Ski Slope in Stockholm is Open!

SkiStar Hammarbybacken

A very cold and snowy December means that the Hammarby Backen ski slope is open for business much earlier than in previous years! It officially opened on December 13th. Does Hammarby offer as high quality skiing as the Alps or even the mountains of northern Sweden (Åre & Sällen)? No, it's a small slope, but that really isn't the point. The selling point for Hammarby is that it is right in the middle of the southern suburbs with views of Stockholm from the top. There aren't many "urban" ski slopes in the world, so it is quite a unique experience.

www.skistar.com/sv/hammarbybacken/

While it is a smaller, contained ski resort... it is still equipped for a complete ski experience: 2 lifts, 4 slopes, a children's area, a snowboard park, a ski school, ski equipment rental and (most importantly) After Ski at their restaurant and bar. Click here for a map. So far, they are open evenings during the weekdays and daytime on the weekends (closed on Christmas Eve). But it is early days for the season and the opening hours are sure to expand. It is very easy to get to the slope from the Rival Hotel... subway from Slussen to Gullmarsplan (green line southbound) and then transfer to Tvärbanan (street car) in the direction of Sickla. Exit at Sickla Kaj and from there it is just a 10 minute walk. See you on the slopes!

www.skistar.com/sv/hammarbybacken/

More ski slopes in the Stockholm area!

New Bicycles for Rent on Djurgården

djurgardscykeln.se/en/

Announcing, for the first time ever in Scandinavia, a year-round bike rental system! For a few years now, Stockholm has had Stockholm City Bikes which has been extremely popular for visitors and locals alike... a fun and inexpensive way to bop around the city. The only two negatives, really, have been the lack of bike stands on the island of Djurgården and the short season (April-October). Well, this has been solved by the company Djurgårdscykeln! You will now have the opportunity to rent bikes all year round on the island of Djurgården which, besides being a large national city park, is the home of Skansen, Vasa Museum, Nordic Museum, several art galleries and much more. The bikes are equipped with winter tires and lights which is why they can be used year round.

djurgardscykeln.se/en/

As with the Stockholm City Bikes, you can rent the bikes for three days at a time and use them for 3 hours at a time. Before the three hours is up, you need to leave the bike at its stand or you will be charged a late fee. You can, of course, take a new bike from the stand. This system stops people from keeping them at home overnight and allows more people a chance to use them. While Stockholm City Bikes is very inexpensive, Djurgårdscykeln is ridiculously cheap! If you already possess a Stockholm City Bike season card or a SL long term card (bus&subway)... then it is free! If not, then it is only 10 SEK for a three day bike pass! You just use your debit or credit card at the station. They have one station and it is located in between the entrances to Skansen and Cirkus. To get there from the Rival Hotel is very easy... just take the Djurgård Ferry from Slussen (10 minute walk from the hotel- ferry ride is another 10 minutes). This system started yesterday, so I haven't tried it yet... but you can get more information from their website (linked above).

Ice Skating Rink in Kungsträdgården

A sure sign that winter is just around the corner (besides the dropping temperatures) is the opening of the outdoor ice skating rink in Kungsträdgården for the season! For decades this has been a popular activity for young & less-young, natives & visitors alike. It is quite affordable... free if you have your own skates, otherwise renting skates costs 50 SEK for adults and 20 SEK for children up to 19 years of age (prices per hour). The skating rink is open 7 days a week (usually into late spring), from 11am to 7pm on the weekends and 10am to 8pm on the weekdays (open to 9pm on Tues & Thurs).

This is a great activity to take children to and, when the Christmas Market opens in Kungsträdgården on November 30th, the perfect place to get into the holiday spirit. Kungsträdgården is a park located in the downtown area, just a 25-30 minute walk from the Rival Hotel (through Gamla Stan), otherwise bus #43 or #55 will take you there in about 10 minutes. Happy skating!

Tjejmilen- Women's 10K Run

Photo by Malin Ekequist/Tjejmilen

Today, Saturday September 1st, is the annual (and popular) 10 kilometer run that is exclusively for women... called Tjejmilen. Over 32,000 runners from 20 countries have entered this year's race. The entrants are made up of both competitive runners as well as people running for fun. The first group starts at 1pm and the scenic run will take them around the Djurgården and Gärdet areas... all beautiful parklands. Click here to see the course map. Good place for a run, but an even better place to take a walk!

