Metro - The Creative Adventurer https://thecreativeadventurer.com A Travel Guide for Exploring the World Sat, 04 Feb 2023 19:16:30 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://i0.wp.com/thecreativeadventurer.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/cropped-NewCreativeAdventurerLogo_250x250_v1.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Metro - The Creative Adventurer https://thecreativeadventurer.com 32 32 171399271 The Most Haunted and Spooky Places to Visit in Stockholm https://thecreativeadventurer.com/the-most-haunted-and-spooky-places-in-stockholm/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-most-haunted-and-spooky-places-in-stockholm https://thecreativeadventurer.com/the-most-haunted-and-spooky-places-in-stockholm/#respond Mon, 17 Aug 2020 18:11:57 +0000 https://thecreativeadventurer.com/?p=17133 Stockholm, especially in the middle of their dark winters, is genuinely one of the most hauntingly...

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]]> Stockholm, especially in the middle of their dark winters, is genuinely one of the most hauntingly beautiful places to explore. The lamplit alleys cast an ominous golden glow down on the cobblestone below. The echos of your footsteps causing you for a moment to suspect you might be followed. But when you turn around, there is nothing but darkness behind you. This kind of atmosphere is ideal for ghost hunting and exploring the darker side of Stockholm’s history.

Table Of Contents
  1. Mårten Trotzigs Gränd
  2. Black Friar Tombstone
  3. #23 Baggensgatan
  4. #14 Kindstugatan
  5. Stockholm Bloodbath
  6. #20 Stortorget
  7. Tjuvakällaren
  8. Siskeburen 
  9. #24 Västerlånggatan
  10. Stockholm Royal Palace
  11. Storkyrkobrinken
  12. Bonde Palace
  13. Riddarholmen
  14. Stockholm Cityterminalen
  15. Nya smedjegården
  16. Rosenkammaren
  17. Stora Barnhuset 
  18. Schefflerska Palace
  19. The Käpplinge Murders
  20. Brunkebergstorg
  21. van der Nootska Palace
  22. Stockholm's Bysättningshäkte
  23. Kolerakyrkogården
  24. Galgbacken
  25. Skogskyrkogården
  26. Happy Travels Adventures!

This guide is laid in geographic order. You can easily explore each location in one long walking tour or split the visit up into the various neighbourhoods and/or districts around Stockholm.

Mårten Trotzigs Gränd

Stockholm’s old town, or Gamla Stan, is a great place to start your tour. This part of the city dates back to the 13th century and still contains many 17th and 18th century buildings. The streets are dense with history and ancient spirits. Make your way along Västerlånggatan to the iron gated entrance to Mårten Trotzigs Gränd. This narrow alley, thick with graffiti, looks from afar like nothing special. But entering the lane at night, you’ll notice how dangerous and eerie this cramped walkway really is. The path has 36 steep steps, which spread only 35 inches wall to wall, making it the narrowest alley in Stockholm.

The stairs were named after merchant Mårten Trotzig. Trotzig owned several properties around the area and he commisionned the staircase in order to be able to better access them. He was a copper and iron merchant and one of the richest men in Stockholm. But with such a large purse of gold, came those who would try to steal it. And in 1617, he was beaten to death in nearby Kopparberg. His untoward death perhaps cursed the staircase, and these stairs would become the scene of many deaths to come.

Famously people would be robbed at the top of the stairs after exiting nearby brothels. The stairs were a prime location for thieves as the drunkards would be struck on the head and then pushed down the stairs. This allowed the thieves to get away with murder as the fall looked like what killed the men and would disguise the killing blow. Therefore there would be no one to suspect foul play. After pushing the victim down the stairs, the thieves would run away into the darkness of the night.

Often the women at the brothels were accomplices to these murders, identifying particularly rich patrons to the criminals outside. After a rash of these deaths, the authorities finally started to catch on and patrolled the area around the stairs. Eventually, the jig was up. Although the stairs are no longer the location of robbery and muder, there is still a spooky atmosphere here, which seems to boil up with the spirits once killed on these stairs.

Black Friar Tombstone

At the top of the Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, head east along Prästgatan and turn north up Södra Benickebrinken until you reach Svartmangatan. Stockholm’s old Black Friars’ Monastery was once located on the west side of Svartmangatan. Look out for the black iron door along Benickebrinken street. This rather unassuming entrance leads to the ancient vaults of the old Black Friar Brotherhood Monastery. Visitors can still visit the catacombs by private guided tour with the Medieval Museum in Stockholm. 

Svartbrödraklostret

The Black Friars’ Monastery or Svartbrödraklostret was built in 1336. They were named the “black friars” due to their attire, which featured black, hooded robes. Despite the order being funded by the previous King Magnus IV in 1337, the new Swedish King Gustav Vasa, who reigned in 1528, wanted them out. By order of the King, the monastery was demolished in 1547. 

Hundreds of years later, in 1930, when the St. Nikolai school was being erected, construction workers unknowingly dug up the bones of the monks who had been buried here for over 500 years. The construction workers were so shocked when they uncovered this gruesome discovery that they hurriedly moved all the bones into one mass graves, without another thought. But shortly after doing so, the construction workers reported having terrible visions and hearing voices down in the vaults. When they would follow the cries, they found them to be echoing from the mass grave. Most workers were scared right off and didn’t return. Clearly, they wanted to be returned to their original resting place.

The one tombstone which marks the spot is engraved with the text, “Here are the remains of Swedish Dominican monks in the Old Town. They were found at the foundation excavation of the St. Nikolai school’s new building in 1932. Rest in peace.” But it doesn’t sound like they are at peace at all. Still to this day, people have been known to hear their sorrowful cries, echoing through the vaults.

