Stockholm Day Trips

Founded in the eighth century as an important Viking trading port, the town of Birka thrived for 200 years before being abandoned. Today archeologists lead tours through the excavation area; a fascinating onsite museum displays their findings.

The Drottningholm palace (the “Versailles of Sweden”) was built to impress during the height of 17^th-century Swedish imperial power. This is where the royal family still spends most of their time, screened off from the 100,000 visitors who come by every year for a glimpse of the good life.

This four-level behemoth is the mother of all Ikeas (believe it or not, it’s bigger than your local branch). Head here for the full-on Swedish experience; while you’re at it, grab a meatball meal that will likely be the cheapest of your stay.

It may not be quite as old as Birka, but Sigtuna was never abandoned, making it Sweden’s oldest continually-settled town. Today ruins from three 12^th-century churches still exist, and the city center’s Sigtuna Museum has a great exhibit of local Viking artifacts (www.sigtunamuseum.se).

Picturesque Uppsala is the most popular day trip from Stockholm. Once a major pagan religious center, in 1477 it became home to what is now the oldest university in Scandinavia. The 13^th-century Uppsala Domkyrka, Scandinavia’s largest cathedral, is also here.

One of the biggest and southernmost islands in Stockholm’s archipelago, Utö attracts 300,000 visitors a year with its wide range of outdoor activities (everything from swimming and sunbathing to biking and boating).

A quick, easy, and very popular getaway from Stockholm, Vaxholm offers excellent beachfront activities and dining as well as the interesting Vaxholms Fästnings Museum, housed in the imposing fortress that protected Sweden from centuries of pesky Danes and Russians (www.vaxholmsfastning.se) Vaxholm; ww2.vaxholm.se/turism