Gamla stan is a bustling compact island which is the hallmark of Stockholm. It is a magical winter landscape that is truly a sight to behold! Stockholm gets its identity from this particular island which is surrounded by Lake Malaren and many narrow water channels. The buildings that are situated here are very ancient. In fact, nearly all the man-made structures in Gamla stan are exceptionally old yet well maintained.
Boats and Cruises
Although the streets of Gamla stan are very narrow, each and every street is choked with people. Actually, this is the most populated area in Stockholm. Gamla stan is also home to the majority of the boats and cruises that are there in Stockholm. In winters, there are some special boats that can work in icy water because they have a feature of cutting the ice in front of them. Sometimes, when the lakes are completely frozen here, numerous people go ice-skating on the frozen lakes. Gamla stan gets even more crowded in winters because it is also a shopping centre and people need to buy a lot of accessories in winters.
Places and Activities
There is also an ice museum near Gamla stan where everything is made up of ice. Ofcourse, it is only open in winters. A place near Gamla stan, called Kungstragatan, is home to several parks and ice-skating rinks that are especially vibrant and jam-packed with people in winters. There is not much people can do in winters except ice-skating and skiing. Therefore, these two are the most popular winter sports in Sweden. In Gamla stan, people get an opportunity to do these sports because it has a lot of places that are made only for these two sports.
Sweden’s Royal Family
Gamla stan is also home to Sweden’s royal family. They live in a royal palace which is protected by a lot of security guards. People can also get a chance to see the palace from outside at a specific time during the year. There is a beautiful garden near that palace, called Djurgarden, and it is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Gamla stan/T-centralen. The garden is very huge and it is known to be pretty unique.
Gamla stan looks completely different in summer. It is full of sunshine, different shades, tall trees and boats that always seem to be on the go. Winters bring on a completely different look giving the whole place a silvery white blanket that gives it the appearance of a magical landscape. But, summers or winters, Gamla stan surely is a place not to be missed while being in STOCKHOLM!
Writer : Harkirat Singh
Grade : 7 (Year 2021)
Place : Stockholm, Sweden
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