Sunny sojourns in Stockholm

After rounding out my terrific week in Helsinki, it was off to Stockholm to continue the next phase of my Europe 2014 trip.

The journey to Helsinki Airport was relatively straightforward, with a 5 minute trip via the Helsinki Metro to Sornainen Station and then a 15-20 minute ride on the 615 Bus to Helsinki Airport. Flying Norwegian Air to Stockholm was a very smooth and pleasant experience, as comfortable as one can be on a budget airline. The flight gets bonus points from me for not only leaving before its scheduled departure due to availability in the sky, but also for including free Wi-Fi on board! I had a great time with Norwegian and would gladly fly with them again. Within 45 minutes, I had touched down in Stockholm's Arlanda Airport.

Getting from Arlanda to the city centre was a little more challenging. You can get from Arlanda to the city via the Arlanda Express (a high speed train - around 25 euros one way) or the Airport Bus (cheaper at around 12 euros one way - similar to Australia's SkyBus). The Arlanda Express is a rip off for a one-way trip so the bus is highly recommended. Tickets can be bought from the machines (note: the machines only accept credit card) or can be purchased on board the bus itself. The trip takes around 40 minutes one way into the city.

Arriving early to the Best Western Kom Hotel before the 3pm check-in time, we decided to do a brief walk around the city and Gamla Stan Old Town area, which like its Tallinn counterpart, is filled with colourful architecture, quirky shops and numerous restaurants of traditional Sweden. After a quick sandwich in one of the nearby shops (115 kroner ~ 11.50 euros! - yes Stockholm is expensive), we continued our walk around the Old Town area, passing several of the picturesque Swedish islands dotting the landscape before returning back to the hotel around 3pm.


Gamla Stan Old Town in Stockholm

After taking a valuable rest to rest our aching feet, we were stumped on places to get some dinner that wouldn't break the bank. Researching on TripAdvisor didn't yield anything promising except an American Stakehouse so with nothing else in mind, we simply had a walk around to see what we could fine. We noticed a cheap kebab place offering dinner from 39 kroner which we both teased the idea of momentarily while I searched agonisingly for an ATM. Surprisingly for a major city, whether it be through my own ignorance or obliviousness, it took around 10-15 minutes to find an ATM! With my cash in hand, we set out to visit the kebab place but chickened out when we noticed it was completely empty (not a good vibe).

We were about to call things quits when I noticed a sign for a Thai restaurant - Jai Thai Food - promising free Wi-Fi and discounted dinner from 89 kroner (originally 159 kroner). It was better than anything else we had in mind so we took the plunge - and we weren't disappointed. We both chose the Panang Noodle Curry, and I added in a Rekorderling Strawberry Lime Cider for added effect, with my friend opting for a Swedish beer accompaniment.

The restaurant had a really cosy, peaceful vibe complete with faux palm trees, LED Christmas lights and a Thai atmosphere that made you feel right at home and want to linger for conversations. The food was delicious and incredibly good value in Stockholm, exceeding all of my expectations.