What I’m about to explain isn’t simply one other luxurious resort assessment. However please learn on and also you’ll see how this can be a luxurious expertise of a really completely different sort, however each bit as particular. Birka is basically the unique Stockholm – a bustling Viking buying and selling hub located on the island of Björkö in Lake Mälaren, simply west of modern-day Stockholm. It was established within the eighth century and served as one of many earliest city centres in Scandinavia, enjoying a significant position within the commerce routes that related Viking territories with the remainder of Europe, Byzantium and even the Center East.
As soon as a centre for retailers bringing items like furs, textiles, jewellery and unique gadgets, at present it’s a UNESCO World Heritage web site that welcomes guests to discover the positioning, study extra about Sweden’s deep Viking heritage and marvel at this image of early world commerce. And what’s actually particular is which you could keep in a single day at Birka, lengthy after nearly all of vacationers have left, to actually recognize the island’s historic values, nature and spirit, and have the place just about all to your self.
However firstly, how do you get there? Most guests arrive on board M/S Victoria – run by Strömma Kanalbolaget – which leaves Stockholm, and stops at numerous jetties on the best way. Prime tip: if in case you have a automotive, do as we did and drive to Jungfrusund in Ekerö, and board on the jetty there. Parking in Stockholm is dear, however at Jungfrusund you possibly can park at no cost for as much as two days. Different choices are to drive to Lindby brygga, Adelsö and journey by motorboat, or constitution a yacht and moor at Birka’s visitor harbour.
The welcome
Anybody disembarking M/S Victoria at Birka is greeted by a wood signal, resting towards an previous wood wheelbarrow, with the phrase ‘welcome’ in Viking runes, set towards a picturesque backdrop of crimson buildings and luxurious greenery.
You’ll be able to go to Birka for the day, as most individuals do, or keep in a single day and luxuriate in a glamping expertise. We have been there to do the latter, however didn’t talk our arrival once we first arrived as we first needed to take the tour. Excursions run every day after the boat arrives – one in English and one in Swedish.
The tour of Birka
For those who go to Birka, I strongly advocate you’re taking the tour. You’ll nonetheless have loads of time to discover the island at your personal leisure, however the tour – which is all included along with your go to – provides you with some actually helpful insights.
It takes about an hour and includes some strolling on assorted terrain, however nothing too strenuous. On the tour, which is delivered by somebody in conventional Viking apparel, you’ll study how the island is now a lot larger than it was once as a consequence of post-glacial uplift of the terrain, but in addition in regards to the excavations and burial chambers on the island.
You’ll study how retailers got here to the Birka from throughout Europe, in addition to different elements of the world, as revealed by archaeological excavations which have unearthed Arabic silver, beads and ceramics from Jap Europe and unique materials from Asia. In return, the merchants would have acquired Swedish items equivalent to iron, horns, skins and furs.
Birka managed the commerce routes in northern Scandinavia for round 200 years, however got here to an finish when the residents both died or deserted the island, we’re undecided which. Some 5,000 graves – largely cremation graves – exist on the island at present and are a shifting reminder of what was as soon as a thriving neighborhood.
The tour concludes near the Monument of Ansgar, a cross that occupies the very best level on the island. It was constructed to honour the Benedictine monk Ansgar, a missionary who was despatched to Sweden within the 800s by Louis the Pious, emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, to carry Christianity to the nation. Whereas his mission might not have been completely profitable, a monument bearing his title was raised a thousand years later, in 1834, and it nonetheless stands at present.
It’s price visiting even when only for the view of Lake Mälaren.
The glamping expertise
5 glamping tents, every with historic Viking names and sleeping 2 to 4 folks, are a comparatively new addition to the island.
They’re fenced off from nearly all of guests to make sure a level of privateness, and located simply above the water’s edge.
The view from contained in the glamping tent is so peaceable and enjoyable, and affords a beautiful vista throughout Lake Mälaren.
Every tent is furnished with a correct mattress and hotel-standard bedding, a lockable chest to your valuables, stools and a desk.
Shampoo, conditioner and bathe gel are all provided, as are towels and a light-weight, and showers and bogs can be found in a service constructing near the glamping space. Or, should you’re feeling courageous, take a dip within the refreshing water the Vikings bathed in through the small seashore that’s en route.
As for my night time’s sleep? As you understand, I’ve been lucky to remain at many pretty accommodations all around the world, however I’m not exaggerating once I say this was presumably the most effective night time’s sleep that I’ve had in years! I’m undecided what it was… perhaps as a result of we went to mattress comparatively early when night time fell, or maybe it was the soothing nature of the water lapping towards the shore exterior, however I slept actually, rather well and felt utterly refreshed the following morning.
