How to see 30,000 islands in a single day

If you have only, say, four days in Stockholm, be sure to spend one of them on the archipelago. Here, the sea meets land in a unique and beautiful world of islands. There are many ways to enjoy this natural wonderland, but the most breathtaking views are surely from the deck of an 11 story cruise ship, twisting and turning its way through the hundreds of narrow passageways. And the trip is practically free.

It is the ideal introduction to the long Swedish evenings, accompanied by Swedish-style entertainment, and fine dining. On board each ship are four-star restaurants, offering food and service comparable to the best in town at a much lower price. There are pubs, whiskey bars, casinos and nightclubs, all set to the tune of typical Swedish pop music.

For quiet times, you will find luxurious cabins, well-equipped spa facilities, and bargain hunting in the duty free wine and spirit shops..

There are two main choices for cruising the archipelago: 24 hours spent overnight in the calm waters between Stockholm and the nearby Finnish island of Åland, or a 48 hour cruise, including a short sightseeing jaunt, to Helsinki or Tallinn or Åbo. The options are nearly endless – just the basics, luxurious, or luxuriously romantic for a real celebration.

If spending a day on a ship seems a little odd, we can only invite you try this very Swedish pastime! You’ll be pleasantly surprised!

Systembolaget

One less well known Swedish tourist spot is tucked away behind years of Swedish alcohol politics: Systembolaget, the state-controlled monopoly for the sale of wine and liquor. Its original purpose was to reduce alcohol consumption by controlling both access and prices. Wine, with its lower alcohol content, was considered preferable to vodka or other traditional hard liquors, so Systembolaget responded by sponsoring one of the best stocked wine cellars in the world. And reducing wine taxes! Say what you will about Swedish alcohol politics, it has produced a highly advanced wine culture, at pretty reasonable prices. So, welcome to Sweden’s secret tourist spot! Systembolaget, at a location near you….