#23 Baggensgatan

Following in the footsteps of the Black Friars, make your way to Baggensgatan. The lower part of Baggensgatan leads to the Black Friars’ Monastery entrance, and many of the friars lived along this narrow street. Walk along Baggensgatan until you come to number 23. This house looks pretty unassuming, but the history behind these walls is rich with ghoulish tales. Building number 23 was located right about the vaults of the old Black Friars’ Monastery. After Gustav destroyed the monastery, legend had it that the friars had hidden all their earthly treasures inside the vaults. Before the destruction, they had hidden the entrance to these catacombs so no one except those in the brotherhood could find them. After hundreds of years, this was in the hopes that they could return to power and recover their riches.

Magnus Ahlström

In 1762 the building was bought by captain Magnus Ahlström. The house went by the name Ahlströms jungfrubur or “the Maiden Cage of Ahlström.” If the name didn’t give it away, it was indeed a brothel. He described the house as a “virtual temple of Venus with space for the priestesses on all three floors.” The brothel was such a popular spot on the street that the stone stairs leading into the house are more worn down from foot traffic than any others along the road.

But Ahlström’s penchant for the darker side of the law didn’t stop here. He was obsessed with the rumours around the hidden treasure and brought this building for that very reason. Ahlström hired a group of miners to dig down and down into the foundations of his house to access the hidden friar tunnels. He placed armed guards at the entrances to tunnels to prevent the miners from escaping with the treasure for themselves.

Underground Excavations

After weeks of unsuccessful excavations, he came down to find the miners had disappeared even though the guards had never seen anyone leave the tunnels. They searched the tunnels for weeks, but no sign of the miner was found. Still, to this day, residences Baggensgatan say they can hear the sound of pick axes digging long into the night. Perhaps the Friars cursed the treasure. Any of those who weren’t worthy of retrieving it would be sentenced to forever searching for it, even in death.

#14 Kindstugatan

In the medieval period in Stockholm, swordfights were among the most popular ways to resolve disagreements amongst the menfolk. Usually, these duels ended without too much bloodshed, but on the night of August 12th, 1674 poet Lasse Lucidor wasn’t that lucky. In fact, his nickname was “the unlucky one.” Lucidor had gotten into a fight with the bartender of the basement pub, which once resided here.

Lieutenant Storm

The bartender refused to serve the poet until he paid the rest of his tab, knowing all too well that he didn’t have the coin to afford even what he had already drunk. Hoping to break up the fighting, Lieutenant Storm approached the drunk poet in the hopes of simply asking him to leave without a skirmish. But thinking the Lieutenant meant to harm him, Lucidor drew his sword, not a smart move since he was a lover, not a fighter. Lucidor swung widely at the Lieutenant, but only managed to give him a scratch on the arm.

Now filled with rage at this seemingly mad writer, Storm stabbed him through the heart, a fitting end for a poet. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Maria Magdalena graveyard, a common practice for those too unfortunate to have a tombstone of their own. But those buried in unmarked graves are often unsatisfied with their existence being so poorly remembered. These unnamed spirits haunt the spots where they met their untimely end and walking along Kindstugatan see if you can hear the sorrowful poet’s death wails as he morns for his soul into eternity.

Stockholm Bloodbath

Walk west until you reach the main square in Gamla Stan, Stortorget. Stortorget in Swedish means “the Grand Square.” Surrounding the square are some of the most regal and colourful 17th and 18th-century buildings. In the middle ages, this intersection was the Times Square of the period. While the cobblestoned square is as charming as can be, this ancient part of town is also home to one of the most notorious bloody crimes of Stockholm’s history; the Stockholm Bloodbath of 1520. 

The Stockholm Bloodbath was the real-life inspiration for Game of Thrones “Red Wedding.” When Danish King Kristian II invaded Sweden and took the throne, he needed to cleanse the court of anyone who opposed him. 92 members of the nobility were brought to the main square in Gamla Stan. There, they were accused of treason and were beheaded and hanged one by one. Onlookers said there was so much blood it soaked the ground for months and flooded the entirety of Stortorget. The executions were such a long process, they occurred over three days from November 7th to November 9th, 1520. Now, in November, residences have reported seeing the blood still flowing in the square, lit by the moonlight, it disappears the second someone tries to touch it. 

Sourced from wikimedia.org

#20 Stortorget

One of the buildings nearby, which is painted red, contains 92 white stones, surrounding the window panes. Each stone represents the soul of one of the Swedish nobles who perished during the Bloodbath. Legend says that if these stones are removed, that soul of that person will rise from the dead and haunts the streets of Stockholm.

Tjuvakällaren

Where the Nobel Musem now stands was once the spot where you’d find the old Rådstugan or Stockholm Town Hall. The town hall stood here from 1471 to 1772. Inside is where you would find the Siskeburen or detention centre and the Tjuvakällaren or thief’s cellar. The Tjuvakällaren was located in the depths of the medieval basement. The basement was a disgusting place, where the sewage from the rest of the city would collect and was never cleaned. Prisoners were chained to massive logs, beaten and tortured. Some would be pressed up against the walls, which were known to get so cold that the prisoners would freeze onto them.

Siskeburen 

The Siskeburen was located on the first floor of the town hall and was a much less brutal place for prisoners who awaited their fate. The name comes from the Swedish word for “cage,” as the chambers used to keep the prisons looked like tiny cages. Often one of the more common people you’d find here were women waiting to receive their punishments for infidelity. The church at the time controlled who married who as a means for regulating their power, ensuring families were marrying “their own kind.” This resulted in many unhappy marriages, and therefore adultery was pretty common, but can you blame them? Women accused of cheating would be stripped naked and forced to walk with stones strapped to their backs to the gates of the city. There, they would be banished and could never return. 

