Venere Travel Blog - It's our business where you sleep!

Stockholm, Sweden is a city saturated by nature. Though the city’s modern-flared restaurants, narrow streets, and constant in-your-face hipness make this a cosmopolitan destination, you are never far from water clean enough to swim in and nearly uninhabited islands.

There is much to see of Stockholm’s green offerings, but on my short list is the beautiful Haga Park.It is considered the finest example of an ‘English’ park in Sweden, referring to the style which reflected the strict control of nature in the Baroque parks that predated them in the 18th century (think of Paris and it neat rows of square-cut trees). Haga Park was designed around rolling, verdant slopes of grass, with winding paths and thick areas of woods. The experience is one of absolute tranquility.Break up your quiet reverie with the many pavilions spread out through the park. There are great stops for kids and for curious or romantically spirited adults.

My first stop is always the Copper Tents, a curious collection of three large tent-shaped building, constructed of copper and painted in brilliant blue and gold to imitate old Turkish-style tents. These were a whim of King Gustav, built to house soldiers, and the whimsy remains. The inside has recently been beautifully redone and houses a café.Nearby is the fabulous Butterfly House, a greenhouse of tropical plants and tropical heat, where you can wander among numerous kinds of butterflies and several impossibly cute miniature quails.

There is a café here as well, with more extensive food options and an incredibly serene outdoor sitting area.If you keep strolling, you can reach the Temple of Echo, the king’s al fresco dining pavilion, and the Chinese Pavilion, built to show the king’s affection for China, which was considered an ideal society by many in the West in the 18th century. Also along the path are not one, but two castles to visit. The first , Gustav III’s Pavilion is a great example of Swedish architecture of the time and is open to visitors during the summer months.

The second, Haga Palace, was built later for the King’s children, and currently houses visiting dignitaries.  It’s not open to non-dignitary visitors like myself, but it’s worth a look.Even if you skip all of the sights and activities of Haga Park, a stroll over its great field is truly awe-inspiring, and shouldn’t be missed. It offers a feeling that is usually impossible to come by in the cosmopolitan capital of Europe.Pick up a map of the park in any of the open pavilions, and come ready to stroll.Photo of Copper Tent in Haga Park, Stockholm, Sweden by Laura Rose Rysman