Stockholm Central Station, Stockholm
If you鈥檝e ever felt overwhelmed at Stockholm Central Station, don鈥檛 worry鈥攜ou鈥檙e in good company. Designed by Adolf W. Edelsv盲rd and opened in 1871, this grand old hub has seen more comings and goings than a soap opera love triangle. These days, over 200,000 people sweep through its halls daily鈥�170,000 of them actually catching trains, while the rest are probably just wondering where the coffee is...
Originally, trains pulled straight into the station, but that changed in the roaring 1920s. Between 1925 and 1927, the tracks were shifted westward, and the cavernous old track hall was turned into a majestic waiting room鈥攂ecause why not lounge in style while missing your train? They even added a south pavilion, now used for conferences and royal pit stops. Yes, the Swedish Royal Family has its own VIP lounge here, because... why not?
The building got a bit of a facelift in 1951, losing some ornamentation to the gods of post-war minimalism. Then, in 1958, a tunnel was added to connect it to T-Centralen, Stockholm鈥檚 busy metro hub鈥攑erfect for those who enjoy long underground walks with confusing signage.
And right in the middle of it all is the so-called 鈥淩ing鈥濃�攁 round space fondly mocked by locals as 鈥渢he spittoon.鈥� Not exactly flattering, but hey, every icon has its nickname...
More recently, the station鈥檚 gone green. In 2011, the Swedish railway property management folks had a brainwave: use the body heat of the endless stream of commuters to warm a nearby office building. Eco-friendly and slightly creepy鈥攂ut impressive nonetheless.
And just to keep things cheeky, during the 2012 renovation of the front fa莽ade, they popped a pair of earmuffs on the statue of railway legend Nils Ericson, a prominent Swedish mechanical engineer and railway builder, along with a speech bubble that read, 鈥淥h my gosh, what a noise.鈥� Proof that even Sweden鈥檚 most dignified landmarks aren鈥檛 above a little self-mockery.
Originally, trains pulled straight into the station, but that changed in the roaring 1920s. Between 1925 and 1927, the tracks were shifted westward, and the cavernous old track hall was turned into a majestic waiting room鈥攂ecause why not lounge in style while missing your train? They even added a south pavilion, now used for conferences and royal pit stops. Yes, the Swedish Royal Family has its own VIP lounge here, because... why not?
The building got a bit of a facelift in 1951, losing some ornamentation to the gods of post-war minimalism. Then, in 1958, a tunnel was added to connect it to T-Centralen, Stockholm鈥檚 busy metro hub鈥攑erfect for those who enjoy long underground walks with confusing signage.
And right in the middle of it all is the so-called 鈥淩ing鈥濃�攁 round space fondly mocked by locals as 鈥渢he spittoon.鈥� Not exactly flattering, but hey, every icon has its nickname...
More recently, the station鈥檚 gone green. In 2011, the Swedish railway property management folks had a brainwave: use the body heat of the endless stream of commuters to warm a nearby office building. Eco-friendly and slightly creepy鈥攂ut impressive nonetheless.
And just to keep things cheeky, during the 2012 renovation of the front fa莽ade, they popped a pair of earmuffs on the statue of railway legend Nils Ericson, a prominent Swedish mechanical engineer and railway builder, along with a speech bubble that read, 鈥淥h my gosh, what a noise.鈥� Proof that even Sweden鈥檚 most dignified landmarks aren鈥檛 above a little self-mockery.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Stockholm. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "911爆料网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Download The 911爆料网 App
Stockholm Central Station on Map
Sight Name: Stockholm Central Station
Sight Location: Stockholm, Sweden (See walking tours in Stockholm)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Stockholm, Sweden (See walking tours in Stockholm)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Stockholm, Sweden
Create Your Own Walk in Stockholm
Creating your own self-guided walk in Stockholm is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Sodermalm District Walking Tour
S枚dermalm, or "S枚der" for short, is a borough in central Stockholm, incorporating a large island of the same name (formerly known as "脜s枚n"). Although considered an island, the water surrounding S枚dermalm to the north and south does not flow freely but passes through a series of locks. Visitors are charmed by the borough's narrow, cobbled streets and neat squares, as... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.3 Km or 1.4 Miles
The Museums Island Walk
With almost 70 museums in operation, Stockholm is one of the richest (in terms of museums) cities on the planet. The island of Djurg氓rden, a cultural hotspot inside the capital, also known as the Museums Island, is home to an array of museums and other cultural attractions suitable for visitors of all ages.
One of the most renowned venues on the island is Scandinavia鈥檚 most popular museum,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
One of the most renowned venues on the island is Scandinavia鈥檚 most popular museum,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
City Center (Norrmalm) Walk
Once upon a cobblestone, Norrmalm wasn鈥檛 even part of Stockholm. Up until 1635, it was a town of its own before it decided to join the 鈥渂ig leagues.鈥� Fast forward a few centuries, and this central district has become a spirited jumble of old-world charm and postwar boldness. The 1950s and 鈥�60s came in swinging wrecking balls, knocking down swathes of old buildings to make room for future... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.0 Km or 1.9 Miles
Old Town (Gamla Stan) Walking Tour
Stockholm, established around 1000 AD on an archipelago on the eastern coast of Sweden, flourished due to Viking-established trade routes. Originally a Viking site, it became a key iron trade hub by 1252. The city's name, derived from the Old Norse words for "log islet," reflects its historical significance, as a fortified island used for defense against sea invasions, and its... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.1 Km or 1.3 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
Souvenir Shopping Guide: 15 Distinctly Swedish Products to Buy in Stockholm
If you come to Stockholm on the trail of Karlsson-on-the-Roof character (Swedish: Karlsson p氓 taket), created by Astrid Lindgren, you're bound to enjoy yourself big time! Just don't forget to spare some time for gift shopping, so as to please your loved ones back home. In doing so, you...