Stockholm Archives - The Best Viewpoints

View of Stockholm City Hall and Gamla Stan during sunset

April 7, 2024 • 0 Comment

The best Stockholm viewpoints – Tips from a local

I have been living in Stockholm for almost ten years and I’m very happy to call it my home. What I like most about the capital of Sweden is its countless viewpoints where you can marvel at the city, nature or the sea. Below you can find my favourite towers offering the best views as well as rocks or hills where you can even have a picnic or bbq while you enjoy the views. Don’t miss them when you visit Stockholm.

Monteliusvägen – hidden gem which you cannot miss

The first four tips can be made during one long walk. Start at Slussen and head to Monteliusvägen which offers my favourite viewpoints over the city. It is a scenic walking path that runs along the hillside in the Södermalm neighborhood. The path offers the most beautiful panoramic views of the city’s Old Town and Riddarfjärden bay. If you would like to have a picnic or bbq, check out Ivar Los park which you’ll find on the way. My recommendation is to plan this walk during sunset time as these Stockholm viewpoints are the msot beautiful during this time of the day.

View over Stockholm during blue hour — *If you visit Stockholm and skip Monteliusvägen viewpoint, it’s like you haven’t visited Stockholm*

Northern lights over Stockholm from Montelisuvägen — *If you are lucky, you can also witness northern lights from Montelisuvägen*

Skinnarviksberget – the best bbq spot in Stockholm

After visiting Monteliusvägen, it can be a good idea to continue towards Skinnarviksberget. It is another popular viewpoint in Södermalm and since it is a bit further it offers a bit different view of the Old Town, lake Mälaren, and the city center. Skinnarviksberget is a large cliff which is popular for picnics, barbecues and relaxing.

View from Skinnarviksberget over Stockholm during — *Skinnarviksberget is beautiful also during winter*

Västerbron – bridge with the best view

If you want to take an even longer walk, continue from Skinnarviksberget to Västerbron. This bridge connects the island of Södermalm with Kungsholmen and offers a great view of Stockholm’s skyline. This bridge is surprisingly pretty high which is appreciated by tourists, but a bit less by marathon runners who regard this bridge as the biggest challenge during the Stockholm marathon due to its elevation and winds.

*Stockholm is wonderful from Västerbron*

City Hall Tower – the best Stockholm viewpoint over the old city

Once you pass the bridge, continue along the coast of Kungshomen and head to the tower of Stockholm’s City Hall which offers an impressive view of the city. I especially appreciate the look over the old city (Gamla Stan). The tower is usually open only during summer months. Check out the opening times and current prices at Stockholm City Hall’s website. This is another must-see if you like viewpoints.

Stockholm captured from Stockholm City Hall's tower — *Stockholm captured from Stockholm City Hall’s tower*

Hammarbybacken – the view from a ski slope

Now, we will move a bit further from the city centre to the largest hill of Stockholm. Hammarbybacken offers a ski slope in winter and great mountain biking during summer. On the top you will have a wonderful view over the south of the city. This place is also very good for having a picnic in summer.

*Sunset over Stockholm from Hammarbybacken is wonderful*

SkyView at Avicii arena (Globen) – the view from the sun

Avicii arena (formerly called Globen) is a famous indoor arena located in Stockholm. Besides exciting events, it also offers SkyView which offers unique view of Stockholm from a gondola. The gondolas ride up to the top of the top of this large spherical building, and offer a panoramic view of the city.

Btw, did you know that the Avicii arena also represents the sun? It’s a part of the world’s largest scale model of the Solar System spread across Sweden.

Tele2 arena and Globen during blue hour — *This is also a picture taken from Hammarbybacken towards Globen from where you can have another unique view*

Katarinahissen

Let’s get back to Slussen. There you will find an old elevator that offers a great view of Stockholm’s harbor and surrounding neighborhoods. The elevator itself is under construction at the moment but you can get up to the viewing platform via Götgatan and Hökens gata.

Fjällgatan – the view over eastern Stockholm

If you head from Slussen to the east instead of west (where you would reach Monteliusvägen), you will have wonderful views from Fjällgatan. You can see from there Gamla Stan from the other side as well as the islands Skeppsholmen and Djurgården. There are also several restaurants and cafes nearby where visitors can enjoy a meal or a drink while taking in the view. A good example is Mosebacketerrassen.

*Gröna Lund amusement park captured from Fjällgatan*

Rooftop at Kulturhuset – the best view over Sergels Torg

If you would like to take some nice lunch, coffee or a drink and enjoy a view at the same time, you can visit the rooftop café at Kulturhuset. There you will have the best view over the largest square in Stockholm – Sergels Torg.

Demonstration on Sergels Torg in Stockholm — *Sergels Torg is a gathering spot for demonstrations in Stockholm. I photographed this picture during demonstration after terrorist attack in Stockholm*

The Nest Wellness – Stockholm’s infinity pool

Stockholm viewpoints can also be relaxing. The capital of Sweden has its own infinity pool on a rooftop where you can marvel at Stockholm city centre while chilling in a pool with a glass of champagne. If you would like to experience some luxury, head to the top floor of this Scandic hotel and try its spa.

Drinking beer in an infinity pool at The Nest Wellness at Down Town Camper in Stockholm — *We took a beer instead and it was amazing*

Kaknästornet – the highest point of all Stockholm viewpoints

This TV tower is the tallest building in Stockholm and offers a spectacular view of the city. Unfortunately, it was closed in 2018 for visitors for military reasons. Let’s hope it will be open again. Until then, you can take a look at my pictures taken from the top before 2018.

Would you like to find more Stockholm viewpoints?

Visit the official website of Stockholm tourism for more tips. Are you looking for more tips about other activities in Stockholm and Sweden? Take a look at my other articles about Scandinavia.

March 31, 2024 • 0 Comment

The best way to/from Stockholm Arlanda airport? (updated 2024)

There are many options how to travel between Stockholm Arlanda airport and Stockholm city centre and that’s great! People like options. Whereas some prefer cheap options, others are looking for convinient and quick transfers. I made a summary of all of them so you can choose the one which fits you best! At the end of the article, I also have a special secret Arlanda tip. Check it out 🙂

My blog focuses on adventures in Scandinavia but once I am asked about some topic very often, I want to help and I write and article about it. This is one of the cases 🙂 Here is my guide to all the possible connections from Arlanda airport to Stockholm city centre and vice versa.

Travelling between a city centre and an airport anywhere in the world is often expensive. Stockholm is not an exception if you look at the most promoted option (Arlanda Express). However, there are many routes which can be even ten times cheaper! Below you can take a look at all the options including prices and times (from the most expensive to the cheapest).