In front of the Siskeburen, you could find the Copper Matte or “pole of shame.” The pole was topped with a copper sculpture of a man wielding a large crop of rice. This statue was meant to warn citizens to follow the rules as disobeying would result in harsh punishments. It stood here from 1603 to 1776. The word “matte” comes from the name of the mayor at the time, Mathias Trost, who was a strict ruler and who the statue was also modelled after. You can now find the Copper Matte statue on display inside the Stockholm City Museum. 

#24 Västerlånggatan

Västerlånggatan, in the middle of the busy tourist neighbourhood of Gamla Stan, is home to the chic little shop Iris Hantverk located at #23 Västerlånggatan. But above the doorway into the store is an old stone frieze with a rather fascinating story behind it. The legend goes that one day a ship’s captain was lost at sea. The captain was tossed overboard when he was saved by a beautiful water sorceress. She brought the captain down to her castle under the waves where she nursed him back to health. In exchange for returning the captain to his ship and his safe return home, she gave the captain a letter to deliver immediately upon his return to Stockholm. The letter was addressed to Mr. Måns at #23 Västerlånggatan. 

Ghost Cat

But when the captain returned to Stockholm, he forgot all about the message. He spent the majority of his day focused selfishly on unloading his ship’s cargo. When he finally got around to posting the letter, the homeowners told him that the only person named Mr. Måns at that address was a cat. Puzzled but thinking he should still deliver the letter, he went to find the cat.

Once he placed the letter in front of Mr. Måns, the cat began to cry and then proceeded to scratch the captain to death. After attacking the man, the cat sorrowfully jumped out the window where onlookers saw him turn to stone. You can still see Mr. Måns on the frieze above the doorway at #23 Västerlånggatan. No one will ever know what was written in that letter since it was written in a language no one could understand, so we are only left to wonder what kind of sorcery cursed the poor cat.

Stockholm Royal Palace

Stockholm’s Royal Palace is home to more than one of the city’s famed ghosts. The first is the White Lady or Vita Frun. But unless you have some Swedish royal blood flowing through your veins, you probably won’t spot her. The White Lady is known to only appear to members of the royal family, warning them of a royal’s imminent death. She is said to wear a long white dress, a veil covering her face, wit dark gloves covering her ghoulish hands. In those hands, she clutches a large key ring which she uses to get into all 1,403 rooms inside the castle. She has appeared to both King Oscar II, Princess Eugenie, Princess Margaret and Queen Silvia. Even those not in the royal family have been known to hear that unforgettable ghostly clinking of keys as she glides throughout the hallways of the darkened castle.

The other of the palace’s ghosts in the old Gray Man or Grå manner. The Grey man is reportedly the ghost of Stockholm’s founding father Birger Jarl. Birger Jarl is said to appear in front of the new rulers every time they take the throne. Birger Jarl originally built his fortress on the very same spot where the Palace is located today. One can only wonder if he haunts the castle, ensuring that the rulers of his kingdom are truly worthy.

Storkyrkobrinken

Storkyrkobrinken was once better known as Helvetesgränd or “Alley of Hell.” This area was located north of the main church and, therefore, “the northern side of the damned.” It was a street that frequently saw criminal activity and was rampant with suicides. The city’s executioners were known to live on this very street, ensuring it’s dark history for the ages. Swedish executioners were given their own apartments, but this luxury came at a high price. All executioners were men who were themselves condemned to death. In exchange for a period of freedom, they served as executioner, a job otherwise too gruesome to find willing applicants. The men were marked to guarantee everyone knew who they were. Both their ears were cut off, and they were branded with the city’s crest. 

Their employment would only end when another prisoner took their place. This new prisoner, also sentenced to death, would come to the executioner’s apartments and murder the previous executioner. But what a life to lead, knowing that your days were numbered and that death lurked in the very room you lived in. The apartment was destroyed in the 18th century, but the dark mark of their residence still resides in the area.

Bonde Palace

Just outside Bonde Palace is where Hans Axel von Fersen was beaten to death, in 1810. Hans Axel von Fersen had served both King Gustav III and his son King Gustav IV. But when Gustav III died, his son was exiled, and Christian August of Augustenburg was put on the throne. Fersen was frequently heard opposing this election as his support directly lay with Gustav IV. When Christian August died shortly after his coronation, Fersen was suspected of foul play. The 1800s weren’t a time for philosophical investigation, and Fersen was attacked by an angry mob and lynched outside Bond palace. Fersen was always loyal to the realm, and his ghost is still thought to haunt these streets in search of revenge.

Riddarholmen

Riddarholmen Church is located on its own island just west of Gamla Stan. It was once a former medieval abbey built in the late-13th century for the Greyfriars. Since the church was always one the grandest in the city, it has long been the site for royal burials. One of these royal families was the Torstensson family, whose vault is known to be one of the most haunted spots in the city. 

At night, employees have been known to hear banging and knocking coming from inside the tombs. There also have been rumours of footsteps and heavy breathing coming from the other graves. Almost as if they are clamouring to get out.

Stockholm Cityterminalen

Head over to the Stockholm Cityterminalen, where you have access to a myriad of different train lines. Standing on these platforms, unusually late at night when there aren’t too many people on the platform, you might get the chance to spot the elusive “ghost train.” This silver-coloured train is known to stop at various stations along the track. But be warned, do not get on. This train isn’t headed anywhere the living wants to visit.

