Skansen (Open-air Museum and Zoological Park)
This open-air museum and zoo on Djurgården was founded in 1891 to preserve Sweden's rural culture and is the first such collection to be built. It contains some 160 historic wooden farms and houses from across Sweden. The farms have their own animals - traditional breeds tended by 'farmers' in period costumes - and the zoo and aquarium hold both animals native to the region and more exotic species. The children's circus, children's zoo and playgrounds make Skansen particularly attractive for families.
Djurgården
Tel: (08) 442 8000. Fax: (08) 442 8280.
Website: www.skansen.se
Transport: Bus 44 or 47.
Opening hours: Jun-Aug, daily 1000-2200; May, daily 1000-2000; Sep, daily 1000-1700; Oct-Apr, daily 1000-1600.
Admission: May-Aug SKr60; Sep-Apr, Mon-Fri SKr30, Sat and Sun 50skr (concessions are available).
Stockholm Metro
Known as the 'world's longest art exhibition', Stockholm's metro is in fact famous for the quality of its subway art. From the mid-1950s it was official policy to decorate the network with originally commissioned art. Kungsträdgården and Central Station metro stations are particularly ornate.
Globen
A vast sporting and events arena, the Stockholm Globe is the world's largest spherical building at 85m (279ft) high and 110m (361ft) across. As well as hosting major sporting contests, it also houses restaurants, bars and a shopping complex. A source of rich controversy when it was first built in the 1980s, the Globe regained its notoriety in the early 1990s following a spectacular bankruptcy.
Arena Vegan
Tel: (08) 725 1000. Fax: (08) 725 1257.
Website: www.globen.se
Transport: Metro Globen.
Open: Daily mid-June-mid-Aug, 0900-1600 for guided tours.
Admission: SKr30 (for tours, concessions available).
For those of you who like to stay active, either together with friends or by yourself, there are plenty of things to do. Activities range from the quiet to the adventurous.
Ever play Lasergame, Paintball or Boule? If you’ve always wanted to try it, then seize the opportunity during your visit to Stockholm. It feels great to get a little exercise in the process.
Both indoor and outdoor activities are available, and there’s something for all age groups and interests. All you need to do is to feel like having fun, and doing something a little different—something to tell your friends about afterwards.
Fitness centres: Urban fitness fanatics can benefit from gyms like Metropolis Gym, Birger Jarlsgatan 36 (tel: (08) 611 3505), where a guest pass can be purchased for SKr90 or Workouten, Mäster Samuelsgatan 34 (tel: (08) 54 51 64 00).
Golf: The 18 hole Ullna Golfbana, Rosenkälla in Åkersberga (tel: (08) 51 02 60 75), is one of the country's best courses, with access open to guests paying the green fee of SKr600. The 18 hole Drottningholm Golfklubb (tel: (08) 759 0085) has a lovely setting close to Drottningholm Palace, for a green fee of SKr350.
Sailing: The Royal Swedish Yacht Club (tel: (08) 717 0365) and Swedish Boat Union (tel: (08) 661 5940) provide information on the waters in and around Stockholm.
Swimming: Visitors not wishing to jump into one of the city-centre canals for a bracing dip can go to Eriksdalsbadet (tel: (08) 643 3372) or Centralbadet (tel: (08) 242 400). Bathing in Lake Mälaren or the Baltic is surprisingly popular given the latitude.
Tennis: Tennisstadion, Fiskartorpsvägen 20 (tel: (08) 215 454), is a fine old hall in the upmarket Östermalm where Olof Palme used to play (SKr165-195 per hour). The club TSK Malmen, Siskargortsv 20 (tel: (08) 613 3085), leases some of its courts and is quiet and cheap at SKr125-160 per hour (concessions available).