The most convenient journey from Stockholm Arlanda to the city centre

The easiest option like at any other airport in the world is to take a taxi or Uber. It’s easier to take taxi as they are waiting at the terminal but Uber is a bit cheaper if you have time to wait. The price is around 500-1000 SEK depending on traffic and the trip will take around 45 minutes to the city centre. I usually take this option if I travel in a group (you can divede the cost) or if I have too much luggage since the taxi will take you directly to your accommodation in Stockholm. Very convenient.

Start of Vasaloppet — Pictures of public transport are rather boring so I rather show you pics of some cool activities you can do in Sweden – This is cross country skiing race **Vasaloppet**

The fastest transfer from Arlanda by Arlanda Express

The quickest and most comfortable way from the airport to Stockholm city is to get Arlanda express train. The train goes every 15 minutes and takes only 20 minutes. Such comfortable journey has its cost though. One way ticket costs 340 SEK. You can get though some discounts. If you are a student you can get 50%. Discount also pay off when you travel in a group. Depending on how big group you are, you can get a very interesting discount. Read more about prices on the Arlanda express website.

Direct bus from Arlanda airport to the city centre

The most common way to reach Arlanda is by bus. Flygbussarna operates its buses every 10-30 minutes depending on time of the day. The journey takes ca 45 minutes. One way ticket costs 129 SEK. If you are 17 years old or younger you get 10 SEK discount. There are also some group discounts. The main disadvantage of Flygbussarna buses is that the buses can be seriously delayed during rush hours. The main advantage is that there are also direct buses going to other destinations, not only Centralen. You can also go to Liljeholmen and Bromma.

The cheapest travel from Arlanda airport to Stockholm City Centre by public transport

If you plan to buy or already bought a Stockholm public transport ticket, this is for you the best option. You have two alternatives. The more expensive but more comfortable option is to take a direct train from Stockholm city to Arlanda. The journey takes 39 minutes and you have to pay a passage supplement fee 130 SEK at Arlanda.

If you don’t hurry and want to save money, you can take instead a hiddenand the cheapest option. Take a train to Märsta station and subsequently bus 583 to Arlanda. You don’t have to pay any special fee if you take this route. It means this alternative costs 0 SEK if you have an Stockholm public transport ticket. This whole journey takes ca 60 minutes. Find your connections on SL website. You have to find the connection to Märsta and to Arlanda separatelly. Without SL card, the single journey costs 42 SEK.

I hope this article helped. Enjoy your stay in Sweden!

Strong northern lights in Sweden — *Witness northern lights in Sweden. Here is my **aurora guide**.*

Secret Arland tip from a local

Are you flying very early or landing very late in Stockholm? Do you or your kids love planes? Then, this is something for you. You can book a unique accommodation at former Boeing 747 jumbo jet, nearby Arlanda airport. There is a free shuttle bus going so it’s a convenient to reach it and you will have another uniqe experience from Stockholm visit.

March 10, 2024 • 0 Comment

Practical Guide to see Northern Lights in 2024 and 2025

There have been many wonderful northern lights shows in the last years but one stands out! 10th May 2024 was a night that the whole world will remember for a long time! We witnessed the strongest aurora borealis and australis in 21 years! It was so strong that aurora was visible as south as in Florida or on the Canary Islands. It means that basically everyone in the whole Europe and the whole US could see this fantastic phenomenon if there was a clear sky. I myself watched northern lights in Stockholm where the sky was on fire and I could even see the dancing in all possible colours with the naked eye! Would you like to see similar northern lights in the future? Follow my tips and tricks as well as tips for guiding tours and best accommodations to see the northern lights around the world at the end of the article.

Colourful northern lights in Stockholm archipelago — *Record strong northern lights on 10th May 2024 in Stockholm archipelago*

Unique real time northern lights movie from Stockholm

The strong northern lights event of 10th May 2024 was spread across media all around the world and it was unique by its strength. But did you know the aurora shows are happening much more often? I managed to record a fantastic northern light show on my camera on 14th January 2022 and it was also visble across half of Europe and the US and only a few people knew about it. I got many nice comments but unfortunately also many sad messages: “I missed it. When and where can I see the northern lights next time? How did you know there will be aurora borealis that day?” I decided to help out and write this guide. This is all you need to know this fantastic phenomenon.

Exceptionally strong northern lights in Stockholm

What are northern lights?

To understand when and how you can witness northern lights, you have to know first what the lights actually are and how they are caused. First, let’s take a look at the official Wikipedia definition:

“Auroras are the result of disturbances in the magnetosphere caused by solar wind. These disturbances alter the trajectories of charged particles in the magnetospheric plasma. These particles, mainly electrons and protons, precipitate into the upper atmosphere (thermosphere/exosphere). The resulting ionization and excitation of atmospheric constituents emit light of varying colour and complexity.”

In simple words: northern lights are caused by solar activity which reaches our planet via charged particles and they react with the Earth’s magnetic field. The reaction causes lights nearby the magnetic poles of our planet (which are nearby the actual North and South Pole). The animation below will make it even more clear:

*How do northern lights work?*
*Source Imgur.com*

Why is it important to know this to forecast northern lights? It’s easy. By observing the Sun we can predict the aurora activity. Strong northern lights usually occur after unusual activity on the Sun (to make it simple let’s call them eruptions) and it takes approximately 3 days until the charged particles reach our atmosphere and cause the northern lights.

What is Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis?

Aurora Borealis is simply another term for northern lights. It means the same, just a more fancy and epic name 🙂 But did you know that there are also southern lights? The reaction between solar activity Earth’s magnetic field causes lights also in the south so southern lights can be seen from the south of South America, Australia and New Zealand. These lights are called Aurora Australis.

The term aurora occured first in 1619 when Galileo named these fascinating lights according to the Roman Aurora, goddess of the dawn. On the contrary, the words borealis and australis are coming from Greek mythology. These name are derived from ancient gods – specifically of the north wind (Boreas) and the south wind (Auster).

*Northern lights in the north of Sweden at fascinating Kungsleden trail*

What time of the year is the best to see northern lights?

This is a very frequent question on social media under northern lights related topics and I often see random answers such as: “You can see them from January to March because it’s the coldest.” Bullshit. In fact you can see aurora borealis basically anytime when the sky is dark, when there are no clouds, and when the Sun is active.

The Sun doesn’t really think of when to make the largest eruptions based on the position of the Earth. The solar eruptions happen through the whole year, so be ready to see aurora anytime when there is dark sky if you live in Stockholm or even more north. I have seen the earliest aurora in the middle of August and the latest at the end of April. Check out the sunrise and sunset times for Stockholm. The auroras can be seen during night and astronomical twilight.

Northern Lights in Umeå — *Northern lights captured at midnight on 25 April 2013 in Umeå. The sky is not dark anymore*

If you are making a trip with the main purpose to see aurora, then plan it so you have a statistically bigger chance to see northern lights. Remember:

The longer the nights last, the bigger chance to see it.
Consider also the climate. Choose months with less rainy/snowy days.
Warmer days are also giving you a higher chance since you will be willing to wait longer outside for northern lights to show up compared to when it is -20.
Choose a time when there is no full moon. Moonlight is very strong and makes it more difficult to see aurora.

