Summer in Stockholm

Overview

Program

As with all Expat Club trips, our Stockholm program will be carefully designed. We normally don’t deviate much from our schedule, but all times below are still indicative and may change if required by circumstances, such as traffic conditions. Sometimes we have to switch around program parts, for instance if the weather is not good for an outdoor activity.

Friday 22 July
10h00 – Meeting at Place Schuman
11h00 – Check-in for flight
13h15 – Brussels Charleroi
15h30 – Arrival Stockholm Arlanda (ARN)
16h00 – Transfer to City
17h00 – Arrival hotel & check-in
17h30 – Guided Old Town tour
20h00 – Dinner (location t.b.d.)
21h30 – Bar time

Saturday 23 July
07h30 – Breakfast
09h00 – Departure to Skansen Area
10h00 – Vasa Museum
11h15 – ABBA The Museum
12h30 – Lunch Pop House Hotel
14h30 – Visit to Skansen Park
18h00 – Drinks in Hasselbäcken Hotel
19h00 – Dinner in Hasselbäcken Hotel
21h00 – Return to Hotel

Sunday 24 July
07h30 – Breakfast
09h00 – Walk to boat departure
11h00 – Boat tour to Vaxholm island
12h30 – Lunch at Waxholm Hotel
13h30 – Waxholm Fort
14h30 – Free time
16h30 – Return to Stockholm
17h30 – Arrival Stockholm
18h00 – Visit to Tivoli theme park (not included)

Monday 25 July
08h00 – Breakfast
11h00 – Last checkout (leave luggage)
11h15 – Departure to Stockholm Arlanda Airport
14h10 – Departure to Brussels-Charleroi
16h25 – Arrival Brussels-Charlero
17h00 – Departure to Brussels
18h00 – Arrival Place Schuman

Details

We start our trip at Place Schuman and take private taxi vans to Charleroi Airport. It’s a great way to get to already know other people in our group before we even board the aircraft! All to make sure you have a smooth trip to Stockholm without stress and worries.

Program – Friday 22 July
After arriving in Stockholm, we first take private transportation (bus / taxi vans) to Stockholm center. We check-in to our downtown hotel(s), and freshen up a bit before we officially kick-off the program. A local tour guide will take us around the down town area and in particularly Gamla Stan. The Stockholm Old Town tour is like an episode from Game of Thrones, but it’s all real! Old town, or “Gamla stan” as it is known locally, is by far the most mythical and legendary neighbourhood in all of Stockholm.

As the city’s historical center, this is where you find out about ancient events and hear fascinating stories and tales! In 2021 we discovered a fantastic ice cream store, and we’ll make sure the guide stops there again for some mid-way refreshment before we continue our walk and end up at one or more nice restaurants.

We’ll find out about the Stockholm Blood Bath, the cannonball wedged in house façade and the legend of St George and the Dragon. At the same we learn about modern-day Stockholm and Sweden and see many of the famous buildings like the Riksdaghuset (Parliament), the Kungliga Slottet (Stockholm Palace), and the Riddarhuset (House of Nobility), while finding our ways through the small streets of Stockholm’s oldest neighbourhoods that is situated on a small island in the archipelago. After the guided tour, we will find a nice restaurant in either Gamla Stan or closer to the hotel. Since some of you may want to rest a bit, we won’t pre-organize a dinner, so joining on of the groups is optional.

Saturday 23 July
Today is a great day! We are going to explore another part of Stockholm. We begin with a visit to the Vasa Museum to look at an old ship… Sounds boring, doesn’t it? Well, a 4.7 Google rating suggests otherwise, as well as Tripadvisor’s #1 of 306 things to do on in Stockholm. This visit is just mind-blowing!

The Vasa or Wasa is a Swedish warship built between 1626 and 1628. The ship foundered after sailing about 1,300 m into its maiden voyage on 10 August 1628. Today we learn about its story, but also marvel at this incredibly beautiful 17th century ship that is unique in the world. It is beyond impressive standing next to this enormous wooden ship that seems to have come straight out of a movie production.

After our Vasa visit we continue to another top destination in Stockholm. In 1974 four young Swedish musicians won the European Songfestival with the song Waterloo: Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulveaus, Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad (if you ever wondered where the name came from). We could stop right there, the rest is namely history. A whopping 350 million sold albums later Expat Club visits the one and only museum dedicated to the incredibly successful band ABBA. Sorry, we don’t know how to mirror that first B, but you get to point.

