Stockholm, Sweden Entices Visitors With the Stieg Larsson Millennium Trilogy Tour

Stieg Larsson Trilogy

The fascinating and wildly popular Millennium Trilogy by Swedish author Stieg Larsson has taken on a life of its own with over 60 million readers and books translated into 40 languages as well. Moreover, the three Swedish films based on Larsson's books, (Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played With Fire and the Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest) have earned global box-office clout and have garnered a huge fan base.

The hard-core punk heroine of the Millennium Trilogy, Lisbeth Salander is a genius computer hacker with a psychologically dark past, who is brutally raped by her guardian. Through her furtive work as a freelance private investigator for Milton Security, she finds evidence that Mikael Blomkvist, who is head of the news publication Millennium that exposes crime and scandal, is not guilty of the crime he is convicted of by the Swedish court. The two enter into a spiral of mystery, murder and intrigue that goes deep to the core Swedish political roots and to Lisbeth's own tortured psyche.

The movies and books are so popular that Hollywood decided to make an English version of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, starring Daniel Craig as Mikael Blomkvist and Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander. Fans will be gratified to know that the film was shot on location in Stockholm, Sweden, as well as other Swedish towns. The highly anticipated movie opens December 21, 2011.

The Millennium Trilogy Tour

Fans are so interested in the Millennium Trilogy that they have gone to Stockholm to visit the sites in the books and movies (over 32,000 people have taken the tour). Now, visitors interested in exploring the Millennium sites are in luck; guided walking tours are available with the Stockholm City Museum (tour available in eight languages).

Although you can buy a map from the museum and take a self-guided tour you won't want to miss the guided tour as the museum guides are extremely knowledgeable and take you right into footsteps of Lisbeth and Mikael's world on Södermalm (South Island). The tour also goes into the reasoning and behavior of the characters on this in-depth tour and includes a bit of Stockholm history.

The exciting tour starts with a visit to the city museum located on Södermalm where there is a mock-up of the millennium office with original props from the films. It is then time to head to Bellmansgatan, a cobblestone street leads to a view of character Mikael Blomkvist's apartment in a lovely, old burnished-colored stucco and stone apartment that appears in the books and films.

After leaving Bellmansgatan, you will find yourself on Hornsgatan, which is another street where key scenes take place in the movies. Next, head to the Millennium office and visit several more cool sites from the stories, such as Kaffe, where scenes were shot for the American version of The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo and where the film crew hung out drinking the cafe's excellent espressos.

When your tour is finished, come back to Kaffe and have a cup with the locals; it is a great place to enjoy the ambience and the coffee.

One of the most popularized scenes in the Trilogy movies and books was the luxury apartment of Lisbeth Salander, located on Fiskergatan. The outside view of the apartment confirms it is an upscale affair and makes you wish it was yours. And, oh yes, the advertisement for living next door to the fictional character's luxury apartment is quite real and the digs are awesome for only a mere 5,500,000 Swedish Kronor (900,000 American dollars)!

After the guided walk, take time out to rest and catch a meal at Salander's favorite bar and restaurant Kvarnen, located on Tjärhovsgatan. The vibe is definitely cool in this trendy establishment with the bar serving tasty spirits such as Swedish Schnapps in a beautiful atmosphere of stained glass windows, high ceilings, wainscoting and great wall art. Kvarnen's cuisine is classic Swedish and delicious. Try their Biff Rydberg with a little Schnapps or order a frothy glass of beer and just hangout and watch the local football fans chat it up at the bar.

Millennium Trilogy Tour Break at the Hilton Stockholm Slussen Hotel

While exploring Stockholm and the Millennium haunts, you'll need a central location on Södermalm for your accommodations and what better place than a hotel that appears in the trilogy, the Hilton Stockholm Slussen Hotel. The hotel has created a special Millennium Trilogy Tour Break that includes accommodations, a tour and many additional special amenities. Another reason to stay is that the hotel is just beautiful with lovely wood motif rooms and ornate gray and white marble bathrooms that entice you to indulge in a leisurely fashion. And, for breakfast, the hotel serves a luscious and large breakfast buffet you'll be glad of when you take the Trilogy walking tour.

Want to see a glimpse of the Millennium tour and Stockholm? Take a look at this fantastic Millennium Map created by Robert Benjes that shows the Millennium sites, photos videos and more!

