Sweden Independent Tour

Categories Scandinavia All-Year Tours Independent Tours

Optional:

We can suggest a full day trip out to the Stockholm Archepelago. A small ship will take you on a two-hour excursion through the marine entrance to Stockholm and out to the edge of the archipelago of Stockholm. Here lies the beautiful Island of Sandön, home to the small and popular summer resort of Sandhamn (Port of Sand). This classic destination has become well known as a Yachting Centre and excursions to this part of the archipelago, where the Baltic Sea meets the East Coast of Sweden, are extremely popular.

Itinerary

Arrival at Stockholm's Arlanda Airport and transfer to Elite Hotel Stockholm on your own.

We suggest a morning city sightseeing tour by boat as the city is best seen from the water. You should also enjoy seeing the parklands of Djurgården, an island east of the city offering wonderful parklands and a concentration of fine museums. One not to miss is Skansen, the worlds first open air museum, where exhibits from all over Sweden give it a rural feel. On the western shore of Djurgården is the famous Vasamuseet, which grants you a look into the lives of 17th-century sailors but it is also a brilliant achievement in marine archaeology. And do not miss to stroll the alleys of the old town Gamla Stan. If time permit we can also suggest a trip by the turn-of-the-century ship, built in 1901, bound for the Drottningholm Royal Castle. You can visit the palaces exhibition floor and the 18th century theatre. And/or take a walk through the magnificent palace grounds. The tour is concluded with a boat trip back to Stockholm.

Stockholm has many excellent restaurants, the city has a quite compact city centre and many of the shops, cafés and restaurants are located within easy walking distance.

We suggest taking a taxi the short distance to Stockholm Central train station where you board the feeder bus to Nynashamn. The bus will let you off in the harbor in time for your departure by ship to the island of Gotland.

Gotland is situated in the middle of the Baltic Sea, 90 km from the Swedish mainland and 130 km from the Baltic states. Gotland today has 58,000 inhabitants living on an island that is becoming increasingly appreciated by visitors from all over the world. There is something to suit everyone here, and there is also room for all kinds of people and all ways of life. The countryside is varied, with everything from desolate moors to blossoming meadows, from tall cliffs to long sandy beaches. Rural Gotland is full of life, with all-round agriculture as the most important livelihood. There are 92 medieval churches still in use on the island.

The Hanseatic City of Visby - City of Roses and Ruins

500 years ago the town was the centre of the Hanseatic League - a mighty trade network of 30 independent cities. Many traders sailed to Visby port and the mighty St Marys Cathedral was originally built by German traders.

Today, Visby is a living world heritage with people living and working i beautiful, old medieval buildings. Visby is an extremely well-preserved medieval city with a network of narrow, cobbled streets. The many ruins of churches and abbeys give Visby, "the City of Roses and Ruins," its unique charm.

Part of the World Heritage

In 1995 Visby was put on UNESCO's World Heritage list, entailing a responsibility for keeping the unique cultural values intact. The World Heritage Committee wrote: "Visby is an outstanding example of a Northern European walled Hanseatic town which has in a unique way preserved its townscape and its extremely valuable buildings, which in form and function clearly reflect this significant human settlement."

Today you have a two hours private walking tour of this medieval town.

The rest of the day at leisure.

Time to return to Stockholm. The ship departs either in the morning or in the afternoon for Nynashamn and then bus to Stockholm. Check in at Elita Hotel Stockholm.

Arrangements end after breakfast.

Notes