Simply Abu Dhabi Magazine XXI

2 7 9 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I T he capital of Sweden is a fascinating place. With 14 islands that comprise the city, it’s easy on the eye with water never far away and dramatic mediaeval architecture. The charming cobblestoned old town is perfect for absent-minded ambling while the thriving commercial areas on Södermalm and Östermalm are ripe for finding a wide range of contemporary Scandi-cool goods. Shopping fiends will have a ball in Stockholm as design and fashion bump against each other in ultra-cool stores. NK is an essential visit as it’s essentially the Swedish equivalent of Macy’s in New York or Harrods in London and the vast interior houses an array of global brands alongside Swedish favourites such as J Lindeberg and Filippa K. And keep your plastic to hand as Swedes seem to prefer cards… Nine out of ten transactions in Stockholm are cashless. As well as offering boundless opportunity for retail therapy, Stockholm is filled with museums of all kinds. There are around 100 museums attracting millions of people every year. Whether it’s an hour or two passed at the ABBA museum or a trip to the maritime Vasa Museum, which displays the only 17th century ship that has ever been salvaged, there is enough to be entertained for weeks. A must see is the National Museum – with 16,000 paintings and 30,000 objects of handicraft, it is Sweden’s largest collection of art. Getting around Stockholm is cheap and simple either by navigating the simple, clean and quick metro system, or by using buses and taxis, making it easy to pick out where you want to go and get there with minimal fuss. And you can keep your energy levels up with steaming hot coffee, as the Swedes love the stuff, usually with big slices of cake. Locals even have a word for having a coffee break: to ‘fika’ is to enjoy a sweet pastry, like a Swedish cinnamon bun filled with cream, washed down with piping hot, eye-poppingly strong coffee. Seek out Konditori Ritorno at Odengatan 80 to fika like a local. This place has become a city institution since it opened its doors 57 years ago – and the décor hasn’t changed much since then either. Antique posters and a great old jukebox