SAS: The Airlines of the Millennium Trilogy

Another iconic company seen in the Millennium Trilogy Swedish movies is SAS airlines. In The Girl Who Played with Fire, Lisbeth Salander is returning to Stockholm via SAS airline in the opening scene. The airline is exceptional and is the best way to get to Stockholm with direct flights from Chicago and New York. The airline also provides three different levels of service from business class, economy plus and economy with good inflight entertainment and tasty meals. Fans have even had the thrill of seeing Michael Nyqvist who plays Mikael Blomkvist in the Swedish Millennium movies Flying SAS from New York to Sweden. Apparently, he is a nice fellow who plays it low-key. In addition, SAS has published a valuable Guide written with star-alliance crew members, as well as their own crews. The pocket-sized publication features brilliant tips on the best restaurants hotels, shopping and attractions across major cities globally.

Stockholm Beyond Stieg Larsson

Stockholm is a chic, innovative city of fashion, technology, art, history, literary, museums, shopping and cuisine. There is a plethora of superb places to explore throughout the city, which is also very walkable and bike friendly. If you still relish a literary fix, visit the August Strindberg Museum, located on Drottninggatan. Strindberg is considered the father of modern Swedish literature; he was a playwright, painter and novelist with his plays performed today in Stockholm's marvelous Royal Dramatic Theater. The museum is comprised of his apartments where he spent the last four years of his life and are filled with his books, office where he wrote and living quarters. The museum provides an intimate and fascinating look at his life and work with a fantastic display of Strindberg artifacts. Visitors can also purchase books written by and about Strindberg in the museum shop.

Shopping Opportunities

For shopping, old town or Gamla Stan is popular with tourists for jewelry, candy stores, apparel and quaint little streets; try Västerlånggatan. Make sure to investigate these cobblestone streets, as some real gems are tucked in among them, such as Oskars Guld & Silver, where visitors can have a custom silver tag necklace made with a Swedish maxim or insignia in about an hour.

For shopping on Södermalm, you'll find some of the top jewelry shops, fashion, tea and cafes, on Hornsgatan. This bustling street features Efva Attling. This exquisite Swedish-designed jewelry is coveted for its innovative and elegant designs. Stroll further down the street and you'll find the Tea Centre of Stockholm. Owner Vernon Mauris opened his shop in 1978 and he now ships globally some of the most delicious teas available. Try his Earl Grey Special; a medium strong cup with hints of lemon grass, cornflower and robust orange.

One more shopping street to discover is Nybrogatan. This street is home to the renowned Östermalmshallen or indoor food market. You don't want to miss the market! It offers wonderful Swedish epicurean fare, fresh produce, cheeses, seafood, flowers and an abundance of delicacies.

One of the best stalls to visit is the tremendous and aromatic Robert's Coffee; however, Robert's also sells exceptional teas and the most delicious fruity green tea you have ever tasted; try the Super Fruits tea with Havtorn (Sea Buckthorn) and Goji berry. And, while you're purchasing your tea and coffee, try one of their awesome Kanelbulle or Swedish cinnamon rolls. The country's cinnamon rolls are so popular that they even have their own national Cinnamon Roll Day in Sweden. Alas, Robert's doesn't currently ship to the U.S., so stock up before coming home. Tea is easy to pack but getting Robert's amazing tea isn't easy to come by.

If you go, there are two restaurants that are a must: Restaurant Frippe, located on Nybrogatan, caters to the theater crowd with sumptuous fresh fish cuisine and delicate chocolate desserts and the gorgeous Berns Salonger, located on Berzelii Park. Berns has a long history and was originally built in 1863 as a pastry, coffee and liquor establishment where the elite and literary intellectuals would meet to discuss ideals or sit and listen to concerts set amidst royal decor and glorious surroundings. Today, the famous Berns is still as beautiful as ever, still features superb concerts, and even boasts elegant hotel rooms, but now the menu focus is a fusion of Swedish and Asian in a masterful cuisine that is luscious and appetizingly alluring. For additional information on the Millennium Trilogy and visiting Stockholm go to VisitStockholm.com and VisitSweden.com

Join us next Month for more on Sweden as we visit Ystad to follow in Kurt Wallander's footsteps and the captivating city of Malmo.