Photo by Janna Saletti/Tjejmilen

From a visitors standpoint, you shouldn't have to worry about the race disrupting traffic (as it is on the outskirts of Stockholm), but it is good to know what is going on and why the city is filled with women in running gear. You will likely see the runners if you are visiting the Vasa Museum, Skansen, Kaknästornet or any of the art galleries on Djurgården island. The weather isn't that great today but take some time out and cheer them on! I would like to extend a special "good luck" to all of the Rival Hotel guests and staff who will be running today.

Last Days for Horse and Carriage (Buggy) Tours

Boarding the carriage at Mynttorget

It's sad to say, but the summer season is slowly coming to an end here in Stockholm (we have a shorter season up here in the north!). While many sightseeing tours do continue through September, some of the boat excursions and day trips do end now in August. One activity that is coming to an end is the daily horse and carriage sightseeing tours of of the Old Town (Gamla Stan). During the summer months, they depart daily between 11am and 3:30pm from the square Myntorget in the Old Town. It is a 45 minute guided tour of the Old Town in Swedish and English. This is a nice way to get away from the crowded busses and boats and see the city from a different vantage point (and at a leisurely pace). The last day for the daily tours is August 24th! If you are staying at the Rival Hotel, contact me directly and I can book an open ticket for you. If you are planning a trip to Stockholm after September and this post has you in a panic... don't fear, certain sightseeing tours run year round! The Panorama bus tour and the Archipelago boat tour for example.

Midnattsloppet (The Midnight Run) 2012

Photo by Yanan Li, Stockholm's Visitors Board

Tonight (Saturday, August 18th) is the date for the Midnattsloppet or Midnight Race. This 10 kilometer race has been held annually since 1982 and has gotten more popular with each year with thousands of runners and even more spectators. The race is run around the island of Södermalm with the home stretch down the street Hornsgatan, half a block from the Rival Hotel. What makes this race unique is the carnival atmosphere along the route (there is even a costume competition) as well as the late start time... it's a staggered start with the first group starting at 9:30pm and the last group at 10:45pm.
If you are not participating in the race, then you can always choose a spot along the course, enjoy the atmosphere, and cheer on the racers!

Winter Activities 2012

I recently blogged about the Hammarby Ski Slopes opening for the season... snowy weather has continued here in Stockholm, so I thought I would write about some other possible winter activities.

A favorite activity every winter, for both visitors and Stockholmers, is ice skating at the outdoor rink in Kungsträdgården park (located in the downtown area). The rink is open daily until March 4th, closing at 6:30pm most days except for Tuesdays and Thursdays when they close at 8:30pm. Rental skates are available... 50 SEK for adults and 20 SEK for children. There are several cafés situated around the rink if you want a bite to eat or some hot chocolate. Kungsträdgården is just on the other side of the Old Town from the Rival Hotel (about a 20 minute walk).

Photo: Henrik Trygg, Stockholm Vistors Board

For those of you who are a little more adventurous... the Stockholm area, with hundreds of lakes, inlets and waterways, is considered one of the best places in the world for long distance tour skating. However you should not attempt this without a professional guide who knows the ice conditions and waterways. One great company is Ice Guide. They offer group tours, private guides as well as introduction classes. Included in the price are all skating & safety equipment, lunch and transportation.
If skiing is more your cup of tea... Visit Stockholm has a list of all the major slopes in the greater Stockholm area (including the aforementioned Hammarbybacken).

Hammarby Ski Slope Open!

It has been an unusually warm winter with very little snow... but the temperature has dropped low enough that the Hammarby Ski Slope has opened two of their runs with the use of snow cannons.

