Built on a string of islands, Stockholm was founded 700 years ago by King Birger Jarl at the strategic point where the fresh water of Lake Mälaren meets the salt water of the Baltic. A good starting point for an exploration of the city is the 'Old Town' (Gamla Stan), a cluster of old buildings and narrow cobbled streets which formed the original Stockholm. The old buildings are beautifully preserved and the main streets, Österlånggatan and Västerlånggatan, are pedestrian precincts with a host of boutiques, handicrafts and antique shops. The Old Town has three churches of historic interest, Storkyrkan and Riddarholm Church, both dating from the 13th century and the German Church with its magnificent Baroque interior. Overlooking the harbour is the Royal Palace, which contains the State Apartments, the Crown Jewels, the Hall of State and Chapel Royal, Royal Armoury and Palace Museum. Within easy reach of the Old Town, in a magnificent setting on the edge of Lake Mälaren, is Stockholm's elegant City Hall (Stadshuset), inaugurated about 60 years ago. There is a spectacular view of the capital from the top of the 100m (350ft) tower. Another spot for a magnificent view is the observation platform on the Kaknäs communications tower which, at 155m (508ft), is the highest building in Scandinavia.

Special purchases include glassware and crystal, stainless steel and silver, hemslöjd (cottage industry artefacts) and wood carvings. Women's and children's clothes are good buys, especially handknitted Nordic sweaters.

As a seafaring country with many freshwater lakes, fish dishes are prominent on hotel and restaurant menus. The Scandinavian cold table, called smörgåsbord, is traditional and often includes pickled herring with boiled potatoes, then a couple more fish courses, smoked salmon or anchovies, followed by cold meat, pâté, sliced beef, stuffed veal or smoked reindeer. Hot dishes come next, such as another herring dish, small meatballs (köttbullar) or an omelette. A fruit salad and cheese with crispbreads round off the meal. Other dishes to look out for are smoked reindeer from Lapland; gravlax, salmon that has been specially prepared and marinated; wild strawberries; and the cloudberries that are unique to Scandinavia. Snapps, the collective name for aquavit or brännvin, is a Swedish liqueur which is traditionally drunk chilled with smörgåsbord.

Sweden

GMT + 1 (GMT + 2 from last Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).

Swedish Krona (SKr) = 100 öre.

Swedish.

Europe and MediterraneanSweden