Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
how the Swedes reacted when they first saw that Golden Hall (hint: they wer-
en't pleased).
▲City Hall Tower
—This 348-foot-tall tower (an elevator takes you halfway
up, leaving you 350 steps to mount) rewards those who make the climb with
a grand city view. As you huff your way up, you'll come upon models of
busts and statues that adorn City Hall and a huge, 25-foot-tall statue of St.
Erik. Erik, the patron saint of Stockholm, was originally intended to be hois-
ted by cranes up through the middle of the tower to stand at its top. But plans
changed, big Erik is forever parked halfway up the structure, and the tower's
top is open for visitors to gather and enjoy the view. At the roof terrace, you'll
find smaller statues of Erik, Klara, Maria Magdalena, and Nikolaus: patron
saintsfacingtheirrespectiveparishes.Finally,you'llfindyourselfinthecom-
pany of the tower's nine bells, with Stockholm spreading out all around you.
Cost and Hours:
40 kr, daily June-Aug 9:15-17:15, May and Sept
9:15-16:00, closed Oct-April. As only 30 people at a time are allowed up into
the tower, there's often a very long wait. If there's a long line, I'd skip it.
▲Orientation Views
—For a bird's-eye perspective on this wonderful urban
mix of water, parks, concrete, and people, consider these three viewpoints:
City Hall Tower
(described above; view from tower pictured opposite);
