Ice Bar, Old Town & Vasa

Stockholm, Sweden • July 7, 2010

🧭 Setting Foot in Sweden’s Capital

We left the ship early in the morning, stepping into the crisp Scandinavian air that quickly shook off any lingering sleepiness. After a short walk to the waiting motorcoach, we settled into our seats for the roughly one-hour journey from Nynäshamn to Stockholm. The drive carried us through a patchwork of Swedish countryside—open fields, clusters of evergreen trees, and the occasional farmhouse.

As we neared the capital, the landscape gave way to urban scenes, where contemporary glass-and-steel buildings stood alongside older, more traditional structures. With coats zipped and cameras ready, we felt a quiet excitement building.

❄️ Stop 1: Entering the Frozen World of the Stockholm ICEBAR

We had seen photos of the ICEBAR in travel magazines and online articles, but none of them quite prepared us for the actual experience. The entrance glowed with an icy blue hue, almost like a beacon. Entry was organized by timed reservations to keep the number of guests inside manageable, so we waited until our slot was called before being outfitted in heavy, silver thermal capes with attached mittens. These ponchos weren’t just for show—they were essential for withstanding the -5°C (23°F) interior.

To enter the bar, we passed through a pair of thick, sealed doors that functioned as an airlock, keeping the cold inside. Once in, we found ourselves surrounded by a space entirely carved from ice harvested from the Torne River in northern Sweden. Everything—the bar itself, the benches, the tables, even the drinkware—was made of clear, solid ice.

Due to Swedish alcohol laws, our first drink was a non-alcoholic fruit blend, served in a hollowed-out ice glass. A few minutes later, as the clock ticked past eleven, we returned to the bar for the real thing—an icy shot of Absolut vodka, made even more memorable by the surreal frozen surroundings.

💙 Favorite Moment:
Don’t miss the ICEBAR experience. It’s kitschy, yes—but utterly memorable, especially when you’re sipping from a glass made of ice as music pulses through frozen walls.

🏘️ Stop 2: Wandering Through Gamla Stan

Our walking tour continued on foot through the cobbled lanes of Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s original city center and one of the best-preserved medieval districts in Europe. The buildings here wore shades of amber, rust, and ochre, their centuries-old façades standing shoulder to shoulder like timeworn neighbors.

Along the way, we passed Stortorget, the city’s oldest public square and the historic heart of the neighborhood. Brightly painted merchant houses lined the square, their vivid reds and yellows creating a storybook backdrop. But beneath the charm lies a deeper history—this was once the site of the 1520 Stockholm Bloodbath, where dozens of nobles were executed during a political coup.

From the square, we glimpsed the Royal Palace, its grand exterior rising above the rooftops as a quiet symbol of Sweden’s royal past. With an hour of free time, we set out without a plan, letting curiosity and hunger guide us.

We landed on a simple yet satisfying goal—to have Swedish meatballs while in Sweden. After a short walk down the lively street of Österlånggatan, we found Cultur Bar & Restaurant and waited about 20 minutes for a table. The meal was worth the pause. Our plates arrived topped with juicy meatballs, mashed potatoes, tart lingonberry sauce, and crunchy pickles—comforting, filling, and unmistakably local.

Getting back to our meeting point wasn’t as straightforward. The winding lanes of Gamla Stan can feel like a maze, and we found ourselves retracing steps, second-guessing turns, and stumbling upon unexpectedly tight alleyways—including one so narrow it might have been Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, Stockholm’s skinniest street at just 35 inches wide. As time slipped away, a friendly local walking her poodle offered directions, and thanks to her, we made it back to our group just in the nick of time.

🚢 Stop 3: The Mighty Vasa Resurrected

Our final stop brought us to Djurgården—Stockholm’s leafy museum island—and home to one of the city’s most visited attractions: the Vasa Museum. Inside, we came face-to-face with one of the most fascinating maritime recoveries in the world: the 17th-century warship Vasa, dramatically preserved and displayed in its full scale.

The Vasa was intended as a floating symbol of Sweden’s naval power, launched in 1628 with 64 bronze cannons and elaborate woodcarvings. But within minutes of departure, it capsized and sank just off the harbor, its design fatally flawed. For over 300 years, it rested on the seabed until a massive salvage operation raised it in 1961.

Once inside the museum, we explored multiple viewing levels, each offering a new angle of the ship’s massive hull and richly ornamented stern. From intricately carved lions and sea creatures to biblical scenes and royal insignia, every detail was intended to awe onlookers—and still does today.

The atmosphere inside the museum was reverent and hushed, almost like a cathedral. Visitors spoke in lowered tones, dwarfed by the towering timbers of a vessel that once embodied royal ambition and now stands as a warning against it.

✅ Who Is This Tour Best For?

📰 Tour Summary

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