4 Reasons to visit Stockholm during Midsummer
Stockholm is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe (maybe even the world), and Midsummer is an ancient celebration that captures the imagination of those who participate in it.
Combine those two things, and you’ve got yourself the perfect recipe for summer weekend getaway!
It doesn’t get bigger than Midsummer
Midsummer is so big in Sweden, there have been talks before to make it its national holiday. Only Christmas comes close to the level of celebration that goes on during this festival.
Midsummer festivities go back to pagan times as a celebration of the summer solstice. It’s also a celebration of life and love. There are many enjoyable and fun traditions during Midsummer you need to know.
Dancing the Små grodorna around the maypole is an absolute must. It’s quite simple; You dance around like little frogs. That is, after all, the title of the song.
The video above will tell a lot more about all the traditions and events associated with this celebration.
Midsummer is a time when Swedes let loose and really enjoy themselves. Not that Swedish people don’t enjoy themselves in general, but that typical Scandinavian reservedness gives way to a whole lot of merriment!
A perfect time to enjoy nature and history
Midsummer is not celebrated in the cities, but outside in the country.
For city dwellers, this is a perfect opportunity to head over Skansen Park, the oldest open-air museum in the world. During Midsummer, Skansen Park transforms itself into the place to be to enjoy these festivities.
It’s also a place of great history. Skansen Park showcases how Swedes once lived, their everyday customs and traditions and their lives with the changes of seasons. Skansen is also host to a wide range of exotic animals.
Stockholm is also a great place to enjoy the sea. There are 24,000 islets in the Stockholm archipelago; one of the most notable ones would be Vaxholm, a lovely place with beautifully preserved wooden houses and its 400-year-old fortress.
Vaxholm is great to wander around for a lovely afternoon stroll. It’s all so worth it to stop by to savour its typical herring fish.
Stunning things to see in the sun
The stunning beauty of Stockholm is worth a peak during the summer months, starting at its most notable location, Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old town.
The city of Stockholm was founded in the year 1252 right here, and today it is considered one of the best-preserved medieval centres in Europe.
You can discover beautiful landmarks in this city centre, including Storkyrkan, the Stockholm Cathedral and the Nobel Museum. There are many winding cobblestone streets with a great mix of charm and history.
One of these streets is Mårten Trotzigs gränd, the narrowest road in Gamla Stan. At its closest point, it’s only 90 cm.
But the main attraction in this district is the Royal Palace. One of the largest palaces in the world with over 600 rooms, Kungliga Slottet, is a palace boasts many exciting things to see, including the Royal Apartments, the Treasury and Royal Armory.
Another one impressive sight of Stockholm is the Vasa Museum, home to the restored 17th century Vasa warship. The intricate details of this ship are enough to worth a visit!
You’re already celebrating, add more dance to the mix!
And speaking of museums, here’s a surprise spot that is absolutely worth a visit.
ABBA is not just the biggest pop act in Sweden. With certified sales of over 100 million, ABBA is considered one of the most commercially successful pop groups in the world.
That’s not hard to imagine. As soon as you read the words ABBA on this email, you automatically thought of a song. Maybe that song was Waterloo. Or perhaps it was Dancing Queen.
Or perhaps you thought of Mamma Mia!, a song the more recent generations have come to associate with the Broadway musical and the two Hollywood motion pictures based on it.
The ABBA Museum provides an unparallel interactive experience of everything related to the group. You’ll have the opportunity to do some karaoke to your favourite ABBA song, and even a virtual performance with the band, with costumes, included!
You will also discover a temporary exhibit dedicated to the Mamma Mia! movies, including the costumes, the sets, and background information about the scenes and overall movie production.
Stockholm is, without a doubt, a great idea no matter what time of the year. But Midsummer really adds that special something to make the trip just spectacular!
Responses