Where in Europe and America is it the best to watch northern lights?

The auroras usually occur behind the polar circle but are more rare in the south. The geomagnetic activity is measured by the so called Kp index. It is a scale of numbers between 0-9. Using this scale, it is easy to determine what Kp number you need to have a chance of seeing auroras where you are (read more about the Kp index here). These are the values to follow for cities across Sweden.

Kp 1: Kiruna, Narvik, Rovaniemi (Europe), Fairbanks, Whitehorse (Northern America): happens almost every day
Kp 3: Ålesund, Sundsvall, Jyväskylä (Europe), Calgary, Thunder Bay (Northern America): happens usually a few times every week
Kp 5: Stockholm, Helsinki, Oslo, north of Scotland (Europe), Seattle, Toronto, Halifax (North America): happens usually 1700 times during one solar cycle – ca 11 years. In 2022, northern lights were reported visible 42 times in Stockholm or more in the south! It’s pretty often!
Kp 7: London, Brussels, Cologne, Warsaw (Europe), Salt Lake City, Denver, Nashville (Northern America: happens usually 200 times during one solar cycle
Kp 9: Barcelona, Marseille, Rome, Bucharest (Europe), Miami, Houston, Los Angeles (usually 4 times during one solar cycle)

The Kp 1 is common. It means you can see the northern lights fir instance in Kiruna almost every day. The more south you are, the less often you will have the chance. Keep in mind that these numbers don’t guarantee aurora. Forecasts are not 100% correct and there are of course exceptions. I have seen northern lights in Stockholm when there was Kp 3 shown in the forecast but I didn’t see anything with Kp 6. There are better tools to follow. See below.

Northern Lights Kiruna — *Strong aurora captured overhead in Kiruna.*

What app is the best to forecast northern lights?

I have downloaded ten different northern lights apps and followed multiple websites and the most important thing to say is: it is very difficult to predict the northern lights activity and the apps are often wrong. The long term forecast is very unreliable. Since you know how the northern lights occur you understand this now. It is difficult to predict exactly when the Earth is hit by charged particles. That’s why it is better to follow short term forecasts and ideally live observations. I recommend following:

Do you speak Swedish? Follow FB page Norrsken. Actually, follow it even if you don’t speak Swedish. The FB translator works pretty well. The page Norrsken makes an amazing analysis every day when there is a chance to see northern lights in Sweden and they also organize observation feeds for all such days. Thanks to that you can see live observations from many followers around the country. It has just reached 100 000 followers so there is a lot of fresh data.
Follow the Soft Serve News website and its FB page. There you can see the short term forecast and they also notify about upcoming geomagnetic storms (Kp 5 and higher). Besides the Kp number you should also check Bz on their website. To make it simple: it should be negative so you can see great aurora. Another good thing is to check the Ovation map. If the map is yellow or ideally red then there are almost for sure northern lights in Stockholm at the moment.
Download one of the apps which offers notifications at certain Kp levels. I have for example the app Aurora Pro and I set the Kp notification at 5.
Download the weather app Windy. It won’t help you with the northern lights forecast, but it will help you plan where to go. If you click on the “cloud” layer you see how the clouds will be moving during evening. Make sure that there are no clouds in the north. Windy is a great weather app in general since you can check multiple weather forecast models there.
For further information and forecasts forecasts you can also check out these links: Space Weather Live, NOAA, Live camera in Abisko.

Patience is key!

I fell in love with aurora borealis when I moved to Sweden 10 years ago. I was studying at Umeå University and since the city lies pretty far in the north there is often a high chance to see aurora. Hunting northern lights quickly became my favourite hobby. I had a lot of great experiences which I could use later when I moved to Stockholm. Here in Stockholm I have seen many auroras too but two of them stand out: the one which I introduced at the beginning of this article and also in 2017. That time I managed to photograph an amazing panorama at Monteliusvägen.

That day my fiancée and I were waiting for two hours in freezing temperatures. She later decided to give up and went home. Luckily I stayed and after 10 minutes the amazing display began. I quickly called her to come back and she thought I was joking. It took some time to persuade her that it was not a joke. She ran back just in time to witness this beauty.

Unbelieveable northern lights taken in the heart of Stockholm — *Unbelievable northern lights in the middle of Stockholm taken at Monteliusvägen*

Remember, this doesn’t always happen. It happened many times that we saw nothing. My success rate to see aurora in Stockholm is only one in four! You have to try, try and try but once you manage you will never forget the moment.

How do I decide if I go northern lights hunting in Stockholm? I check the above mentioned sources daily. It only takes a few minutes and you can see directly if there is a chance that day. If I see a possibility for the upcoming night (meaning the Kp 5 or higher is expected) I prepare my equipment. Besides camera and tripod, we always bring warm clothes, hot drinks and we often barbecue. I often go hunting with my fiancée or with friends. Even if we don’t spot any northern lights that evening we still have a great time! Remember, patience is the most important. The longer you stay outside the higher chance you have to see the northern lights.

What is the best location to see aurora (not only in Stockholm)?

In general, it is important to have a clear view over the northern horizon and to be on a dark spot. I recommend being on the southern shore of a large lake or sea with a great view to the north. In Stockholm Lappis beach is perfect for instance. I also like the Monteliusvägen viewpoint but there is a big problem. There is a lot of light pollution in the city center which makes it more difficult to see auroras. Try to find a spot as dark as possible. The best area nearby Stockholm is the archipelago. Check out the Light Pollution Map.

Aurora Borealis at Lappis beach in Stockholm — *Aurora Borealis at Lappis beach with ca hundreds of happy students*

Book the best northern lights tour in northern Europe or Alaska

Are you living far from the north? Would you like to make sure you will see northern lights on your trip and have also wonderful pictures? Book a northern lights guided tour. The tour operators are experts in their areas and they know where to see northern lights even when weather forecast says it will be cloudy. Here are my recommendations for the best northern lights in northern Europe:

Sweden: Abisko northern lights tour – Abisko is a small Sámi village nearby Kiruna known for exceptionally good weather compared to the surrounding area because it is hidden by mountains around. Witness aurora borealis here in this magical place with comfortable transport from Kiruna.
Norway: Tromsö northern lights tour with free photos – Tromsö has a fantastic location for northern lights as you can drive from there to multiple directions including Finland and that’s why it’s easier there to find a clear sky. It can’t be cloudy everywhere!
Iceland: Small-Group Premium Northern Lights Tour from Reykjavik – If you visit Iceland and plan to make a long trip, you will very likely see northern lights at some point. If you visit Iceland though just for short time and you plan to stay only in the capital Reykjavik, book this trip. It’s organized in just a small group and the guides are real experts.
Finland: Rovaniemi: Northern Lights Tour with Guaranteed Sightings – Finland is also a paradise for aurora borealis watching. Book this best rated guided tour in the village of Santa Claus Ravaniemi which guarantees sighting of aurora borealis.
Alaska: Fairbanks: Northern Lights and Chena Hot Springs Tour – If you would like to see northern lights in northern America you will have the biggest chance at Alaska. Most trips are offered from Fairbanks and this tour has best reviews. It also includes a visit of Chena Hot Springs.