ABBA The Museum is an interactive place where your experiences will be saved on your ticket. To be able to see the recorded material, visit the museum’s website and log in with your ticket number. In the exhibition, you can virtually try on ABBA’s costumes , sing, play, mix original music and become the fifth member of ABBA by performing on a large stage together with Björn, Benny, Anni-Frid and Agnetha. On an iPad, you can choose different instruments from the studio and listen to how they sound on a recording when all the other instruments have been removed. Afterwards, we will reserve a spot for lunch at the Pop House Hotel, the building in which the museum is house. It offers simple and light but delicious menu options in a pleasant shady winter-garden environment. It’s a great place to come to rest after a fantastic Stockholm morning.

After our nice lunch we will visit the Skansen Park. Skansen is the first open-air museum and zoo in Sweden and is located right next to the Abba Museum. It was opened already in 1891 by Artur Hazelius to show the way of life in the different parts of Sweden before the industrial era. Visiting Skansen is worth it around the year and a must-see for tourists.

The Skansen Park is a perfect place to just wonder around with smaller groups. Look at the lovely houses, go inside, have a drink or a snack at one of the several stands inside, look at the reindeers, the buffalos or wolves. It’s set up spaciously, and exploring it is just a highly enjoyable experience that is perfect for a calmer afternoon. Once you have left the park, please join us for a drink in the hotel right opposite of the Pop House Hotel, namely the luxury Hasselbäcken Hotel.

Once the drink inside finishes, you are cordially invited to find a spot at the long table outside where we will be served a nice 2-course dinner:

Sunday 24 July
We have already seen the Stockholm city center. We have already explored various museums. Now it’s time to discover the beautiful surroundings of the Swedish Capital. Lets take a boat to sail a bit further away, namely to the lovely island of Waxholm.

The boat ride alone is worth it already. With more than 30,000 islands, ancient fishing villages and centuries-old towns, inviting coves, cliffs and soft sand beaches, the Stockholm archipelago offers something for everyone. Our destination is the island of Vaxholm.

Vaxholm is often referred to as the capital of the archipelago. People here have lived off herring fishing for many generations. In the 1500s, King Gustav Vasa decided to put the defence of Stockholm’s inlet here. It was the beginning of what would be almost 500 years of military history for Vaxholm residents. The Citadel still stands on the strait just outside the city. A visit there will bring you back to a time when the old fortress was its own little society populated by senior military offers and their wives, soldiers, servants and prisoners. Toward the end of the 1800’s, Vaxholm became a popular resort area for Stockholm’s socialites. It was also around then that the city became known for its Vaxholm herring – a delicacy that is still served today at local restaurants. Vaxholm is now a lively island city where fishing huts and large houses coexist with small shops, cafés and restaurants. There are also several nice beaches, beautiful nature and some of Sweden’s best water sports clubs. Its proximity to Stockholm and central archipelago location make Vaxholm a perfect destination whether it’s for a day trip, weekend holiday, or as a base for day trips to other islands. (source: Stockholmarchipelago.se)

Upon arrival we will be enjoying lunch in the Waxholm Hotell. Since we’d love to keep everyone together, this is already included in the trip price. Needless to say you will also have time to explore part of this island or go to the citadel on your own before we head back to Stockholm city center.

If you have had enough of serious things, we will blow of some steam in Gröna Lund, or colloquially Grönan. This amusement park is also located at just a few minutes from our hotel, so it’s a great place to hang out for a few hours in the late afternoon or evening. Admission costs about €15 but you have to pay extra for the attractions.

Monday 25 July
To keep the last day relaxed, and to still have something to explore on Monday morning, e.g. a museum or to do some shopping, we are leaving on day 4. If you want to sleep in or have a late breakfast, or want to go for a quick walk that’s also totally fine. As long as you are back on time at the hotel for our departure around 11h30 to the airport. With our arrival back at Charleroi at 16h25, we are likely at Place Schuman again at 18h00.

Accommodation

During this trip we are staying in the highly-rated ProfilHotels Central**** heart of the downtown area, at just a few minutes from  Central Station and a pleasant 10 minute walk from Gamla Stan. It offers free toiletries, WiFi and quiet rooms with a radio and flat-screen TV and tiled bathroom with toilet, rain shower and hairdryer.

