You might not travel all the way up to the Arctic to visit Santa himself, but who wouldn’t love a Christmas-themed trip to one of Europe’s northernmost capitals? In Stockholm, the annual ‘jul’ celebrations include everything from postcard-worthy Christmas markets to carol singing and just generally a whole lot of merrymaking!
While you can’t miss the romantic old town, ‘Gamla Stan’, the city’s most raved-about hotels and tourist attractions put on their very own spectacles to bring a bit of Christmas magic to visitors young and old. If you’re planning a winter getaway to the Open City, you better read on…
See a show while staying at the Rival
Can’t decide between booking an upscale hotel or treating yourself to an incredible show production? Well, you don’t have to. At the Rival, owned by former ABBA member Benny Andersson, theatricality is at the heart of the guest experience – and chances are there’s a Christmas-themed show on during your visit!
It might not be The Nutcracker, but it’s definitely worth checking out the Rival’s jam-packed events calendar when looking into hotels. The popular Södermalm number hosts plenty of tranquil and intimate concerts in its gorgeous theatre space. Who wouldn’t want to celebrate the season with their other half in a romantic setting?
Shop for festive presents at Bibliotekstan
Stockholm’s leading retail district shines extra brightly in the weeks running up to Christmas. The windows of its upscale stores are decorated with festive embellishments and the smell of the local cafés’ famous cinnamon buns wafts through the air – even if you’re not in the mood to hunt for presents, a mere window-shopping session here is priceless!
Should you, however, be looking for Christmas gifts, make sure to pop into some of Bibliotekstan’s most unique stores: from the antiques haven of Antikt Gammalt & Nytt to Svensk Hemslöjd, makers of all things traditionally Nordic – artisanal and inimitable presents guaranteed.
Unwind at the Skeppsholmen – Christmas or not
What, you enjoy the contemplativeness of the season, but you’re not one to jam out to Jingle Bells while sipping on a mulled wine? We’ve got just the right hotel for you, then. The four-star Skeppsholmen on the tiny island of the same name certainly puts on a few Christmas-inspired displays, but its gorgeous, natural setting by the lake Mälaren invites for long winter walks and a quieter experience of the celebrations.
The festive hustle and bustle of central Stockholm is still within easy reach, but at the Skeppsholmen, you can also just kick back with a cup of tea, lose yourself in a new book or soak in a bathtub. You could also just do it all at once – it’s the holidays after all, right?
Photography by Michael Caven [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)] www.commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Christmas_Market_in_Old_Town_(5285604343).jpg