Happy Monday traveler!

Today, we’re going to Viking country.

Oh, Stockholm, this city truly has it all!

Stockholm, Sweden is built on 14 islands. Visiting in the summer will give you 18 hours of daylight, so plenty of time for exploring! In contrast, visiting in the winter, will give you 18 hours of darkness.

From wandering the cobblestone streets in Gamla Stan, a Viking ship that’s almost 400 years old, and an amusement park just minutes away…you’ll need plenty of time here.

🌍️ What’s Going on In the Travel World?

• Bags no longer fly free? - Southwest Airlines changes their bag policy 😔 

• A sneak peek at Royal Caribbean’s new island - video

• Emirates New A350 Business Class  - video

• Europe’s Digital Entry System Has a New Launch Date - this keeps getting delayed, what’s the deal?

• What not to bring through TSA - 🐢 Seriously, bro?

A message from Passport Inspiration

Looking to plan an inspiring adventure right now?

Planning an international trip can be overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be.

How?

You just need a plan for your plan.

It’s important to prepare with enough time for things like:

• Visas

• Dining

• Lodging

• Passports

• Excursions

• Travel Arrangements

  If you want a head start planning, we can help you prepare for an amazing trip.

🙌This Week’s Inspiration

The first things that stuck out about Stockholm was…

The Coolest Subway System We’ve Ever Seen

We like to use public transportation as much as we can when travelling. It’s usually the most cost effective way to get around, let’s you feel like a local, and gives you different perspectives of the city.

It was only natural for us to head underground when our train from Norway arrived in Stockholm’s Central Station. Expecting something similar to that of the New York City’s subway system (just pictured a rat in my mind thinking about NYC) we were blown away to discover each subway station was painted with various works of art.

90 out of 100 subway stations in Stockholm are decorated in their artistic styles. This is why the Stockholm subway system is known as the world’s longest art gallery.

Friends of ours had given us their Stockholm itinerary prior to our trip there. We couldn’t help but notice they had “Uber” throughout their very detailed itinerary as their method of transportation. Trisha asked them when we got home if they had used the subway system at all when they were there. They had not and completely missed seeing all of this.

Here are a few of our favorite subway stops, simply because of the designs: Kungsträdgården Station, T-Centralen Station, and Stadion Station. Disclaimer- the designs of these subway stations might have changed since we were last there.

How to get to Stockholm:

Stockholm has four international airports, and Stockholm Arlanda Airport (airport code: ARN) is the largest one. High speed trains such as Rail Ninja can get you to Stockholm from Oslo in just five hours. Water taxis, subways, trams, buses, and Uber are all methods of transportation in Stockholm.

What to see:

The Vasa

The passengers onboard this Viking ship got a BIG surprise when it started sinking just after it set sail on its maiden voyage…due to it being top-heavy and gun ports being left open by mistake.

The water rushed in, passengers jumped ship (30 lives were lost), and this brand-new Viking ship sunk in the Stockholm harbor. Thanks to the low oxygen levels in the Baltic Sea, this ship was preserved underwater for over 300 years and was carefully brought up to the surface in 1961. You can see it today at the Vasa Museum.

Gamla Stan

This is the oldest part of Stockholm. Its steep cobblestone streets and narrow alleyways make you feel transported back in time. Stortorget is where you’ll find beautiful, colorful buildings, and unique shops and restaurants. We loved the Swedish meatballs at Marten Trotzig.

Gamla Stan where you will find the Royal Palace and is the official residence for the King of Sweden.

There are 600 rooms and eleven floors inside the Royal Palace. It’s open year-round to visitors. On Sunday mornings, the Royal Chapel has a worship service there at 11:00 that is open to the public.

Skansen

Have you ever heard of an open-air museum?

You can walk around and explore places and exhibits outdoors. Skansen is the world’s oldest one.

There, you can learn about Sweden’s history and what it was like to live there hundreds of years go. Festive occasions are celebrated here each year, including Christmas markets in the winter.

Skansen is also home to many animals, such as: moose, seals, brown bears, and Norwegian fjord horses. Don’t say we didn’t warn you…Skansen is lovely to stroll around and see, but it is hilly.

Gröna Lund

Gröna Lund is the oldest amusement park in Sweden. There are plenty of rides, games, restaurants, and even a concert stage to keep you entertained here.

The Dark Experience

Want to experience what it is like to be blind for an hour? Interactive Museum in the Dark is located in Gamla Stan. You’ll be led by a blind guide through completely dark rooms that are furnished and designed as apartments, a busy city, a rainforest, and other places. There are sound and scent effects, heightening your other senses, because you won’t be able to see a thing. This museum is fantastic for bringing awareness about vision problems.

Where to stay:

-Old Town Aparthotel (we love these apartment style hotels)

-Hotel Reisen in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt (in the heart of Gamla Stan, has a sauna, and cold plunge pool)

-Nordic Light Hotel (breakfast included)

What to pack:

-Comfortable walking shoes (Stockholm is a very walkable city)

-Warm layers (even the in the summer, as temperatures can vary)

-Reusable water bottle (Stockholm has some of the cleanest tap water in the world)

-Cashless payment options (Stockholm is largely cashless, so a credit/debit card is a must)

👋 Have an Inspiring Week

Here are a few things to help you when in Stockholm.

• The Stockholm Pass gives you admission to over 60 attractions.

• Read this blog post to take yourself on a self-guided tour of 12 of Stockholm’s most artistic subway stations

• This portable charger will keep your phone charged while you’re out exploring.

• This mini-shoulder bag is designed with an anti-theft security system.

See you next week,

Trisha & Bob