Photo: Ulf Hinds, Stockholm Visitors Board

Hammarbybacken, in local parlance, is quite a unique ski resort as it is located within a central metropolitan area (near the suburb Hammarby Sjöstad). From the top of the hill you have a view of all of Stockholm! It is quite easy to get to from the Rival Hotel with subway and streetcar (approximately a 25 minute trip)... the slope is only a 10 minute walk from the streetcar stop "Sickla Kaj". The resort has 4 slopes, 2 lifts and a kids area, fun park and restaurant. There is also a ski school and ski rental shop at the resort. They are open, as of now, 7 days a week... though I am a little loathe to say what their opening hours are due to the snow situation. If you are staying at the hotel and are interested, check with me and I can see what their updated opening hours are. Otherwise check with their website. You can also look at their webcam to see what the conditions are.

A Rerun of Some Summer Favorites!

Photo: SBR- Stockholm Visitors Board

My blog was up and running last summer... and I managed to do quite a lot! I thought I would dig into the archives and list some highlights that would be of interest this summer as well.

Day Trips
The Stockholm Archipelago
The island of Finnhamn
The town of Sigtuna and Skokloster Castle
The Viking town of Birka
The sculpture gardens of  Millesgården (½ day)
Haga Park (½ day)
Woodland Cemetary (½ day)

Summer Activities
Renting a Kayak
Walking & Jogging Paths
Beaches & Pools
A few bicycle options

Summer Restaurants
Kungsholmen (good year round, but especially popular this time of year)
Mälarpaviljongen
Fjäderholmarnas Krog
Rosendal Gardens (lunch)

Summer Tips
Internet Research tools
Summer Events & Festivals 
Restaurants that are Closed During the Summer
Stockholm Port Information
General Sightseeing Tips

-Please remember that many of these blog entries are from last summer (except for "summer tips") so some information may have changed slightly (prices, opening hours, times etc;). Check their websites (linked in each entry) for up-to-date information, or contact me directly if you are staying at the Rival Hotel.

The Amusement Park: Gröna Lund

Gröna Lund opens for the summer this Saturday, May 7th! The amusement park has been around since the 1880's and is Sweden's oldest amusement park. Here you will find rides and attractions for children of all ages.... haunted house, ferris wheel, tea cups as well as a free fall and several roller coasters. They even have cafés, restaurants, carnival games and a boardwalk. It is also a popular outdoor concert venue and there will be concerts and shows all through the summer. This tivoli has a real old-time carnival atmosphere and is definitely worth a visit! It is located on the southern waterfront of the island of Djurgården and very easy to get to from the Rival Hotel by taking the Djurgård ferry from Slussen. Gröna Lund is located close to other major attractions such as the Vasa Museum, Skansen and Junibacken.

gronalund.com

Entrance costs 90 SEK and 180 SEK on evenings when they have concerts. Free for children under 7 and adults over 64 as well as holders of the Stockholm Card. The opening hours vary by the day and through the summer. The best thing to do is check their calendar for the opening hours and concert schedule.

Stockholm City Bikes

(Edit: this is a post from 2011. To see updated information, click here for the 2012 post) Warmer weather means that the Stockholm City Bike season has started. I have blogged about it last year, but there are a few changes this year (besides their appearance)... so here is an update!

Stockholm City Bike station

The Stockholm City Bikes are a great way to see the city and an inexpensive way to take a bike ride on a sunny day. You can either buy a season card or a three day card. The three day card is what is most interesting for a visitor so I will concentrate on that. The cost is 125 SEK, but as of June 1st it will be raised to 165 SEK. This is due to that the optional 50 SEK insurance will no longer be optional. I often get the question if there isn't a one day card available. The answer is no, but the cost of their 3 day card is much cheaper than renting a bike for one day at a regular bike rental store.
To buy a card: If you are staying at the Rival Hotel then we do sell the cards for hotel guests in the Reception... just talk to me! Otherwise you can buy a card at the Tourist Information Center at Vasagatan or in the Gallerian shopping center. They are also for sale in the SL Centers in certain subway stations (Slussen, T-Centralen and Fridhemsplan).
Rules: You have to be 18 years of age to rent a bike. There are about 90 bike stands throughout the city and they are open between 6am and 10pm every day. You check out your bike using your card and then you have the bike for three hours at a time. If you require a bike longer then you can check in and then check out a new bike at any of the stations.
Please note: There are no bike stands on the island of Skeppsholmen (Modern Art Museum, etc;) and only one bike stand on the island of Djurgården (Vasa Museum, Skansen, etc;). This is beacuse the islands are government owned and there are special laws regarding advertising. So plan accordingly!
If you are interested in renting more advanced bikes (mountain, city, children, etc;) or cycling guides... click here!

