TRAVEL / December
The galleries at Stockholm’s
public library are built to resemble
amphitheatres. The first one
opened to visitors in 1974.
The Vasa Museum houses a 16 th -century warship,
the Vasa, which sank on its maiden voyage.
Exhibition view of the Anton Corbijn
show at Fotografiska
WELL-BEING OF THE MIND
Lagom advocates balance in every aspect of
life, which includes a good mix of company
and solitude. If you’re travelling to Stockholm
with friends, family, or colleagues, try to give
yourself some time alone with your thoughts.
There are plenty of places to do so, but
among the most serene and nourishing are
Stockholm’s many well-stocked and excel-
lently run public libraries, where the quiet
hum of study can be a sound both reassur-
ing and inspiring. Stockholm’s main Public
Library (Sveavägen 73; biblioteket.stockholm.
se) is one of the city’s most impressive build-
ings and was recently named one of the
world’s most beautiful libraries. It has plenty
of international magazines and newspapers
and a spectacular round reading room, but
it has lots of cosy corners, too. The library is
open until 9 pm on weekdays and 5 pm on
the weekends.
Spending time alone with your thoughts,
observing the trends and customs of an unfa-
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miliar land, and listening to the enchanting
music of a foreign tongue can all induce the
mindfulness that is central to lagom. Even
for committed atheists, it can be a beauti-
ful experience to attend a religious service
in an unfamiliar church, synagogue, or
temple where contemplative music often
forms part of the ritual. Sunday services
at Stockholm Cathedral and St. Jacob’s
Church include choral music and religious
poetry, and both churches also regularly
host concerts. Do yourself and your fellow
visitors a favour: leave your camera and/or
smartphone at the hotel.
Visiting a museum or gallery alone can
be just as nourishing, and Stockholm has
plenty of both. A particular favourite, and
the perfect place in which to contemplate
the challenges of modern life, is Fotograf-
iska (Stadsgårdshamnen 22), the photogra-
phy museum whose building is as fasci-
nating as its excellent exhibitions (there
are normally four running at any given
time). To feel humbled by the presence of
something truly awe-inspiring, visit the
Vasamuseet (Galärvarvsvägen 14) and see
first-hand the salvaged warship Vasa, which
sank 30 minutes into a voyage from Stock-
holm in 1628 and was salvaged in 1961 after
333 years underwater. The Östasiatiska Mu-
seet, or Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities
(Skeppsholmen), contains treasures from
around the world dating back millennia and
also the much talked-about Japanese-style
restaurant Café Kikusen, where you can
enjoy a meal with your travel companions
or indulge in one of the most treasurable of
life’s simple pleasures: dining alone.