The train goes by the name the ‘Silver Arrow‘ or ‘Silverpilen’ due to the aluminum exterior. This ghost train is thought to carry the souls of the dead to an abandoned station in the middle of the forest. This station, known as Kymlinge, does, in fact, exist. It was built in the 70s to service rural parts of Stockholm, but construction was abandoned after it was deemed unnecessary. Today, residents warn visitors to be wary of getting on any train that looks like the silver arrow as the living will get stuck in an infinite loop as the train is meant only for those already dead.

Nya smedjegården

The Nya smedjegården, also known as the New Blacksmiths’ Yard, was one of Stockholms’ most notorious prisons. It operated between 1636 and 1896. The building once stood on the corner of Drottninggatan and Barnhusgatan, which is now a seemingly perfect residential area. But gaze into the past, behind every corner store and apartment building, and you’ll find a dark history.

The Nya smedjegården prison was built to contain the overflow from the dungeons of the old royal castle, Tre Kronor. Prisoners brought here were made to work in the smithy as part of their punishment. Back then, there was no distinction made between crimes, which meant that men, women, big thieves and first-time criminals were mixed. Making it an extraordinarily dangerous place to be for all those incarcerated.

Rosenkammaren

But the most shocking part of the Nya smedjegården was the Rosenkammaren or Rose Chamber. Despite the flowery name, this room was better known as the torture chamber. It was often filled knee-deep with freezing cold water. Prisoners were chained from the ceiling and suspended into the icy pools. It wasn’t until 1772 that torture was abolished by Gustav III, and the torture chamber was destroyed.

Famous theif, Jacob Guntlack who was held inside the Rosenkammaren.

Stora Barnhuset 

But the dark nature of the building had been imprinted on the earth, and even after the prison changed hands, the wicked spirits which haunted location stayed on. In 1624 the prison also served as a children’s workhouse and orphanage called the Stora Barnhuset or “Great Children’s Home.” But it was anything but great for those poor souls trapped there. The workhouse was poorly run, and abuse was rampant. In 1770 there was a great scandal that revealed that staff kept the children half-starved and sold the food donated by the state. The mortality rate was extremely high, and hundreds of little children met their mournful end here. 

Sourced from wikimedia.org

Gustav III was extremely sympathetic to the horrible conditions these children were living in. He decreed that children placed in the orphanage would only be there temporarily until a foster home could be found. From 1785 onward, children didn’t spend their entire lives within these haunted walls. Instead, they stayed there only for a couple of months before a permanent home could be found. The orphanage itself was finally closed in 1922, but the tormented spirits of both the prison and the orphanage remain.

Sourced from wikimedia.org

Schefflerska Palace

Walking along Drottninggatan, you’ll reach Schefflerska Palace locked away from the public behind a set of tall, teal gates. Since the Palace is closed to visitors, this is the best way to get a look at this spooky manor. The palace has been so notorious haunted that it even goes by the name “Spökslottet,” which in Swedish means “haunted house.”

The Schefflerska Palace was built by a wealthy merchant in 1690. Almost as soon as it was made, it was proclaimed as being haunted. Guests who visited the house would report hearing strange music coming from unoccupied rooms. Windows and mirrors were also known to break no reason. People thought one of the reasons the house was so haunted was that owner Jacob von Balthasar Knigge, was reportedly a devil worshipper. Beneath the palace, they said he kept skeletons, buried treasure, and the victims of his devilish rituals. 

The Death of Knigge

Although officially Knigge died in bed in 1796, legend has it that on that night neighbours saw him getting into a black carriage with flames which spurted forth when they took off. The carriage was being driven by a massive black creature with horns and a tail. It carried him into the night, never to be seen again. His body is said to be buried at the Adolf Fredrik cemetery, but until someone can dig it up to see if he’s really there, the legend lives on.

Gustaf Sandström

Long after his death, strange things continued to happen inside the palace. In 1879 Gustaf Sandström, a famous opera singer, was a guest in the home. That night, for reasons no one could comprehend, he committed suicide. Later a young couple was murdered in the same room and their bodies hidden behind a bricked-up wall. They were only discovered years later, too late to look for a suspect.

A priest was finally brought to the palace to investigate the strange occurrences. While trying to exorcist the demons, he felt an ominous, invisible presence enter the room. He was thrown out a glass window by the unseen entity. Although he survived, he never returned as the darkness which possessed the house was too strong. The area around the palace is known as Spökparken or ‘the Ghost Park.’ With the city seemingly getting on board with officially labelling the area as being “ghostly,” it’s hard to see this as just a legend.

The Käpplinge Murders

In 1389 the tensions between the Germans (who supported Albert, King of Sweden) and the Swedes (who helped Margaret I of Denmark) were brought to a boiling point. On June 14th, 1389, German soldiers and merchants gathered in Gamla Stan and read a list of who they deemed traitors aloud in the square. Once the traitors were gathered up, they were put on a boat and sent over to Käpplingeholmen (now Blasieholmen). There, inside a large barn, they were burned alive. Walking along this street at night in the winter, you’ll often find fire barrels lit to keep the populace warm. However, the Käpplinge ghosts don’t take too kindly to this, and people have been known to still hear their angry screams on cold winter nights.