Casino Cosmopol

Interested in doing a little gambling during your visit in Stockholm? Many bars and nightclubs in town will have a blackjack or roulette table, but Stockholm has only one true casino, called Casino Cosmopol. It is located in the downtown area, a stone's throw from the train station. The casino is state-owned and all profits go to the state treasury. If you go to Casino Cosmopol expecting Bondesque jet-setters, scantily clad showgirls and free drinks at the gambling tables then you will be a little disappointed. However, if you are a gamblin' man then this is the place to be! There is a wide-range of games and tables. Here you will find slot machines, poker, blackjack, roulette, poker tournaments and much more. I'm not much of a gambler, but I've been there a few times and had a good time! The building itself is quite spectacular with a long and interesting history. There is a nice restaurant there as well as a couple of bars and they do have entertainment, especially on the weekends, in the form of live music. The casino does offer special packages that include admission, a meal and an introduction to the games. You will find bank machines as well as a money exchange office inside the premises. The casino is open every day between 1pm and 5am (year round).

Some good things to know before going to the casino: The entrance fee is 30 SEK and you must be at least 20 years of age. Foreign guests are required to have their passport with them, Swedish guests need to have photo i.d. and all guests are registered and photographed before entering for security reasons. While there is no dress code, the casino prefers that their guests dress smartly (no jeans with holes, etc;). Mobile phones must be switched off when around the game tables (no cameras allowed in that area as well). The closest subway station is T-Centralen(all lines). To get there from the Rival Hotel, just take the subway (red line) from Mariatorget to T-Centralen.

What to do on New Years Weekend?

What to do this New years weekend? Plenty to do... be aware that some museums are open one day and closed the other. Almost all stores are closed on New years Day... and many restaurants.


Friday, December 31th

Museums- Skansen is open from 10am to midnight. A very popular place with Swedes to ring in the New Year... with the hour before midnight filled with music and entertainment. Besides Skansen, the other museums open today are the Vasa Museum and the East Asian Antiquities Museum (Terracotta Warrior exhibit).
The changing of the guards at the Royal Palace in the Old Town: 12:15pm
Tours- Strömma offers the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour, Panorama bus tour as well as the Winter boat tour and Little Archipelago boat tour everyday all weekend.
Other activities- The midnight firework display will take place over the water on the eastern side of Stockholm (ocean side). This can easily be viewed anywhere on the waterfront or a place with a good view.
Ice skating at Kungsträdgården from 11am to 8pm. Hammarbybacken is open for skiing 9am to 4pm. 
Restaurants- Many restaurants closed and the ones that are open serve the traditional nyårsspé dinner. Hope you have a reservation... it's very hard to get one last minute!
Stores- many open, with shorter hours. NK Department store open 10am to 5pm. Gallerian shopping center open 11am to 5pm. Skrapan shopping center open 10am to 4pm.

Saturday, January 1st

Museums- Skansen, Fotografiska, The History Museum and the East Asian Antiquities Museum (where you can see the Terracotta Warrior Exhibition) are all open.
The changing of the guards at the Royal Palace in the Old Town: 1:15pm
Tours- Strömma offers the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour, Panorama bus tour as well as the Winter boat tour and Little Archipelago boat tour  everyday all weekend.
Other activities- Ice skating at Kungsträdgården from 11am to 8pm. Hammarbybacken is open for skiing 11am to 6pm.
Restaurants- Many restaurants are closed (hungover staff?)... there are restaurants open in the Stureplan district as well as hotel restaurants. Rival Bistro is open.
Stores- Most are closed, including NK, Gallerian and Skrapan.