Tips for accommodation around the world to see northern lights

As i explained earlier in this article, you will have a higher chance to see northern lights the more north you travel. At the same times, it’s necessary to find a spot without light pollution to see aurora borealis as bright as possible. Therefore, I recommend remote accommodations far from cities. Keep in mind that booking accommodation at these places doesn’t guarantee seeing northern lights. You also need clear sky. I selected for you places where you have pretty high chance but to make it even higher, I recommend to book a guided tour which I recommended earlier.

Sweden: I will just repeat here that Abisko is the best place to see aurora borealis in Sweden. There is also a very nice accommodation STF Abisko Turiststation where you can experience not only northern lights but also a lot of other activities including sauna or ice climbing. If you are looking for an adventure, you can also spend night at Swedish Ice hotel (warm rooms are offered too) which is also known as a good spot to see aurora borealis.
Finland: This unique Arctic TreeHouse Hotel in the north of Rovaniemi is beautifully hidden in the nature so you will be far from light pollution. Here you can marvel at northern lights even from the warmth of your room through large windows.
Iceland: In the land of fire and ice, I strongly recommend to book hotel Ranga to witness aurora borealis. It isn’t far to drive from Reykjavik but far enough to have zero light pollution and thus excellent conditions to watch nights sky.
Alaska: The best accommodation at Fairbanks to see aurora can be found at Aurora Villa which has a perfect remote location and large windows so you can watch the dancing beauty in the sky from the warmth of your accommodation.

Wedding or proposal under northern lights?

My new challenge as a northern lights photographer is to shoot wedding and proposal photos under aurora. I work as a wedding photographer and it would be cool to connect my two passions – weddings/proposals and northern lights. Do you know anyone who plans a wedding and would be interested? Let me know!

Couple under northern lights in Finland — *My fiancée and I enjoying northern lights*

Next article: How to photograph aurora?

Do you have any questions about aurora? Let me know and I can add it to my article. For next article I am planning to write about how to photograph and film aurora so you can take nice picture and movies. Keep posted! In the meantime you can check out my expedition during which I climbed the highest mountain of every European country.

Perfect new black ice in front of Stockholm City Hall

March 19, 2023 • 0 Comment

Ice safety: How thick should ice be to be safe?

Ice is fascinating. If it’s thick enough it allows people to make wonderful trips on lakes or seas. But ice skating is an adventurous sport and safety should never be underestimated. Do you know how to evaluate ice? You can’t just simply check the thickness and say that if it is 5cm thick, then it’s safe. In fact, it’s such a tricky question that I devote this whole article to it. I have been guiding on ice for three years and I took a thorough ice knowledge course in Sweden. Here are my most important learnings.

There are different kinds of ice and the quality matters

First, we have to go through the different types of ice as their quality differs. Since ice skating is so popular in Sweden, there is a extended vocubalury regarding ice terms. In my course we took a look at 117 of them. It isn’t important to know all of them but I will present to you the 5 most important ones.

Macro photo of snow ice structure — *This is a macro photo of snow ice structure. Is it a strong ice? Read below?*

Which ice has the highest quality?

Black ice (in Swedish kärnis) – this ice is created on open water during cold and clear nights. It is the best ice to skate on. It’s so clear that you can see through the ice and 4 cm is usually enough to skate on. This applies though only if you are experienced and have full ice safety equipment with you. Check out the recommended ice thickness by authorities below. The only disadvantage of black ice is that it melts faster during spring time when sun shines strongly due to its colour. This ice makes wonderful sounds so you can also evaluate the thickness by listening to it.
Snow ice (in Swedish stöpis) – this ice is created when there is snow on top of an ice layer which turns into ice during stöpning (Swedish word for the process of snow slowly melting and turning to slush which subsequently freezes). This ice is white in colour due to many small bubbles in the structure. The advantage of this ice is that it melts slower in heat due to its white colour. The disadvantage is that it quickly becomes soft on top in warm weather. This ice also cracks easier than black ice. I fell through once when the snow ice was 8 cm thick because it cracked after many other skaters who passed and there was no stable black ice underneath.
Salt ice (in Swedish saltis) – salt ice has similar characteristics as snow ice. You hardly ever get black ice on the sea due to salt crystals. The water freezes during colder temperatures (-0,5C at Baltic sea and -1,8C at North Sea) and it also melts faster. This ice doesn’t make much sound compared to black ice so it is more difficult to evaluate the thickness.
Double ice (in Swedish överis) – this ice occurs when there is water on top of the ice, for example because of rain, which subsequently freezes. The water slowly freezing on top creates a double ice layer with some water in between. This isn’t dangerous when it comes to falling through. However, you can get serious injuries if you come quickly from classic ice to double ice: your skates will suddenly stop and you will fall forward, often leading to knee and head injuries. Sometimes noses are even cut off… If there is a danger of double ice, it’s important to be extra careful and go slowly.
Spring ice (in Swedish våris) – this is the most tricky ice. Spring ice is usually beautiful to skate on during early mornings if temperatures were below zero over night, but the quality of the ice can change dramatically under the hot sun. The structure of the ice can break into small pillars and you can suddenly fall through. So even if the ice is 20 cm thick, it can still fall apart under strong sun and your weight.

*Fresh and beautiful black ice in front of Stockholm City Hall*

*Salt ice looks similar to snow ice but if you look closely you will see snow crystals*

Combination of black ice and snow ice — *This is a combination of black ice and snow ice. It was created after a heavy snow fall when snow was lying in the water during a very cold night. The snow created beautiful patterns in the ice.*

Skating in double ice isn't fun. It's actually almost impossible — *Skating in double ice isn’t fun. It’s actually almost impossible*

These are the most important ice structures you should know before coming to the ice but there are many more. Take a look at summary of Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute.

Ice safety according to authorities

Now that you know the differences of ice quality we can finally take a look at how thick the ice should be to be safe. According to both Issäkerhetrrådet (Swedish Ice Safety Advisory) and Snowfed (Swedish Snowmobile association), the ice should be 10 cm thick to safely walk on, icefish or to ice skate. If you would like to take a snowmobile, car or a small truck the ice should be even thicker (see below). These numbers refers to the highest quality of black ice. If the ice is of lower quality, it must be even thicker.

