Just Back From: Stockholm, Sweden
This Just Back From is a continuation of our previous piece on Iceland and Copenhagen. The interviewee and her family traveled from Denmark to spend three nights in Skanör, Sweden, before closing out their trip in Stockholm.
On Skanör:
A car brought us from Copenhagen to Skanör; the drive was about an hour long. We spent three nights there and loved it. It is a little seaside town called the ‘Riviera of Sweden’ about thirty minutes south of Malmö. While I didn’t find the ‘Riviera’ title to exactly fit, it had a very charming, relaxed vibe. It was very European; we were seemingly the only Americans there. We enjoyed it, but I wouldn’t recommend it as a must-do for those going to Sweden.
On traveling to Stockholm:
After three nights in Skanör, we drove half an hour to Malmö and took a four-and-a-half-hour train to Stockholm. The train was comparable to our train system in the States. If you aren’t spending a few nights in Skanör, I would just fly from Copenhagen to Stockholm.
On their hotel in Stockholm:
We stayed at Hotel At Six. Initially, we wanted to stay at Ett Hem, but they were fully booked. At Six was a decent, centrally located hotel, and the most incredible part was the rooftop park, where you can access bars, lounges, and restaurants.
On activities in Stockholm:
We went to the ABBA Museum, which was incredibly fun. I also highly recommend visiting the Vasa Museum, which was just magical. It is the only 17th-century shipwreck brought to the surface and restored in such a way—it was amazing.
We did a cool food tour, during which we tried meatballs, different cheeses, chocolate, reindeer, and a few other small dishes.
We also took a boat tour of the harbor with a group of other travelers. I would not necessarily recommend it.
On breakfast:
We mostly ate breakfast at Hotel At Six. They had a good bakery, and I loved the cardamom buns.
On lunch at Langa Raden:
One day, we went to Langa Raden at Hotel Skeppsholmen for lunch. We had the open-faced sandwiches in addition to a few other dishes, and it was a lovely experience.
On dining at Ett Hem:
We dined at Ett Hem one night at the table in the kitchen. There were eight of us, and the atmosphere was lovely, with flowers and a wood-burning stove. It felt like we were dining in someone’s chic, quaint home. The meal was fantastic, too.
Mindy’s Note: Ett Hem is still one of my favorite hotels I’ve ever visited. It has been years since I was there, but it’s still at the top of my list. With only twelve rooms, it feels so intimate but also incredibly chic. Because it is so small and every detail is so perfectly done, you feel like you’ve been invited to stay at a very stylish Swedish friend’s home—one who used Ilse Crawford, the London-based designer, to design it all.
I used a powder room at Ett Hem as inspiration for a bathroom in my home—that’s how much of an impression it left on me! They also served food and drinks on these beautiful wooden trays with brass handles that I became completely obsessed with. The staff was so nice that they actually had some made for me and shipped them to the U.S.
If you can’t stay at Ett Hem, it’s worth going for a meal to see the space and experience it. There aren’t many places I feel like I have to go back to, but Ett Hem—and Stockholm—is definitely one of them.
On dining at Punk Royale:
We visited Punk Royale for dinner, knowing nothing about it. It was very fun, with loud music, strobe lights, and smoke. The interior felt a bit like a frat basement. They have a full menu and really push drinks on you, so the guests and waitstaff get pretty rowdy. Despite the craziness, the food was surprisingly good. It was a theatrical experience, but it’s a one-and-done adventure—I don’t need to return!
On going back and doing anything differently:
I'd love to spend more time in Iceland, which could be a whole separate trip. I’d also love to go back to Scandinavia to visit Helsinki and Finland. I would love to take a boat to see the fjords.