Brunkebergstorg

Brunkebergstorg is a square in the Norrmalm district in Stockholm’s inner city. The square was once lined with fashionable shops in the 19th century, but early in the 20th century, it became Norrmalm’s commercial center. That being said, 500 years ago, this square served a much darker purpose. This was one of the central locations for public executions in Stockholm. One of the most gruesome ones was the murderer of King Eric XIV‘s secretary Martin Olai Helsingius. Martin Olai Helsingius had pleaded with the king to pardon his predecessor, Jöran Persson, who had been accused of the looting of Svartsjö Palace in 1597. Eric was appalled that his new secretary was trying to protect the acts of a known criminal and Martin was sentenced to death for treason.

But Martins’s punishment was more severe than even Persson’s (who had actually committed a crime). Martin’s ears were nailed to the gallows, and after he was hanged, he was taken down just in time to keep him alive. His body was then set upon the breaking wheel, where he was tortured. Finally, after hours of terrible suffering, he was beheaded. His body nailed to a stake in the square where the public could observe him as a horrendous warning for others who would oppose the king.

van der Nootska Palace

In the middle of the hipster neighbourhood of Södermalm, you’ll find one of the most impressive event venues in the city, van der Nootska Palace. The palace was built in 1674 and is named after its builder, Dutchman Thomas van der Noot. The manor house served as a private residence for several wealthy families over the years and, throughout that time, gathered its fair share of ghosts. 

Mermaid Melusina

The ghost of mermaid Melusina is known to take a bath here every single Sunday night. As the legend goes, Melusina was once the king’s daughter. When she was born, she was cursed by a wicked witch. The curse turned the beautiful princess into a mermaid once a week until she gave birth to eleven children. The princess married a noble duke and hid her transformation by hiding inside the bathroom every Sunday night. She gave birth to ten children before her husband discovered her terrible secret. 

Ashamed of her appearance and her husband’s disgust, she fled, threw the pipes under the bathtub, where she would remain a mermaid forever. Still, to this day, she emerges to the surface to bathe in the van der Nootska Palace. Evidence of this ghost can be found in the architecture of the house. On the exterior, you can see a series of carvings of mermaid’s faces. 

Jean Jahnsson

The other ghost who lives in the palace goes by the name “the jeweller’s wife.” Jean Jahnsson was a wealthy jeweller who owned the manor in the 20th century. But Jean Jahnsson was a torrid adulterer and kept several lovers on the side. It was only a matter of time until his wife discovered his immoral behaviour. When she died, she still carried that grief and anger with her into death, and her raging ghost latched itself to the palace. Her spirit is often spotted furiously, stomping around the castle in search of Jahnssonand with one of his dalliances.

Stockholm’s Bysättningshäkte

One of the city’s most popular modern restaurants, Häktet, hides behind its slick bar and contemporary cuisine, a sinister secret. This building was once Stockholm’s Debtor’s Cottage, known as Stockholm’s Bysättningshäkte. The Bysättningshäkte operated from 1782-1872. Back in the 1700s, it was literally illegal to be unemployed. If you didn’t contribute to society, the authorities were allowed to throw you in jail. Orphans, anyone who was sick or disabled, were also thrown in these debtors cottages. Since they didn’t pay taxes, they were “in debt” to the city. 

These captives were forced into labour to repay their debt. Women were forced to spin thread from the moment they got up in the morning to the time they went to bed. Men were required to extract paint from the sap of trees, which was used to dye fabrics. There was little food to go around, and there was often violent misconduct, resulting in many inmates’ deaths. Still, since these people were seen as unfavourable by the city, their deaths were often overlooked. While you can dine on horse tartare and steamed cod here at Häktet, listen carefully to see if you can hear the shrieks of starving ghosts who are still heard rattling the bars of their cages.

Kolerakyrkogården

We are now heading out of the city to explore remoter locations on the tour. If you’d prefer to end your walk inside the city center, you can do so now. But from Bysättningshäkte, its only a 21-minute train ride (on line 13,14,17 or 18) to the Kolerakyrkogården. The Kolerakyrkogården or the Cholera Cemetery is located in the southern part of Stockholm. This cemetery was the main burial ground for victims of the 19th-century cholera epidemic. Many residences of nearby Södermalm died of the easily transmittable disease. Horse-drawn carts piled high with corpses carried the dead from the inner city, up to the cemetery. Up to 16 coffins were then placed in each grave. In total 3,665 people died in the first outbreak from August 27th to October 17th, 1834. 

The city was hit again in 1853, which resulted in about 3,000 more deaths in just a few weeks. The Kolerakyrkogården was filled to bursting with these bodies, some of which weren’t even identified when placed into mass graves. Such a place of mass sorrow is bound to have its fair share of forlorn spirits. People who visit the graveyard today have been known to hear disembodied voices echoing across the otherwise quiet green fields.

Galgbacken

Located just a 10-minute walk away from the Kolerakyrkogården, you can find the Galgbacken or Gallows hill. This spot, now marked by a historical sign, indicates the last public execution site in Stockholm was located. The gallows hill was used as early as 1689, and the last public hanging took place in 1818. After its destruction, the memories of the dark history were lost to the sands of time. It wasn’t until 1930 when new a block of houses was being built that construction workers uncovered a series of skeletal remains.

When it was in use, inmates from the nearby inner-city prisons would be brought here. What made this gallows different, was that the prisoners were brought here and allowed to enter the Källaren Hamburg cellar, for one last drink before they were hanged or beheaded. 

Skogskyrkogården

The Skogskyrkogården or Woodland Cemetery is one of a few dozen cemeteries marked as UNESCO world heritage sites. Unlike some cemeteries created out of the need for mass burials, this cemetery was well planned, and some of the world’s best architects were employed to build an impressive design. An international competition was held in 1915 for the plan of the new cemetery in Enskede. The winning architects modelled the cemetery’s layout on German forest cemeteries. These ancient graveyards provided an extraordinary tranquil environment surrounded by the beauty of the natural world.