The strength of the ice varies both in time and space

Has ice safety become more clear already? Let’s make it more complicated again because the ice does not have the same thickness everywhere. As we were told during our ice knowledge course: “The ice can hold here, but not there. It can hold here now, but not later.” Why? The reasons are explained on the pictures below. If you want to go ice skating, it’s always important to take a look at a map beforehand to investigate potential dangerous areas. The Swedish terms are explained under the picture.

Map os where ice can be weak — *Explanation of the Swedish terms is below.*

Areas with possibly weak ice

Even though it’s very cold, it doesn’t mean that the ice is safe everywhere. At some places the water flows more, so skaters must be extra careful. Below you can see a list of places where it’s worth being extra careful:

Grund – Shallow water – when there is suddenly shallow water, the water flows faster there, which often causes weaker ice or even holes.
Vindbrunn – Wind hole – is created when there is a new layer of ice after the first cold night but winds destroy a part of it.
Inlopp – Water inlet – when water enters into a lake/sea, it causes weaker ice due to the flow.
Utlopp – Water outlet – the same happens when water leaves a lake – the area nearby can have weaker ice.
Avlopp – Drain – Areas where pipes drain water cause weaker ice too, again because there is a stream of (sometimes even warm) water.
Udde – Headland – There is also usually some stream around headlands (edges of peninsulas). Be aware of these places.
Råk – Crack – Cracks occur when the ice is shrinking and expanding in changing temperatures. There is no surprise that ice can be weaker around cracks. Skate a bit along the crack to find the best place to pass it.
Ränna – Large crack caused by boats – These cracks are impossible to pass and there is also often a weaker ice around. Be careful around them especially when a new boat passes. Waves caused by the boats can cause new ice cracks.
Vass – Reed – Water around reed often doesn’t manage to freeze as effectively as on open water. Before I learnt this I fell through once in such area. Be careful.
Bro – Bridge – Ice under bridges is often weaker than elsewhere.
Brygga – Jetty – they usually absorb more heat from sun and the ice around them gets weaker.

Wind hole which was created by wind during the creation of new ice — *Typical wind hole which was created by wind during the creation of new ice, then the hole increased in size due to even stronger wind*

There are two more interesting terms that aren’t included on the map but they are good to know about. They aren’t usually dangerous because they are usually very small but sometimes they can grow into significant sizes:

Slukhål – Suckhole – After rain, there will be some water on the ice which usually disappears slowly under the ice via small holes or cracks. The flowing water can create so called suckholes which can become pretty large if there is a lot of rain.
Stöpvattenhåll – Snow ice hole – we talked about the stöpning process when snow slowly turns into ice. What we haven’t mentioned is that wet snow becomes very heavy and that causes water coming from below through small holes or cracks to the top of the ice. If these holes become larger they create snow ice holes which look like neurons, aren’t they beautiful?

Stöpvattenhåll - Snow ice hole — *Stöpvattenhåll – Snow ice hole at Brunnsviken*

The danger of spring Ice

Let’s get once more back to the spring ice (våris) because it can be very dangerous. When the sun is very strong (in Sweden, it starts to impact ice significantly from beginning of March), it can change thick ice into dangerous area because the ice loses its structure from below and it’s hard to see it. Take a look what happened to an ice fisherman in 2023 in Sweden.

Ice Knowledge Summary

We have gone through all the important terms. We learnt about the different types of ice and we also checked all the potentially dangerous areas with weak ice. What I haven’t mentioned in this article is the safety equipment and the importance of experience and being in a group. I wrote a w h ole article about that before and you should definitely study it too before coming to the ice. You can also check out here how it is to fall through ice and how you save yourself. I tried it in a course and it was actually a lot of fun 🙂 If you would like to try skating on natural ice under safe conditions, I am also working as an ice skating guide in Stockholm. Let me know if you are interested. I hope to see you on the ice some day!

Selfie of group of skaters on a Swedish lake during sunset

March 12, 2023 • 0 Comment

Your guide to ice skating in Stockholm

After testing and finishing Vasaloppet, I present to you a new winter sport. Do you know what Stockholm is unique for in winter? Why is it called a winter paradise among a large outdoor community? The answer is ice skating opportunities. Thanks to hundreds of lakes and the largest archipelago in the world nearby there are countless opportunities. Would you like to try skating on endless lakes or sea too? Follow my tips or join me on an organized skating tour. I am not only enjoying trips on ice in my free time on my own, I also work as a skating guide in Stockholm.

Stockholm is the best place for ice skating in the world

If you look at the latitude of Stockholm, the Swedish capital lies far in the north but winters are surprisingly moderate here compared to other places this far in the north, for instance in North America. The gulf stream does its job so temperatures usually flactuate around 0 in winter. This might not sound perfect for Stockholm ice skating opportunities but it actually is!

Let me explain to you the unique ice skating conditions we have in the Stockholm area and why it is the best place to skate in the world. For great ice skating conditions we need to fulfil two assumptions:

Cold temperatures so lakes and the sea freeze
No precipitations so the ice is not covered by snow

Skating in central Stockholm, Sweden — *Winter conditions vary every year. In 2019 Mälaren in central Stockholm froze and we could skate in Stockholm city centre*

In Stockholm’s climate there is always a cold period when eastern winds prevail. During that time (usually coming in November and December), cold temperatures freeze the lakes and sea and it creates amazing opportunities for skating.

This moment usually doesn’t last long in other cold parts in the world because snow follows soon and the ice disappears under a thick white layer. On the other hand, snow is much less common In Stockholm and if it snows it often doesn’t last for a long time. Western winds show up, they bring warmer weather and the snow melts. This is good news for skating. Ice needs much higher temperatures to melt so the snow disappears and we can skate again!

These warm and cold periods usually alternate through the whole winter in Stockholm and that’s why we have the best skating conditions here. Another advantage of Stockholm is the large variety of water surfaces. We can find here small, medium and large lakes as well as the archipelago so there is also a new place to skate. Everything mentioned above brings the opportunity to skate basically anytime from the season start (usually November or December) until the ice melts (most often some time in April).

Skating on a mirror like sea. — *After rain and during plus temperatures lakes and the sea look like a mirror*

Safety first during ice skating

While skating is so much fun it’s also very important to do it safely. Swedish lakes and especially the sea can be very tricky and you have to know where it is safe to go. Luckily, Sweden in general is very good with safety rules and you can see it also in the equipment of any Swedish skater. Local Swedish skating clubs don’t allow their members to enter ice without:

Ice Skate & Boots – it would be difficult to skate without them 😉
Skating Poles – important tool to check the quality and thickness of the ice, also helpful if you have to go against strong wind
Ice picks– a necessary tool to get you out of the water in case you fall through the ice
Whistle – helps you to call help if you are in trouble
Rescue Lines – will allow your friend(s) to help you get out of the water
Backpack with extra clothes in waterproof bags

I would never go to unknown ice conditions without the above mentioned equipment either. During the last seven years of skating in the Stockholm area and three years of being a guide I still explore new areas every winter and the right equipment is crucial.