Room types
In this hotel we can offer you a single room (for 1 person with 1 single bed, a surcharge applies) or a twin bed room (2 single beds that can also be put together, for couples, 2 friends sharing or for 2 solo travelers who would like to share to avoid the single surcharge). Actual double rooms with 1 large bed are upon request. A nice breakfast is offered every morning.

Room sharing option
For 2 friends travelling together we can offer a comfortable twin room with 2 single beds. These rooms are also offered to our female solo travellers who would rather not pay the surcharge for a single room. We have only 1 male shared room available! We offer this free service for those traveling alone to share a room with another traveller. During the reservation process you can simply indicate you would like to stay in a twin room. You will not have to worry about finding a room partner; just book and we’ll do the rest. During the trip to Stockholm we namely introduce you to the other ladies who also would like to share a room. Male rooms are upon request.

Flights

We will be taking direct flights with Ryan Air from Brussels-Charleroi Airport to Stockholm Arlanda Airport by Brussels Airlines. We know that many of you don’t like Ryan Air and Charleroi Airport, we also prefer Brussels Airport and Brussels Airlines, but this is really the best option. You may worry about how to get there, but no worries. Expat Club will pick you up from Place Schuman with a private taxi van (or bus), so there is no need to drive there yourself and find + pay for parking, or to take one of those irregular Charleroi Airport buses from Midi station.

• • Fri 22/7 | Brussels Charleroi (CRL) 13:15 – Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) 15:30
  • Mon 25/7 | Stockholm Bromma (ARN) 14:10 – Brussels Airport (BRU) 16:25

A private transfer from the airport to the hotel is also included (by bus or taxi vans). You can take 1 piece of hand luggage on board (max 10kg) and a personal item. If you also would like to check-in a bag, you can indicate this during the reservation process (surcharge applies).

Comments

• The flights will be carried out by Ryan Air.
• This trip is carefully planned. Still, all timings are indicative and may change if required by circumstances. This does not happen often.
• The trip is sold as a package. You cannot go with your own transportation and/or arrange your own accommodation. If there are specific things that you do or do not want in the package, please let us know and we may consider an up-sell or a discount on a case by case basis.
• You are personally responsible for getting a good travel insurance that covers you for any unforeseen emergencies and medical expenses during the trip. This costs very little, just search online (e.g. €65 per year for a family). We also advise you to get a cancellation insurance in case you cannot join anymore (e.g. due to illness or a family emergency).
• You are personally responsible for adhering to all international and national corona rules and measures, including arranging permission to travel (vaccine, neg PCR test, proof of previous infection), if still applicable. Expat Club will send you a final information email about 1 week before departure, but you are still required to check everything yourself since rules change too fast these days.
• You are personally responsible for using the hotel room in an appropriate way. Any missing or broken items will be billed after the trip. If you share the room with someone else you are equally responsible for leaving it the way you found it. (note: this never happened during any of our trips).
• Expat Club cannot be held liable for long delays that influence the program, for instance delayed or cancelled flights that lead to missed guided tours, neither can Expat Club be held liable for weather-related cancellations or any other unforeseen events that influence the course of the trip, including, but not limited to technical problems with the airplane, taxis, blocked streets, etc. We are doing our very best to pro-actively avoid problems and possibly adapt the program in the most optimal way, but what we cannot take responsibility for what we cannot influence.
• Expat Club cannot be held liable for you losing your way in Stockholm. It is your responsibility to stay with the group and to find your own way back if necessary, as well as to be on time for all departures.
• If you do not have a room partner and you still would like to share a room (male/male, female/female), then we will introduce you to all other ladies or gentlemen in the group in the same position. During the outbound trip we will connect you with others in the same position. If you opt for the room-sharing, you will not have to pay the single fee if there is in the end no one else to share the room with, unless you decide to take a single room during the trip. In that case you will have to fully pay for it yourself.
• If you book a double / twin room and your travel partner cancels, either from the same order or from a separate one once you indicated you want to share the room with him or her, you will have to pay the single room supplement.
• Expat Club may put you in another hotel of equal quality or “upgrade” or “downgrade” you to another hotel. In case of a downgrade, you will receive a reasonable compensation. This is not our normal way of working, but it does happen that hotels accidentally overbook or experience problems (Expat Club itself does never overbook trips, and so this virtually never happens).