The Best of Stockholm

Your panoramic tour begins with a motorcoach ride to Stockholm. Cross the Western Bridge en route to the City Hall, renowned for its architecture, the two courtyards and the Blue Hall, where the Nobel festivities unfold each year. Perhaps the most interesting sight in Stockholm is the 17th-century warship perfectly preserved and on display at the Vasa Museum. Raised from Stockholm's inner harbor in the 1960s and painstakingly restored, Vasa and the salvage exhibits speak eloquently of Sweden's inspired maritime heritage, and of its rare losses. Next, get to know Stockholm on your own, with an hour of free time. Dine at an outdoor café in the city (at your own expense), or simply spend your time shopping. Meet up with your guide for a visit to the Royal Palace – this relatively young, stately monument of grace and symmetry dates only from the 1800s. The Royal Palace boasts no fewer than 608 rooms, and you will visit the State Apartments, displaying magnificent Baroque and Rococo interiors. Wander through the streets of the Old Town, savoring the Bohemian atmosphere among houses dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, with Baroque doorways and regal Coats of Arms. See the exterior of the Coronation Church and the Stortorget (Great Square) – the hub of the Old Town.