If you would like to buy your own equipment I recommend Alewalds store in Stockholm where you can get the best advice on winter equipment in Stockholm. If you would like to test the equipment first you can book a trip with the company I work for (booking below) and you can test the skating with me.

I also have to add that it’s necessary to have a skating partner. In case of an accident it is important to have someone who could help out. That’s why I always go on a skating trip in a company.

Skating at Saltsjöbaden — *My girlfriend Joanne demonstrates well the full ice skating equipment*

Skating at Siljan — *Joanne once more on an endless lake in Dalarna. The freedom you have on ice is amazing*

How is it to fall through ice?

It might sound crazy but I have never fallen through ice since I started to skate in the Stockholm area. I am always very careful and don’t give the ice the opportunity to trick me 🙂 I am mostly thankful to the skating poles which always help me to evaluate the thickness. I was curious though how it feels to be in the freezing water so I tried it out in a course.

I was supposed to jump in a hole in ice and stay there for three minutes. Then, I had to get out of the water on my own thanks to the ice picks. I have to admit I was a bit scared but the experience was not as bad as I had feared. It was actually similar to jumping into a freezing water after sauna, just without the sauna to warm up again 🙂 Luckily, the extra clothes are compulsory on such courses too so I changed into fresh and warm clothes and I was completely fine. Getting out of the water with ice picks worked very well too.

It was a great experience because I know now that in case of an accident it isn’t scary or a big deal. I am curious when my first fall through happens. I hope at least after seven more years 🙂

Swimming in a frozen lake — *Swimming in the frozen lake*

Try out skating in Stockholm with a guide

Of course, I started skating in Stockholm with guides. I had no idea what is safe or not. The guides give you safety because they have experience and they always go first on ice. If somebody from a group falls through the ice, it should always be the guide. The guests are 99% safe if they follow guide’s decisions and recommendations. I have learnt from many guides during last seven years and taken a special ice course in Stockholm and I am enjoying the time skating with both my close friends and clients while guiding.

If you would like to experience natural ice too, book a trip with The Green Trails below and I will take you to the best ice of the day and you will have an unforgettable experience. We guide both people who know how to ice skate already as well as complete beginners and we have the full safety equipment ready for you. Please note that we make the trips extra safe and no client has fallen through the ice yet. Ok, for except one guy who did it voluntarily. He was very curious about the cold bath experience so we allowed him 🙂

Skating guided tour in Sweden — *One exciting trip led us to the edge of the ice*

Book a skating trip with me below

I guide skating trips for all beginners, intermediate and advanced skaters. If you decide to book a skating trips with The Green Trails, don’t forget to leave a comment in the Special Requirements section in the checkout that you found this tour on my blog. By that, you will make sure that I will be assigned to your specific trip and as a bonus you will get a small present 🙂 Below you can see what all skating trips we offer:

Magic ball with a skater on a frozen lake

March 5, 2023 • 0 Comment

The Best Skating Locations in Sweden

Sweden has around 100 000 lakes and most of them freeze druing winter. It means a real ice skating paradise and we don’t even count the possibilities on the sea! Nobody will ever be able to skate even on a fraction of these ice surfaces. I am lucky to have tested more than 100 hundred of them during my 11 years in Sweden. Here are my tips where you can find the best skating locations in Sweden.

Before I start naming all the amazing lakes and archipelagos where I got the chance to skate, I have to tell you the most important thing: Every winter is different. Sometimes we have excellent conditions for skating all around the country, sometimes we have mild winter and there is less ice or we have too hard winter with too much snow which isn’t good for skating either. In general, Stockholm area is the best for ice skating. The climate is rather mild so the snow usually doesn’t stay long time but it’s cold enough so the ice freezes and we have great skating opportunities. I am explaining more about the unique ice skating conditions in Stockholm in this article.

As you know the most important now, let’s take a look where you can have the best skating experiences!

Stockholm City

The best winter I experienced in Stokholm was in 2019 when it was so cold that even the eastern part of the third largest lake of Sweden Mälaren froze. The lake flows to sea at Stockholm city centre, nearby Gamla Stan and the City Hall and it was all frozen! I will never forget our trip from Riddarfjärden via Barnhusviken, Ulsvsundasjön, Essingefjärden to Årstaviken. What a sightseeing on skates!

Höga Kusten

Have you heard about the High Coast area in Sweden (in Swedish Höga Kusten)? It’s a coastal region in northern Sweden that stretches for about 129 km along the Gulf of Bothnia. What makes Höga Kusten unique is its geological history. About 10,000 years ago, the land in the area was covered by ice sheets that were several kilometers thick. As the ice sheets retreated, the land slowly began to rise, at a rate of about 8 mm per year. This is one of the highest rates of land uplift in the world, and as a result, Höga Kusten is now one of the few places on earth where visitors can see the effects of post-glacial rebound in action.

Thanks to Höga Kusten history you can find there beautiful natural scenery, including towering cliffs, picturesque islands, and dense forests. I visited Höga Kusten many times before but my favourite visit was definitely in 2023 when the sea froze and we could skate all the way (with a short walk in between) from Docksta to Köpmanholmen. It was amazing to pass Skuleberget (the once nine-meter-high island which turned to today’s highest coastline mountain) and national park Skuleskogen!

The conditions we had at Höga Kusten don’t happen often since the area is known for a lot of snow precipitation but if you get a chance to skate there, don’t hesitate a minute!

Skating in front of Skuleberget, north of Sweden — *Skating in front of Skuleberget*

Uppsala – Stockholm

The same winter brought also the opportunity to skate on Mälaren from Uppsala to Stockholm which I did with my friends as a memory to old viking skating race Vikingarännet. What a pity this 80km race is not organized anymore due to weak winters.

*Wonderful end of a skating trip at Mälaren during sunset*

Vättern

The second largest lake in Sweden Vättern boasts of crystal clear water. Since it’s very deep, it hardly ever freezes all but its bays sometimes do! I had a chance to skate on a small part of the lake in 2021 and it was an unforgettable experience.

Siljan

The heart of Dalarna and its lake Siljan is not only famous for Midsummer celebrations. In winter, the whole lake usually freezes and you can make wonderful trips there. My trip in 2021 from Mora to Leksand was as long as famous Vasaloppet.

Karlholmfjärden

Skating on sea is special. Due to salt water and many currents it is definitely more tricky than on lakes and advanced ice knowledge experience is essential. If you dare though you are rewarded by wonderful trips among islands and cute villages. I made my favourite archipelago trip at Karlholmfjärden in 2023.

