New Years Eve in Stockholm
Part 6 in my blast from the past series is my the time I spent New Years Eve in Stockholm in 2013. I was expecting it to be very cold but it was quite warm at 4-7 degrees most of the time. What I did notice was how little daylight there is in Stockholm at that time of the year. Sunrise is around 9am and sunset about 3pm. Even on my short trip, I can understand why so many Swedes go somewhere abroad at the time of year!
Stockholm was my first introduction to the world of couchsurfing and staying with/hosting strangers. It wasn’t my last as I have gone on to do it several times since then. In Stockholm, I stayed with a local and partied with Janina and Sarah from Germany. I also went on a bar crawl with Annie, including being cycled between bars with me hanging on to the back of her. Good times!
Partying on New Years Eve in Stockholm with Janina and Sarah from Germany
Bar crawl with Annie
Food
Thanks to IKEA, most people probably think of meatballs first when thinking of food from Sweden. I did try them (they were good) but my favourites were the sandwich from a cafe (near the Nobel museum but I can’t remember the exact name) and from a food truck outside the Slussen metro station (a recommendation of Annie’s). If/when I return to Stockholm, I will definitely be searching for this food truck again! Food, like most things in Stockholm, can be expensive if you let it. An example of this is the food hall in Östermalm. Compared with Northern Ireland, this place was expensive. But everything looked really good and you get what you pay for sometimes.
Amazing sandwich and kanelbulle
Östermalms Saluhall
Possibly my favourite meal from all my travels
Doesn’t look much but a great place
Museums
The number one tourist attraction in Stockholm is the Vasa Museum. The Vasa is a warship built in the 1620s which sank on its maiden voyage, 120metres from the shore. The ship was recovered in 1961 and housed in the museum in 1990. This was a drizzly day and I spent it with Katya from Russia (via couchsurfing) walking around the Vasa museum and also the Skansen open air museum.
The Vasa
The Vasa Museum – definitely worth seeing
Skansen open air museum
Katya from Russia
City Views
A random side street
Another random side street
Old town behind me
Parliament
View from Sodermalm at night
I would like to go back to Stockholm but possibly in summer next time so I can have a different experience. I can definitely recommend spending New Years Eve in Stockholm if you are thinking of somewhere to go. Just make sure that you have anywhere that you want to go booked before you arrive to make sure you get in!
22 Comments
melody pittman
January 5, 2018 at 03:13Looks like a great New Years to reflect on. I’ve had some memorable ones myself but now just choose to stay in and do nothing. Enjoy being young and Happy New Year!
Damien
January 5, 2018 at 04:48Haha thanks. I have been away for the last two New Years. Edinburgh in 2016 and Moscow 2017. For 2018, we will see…..
Lara Dunning
January 4, 2018 at 22:04I haven’t been to Sweden yet, but it is on my list. As a history lover, the Vasa Museum and Nobel Museum would be my must-see attractions, as well as, trying new foods!
Damien
January 5, 2018 at 04:45If you do go to the Nobel Museum then I can recommend going to the coffee shop on the square for one of their great sandwiches.
Punita
January 3, 2018 at 06:15Wintry days and hot coffee in Stockholm, enjoying the chill and browsing inside cozy museums sounds like fun. Though, I don’t mind a little more sun.
Damien
January 3, 2018 at 15:07I am with you on that. Hardly any sun at all when I was there.
Catherine
January 2, 2018 at 22:19I was in Stockholm ages ago and loved it, but it was during a heat wave! Thanks for this walk down memory lane!
Damien
January 3, 2018 at 15:06Heat wave in Stockholm? Haha I would like to be there during one!
Danik
December 31, 2017 at 10:57I love Stockholm, its one of my favourite cities in Europe and one that I can return to quite a few times as there is always something new to see. Its also one of the foodie capitals of Europe as well which really did surprise me. Great read and loving the photos.
Damien
January 2, 2018 at 19:14Thank you for liking this post. I think the food of Sweden is seriously underrated myself! I would really like to back to experience a midsummer party there.
Dominic
December 31, 2017 at 08:23Stockholm is a fantastic Skandi destination. I visited once in the summer time which was awesome – comfortable weather made for great exploring of the city. It didn’t look too bad in your pics, but I imagined it to be much colder in Dec/Jan. I missed the Vasa Museum when I was there – will have to check it out next visit.
Damien
January 2, 2018 at 19:09I would actually like to go back during the summer time to experience the better weather, longer days and exploring the islands.
Ariel
December 30, 2017 at 23:53I’ve never been to Stockholm but definitely want to go now! Your pictures are stunning and so is your description. I would love to spend New Years here!
Damien
January 2, 2018 at 19:07Thank you very much! I had a great time there, even if it was just a couple of days.
Kristy & WC
December 30, 2017 at 20:10We’ve never tried couchsurfing, although we’ve considered it! Looks like it was a great experience in Sweden. The food looks delicious and the Vasa Museum looks awesome!
Damien
January 2, 2018 at 19:07It is a good experience even for just visiting and walking around with a local. You can get insider tips and suggestions etc… I recommend it!
Aaron
December 30, 2017 at 19:54Great post! The Vasa looks amazing! How’d they get it in there? Did they build the building around the ship?
Damien
January 2, 2018 at 19:06Thanks. You know I am not actually sure how they did that! Something to research perhaps 😉
WIOLA
December 30, 2017 at 17:57Sweden is very nice in winter, although the very short days, you can still enjoy the wonderful views of the city, FIKA (coffee and something on the side), and take advantage of cozy cafes 😀 Oh! Couchsurfing is just the best. We actually couchsurfed in Stockholm as well. The Vasa Museum is a lovely place to explore! Great article and pictures!
Damien
January 2, 2018 at 19:06Thank you very much. FIKA was most definitely needed to get out of the cold after walking around most of the day.
Noz
November 9, 2017 at 09:47Nice informative piece…given me an idea of what to expect from Sweden weather
Damien
November 10, 2017 at 18:58Thank you. I think this was good weather for Sweden in December/January