STOCKHOLM: Sweden’s capital city, Stockholm, is spread across 14 islands connected by 57 bridges. Here, the freshwater of Lake Mälaren meets the brackish tides of the Baltic Sea. Even the city’s Viking-coded name reflects this layered geography and history: stock, meaning log or post, and holm, meaning islet. It’s a Viking city.
For the latest updates, follow us on Instagram @arabnews.lifestyle
I stayed at a boutique hotel in Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s oldest neighborhood — a storybook setting of cobbled lanes and medieval buildings; compact, walkable, and full of surprises. Up any elevated alleyway, you’ll find small specialty shops and local vendors selling ice cream or hot snacks. A short walk away are popular chains with more international offerings.
I happened to visit during Midsommar, the festival marking the peak of Swedish summer. While viewers of the film might worry, I saw no bears or cults — just floral headpieces and white linen dresses. It’s one of the most earnest, unironic national celebrations I’ve ever seen.
The ABBA Museum. (Getty Images)
