It’s Nobel Week in Stockholm again. The laureates give public lectures, just as Alfred Nobel had wished. On December 10, the anniversary of his death, the prizes are awarded at the Stockholm Concert Hall. This is followed by the festive Nobel Banquet in the Blue Hall of the Stadshuset. Most of us will never be among the 1,300 or so invited guests who dine at closely spaced tables in the Blue Hall on this day and then dance into the night in the Golden Hall, which is decorated with millions of glittering mosaic tiles. But on almost any other day of the year, you can experience the glitter and history of our planet’s most prestigious award. Here are some tips for Nobel sightseeing in Stockholm.
Securing a timeslot at Stadshuset
The Stadshuset is one of Stockholm’s landmarks. The red brick building from 1923 in the Kungsholmen district is located directly on the waterfront. It’s worth climbing the tower for a great view over Stockholm. Guided tours of the building are even more popular. Groups start every minute. But it’s worth joining the stream of tourists, as the route leads through the Blue Hall to the Golden Hall, where the Nobel Prize winners celebrate every year. The guides will tell you lots of interesting facts about the Nobel Banquet celebrations. For example, the city of Sanremo donates the floral decorations for the banquet in the Blue Hall every year. Alfred Nobel lived in this town on the Italian Riviera of Flowers, where he died in his villa on December 10, 1896.
Eating like the Nobel Committee
The restaurant Den Gyldene Freden has been around since 1722. It is known for its traditional Swedish cuisine and is located in the heart of Stockholm’s old town. The city’s intellectuals were already meeting here in the 18th century and the Nobel Committee still meets almost weekly in the building on Österlånggatan 51.
Flying profiles at the Nobel Prize Museum
The Nobel Prize Museum is located on Stortorget in Gamla Stan. Here, profiles of all Nobel Prize winners since 1901 hang on a rail and float through the museum room. Exhibits from the prizewinners’ research work are on display in the showcases. And in the museum store, you can buy some really smart souvenirs. Construction work on a new and larger Nobel Center will begin in 2027.
Nobel Week in December
Every year at the beginning of December, everything in Stockholm revolves around the Nobel Prize ceremony and its founder. Even those who are not part of the inner circle of royal family, committee and laureates can feel the Nobel feeling. The Nobel Week Lights are there for everyone. Numerous light installations, inspired by Nobel Prize winners and innovations, illuminate the city. Artists from Sweden have created these luminous works of art and use centrally located buildings, squares and museums as projection surfaces. The Nobel Prize Concert in honor of the laureates takes place every year on December 8 at the Konzerthaus. Tickets are available to the public. Prize winners and members of the royal family are also present. The Nobel Week Dialogue always takes place on December 9. It is based on the express wish of Alfred Nobel, who linked the receipt of the prize money to a public lecture by the award winners. The Science Dialogue alternates between Stockholm and Gothenburg and can also be followed online. Even the old dynamite factory and two blasting bunkers have been preserved. Today, Vinterviken is a recreational area south of the city center, with a cozy café in Nobel’s old factory building.
More Sweden Stories
Landskrona in the province of Skåne offers nature and culture. The world-famous writer Selma Lagerlöf wrote her first novel here. The Landskrona Photo Festival showcases the old fortress town every two years. Just opposite Landskrona is the Öresund island of Ven, a very popular excursion destination. The Stockholm Metro is considered the longest art exhibition in the world and every year in December is Nobel Prize Week. The Swedish city of Uppsala, 80 kilometres north of Stockholm, is one of the most important in the country. Many centuries before Stockholm was mentioned as a small trading post, Uppsala was the pagan centre of the Vikings. We report on cult and culture in Gamla-Uppsala and on the entertaining messages of the Swedish rune stones and reveal Stockholm’s secret eye-catchers.
On Visit Stockholm there is an overview of themed tours and a list of certified guides for a private tour of Stockholm.