Sculptures in the Park

Throughout the park, you’ll discover stunning sculptures by Carl Milles. These were created to be integrated into the rest cemetery’s layout of peaceful paths and gentle rolling hills. 

At one point, this old cemetery was a popular spot for those suffering from homelessness. They would come here to camp at night, but after some time, people noticed they had stopped camping here altogether. Many of them mentioned hearing voices at night, and seeing pale beings appear and then disappear as quickly as they could blink. See if you can spot one for yourself.

Hopefully, you enjoyed the tour and aren’t took scared to go to bed tonight! Let me know the spookiest place you’ve ever been to while travelling or what you’re most looking forward to exploring in Stockholm!

Happy Travels Adventures!

References

Wikipedia | City of Stockholm Archives | Stockholm Gamla Stan

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]]> https://thecreativeadventurer.com/the-most-haunted-and-spooky-places-in-stockholm/feed/ 0 17133 11 Things to Know Before Travelling To Japan https://thecreativeadventurer.com/11-things-to-know-before-travelling-to-japan/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=11-things-to-know-before-travelling-to-japan https://thecreativeadventurer.com/11-things-to-know-before-travelling-to-japan/#respond Thu, 28 Dec 2017 16:33:13 +0000 https://thecreativeadventurer.com//11-things-to-know-before-travelling-to-japan/ Japan is one of the most fantastical places in the world to visit, but for first timers there often can be a very daunting elements in making your first trip to a foreign land. Check out this guide and help prepare yourself to have the best time possible.

The post 11 Things to Know Before Travelling To Japan first appeared on The Creative Adventurer.

]]> Japan is one of the most popular destinations for international travelers. The country has a rich culture, stunning scenery, and delicious food. From the peaceful natural beauty of the countryside with historic shrines and temples to the neon lights of the bustling cities, Japan really does have it all! But for many travelers who have never ventured to this part of the world there are a few essential things to keep in mind. Follow these 11 tips to help you navigate Japan like a pro!

Table Of Contents
  1. #1 Learn Some Japanese
  2. #2 Convenience Stores are much more than Convenience Stores
  3. #3 Get A Wifi Hotspot
  4. #4 It's Not as Expensive as you Think
  5. #5 It's HUGE! 
  6. #6 Public Transport Can be Daunting but Once you Figure it Out it's INCREDIBLE!
  7. #7 Smoking is Prevalent
  8. #8 There Are Few Garbage Cans in Public
  9. #9 Cash is KING
  10. #10 The Toilets are that AWESOME
  11. #11 No Tipping

#1 Learn Some Japanese

I think one of the biggest mistakes that English speakers make when they’re travelling is assuming that everyone, around the world, will speak some form of English. This is definitely NOT the case. Even in a metropolis like Tokyo, there should be no assumptions that people will speak English to you. While learning English is becoming more and more popular, the older generations have yet to come around. And why should they after all?!

That being said, there are English menus and English speakers in the more touristy area. So if you feel like you can’t survive with Japanese alone, then there are places you can seek out. If you do find someone who speaks English, remember to speak slowly. (But please, do not do this in a condescending way!) English speakers tend to fast very fast. If someone is still learning English, speaking slowly will better allow them to translate and respond in due time.

Japanese Phrases

But don’t feel like just because you can’t read or speak the language, you’re out of luck. Japanese people are some of the kindest and most generous people I’ve ever met. Even if we couldn’t communicate with language, they would take time and a considerable amount of effort to help me with whatever I needed. Rudimentary sign language works well, as does pointing and a kind smile. But what works even better is to try and learn a few phrases in Japanese before leaving for your trip. Put all that time on your long-haul flight to good use! Simple things like, “thank you”, “excuse me” or “please” go a long way in showing gratitude and humility. People will respond to this and give it back to you in leaps and bounds. 

Her are a few useful phrases:
Thank You | arigatou gozaimasu
Please |  onegaishimasu
Excuse Me |  sumimasen
Yes | hai
No | iie
I’m Sorry | gomen nasai
I Don’t understand Japanese |  nihongo ga wakarimasen
Can you speak English? | eigo o hanasemasu ka?

If you are interested in learning some key phrases when eating at restaurants check out this guide!

#2 Convenience Stores are much more than Convenience Stores

In North America, Europe, Australia and other countries I’ve visited, conveniences stores sell little more than candy bars, magazines, chips and dreadfully reheated pizza and hot dogs. But in Japan, convenience stores (also called Konbini) will become your go-to spot for everything from breakfasts, quick snacks and even fantastic bento boxes perfect for picnics. Japanese convenience stores sell ready to eat MEALS which taste incredible! Breakfast in Japan is a savoury meal and the bento boxes sold in stores like 7/11, Lawsons and Family Mart were just as good as some fancy meals I’ve had in restaurants back in Canada. They will even reheat it up for you at the cash.

Best Things to Eat in a Konbini

Onigiri which is rice and fish wrapped in seaweed costs just over a dollar and is a delicious treat if you’re on the go.  Don’t miss out on the drinks either. In Japan, convenience stores sell alcohol as well as other beverages, so its the perfect place to stock up on new and exciting sake flavours, unique tea blends and even seasonal sodas. Konbinis also have an amazing selection of seasonal specialties. This is best exemplified around Sakura season!

