Downtown, Stockholm Sweden

Summary: We stayed in downtown Stockholm for a few days before boarding our ship for the cruise across Scandinavia. We had good weather and enjoyed ourselves.

We stayed at the Grand Hôtel in Stockholm which was built in 1874 and overlooked the Royal Palace and Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s old town.

Wallenberg Sphere - Raoul Gustaf Wallenberg (4 August 1912 – disappeared 17 January 1945) was a Swedish architect, businessman, diplomat, and humanitarian. He saved thousands of Jews in German-occupied Hungary during the Holocaust from German Nazis and Hungarian fascists during the later stages of World War II. While serving as Sweden's special envoy in Budapest between July and December 1944, Wallenberg issued protective passports and sheltered Jews in buildings which he declared as Swedish territory. This stone marks the exact spot Jews were loaded onto trains - to safety - thanks to the efforts of Raoul and the resistance.

The Royal Palace in Stockholm is situated in the Swedish capital’s charming Old Town. Designed by master architect Nicodemus Tessin the Younger – this enormous jewel of a regal building was inaugurated in 1754, providing a home for King Adolf Fredrik and Queen Louisa Ulrika. It was also built to house the central Swedish state administration and the Royal Library, hence its mighty size.

Stockholm Palace is said to be one of the oldest castles still serving as an official royal residence. With over 600 rooms spread across eleven floors, it provides plenty of space today for King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. The King and Queen also use the palace as a workplace and a highly impressive venue for receptions, such as state visits.Read more