Saltsjöbaden

You can experience another great archipelago skating nearby Stockholm. Saltsjöbaden is a popular tourist destination reacheable by pubic transport in Stockholm and trips on Baggensfjärden and Erstaviken are wonderful.

Marvikarna

Sweden is a flat country in general. If you want to visit mountains, you have to head northwest to the border with Norway. It surprised me though that you can find though wonderful cliffs even in Stockholm area. I discovered them when I skated at Marvikarna lakes. It was a cool trip with wind in the back from Åkers Styckebruk via multiple lakes to Gnesta. If you want to try typical Nordic skating which combines skating and short hikes, this is a wonderful option.

360 picture of a skater on endless lake during sunset — *Long trip it Mavikarna was finished asfter sunset*

Ånnsjön

If you would like to skate next to real high mountains, you have to head to the north. Since mountains attract clouds and it snows there often, the skating season is usually very short. Lakes usually freeze already during October/November there and they are skateable until first snow comes. I got the chance to skate on wonderful Ånnsjön nearby ski resort Åre and it was amazing to skate with view over Jämtlands mountains.

Storsjön

You can skate at many places even if it snows because the municipalities clear skating tracks. The longest one is prepared every year on Storsjön in Östersund. The track is usually 30km long so you can enjoy new scenery during a whole skating day.

Norrviken – Edsviken – Brunnsviken

Let’s get back to Stockholm area. I will introduce to you the most popular lakes where you can usually skate from January to March. In the north of Stockholm it’s popular to make a trip on three different lakes with short walks in between. Try a trip on Norrviken, Edsviken and Brunnsviken. It’s easy to access these lakes by public transport and if you take a look at weather forecast in advance you can plan a one way trip with wind in the back from point A to B.

Skating on Brunnsviken with Swedish flag — *Brunnsviken is my “home” lake just a few hundred meters away from my home. Here I celebrated the first day of my Swedish citizenship*

Drevviken – Magelungen – Orlången

Similarly, you have great skating opportunities in the south. Drevviken, Magelungen and Orlången are Stockholm’s classics. There, I learnt also for example how it is to fall through the ice.

Bråviken

Let’s get once more on sea ice. Norrköping and it’s bay Bråviken offers often great skating conditions. In 2021, the conditions were there best of all Sweden and I made there multiple beautiful trips.

Ice sailing in Sweden — *You can also see ice sailers on ice in Sweden, like here at Bråviken*

Tyresta national park

Let’s end this summary by the unique opportunity of Stockholm region where you can go skate-hiking in national park Tyresta. There are multiple lakes in the national park and you can combine very well hiking and skating there!

More about ice skating in Sweden

Do you have any own tips on best skating locations in Sweden? Let me know! If you would like to read more about ice skting, I prepared a thorough guide how to skate safely. Take a look at my article here.

*Sunsets on frozen lakes are so beautiful!*

February 26, 2023 • 0 Comment

Falling Through Ice and Rescue

My last article about ice skating in Stockholm got a lot of attention. I received many messages that my readers are interested to try ice skating on natural ice! I am very happy about it and I understand! It is the best experience you can do in Stockholm in winter! Besides that I got several questions about safety and the experience of falling through ice. Even though I said that falling through ice never happened to any guest of the ice skating company The Green Trails where I work, I would like to share my experience with you. I tried falling through ice during an Ice knowledge course in Sweden. It was such a cool and valuable experience that I decided to devote a whole article to this topic.

Let’s start directly with a video of my own experience when I fell through ice. It might look scary but I am very happy for such an experience. Even though I guide with huge respect for the ice conditions, this experience can be extremely valuable in case of an accident. During the Ice knowledge course I could try it in a controlled environment. There were experienced guides with us and they found the perfect ice conditions for us. We did our practice where ice gets thinner and thinner and we could test how far you can go as a skater. Thanks to this experience, I now know what to do in case of an unplanned fall through ice. It was also a great test of my equipment. Here is the short movie!

What do you think? Would you like to try this too? Cool, right? 🙂 Please, just don’t get too excited and never try this on your own. Even though I enjoyed this experience and it might look like fun, we had multiple lectures before to get ready for this moment. We were instructed properly what to do and there was also a safety boat with a diver in case of emergency.

Safety boat saving poles on ice — *Safety boat is saving skating poles which one skater forgot to take out from thin ice before leaving the cold water*

As you can see in the movie, I still made some mistakes, even though I had multiple lectures beforehand:

I had a bit small backpack which caused that even my head went under water. This normally doesn’t happen with a bigger backpack.
I forgot to open the safety line before throwing it to my friends.

Otherwise, it went pretty well 🙂 I managed to get out of the water with the ice picks, I crawled enough to stand out on safe ice and the changing of clothes which you don’t see on the video went well too thanks to my friends.

SSSK skating group on ice in Stockholm — *Discussion about what went well and what could be done better for next time*

How does it feel when falling through ice?

I always say that it feels like jumping into a frozen lake after sauna, just without the sauna. It means it’s pretty nice! The problem is that you don’t have the sauna nearby to warm up again. That’s why it is important to be ready for such an experience. Here are my tips:

TIP 1: Avoid risky ice conditions

Let’s start with the most obvious tip. Avoiding falling through ice is the best way to enjoy skating. Go on ice only if you have enough experience about the lake/sea and bring all safety equipment. Bear in mind that the ice thickness can vary on different places of the surface. If you don’t have enough knowledge, go to the ice with someone experienced or book a guide.

TIP 2: Learn about ice and ice conditions

Are you a novice when it comes to ice knowledge and skating? Then, the best way is to get a guide. Check out my article about skating in Stockholm where you can book even me as your guide. Can you skate, do you have your own skating equipment and would you like to go on ice with other skaters like you? Join SSSK club (Swedish language necessary) in Stockholm and join their organized trips. This is the best way how to learn about ice. This is also the place where I learnt most. You can join trips on both sea and lakes, always on the best ice in the Stockholm area. Besides trips, they also organize ice knowledge courses, like the one I did.

Rescue of a skater from a fall into of frozen lake — *A friend trying to get out of water*

TIP 3: Prepare well for the worst

In case you fall through ice, you need great equipment. Be sure to have following with you if you go on risky ice:

A partner – most important thing. Never go on ice alone. In case of an accident, you want someone to help you.
Have proper rescue equipment with you when on ice: safety line, ice picks and a backpack with a strap between your legs which serves as a life jacket.
Spare clothes in a dry bag – always have clothes ready in a dry bag in your backpack to be able to change in case of fall through. I have a hat, gloves, three layers for both upper and lower part of the body as well as:
- Extra tip 1: Seal Skinz socks – special waterproof socks which will help your feet to be dry even in wet shoes after you fall through.
- Extra tip 2: Dishwashing gloves – they will help your hands to keep warm when you wring out your wet clothes.
- Extra tip 3: Don’t forget a towel in your backpack to dry your skin before you put on dry clothes.
- Extra tip 4: Have a spare Gore-Tex jacket or some light rain jacket so your wet backpack doesn’t make your back wet when you start skating again.

