Stockholm: a quick getaway from Riga

Stockholm: a quick getaway from Riga
24 July 2024

Traveling to Riga is a great opportunity to discover the neighboring countries. While most students go to Latvia and Estonia, Stockholm is in fact a quick getaway from Latvia. The flight from Riga to Stockholm actually takes 10 minutes, thanks to time zones. Taking off in Riga airport at 8 am, I landed in Stockholm at 8:10. And, indeed, I did not see the time go by.

What to see in Stockholm?

A Scandinavian gem, Stockholm is full of activities and museums. I highly recommend visiting the Vasa museum, which traces back the history of the Vasa warship that sank in 1628. Found in 1961, that is to say 333 years after it sank, the boat is now exhibited in the museum, where you can admire its impressive features. It is the world’s best-preserved 17th century ship. 

Near at hand from Vasa museum, you will find other great museums, such as the Nordic museum or the Skansen museum which features a zoo park with Scandinavian animals (bears, seals, mooses…) Do not miss the Abba museum to know everything about the famous pop-music band which won the Eurovision contest in 1974. 

Once you visit all the museums, dive into the old town in Gamla Stan, where you can admire traditional Swedish architecture. At noon, do not miss the changing of the royal guard in front of the Royal Palace, with a performance from the military band. The Royal palace is also a great place to visit. Beside the State apartments, you can also visit the treasury where royal crowns and jewels are exhibited. 

Embark on a boat tour

Stockholm is in fact a collection of islands offering amazing landscapes. At dusk, you should walk on the river banks to admire the colorful sunset. 

Above all, do not miss the opportunity to embark on a boat to discover the archipelago. If many companies offer private boat cruises, you can simply embark on public boats to the island of your choice and spend the afternoon over there. Swedes particularly enjoy going to the islands, in search of fresh air, crystal-clear water and peaceful nature. 

Enjoy the food

One of the best things to do in Stockholm is to enjoy the Fika in cafés and restaurants. Fika, a slang for coffee, refers to the practice of taking a break with a beverage and snack. A Swedish tradition, it is the opportunity to taste kanelbulle, a typical Swedish pastry commonly known as cinnamon roll…

For lunch or dinner, try at least the famous Swedish meatballs in creamy sauce. Meatballs figure on every restaurants’ menu, from the fanciest Michelin-starred ones to the Ikea canteen… Sweden is also a paradise for fish-lovers with fresh salmon and delicious herrings!

Practical information

It is in fact very easy to reach Stockholm from Riga, with daily flights operated by Ryanair. Rates are surprisingly cheap: I paid 30€ for the round trip for a weekend in July… However, Stockholm is more expensive than Riga in terms of restaurants and hotels, so try to book your accommodation in advance! Once in Stockholm, do not use cabs. From the airport, a fast-speed train will bring you to the city center in approximately 20 minutes. I recommend visiting the city on foot, but do not miss the metro, famous for being an underground art-gallery!

This article was brought to you by Theo, currently studying Russian at Liden & Denz Riga.

All photos have been taken by the author of the article. 

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