But my favourite things to buy are the sweets. Various stores sell delicious packaged soft pancakes with maple syrups and butter sandwiched in between. While not traditionally Japanese, this treat is unforgettable. The sweet pastries, like melon bread, are also the perfect thing to grab for a mid-day snack. If it’s a hot day, don’t pass up one of the various ice cream flavours. Green tea is exceptionally favourable in Japan. And if you’re looking for something more traditional, try the dango. Dango is a Japanese sweet dumpling made from mochiko (rice flour). They are often different colours and paired with a warm green tea (oh yeah, they also have hot tea in heated containers inside the store) it’s the perfect thing to eat on a cold day.

#3 Get A Wifi Hotspot

While Japan might be seen as the mecca of technology and innovation, there are still some areas where Japan is lagging behind. One of those things is public wifi. While in other countries you might be able to get by hopping into coffee shops and open wifi zones to get your dose of the internet, in Japan, this is EXTREMELY rare. I got so many weird looks when I would ask for the wifi password and not because of the language barrier. But there is an easy and relatively cheap solution, a wifi hotspot.

There is a myriad of companies which offer these devices, and they can be shipped directly to your hotel, picked up at the airport or grabbed at your local convenience store. If you’re apprehensive about getting to your hotel without wifi, then the terminal might be your best option, but we opted for the hotel delivery, and it was there waiting for us upon check-in. If you’re staying in an Airbnb, they will often provide these for their guests as an additional incentive for staying at their spot.

Navigating in Japan

The best advice when choosing from all the different companies offering this service is to get the fastest speed possible, and unlimited data. While the cheaper options might seem just as good, you’d be surprised how much you might use it. Sure, getting lost is all part of the fun of travelling, but when you’re hungry and tired being able to navigate yourself to a hot bowl of ramen quickly is just what the doctor ordered. In Japan, they use a very different addressing system then is used in most Western countries.

Rather than streets having names, they give blocks numbers and leave the space in between the blocks, streets, nameless. This can be EXTREMELY CONFUSING if you’re trying to look for a particular restaurant or address, so using the feature on google maps where you can track your orientation to that little blue dot marking your destination was often our saving grace.

#4 It’s Not as Expensive as you Think

One thing I hear over and over again, especially from older people, is how expensive they think Japan is. While it’s not as cheap as places in South East Asia, Japan isn’t as expensive as it’s made out to be. I always say that “it’s as expensive as you want it to be.” If you want to eat at a Michelin star restaurant, you’ll easily have to spend upwards of $200. But there are also HUNDREDS of FANTASTIC restaurants where you can eat for under $10-$20.

A simple bowl of ramen is almost never over 1000 yen. And these are very filling and extremely delicious. As mentioned above, convenience stores are your best friend for quick meals which taste amazing. In places like Europe, you’d be hard-pressed to find this kind of quality food for a similar price.

Additionally, in Europe, most museums and attractions will run you easily 20 euros. Whereas most institutions in Japan are funded by the government and are free to enter. Temples and Shrines are also free to enter and explore. And in my opinion, temples and shrines are some of the most amazing things to see and experience in Japan. Places like Kiyomizu-dera, Sensoji and Tenryu-ji, Fushimi Inari and Meiji are truly some of the best highlights of Japan.

Transportation Costs

While the taxis are indeed costly, they are also the foolish option. The Metro system is astonishing and can get you anywhere you want to go at lightning speed. Unless you’re hauling colossal luggage, take the metro. This isn’t just true for big cities like Tokyo and Osaka. Everywhere you go in Japan has a marvelous public transport system which is relatively inexpensive given the breadth of distance they cover

Accommodation in Japan

Accommodation can be the most expensive part of your trip (aside from your flight). But with a little research, you can find some great options. The Centurion, Washington and Remm brand hotels in Toyko offer spacious (in Japanese terms) rooms at reasonable prices. If you’re looking for something even cheaper, stay in the novel “Capsule Hotels” which are unique to Japan. These literal capsules sleep one person, and while they might look like coffins, they are surprisingly comfortable with individual TVs, headsets and even pyjamas. The high-end capsule hotels will still only run you about $50/night. Some of the capsule hotels also have private onsens (spas) on site which can be a relaxing end to a busy day. 

With the advent of Airbnb, you can find entire apartments for rent with private kitchens, city views and spectacular private gardens. These are indeed the way to feel like you’re living like a local. If you’re staying with a larger group, you can find some incredible options at inexpensive prices. For two people, the apartments can run just as much as a low-mid price hotel, but the larger houses which can hold up 6-8 people are where you find your dollar goes the farthest. 

#5 It’s HUGE! 

One thing people underestimate when travelling around Japan is its size. While it looks like a small little island, there is so much to see and do. Getting a rail pass is a great idea to help save money while taking the train all over the country. This way you pay one upfront cost but then have the freedom to travel as much as you want without having to worry about how much each trip will cost.

Tokyo itself is enormous. Although it’s just one city, it is home to over nine million people and spans over 2,000 km². If you decide to stay in the western part of Tokyo, like Shibuya, travelling all the way to the eastern districts, like Asakusa, can take over an hour on the metro and perhaps even longer by car due to all the traffic. But don’t like that deter you. If you take some time to plan out what you want to see, you can divide it up into areas and spend the day travelling around those sections, so you don’t have to hop back and forth on the metro. For instance; Shibuya, Harajuku and Shinjuku can be explored one day and then Ueno, Asakusa and Akihabara another day and so on.

#6 Public Transport Can be Daunting but Once you Figure it Out it’s INCREDIBLE!

