Day 15. Stockholm Public Library

On By Little Miss TravellerIn Europe, Stockholm, Sweden

Our final day in Stockholm and just enough time before heading back to the airport to fit in a visit to the Stockholm Public Library in Odenplan. I love visiting libraries wherever I travel and what a delightful one this was. The library, which was designed by Gunnar Asplund and completed in 1928, is one of the city’s most famous buildings with its geometrically designed neo-classical architecture and is listed as being one of the world’s most beautiful libraries.

Stockholm Public Library
Stockholm Public Library

Stepping through the Egyptian style doorway and climbing the central staircase, we were able to get our first glimpse into the central rotunda of the library. The rotunda is a circular book hall and is an absolutely stunning temple for book lovers like me. It contains a total of 40,000 books on three levels and retains its original mahogany furniture and leather chairs.

Stockholm Public Library
The Rotunda, Stockholm Public LIbrary

The rotunda is ringed with three terraced levels of open shelving and was the first Swedish library to allow visitors to access the shelves themselves without asking library staff for assistance.

Stockholm Public Library
Beautiful curved mahogany bookshelves in the Rotunda building

I climbed to the upper terrace and peered down on the magnificent hall with its curved bookcases and the floor which had been styled on the Pantheon in Rome. Back at ground level, we explored the five subject rooms which are all accessed from the central rotunda. These smaller rooms had recessed shelving and leather topped desks each with a traditional brass lamp to provide illumination.

Stockholm Public Library
Inside one of the subject rooms at Stockholm Public Library

Before leaving, we went downstairs to explore the children’s section which was exquisitely designed with youngsters in mind. The ceiling of the first room displays a starry sky and alongside books there are lots of toys and games to keep children amused. I have never seen such a beautiful story telling room with its circular style wall painted murals and cosy seating that surely must captivate all small children.

Stockholm Public Library
The Children’s Story Telling Room, Stockholm Public Library

It was then back to the Biz Hotel Apartment in nearby Solna to collect our belongings before making our way to Stockholm’s Arlanda airport. Our studio apartment had been a good choice for our two week stay in Stockholm as it provided us with the flexibility of both eating in as well as enjoying evening’s out sampling the local cuisine. The apartment block was a six minute walk to Solna Centrum station on the Blue Line with trains taking only ten minutes into the city centre.

Biz Hotel Apartment, Solna, Stockholm
Our studio room at Biz Hotel Apartment, Solna

Returning to the airport, we caught the 41X commuter train to Märsta station which took 25 minutes and from outside the station we transferred to the 583 bus to the airport, taking approximately 15 minutes. Wherever you might choose to stay in Stockholm, transferring to and from the airport by this method is very easy and costs only SEK 44 (£3.80 each way) with the journey also being included in the SL-Access travel card. If you prefer to transfer between the city centre and the airport by the Arlanda Express train which takes only 20 minutes, the single fare is a whopping SEK280 (£24.25 each).

Views over the Stockholm Archipelago
Views over the Stockholm Archipelago

There was no-one waiting to check in at the KLM desk so we quickly parted with our luggage, sped quickly through security and had plenty of time to enjoy large cappuccinos before our flight back to Amsterdam. As it was so clear we had some excellent views over the Swedish archipelago and again on our approach into Schiphol airport. On board the Boeing 737-700 series aircraft for our 90 minute flight we were given small boxes adorned with tulips and windmills which contained tasty cheese and ham sandwiches.  As the drinks trolley passed, I enjoyed a glass of red wine and a coffee and it then seemed no time at all until we were landing in Amsterdam.

Snack served on our KLM flight from Stockholm to Amsterdam
Snack served on our KLM flight from Stockholm to Amsterdam

We were only in transit 75 minutes in Schiphol airport so we had a look in a few of the airside shops before finding our gate for our homeward bound flight to Manchester which was also on time. This flight was also on a Boeing 737-700 series aircraft. A City Hopper Embraer 90 is normally used on this route but larger aircraft are occasionally brought into service to meet increased passenger demand.

Snack served on our KLM flight from Amsterdam to Manchester
Snack served our our KLM flight from Amsterdam to Manchester

On this shorter flight we were served a chicken and pepper wrap, water, alcoholic drinks and coffee from the friendly and efficient flight attendants. I have always enjoyed flying KLM and their service creates a pleasing start and end to my trips.

This brings to an end my series of posts on our two week holiday in Stockholm. We found so many interesting things to do and places to visit that I hope my posts might inspire some of you visit the Swedish capital for yourselves. Finally, I would like to thank both Visit Stockholm and Destination Uppsala for helping to make this visit possible. As always, all views and opinions are entirely my own.

If you have enjoyed reading this post, you may also enjoying the following:

Climbing Stockholm’s City Hall Tower

ABBA The Museum, Stockholm

National Library of Finland

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37 thoughts on “Day 15. Stockholm Public Library”

  1. Pingback: Day 2.  The National Library of Finland and the Bank of Finland Museum – Love Travelling Blog

  2. Pingback: A La Carte: Winter 2019 – CILIP London

  6. Irunsolo

    The children’s reading room looks like something I could get into for my own reading room 🙂 And the floor-to-ceiling multi-level books are awesome. Want one just like it in my town.

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  9. Reblogged this on John's Notes and commented:
    Libraries – I like seeing blog posts about libraries and have made a few myself. I enjoyed seeing this one of the Stockholm Public Library and wanted to share it.

    The post contains a little more travel info than just the library itself, but it is worth seeing another library I might want to add to my list of places to visit.

    Liked by 1 person

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  10. What an amazing library! You are also very fortunate to have been able to spend a long period of time in Sweden. I often find that my first trip to a new place always seems too short and am wishing that the trip could have been longer.

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  16. Okay I have to say that from outside that library is super ugly… or maybe I just can’t appreciate cool architecture? But from inside it looks so perfect. I have always wanted to visit library with books on many levels like in your photos 🙂

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  18. Hi Marion, Yes, do what you can when you can! Life is too short Although we are very lucky, healthwise, my husband is now 90! (while mentally 40,,,). and I’m only four years behind him. The spirit is very much willing but the flesh is weak! (So true…) Best wishes.

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  19. Hi, What a fantabulous building that is! You could leave me there all day. I too love libraries…Do you pinch yourself every now and then when you realise just how lucky you are to see all these splendid places? We’ve travelled a fair bit over the years, but not explored the way you have. Go for it.Wonderful. What memories you are storing up for the future! Those boots are made for walking….Do it in good health. xx

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    1. Thanks Joy fr your kind words. Stockholm Library is so beautiful and I will never forget all these wonderful places I get to visit. Life is too short and I don’t want to live to regret not having the opportunity of seeing and doing so many things. I think as we get older we prefer experiences to things p, don’t you agree,! Marion

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