The whole lot it’s worthwhile to plan your journey in 2024
The amenities
There’s a lot to see on the island. Beside the archaeological web site and Ansgar Monument already talked about, there’s a museum and store which has exhibitions and a few wonderful reconstructions displaying life in Birka within the Viking Age. It additionally consists of many desirable objects which were uncovered on the web site.
Throughout from the museum are some full-scale reconstructions of Viking-era buildings and boats, historic Norse crops, and livestock, to offer guests a greater perception into what life was like on this earliest of Swedish settlements. This genuine reconstruction is predicated partly on data obtained throughout archaeological excavations made on the island.
For those who obtain Birka’s audio information to your cell phone, you possibly can hear about Ulvar, a 10-year-old who lived within the village in the course of the Viking Age, or in regards to the reconstruction of the homes.
There’s even a church on the island, managed by Ekerö parish, which is open for guests in addition to Summer season weddings and christenings. Bearing the Christian missionary’s title, the Ansgar Chapel, was designed by architect Lars Israel Wahlman and inbuilt round 1930, 100 years after the Monument of Ansgar was raised.
Lastly, be sure to go to Restaurant Särimner, near the place the boat docks, the place you possibly can sit inside or out.
We had lunch there each days, having fun with domestically produced meals equivalent to basic Swedish meatballs served with pickled cucumber, lingonberries, potatoes and a cream sauce, beetroot beefs served with a gray pea hummus, root greens and sauerkraut, or smoked salmon served with a herb sauce and roasted root greens, spinach and pickled crimson onion. And the beer comes from native breweries too.
A Viking dinner at Restaurant Särimner is included within the glamping expertise, the place you possibly can take pleasure in Swedish dishes equivalent to Basic Toast Skagen. This basic dish of shrimps in a creamy dressing of mayonnaise flavoured with recent dill and a squeeze of lemon is commonly loved as a part of midsummer celebrations or on different festive events.
The hearty mains included dishes equivalent to crimson wine braised beef cheek with root vegetable gratin and asparagus, Särimner’s fish and seafood casserole, and glazed ribs with fries, all exceptionally cooked.
An espresso crème brûlée with recent berries was a stunning solution to spherical off the night because the solar set over Björkfjärden.
The placement
Birka is positioned on Björkö Island in Lake Mälaren, roughly 30 kilometres west of Stockholm.
Different good touches
One actually pretty a part of our keep was having a breakfast basket delivered within the morning. The chef had requested us the night time earlier than what we preferred in the best way of tea, espresso, juice, rolls, yoghurts, and so on. and this was duly dropped off by quad bike the following morning. Once more, the climate was sort to us so we have been in a position to take pleasure in this exterior.
The price
Boat excursions to Birka, which embody a spherical journey, entry to the museum and a guided tour of the traditional fields, begin from simply 395 SEK (roughly $40 USD) per particular person.
The glamping expertise, which incorporates an in a single day keep, a Viking dinner and a breakfast bundle, begins from 3790 SEK (round $400 USD) for a 2-person tent, or 5700 SEK (round $600 USD) for a 4-person tent. Glamping friends obtain a reduced boat journey with Strömma Kanalbolaget to and from Birka. The boat journey is booked individually with the low cost code acquired within the glamping affirmation.
The positioning is simply simply accessible to guests within the hotter months of the 12 months, with a daily ferry service operating from Stockholm from Might to September.
One of the best bit
One of many actually particular issues about glamping at Birka is having the place to your self in spite of everything the opposite vacationers have left. And, while it’s laborious to select a stand-out function of our glamping expertise as we beloved each minute of it, the Viking dinner was actually pretty. There was solely the 4 of us and the chef there, and he produced an distinctive meal for us, notably when you think about nearly all of the components must be introduced on to the island. It was simply so peaceable and the climate was sort to us, which meant we have been in a position to eat exterior, overlooking the water because the solar set. All very magical!
The ultimate verdict
In case you are in Stockholm, I wholeheartedly advocate a go to to Birka. It’s a very particular place, a UNESCO World Heritage Website and of big historic significance. However, to make your go to further particular and extra memorable, I’d undoubtedly advocate that you just go for the glamping expertise to completely immerse your self into the island’s historic values, nature and spirit. It provides you with extra time to get to know the positioning and will let you higher recognize the whole lot that it has to supply.
Disclosure: Our go to to Birka was sponsored by Strömma Kanalbolaget and our journey was kindly supported by Go to Stockholm.
Paul Johnson
Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxurious Journey Weblog and has labored within the journey business for greater than 30 years. He’s Winner of the Improvements in Journey ‘Greatest Journey Influencer’ Award from WIRED journal. Along with different awards, the weblog has additionally been voted “one of many world’s greatest journey blogs” and “greatest for luxurious” by The Telegraph.
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