When looking at the map of the metro systems around Japan, you might be overcome with fear and confusion. There are so many lines, so many colours and so little English. But don’t let that get you down. There are lots of ways to make this daunting task as simple as pie. Firstly, ensure you have your portable wifi with you and download the Hyperdia app or even google maps will do. These apps will help plan your journey out. You may have to change lines, and adding additional levels of confusion, change trains brands on even a short journey. But there is a very easy way to avoid any fare confusion, upon arrival buy a metro pass.

Metro Passes

The metro passes in Tokyo are called “passmo” or “suica”. If you have a rail pass, you can also use this to pay for your metro fares if it is on a JR rail car. Passmo and Suica cards can be loaded with money. All you have to do it tap your card on the way into the station and tap on the way out. And your fare will automatically be calculated for you when you do. Unlike other systems around the world, there is no standard set fare. The price of your trip is dependent on how far you’re going. While this is completely something, you can figure out, if you have pre-loaded cards it just makes it that much easier.

Unlike anywhere else in the world, the Japanese metro is always on time. A few years ago one of their trains was 20 SECONDS late, and they sent out a newsletter apologizing. In Toronto, I’ve frequently had to wait over 20 MINUTES for a bus. Without the slightest bit of an explanation so suffice to say; this system was a dream come true for timely planners like myself. If you run into any problems, you can always press the “help” button on the self-serve kiosks. These also always have an “English” option on the screen. But if you press “help,” a real person will come to your aid. They might not speak a lot of English, but they will be able to help you figure it out despite that fact. Just point to where you want to go and they’ll do the rest.

Rules for the Subway

Be sure that when you’re on the train, you keep your voice down and don’t talk on the phone. Both these things are considered very rude and will get you some serious side eye from fellow passengers. Eating and drinking on the metro are also prohibited. On some train, during specific periods of the day, there are “female only” cars.  My husband and I made the mistake of getting on one of these cars. I looked around and saw that there were only women in the car. And all the women were giving my husband some weird looks. I immediately knew there was something amiss. Luckily we were able to get off at the next stop. And going forward was sure to check the cars identifications before we got on.

#7 Smoking is Prevalent

Another somewhat dated characteristic of Japan is the prevalence of smokers. In the rest of the world, smoking inside is a huge taboo and most of the time it is illegal. But in Japan, this is not the case. Even in hotels, you need to make sure you get a non-smoking room. If not, you might end up staying in a musty, smoke-scented room for your entire visit.

Smoking in restaurants is typically isolated to certain areas, and cafes have walled in the room dedicated for smokers. Although there is a slow shift away from smoking by the younger generation, it is definitely a shock for westerners. Recently some Japanese companies started giving their employees who don’t smoke more vacations days. So perhaps this incentive will lead to more people giving up the nasty habit.

#8 There Are Few Garbage Cans in Public

If you decide to grab a drink from a convenience store and drink it on the road, you might be surprised to see that there won’t be many places to put your garbage on your journey. The Japanese are dedicated to cleanliness, and even the smokers won’t be seen throwing their cigarette butts on the street. The inclination not to litter is so strong that people carry around little baggies for their garbage in their knapsacks or purses and then dispose of the trash at home. 

And when it comes to trash they are extremely diligent in sorting it. You might see three or even four different options for garbage when you finally find a refuse area. Most Japanese people don’t eat or drink while walking. Instead, they stand outside the vending machine area or convenience store and finish their meal or drink there, then quickly dispose of their garbage in the cans beside the store. Try to be local and follow suit.

#9 Cash is KING

Another eccentricity of Japan is the fact that you NEED cash here. Credit cards aren’t the norm, and many many places you’ll visit won’t even have a machine. In Japan, printed money and coinage are viewed as pieces of art which someone took the time to produce whereas cards just don’t have the same cultural value. We were shocked by this and had to take out cash a few times on our trip to ensure we didn’t get stuck anywhere without money to pay for a meal or transit or even a drink.

In addition to not being able to use credit cards, taking money out of your bank account can be very difficult too since most ATMs only accept Japanese cards. But not to fear, 7-Eleven is here! ATMs at 7-Elevens will process foreign cards, so hit them up for cash whenever you’re running low. If you’re worried about taking too much money out at one time in the fear that it might be stolen, I would push those fears out of your mind. Japan is one of the safest countries in the world and pickpocketing is almost unheard of. 

#10 The Toilets are that AWESOME

If you know anyone who has ever been to Japan or ever been obsessed with Japanese culture, you’ll know that the toilet situation is much talked about. Toilets in Japan are much more than just a plastic seat. The Japanese take cleanliness very seriously, and so it is no surprise that they would want any bathroom activities to be as clean as possible. Modern Japanese toilets are sleek, electronic devices with an array of functions which makes going to the washroom a life-changing experience. The standard Japanese toilet has a keypad featuring symbols indicating the following: raise the lid, raise the seat, large flush, small flush, rear and front bidet, dry, and stop. 

If you’ve ever dreaded going to a public washroom, fear no more, public washrooms are cleaner here than some North American hospitals. There are still a few squat toilets left in Japan, but most larger cities have been updated to the modern versions. The one thing to be aware of is that on a few rare occasions you’ll visit a bathroom where the toilet paper is not provided. Be sure to check the paper situation before entering the stall in case you need to purchase some from the vending machine before doing your business.

#11 No Tipping

Finally, tipping. The conundrum many travels face when visiting a different city. When to tip, how much, how often etc. Well, in Japan it is very simple. Don’t do it. Ever. It is considered very rude to tip in Japan so avoid doing it all together. Japanese people take service very seriously and good service should be a given, not something that is rewarded. If you are given change after your meal, don’t leave it behind, chances are someone will chase you down the road to give it back to you because they thought you left it behind.  

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