To the east of Stockholm’s Gamla Stan lies Skeppsholmen. It is one of the islands of Stockholm and is connected with Blasieholmen and Kastellholmen by bridges. It is accessible by foot from Kungsträdgården, by bus number 65, or by boat from Slussen, Djurgården or Nybroplan.
The sleek shooner moored off the island is the 100-year old af Chapman, now a youth hostel and a café.
Also on the island is the spectacular new building of the Museum of Modern Art (Moderna Museet) designed by the Spanish architect Rafael Moneo, with a collection of 20th century art that is considered the finest in the world, and includes works by Dali, Picasso and Margritte among others.
Its large restaurant-café is worth visiting for a beautiful panorama if the skyline.
Next door, the Architecture Museum (Arkitetkturmuseet) delves into the design architects of Sweden’s buildings.
A bridge links Skepsholmen to the Blasieholmen waterfront area, where the sumptuous big building is one of Scandinavia’s most famous hotels, the Grand.
Nearby is the National Museum of Fine Arts (Nationalmuseet), featuring Sweden’s national collection of art, with most of the great masters from 1500-1900. Rembrandt us particularly well represented. In summer the museum holds concerts in the evening, a lovely setting for music. (Now closed until 13 October 2018).
The Island of Skeppsholmen in Stockholm, written by Tor Kjolberg