An Opera Weekend in Stockholm

With one third of the city water and one third green space, Stockholm is one of the most beautiful, light and airy capitals in Europe. Spread across 14 different islands, where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea, the urban architecture ranges from the well-preserved mediaeval Gamla Stan to state-of-the-art contemporary, with an attractive array of Art Nouveau mansions, decorated with Nordic motifs, and many fine Gothic churches.

Our operatic long weekend, from the comfortable base of a 5 star historic hotel on the waterfront, includes a performance of Puccini’s ‘Tosca’ in the Royal Swedish Opera House. We investigate the excellent museums and galleries of the capital, including a visit to the fascinating Vasa Museum, displaying the restored warship which sank on her maiden voyage in 1628; and travel by traditional ferryboat to Drottningholm to visit the palace and gardens, home of the Swedish Royal family, and attend a performance of Cavalli’s 17C opera ‘Il Giasone’ in the celebrated Baroque Court Theatre.

TRIP ITINERARY

DAY 1

D included

After meeting at Stockholm Arlanda airport by 2 pm, we have a private transfer into the city by road (40 mins) and settle into our 5 star hotel, an 18th century building on the waterfront in Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town – the hotel facilities include an interesting library and a plunge pool and saunas in the brick-vaulted 17C cellars. A short walk through the cobbled lanes of Gamla Stan, first fortified in 1255, bring us to dinner - contemporary Swedish cuisine with French influences, introduced by a glass of ice-cold aquavit.

DAY 2

B, L, D included

After breakfast we walk to the Storkyrkan, the church where Sweden’s monarchs are traditionally crowned – consecrated in 1306, and recently restored to reveal the mediaeval brickwork – then pass the Great Hall of the House of the Nobility before boarding a turn-of-the-century boat to cruise across Lake Mälaren to the UNESCO World Heritage complex at Drottningholm. Guided tours of the Palace and the Baroque Theatre (one of only three perfectly preserved wooden theatres left in the world) are interspersed with a walk through the extensive grounds to see the Chinese Pavilion (built for Queen Lovisa Ulrika’s birthday in 1753). As a final highlight, we attend a performance of Cavalli’s opera ‘Il Giasone’ in the Court Theatre and later return to Stockholm again by boat.

DAY 3

B, L, D included

A foot ferry takes us across to the island park of Djurgården, former Royal hunting grounds and now home to two of Stockholm’s best museums. We begin the morning at the outstanding Vasa Museum. The Vasa, pride of the Swedish fleet, sank on her maiden voyage in 1628 and was preserved in mud at the bottom of Stockholm harbour for three centuries before being raised and restored – documentary films and numerous exhibition halls explain every aspect of life on board and the ship itself is magnificent. We see the collections of the National Museum and have lunch before exploring the Skansen, an authentic, uncommercialised, open-air museum with 150 reconstructed vernacular buildings from every region of Sweden, including farms, windmills, craft workshops (where one can have a go), bakeries (the cinnamon buns are delicious) and Sami dwellings from Lapland made from reindeer hide. We walk to Stockholm’s Royal Opera House for an early dinner and the evening performance of Puccini’s ‘Tosca’.

DAY 4

B included

Possibilities today include visiting the Stadhuset, Stockholm’s city hall, containing the impressive Golden Hall where Nobel prizes are presented; the Museum of National Antiquity with a remarkable collection of 5C gold jewellery; the Architecture Museum showcasing Swedish architecture through the centuries; or an excursion by boat to see the major Viking settlement on the island of Birka, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Taxis are arranged to connect with the Arlanda Express airport train, at times to suit individual flight arrangements.

For those continuing to the walking week on Gotland island, we depart after breakfast for the port of Nynäshamn to catch the Baltic ferry (3 hours to Visby).

Price includes:

All accommodation for Days 1 through 4 on a double shared basis

All meals (with beer/soft drinks at lunches and wine at dinners) as listed in the daily notation

Airport transfer on Day 1 in a private vehicle as described

Taxi to the station plus ticket for Arlanda Express on Day 4 as described

Tickets for boat trips across the lake as described

All entrance and sightseeing fees except during free periods

Tickets for performances at Drottningholm and the Royal Swedish Opera House as described

Gratuities for hotel and restaurant staff

Visa and Health Requirements

Visitors from the EU and the US currently require a valid passport, but not a visa, for entry to Sweden. If you are a national of any other country, please check visa regulations with your nearest Embassy of Sweden.

At present there are no specific and compulsory health requirements for entry to Sweden. Residents of countries in the EU can only claim free (emergency) medical treatment in Sweden by presenting their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which is issued in the UK by the Department of Health. You may also wish to check the advice given to travellers by the FCO.

Insurance

It is essential, and a condition of booking, that you protect yourself with a suitable travel insurance policy as soon as you book a trip. Follow this link for a quote for a policy available to UK residents.

If you are already insured or a non-UK resident, please inform us of your policy at the time of booking.