City G U Id E Stockholm for Stieg Larsson Fans

NS TRAVEL A SSON F SSON LAR G E I T S R ILLIONS of people have read the late Stockholm neighbourhoods, you can relate to the Stieg Larsson's novels. His Millennium author and his characters, before visiting other rel- Trilogy comprises The Girl With The evant areas, like Kungsholmen, Vasastan, and Sand- M FO Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played hamn in the archipelago (Mikael Blomkvist's cottage). L M With Fire, and The Girl Who Kicked The But Stockholm is not just about the trilogy. One Hornet’s Nest. Filmgoers have enjoyed the adaptations third of it is water and it's built on 14 islands that are of his books, the latest being the 2011 American ver- connected by 57 bridges. Sweden's capital has 100 art sion of his first, starring Daniel Craig. So, what better galleries and over 100 museums. place to go than stunning Stockholm, where you can And Stockholmers must love their art - most of the go in search of some of the secrets behind Larsson's stations of the 68-mile long metro are decorated with OCKHO T success and the reason fans flock to Sweden's capital. mosaics, sculptures and paintings - making it well CITY GUIDE S In historic, trendy Södermalm (Söder), once a work- worth catching the tube. ing class district, but now one of the most desirable LOUISE CAHILL BEST TOUR GUIDES BEST WAY AT the Stockholm City Museum (www. the go, having new projects and new ideas”. TO GET stadsmuseum.stockholm.se) Ryssgården, Slussen, A poor boy from Northern Sweden, growing AROUND sited in a 17th-century palace, you can learn about up in humble circumstances who became a PURCHASE the the city’s history, before buying a Millennium Map renowned journalist who uncovered political Stockholm Card, (SEK 40/£3.70) to go it alone. inconsistencies, he also wrote the trilogy with for one-five days, Or, you could take an award-winning Stieg 65 million books sold worldwide. costing from SEK Larsson Millennium tour, with superb guide Larsson had planned to write another seven 215 (£19.94) for a Elisabeth Daude. She is immersed in the Millennium books after his trilogy, but tragically died of a child, SEK 450 (£42) trilogy and what she doesn't know about it would heart attack, when only 50 years old. day, from a personalised, private tour with another for an adult for probably fit on a 50 öre coin. She gave us invaluable Because there's so much to see besides the top-class licensed Stockholm guide, Eva Harrysson. one day. information about Larsson, who was ”always on trilogy connections, you can also benefit, on another (www.evaguide.se) (visitstockholm.com) BEST FOR COFFEE AND FOOD BEST VANTAGE POINTS LARSSON wrote extensively WE gazed across to the window of Larsson’s about coffee. Going for a heroine, Lisbeth Salander’s top floor, 21-room ‘fika’ – meeting up for apartment on Fiskargatan 9, where she lived a coffee or pastry or secretly, with the name ‘V Kulla’ on her door piece of cake; often a – a reference to Pippi Longstocking’s house. cinnamon bun, is unique Pippi was a fictional character, from a series to Sweden. Millennium of children’s books by Swedish author Astrid fans can do this at a Lindgren. must-see visit to Mellqvists At the corner of busy Götgatan and Hökens Kaffebar,Hornsgatan 78, gata, we took in the Millennium’s editorial office. Södermalm. This was Stieg Larsson’s regular Erika Berger, the publisher of the economic cafe and also that of his character, Mikael BEST PLACE TO STAY magazine, and girlfriend of Mikael in the books Blomkvist – there he lent money to computer said she wanted her office “where the life is”, hacker Lisbeth Salander. TRY the ideally situated Hilton Stockholm, looking down on Stockholm. In the book, the Another top spot is Restaurant Kvarnen, Slussen, near Gamla Stan, Götgatan and office was above Greenpeace; now it is above Tjärhovsgatan 4 (www.kvarnen.com), where we Kvarnen, where you can indulge in even Transformator Design. Lisbeth shopped for food, walked past tables set for brunch, to perch on more Millennium imagination – the hotel is Lipton’s tea and Marlboro Lights on Götgatan. bar stools and learn about its Lisbeth connection where Mikael and lover Erika Berger met From a walkway over the street, we admired – this is where she met the girls from the rock privately. Rooms from £83 per night. Mikael’s apartment on Bellmansgatan 1, with its band Evil Fingers on Tuesday evenings. (www.hilton.com) view of Gamla Stan and the water. 24 December 16, 2012 SCOTLANDonSUNDAY.

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