TIP 4: Get organized help from your friends

Hopefully, you listened to my advice and you skated in a group. There are four important tasks when someone falls through. Divide the help effectively:

Person 1: talks with the person in the water, helps with the rescue and helps to take off clothes
Person 2: unpacks the backpack and dry bag and prepares dry and warm clothes
Person 3: wrings out the wet clothes and the safety line and puts them back in the backpack
Person 4: prepares hot drinks and food
If you have a luxury of Person 5, he/she can make videos and pictures so you can share your experience with me and others on social media 🙂

TIP 5: Warm up after you are in dry clothes

Do you know what is the best way to warm up? Here are some of my tips:

Drink something warm and ideally sweet. Liquids with sugar warm up body better than without.
If you have some food, eat to get new energy.
Move as soon as you can. To warm up, walking is better than skating since you will do better movements to warm up your feet and you won’t be so quick that you are cooled down by the wind.

TIP 6: Try a fall through ice in safe conditions

If you would like to prepare mentally for the fall through ice, try it in an organized environment. There are various courses enabling such an experience or try at least to take an ice bath before going into the sauna.

TIP 7: Avoid swimming and join a guided tour to enjoy skating

If you would like to skate on endless Swedish lakes/sea, I wrote a special article about that experience. I’m guiding trips around Stockholm and it’s so much fun. If you are interested, read more here.

*Skating in Stokholm city centre is an unbelieveable experience*

February 19, 2023 • 0 Comment

How to find the cheapest flight to Sweden

Would you like to travel to Sweden but you can’t find reasonably priced flight tickets? Then, you have found a correct article. I am travelling very often and I have learnt some very good tricks to find cheaper flights. I decided to share them with you! This is a guide on how to find the cheapest flight tickets to Sweden wherever you are from.

This article is a memory to times when I was taking care of my first blog travelclever.se which helped Swedish travelers finding cheap flights around the world. It was an amazing time because lowcost airlines were booming and you could fly across Europe for 10 EUR or sometimes even cheaper! Such flights don’t occur often anymore but my tips to find cheap flights haven’t changed and they can still help you saving a lot of money! Let’s start with three important tips:

The key to find cheap flight tickets is to be flexible. If you have just a limited amount of holidays and if you can travel to Sweden only during certain and exact time period, this article will probably not help you much. However, if you are flexible and you can choose from multiple days, continue reading!
Learn to use flight search engine www.kiwi.com. It’s the best tool to find cheap flights. However, bear in mind that I don’t recommend to book on the website anything! Booking via third party can be risky especially in case your flight is delayed or cancelled. It is very difficult to ask for compensation. It’s always safer to book directly via the airline which kiwi.com will find for you.
Don’t look for a return trip. It brings too many options for the search engine and you can get very easily lost in the results. Try to find two one way trips instead. This applies for trip within Europe. If you are flying from another continent, then prices are better if you book directly a return flight.

The advantages of Kiwi.com

So why is Kiwi.com a great flight search engine? It enables you to use radius search and flexible dates for both departure and arrival. Moreover, Kiwi.com is the only search engine which combines flights of low cost airlines.

Before you start looking for flight tickets, keep in mind again the most important thing: Flexibility makes the flight tickets cheaper. Do you want to travel on an exact day? Are you in hurry and do you need the shortest travel time possible? Or can you fly flexibly anytime during week and can you spend more time on your journey? Both options will generate a completely different price. Let’s check it out. As an example I will use a case which I know personally very well. It is a trip from the city where my life journey started and where I come from – Olomouc, the Czech Republic to my new home Stockholm, Sweden. This is how I find the cheapest way to travel up north.

Aerial view of Olomouc, the Czech Republic — *The city of Olomouc. This is where the journey to Stockholm starts*

Step 1: The most comfortable option – exact day

I insert the most convenient departure city from Olomouc – the capital of Czech Republic – Prague and destination Stockholm in the Kiwi.com search engine. I select a date which would work best for my travel plan – 19th March. For this date Kiwi.com finds for me the cheapest flight for 988 SEK with Norwegian.

Step 2: Interval (recommended)

I am not satisfied with the price so I will use the interval searchnig. It works that the longer interval you choose, the bigger chance you have to find cheaper tickets. Let’s say that I can fly also one and two days earlier. I select interval from the 17th March to 19th March.

As you can see below, the prices got much better just because of the flexibility in days. Now, I have two options – a direct flight with Norwegian on 17th March with Norwegian for 659 SEK or a flight on 18th March with Ryanair which has extra stop in Gothenburg for 347 SEK. This sounds better but I will still try to find even cheaper flight.

Step 3: Radius search (Prague +250 km)

The best thing about kiwi.com search engine is that you can combine search to your destination from multiple cities at the same time. Let’s check it out. I will keep the same dates but I will click on Prague and extend the radius by 250km.

As you can see below, thanks to this additional flexibility not flying from Prague, I can find even cheaper flights. There is a very cheap option from Wroclaw (109 SEK) for example and the city is not much further from the origin of the journey Olomouc than Prague. Unfortunately, I checked and bus/train connection from Olomouc to Wroclaw is not the best for this date so I will try to find something even better.

Step 4: Additional cities

I haven’t found an ideal flight yet so I will add manually additional cities to my search. Kiwi.com recommends on its own the nearest ones. I will add Krakow. The city is nearby Olomouc and maybe, there is a cheap flight from there to Stockholm too.

Perfect, there is a perfect flight from Krakow. As the city is well connected to Olomouc by train/bus, actually similarly like my initial search Prague, I will book this flight and I will safe over 800 SEK. As I already mentioned, I will book this flight directly on Ryanair’s website because I don’t recommend to book via third party search engines.

Summary of tips for finding the cheapest flight to Sweden with Kiwi.com

As you can see, it took me a few clicks and I could find so many options to travel to Stockholm. It’s good not focusing on a certain date and the origin and it can help you save a lot of money. Here is a quick summary of how to find the cheap flights:

The longer interval you choose, the more likely you are to find cheaper tickets.
The larger radius search you choose the more likely you are to find cheaper tickets.
Try to find flights anywhere and anytime to discover the most interesting deals.
Are you from a city which doesn’t have an airport? Try search directly from your city with the radius search. Look what results I can directly from Olomouc. It would save my work looking from Prague actually. It would find my flight from Krakow directly.
Kiwi.com also develops adding train and bus connections. Check them out too.

Additional tips how to find cheap flight

Check out website Fly4free.com which is looking for the latest deals in the flight industry. They are very good with finding special offers and error fares. Good luck and looking forward to seeing you in Sweden!

If you are looking for what to do and experience in Sweden, I have many tips on my blog. Check them out.