunch and Toilet Break in Stockholm
Almost noon, time for lunch. We walked to the NK (Nordiska Kompaniet) shopping mall for lunch. However, the price for a meal is so expensive. The living standards in Stockholm is amazing, evening much higher than Tokyo. In Tokyo, one can get a very good lunch for about US$20. For Stockholm, i can only afford 40 kr for a Big Mac meal. The cheapest meal around this area, where most of the restaurant charge around 80 kr for a lunch meal.
Best of all!!! Use of toilet costs
10 kr....
AMAZING. However, there still a trick to save up by waiting outside for someone to finish his or her business and intercept the door before it
CLOSED.
Vasa Museet.
The highlight of this trip is to visit the Vasa Museet. There are few ways to get there from NK, by tram, bus and walk. We decided to walk, as the time taken compare to taking tram (include waiting time) is about the same. Most important of all, walking is free.
We took a quick march (very quick) from the shopping district to the museum and the entire journey took us less than 15 minutes. Thank to the cold and freezing wind along the marina (Strandvägen).
The ticket costs 130 kr for an adult and the queue is long too.
 |
| Strandvägen (Look from Vasa Museet towards Kungsträdgården) |
 |
| Queue for Ticket. (Masts of the Vasa on top of the Museet) |
The restoration efforts spent on this ship is amazing... one can only appreciate is to visit personally. No words can describe the feeling.
A must to visit the Vasa for any one visiting Stockholm. If you want to board the Vasa and also to save up the entrance fees, go win a Nobel price. The only way to get on board the Vasa fo
Trip Summary
The map above shows the entire journey for this one day tour in Stockholm. The red lines are the paths taken from the Central Station to Gamla Stan and from Gamla Stan to Vasa Museet. The yellow line is the return path from Vasa Museet to Central Station.
It was a quick and rush trip for us. Everyone was tired and hungry at the end of the day, which we ended up taking the wrong train back to Linkoping. Thanks very much to the kind hearted and understanding Mr Conductor that has not kick us out of the express train.
 |
| Express Train (Do not board if you are holding a regional train ticket!) |
