Travel advice - cell phones and Stockholm

[Exiled_Devil]

Hey - question to the board. I am traveling to Europe next month and have two needs:

Anyone have any experience with getting a SIM card for Europe? I want to be able to use my iphone and don't want to mess with AT&T's crazy prices. I will be in the UK, Switzerland, Sweden and maybe Belgium.

Also, anyone have suggestions for how to spend a free morning in Stockholm in August?

[gus]

Hey - question to the board. I am traveling to Europe next month and have two needs:

Anyone have any experience with getting a SIM card for Europe? I want to be able to use my iphone and don't want to mess with AT&T's crazy prices. I will be in the UK, Switzerland, Sweden and maybe Belgium.

Also, anyone have suggestions for how to spend a free morning in Stockholm in August?

Can't help you on the pre-paid SIM in your iPhone, but you should look into free wi-fi. Several european cities provide free public wifi (well, Luxembourg does - i'm sure several others do at this point).

What day of the week is your free morning in stockholm?

Things I'd recommend:

*wander around the old town (gamla stan)
* Djurgården is a nice way to spend a sunny day, and it has a tivoli, cafes, parks, etc...
*See the Vasa (http://www.vasamuseet.se/), a 17th century warship that foundered and sank in the stockholm harbor on its maiden voyage. After sinking, it became encased in mud, and was raised in the 20th century, largely preserved. It's also on Djurgården.
* the buffet at Herman's (http://www.happycow.net/reviews.php?id=1180) is really delicious (and veg). Also, it's on the large hill on Södermalm, with outdoor seating giving a fantastic view of the harbor.

Anything you decide to do, make sure they're actually open. Sweden tends to go on vacation in August.

[Exiled_Devil]

Can't help you on the pre-paid SIM in your iPhone, but you should look into free wi-fi. Several european cities provide free public wifi (well, Luxembourg does - i'm sure several others do at this point).

What day of the week is your free morning in stockholm?

Things I'd recommend:

*wander around the old town (gamla stan)
* Djurgården is a nice way to spend a sunny day, and it has a tivoli, cafes, parks, etc...
*See the Vasa (http://www.vasamuseet.se/), a 17th century warship that foundered and sank in the stockholm harbor on its maiden voyage. After sinking, it became encased in mud, and was raised in the 20th century, largely preserved. It's also on Djurgården.
* the buffet at Herman's (http://www.happycow.net/reviews.php?id=1180) is really delicious (and veg). Also, it's on the large hill on Södermalm, with outdoor seating giving a fantastic view of the harbor.

Anything you decide to do, make sure they're actually open. Sweden tends to go on vacation in August.

I'm there on a Tuesday. I have a meeting @ SSE in the afternoon - how far is Djurgarden from there?

[gus]

I'm there on a Tuesday. I have a meeting @ SSE in the afternoon - how far is Djurgarden from there?

The SSE is on Norrmalm (northern district). Djurgården is in the harbor south east of that, reachable by ferry and footbridge, bus or streetcar. It's probably about a 2 mile walk. the SSE is right above a subway stop though- so you'd probably take the ferry into gamla stan and take the subway up.

http://www.djurgarden.net/eng/index.html


eta- if you're only in the city for the morning, it might be better to wander around the old town, see the castle, and fika somewhere (coffee break). I'm sure there's stuff to do in Norrmalm too, but to be honest, when I'm in Stockholm I'm visiting friends and family in the touristy areas I mentioned, not going up to the city proper.

[Clipsfan]

The SSE is on Norrmalm (northern district). Djurgården is in the harbor south east of that, reachable by ferry and footbridge, bus or streetcar. It's probably about a 2 mile walk. the SSE is right above a subway stop though- so you'd probably take the ferry into gamla stan and take the subway up.

http://www.djurgarden.net/eng/index.html


eta- if you're only in the city for the morning, it might be better to wander around the old town, see the castle, and fika somewhere (coffee break). I'm sure there's stuff to do in Norrmalm too, but to be honest, when I'm in Stockholm I'm visiting friends and family in the touristy areas I mentioned, not going up to the city proper.

The recommendation to see gamla stan is a good one, although the Vasa has a warm place in my heart. I visited it every summer for 15 or so years because I thought it was really cool. I also made fun of it because it was the pride of the Swedish navy and sank after something like 300 meters. Here's a site with some pics: http://www.edwebproject.org/scandinavia/vasa.html

In general, I really like walking around Stockholm (I live in a non-walking city) and you may enjoy that, although August can be very wet.

[Exiled_Devil]

In general, I really like walking around Stockholm (I live in a non-walking city) and you may enjoy that, although August can be very wet.

Nice heads-up on the weather. I haven't been thinking about clothes yet, but planned on running the week out of a carry-on, including my suit. Looks like I should bring a rain jacket regardless of forecast.

Exiled