Desmond Ee, the station manager at Singapore Airlines’ Stockholm office, offers tips on how best to explore the Swedish capital
Dine
When in Stockholm, sample meatballs made of reindeer and moose. I had some during my first ever meal here, at a bar called Ardbeg Embassy in Gamla Stan (Old Town). You can also try the dish at Meatballs for the People, a trendy joint in Södermalm. For dessert, head to Café Saturnus, which serves up the best and biggest kanelbullar (cinnamon roll) in the city.
See
Situated in the middle of Stockholm, the island of Djurgården is home to fun attractions like Skansen (an open-air museum and zoo), ABBA: The Museum (which pays homage to the iconic Swedish pop band) and Gröna Lund (a popular amusement park).
Also keep your eyes peeled for the art found across the city’s tunnelbana (metro) stations. This project was initiated in 1957 in a bid to make art accessible to the wider public. Today, over 90 out of 100 stations are adorned with sculptures, paintings, engravings and more. T-Centralen (the metro’s main hub), with its larger-than-life floral and vine motifs, is perhaps the most picturesque.
Do
Fika is ubiquitous in Sweden. Loosely translated as “coffee break”, it’s a tradition that sees locals enjoying a cup of coffee alongside a sweet treat like kanelbullar or kardemummabullar (cardamom roll). It also entails taking a break from work and socialising with friends and colleagues. In terms of transportation, it’s quite easy to explore Stockholm’s main attractions by foot. There are also cycling paths throughout the city and bikes for rental during the summer.
SEE ALSO: 10 best coffee houses in Stockholm to enjoy the art of fika
Stay
Bed down in a decommissioned Boeing 747 jet at Jumbo Stay, near Arlanda Airport. The main body of the plane has been converted into dormitories, while the cockpit is now an ensuite double room. You’ll even find cabins in what were formerly the jet engines. Fun fact: the plane was originally built for SIA back in 1976 with the registration 9V-SQE.
View other useful insider’s guides here.
– ILLUSTRATION BY BRUNO MANGYOKU / TALKIEWALKIE
Singapore Airlines flies to Stockholm five times a week. Star Alliance partner Scandinavian Airlines codeshares on these services. To book a flight, visit singaporeair.com
This article was originally published in the May 2018 issue of SilverKris magazine