Sunday, January 2nd

Museums- all major museums, including the Vasa Museum, are open for business.
The changing of the guards at the Royal Palace in the Old Town: 1:15pm
Tours- Strömma offers the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour, Panorama bus tour as well as the Winter boat tour and Little Archipelago boat tour everyday all weekend.
Other activities- Ice skating at Kungsträdgården from 11am to 8pm. Hammarbybacken is open for skiing 9am to 6pm.
Restaurants- many more restaurants are open for business, but it is a Sunday... so restaurants that are generally closed on Sundays will be closed today!
Stores- Open for business again! NK Department store open 12pm to 5pm. Gallerian shopping center open 11am to 5pm. Skrapan shopping center open 11am to 6pm.

The weather this weekend? Temperatures around -5 Celsius and snowfall expected late on New Year's Eve and in the morning on New Year's Day.

Happy New Years!
.

What to do on Christmas Weekend?

Edit: note the no swimming sign!

If you need a little help in planning in what to do while in Stockholm over the Christmas weekend, here are some options of things that are open & running day to day...

Friday, December 24th

Museums- Skansen is open from 10am to 2pm. Free entrance! The Stockholm Jewish Museum is also open from 12pm to 4pm. All other major museums are closed.
The changing of the guards at the Royal Palace in the Old Town: 12:15pm
Tours- Strömma offers the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour, Panorama bus tour as well as the Winter boat tour everyday all weekend.
Restaurants- Plan to eat at a hotel restaurant, any other restaurant of quality will be closed. The Rival Bistro is open!
Stores- many open, with shorter hours. NK Department store open 10am to 2pm. Gallerian shopping center open 10am to 2pm. Skrapan shopping center open 10am to 2pm.

Saturday, December 25th

Museums- Skansen, Fotografiska and the East Asian Antiquities Museum (where you can see the Terracotta Warrior Exhibition) are all open.
The changing of the guards at the Royal Palace in the Old Town: 1:15pm
Tours- Strömma offers the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour, Panorama bus tour as well as the Winter boat tour everyday all weekend.
Other activities- Ice skating at Kungsträdgården from 11am to 8pm. Hammarbybacken is open for skiing 11am to 4pm.
Restaurants- Besides hotel restaurants, a few other restaurants open for business. Especially in the Stureplan neighborhood.
Stores- Most are closed, including NK, Gallerian and Skrapan.

Sunday, December 26th

Museums- all major museums, including the Vasa Museum, are open for business.
The changing of the guards at the Royal Palace in the Old Town: 1:15pm
Tours- Strömma offers the Hop-on Hop-off bus tour, Panorama bus tour as well as the Winter boat tour everyday all weekend.
Other activities- Ice skating at Kungsträdgården from 11am to 8pm. Hammarbybacken is open for skiing 9am to 6pm.
Restaurants- many more restaurants are open for business, but it is a Sunday... so restaurants that are generally closed on Sundays will be closed today!
Stores- Open for business again! NK Department store open 12pm to 5pm. Gallerian shopping center open 10am to 6pm. Skrapan shopping center open 11am to 6pm.

Winter Sport Activities in Stockholm

Are you feeling a bit sporty or adventurous? There is plenty to keep you occupied during the winter months and it all happens very close to the city, if not within.

    



Photo: Henrik Trygg- Stockholms Visitors Board

• Ice Skating: I've already reported on the outdoor ice skating rink in the middle of the city at Kungsträdgården. If you feel like doing some long distance skating on the frozen lakes and rivers around Stockholm, then it is better to do it in a group with a guide (it's still a little early in the season). Two good guide companies that offers such tours, including equipment rental, are the Stockholms Guidebyrå and Ice Guide. They can be contacted at info@stockholmsguidebyra.se and info@iceguide.se (they have a contact form on their website) for more information and booking. Click here for a list of cleared skating routes in the greater Stockholm area. 
• Cross Country Skiing: If you have your own equipment then there are many tracks around the city, including Djurgården. I'm having trouble finding a place that rents cross country skis, but if I find a place then I will report back!



Photo: Skistar.com/hammarbybacken

• Alpine Skiing & Snowboarding: There are several hills in and around Stockholm high enough to support some alpine skiing! I've already reported on the opening of Hammarbybacken this week. This is by far the closest slope, in fact you can see the slope from parts of Södermalm where the Rival Hotel is located and the there is a great view of the city from the top of the hill. There are lifts and a restaurant and they do rent skiing equipment! Click here for some short movies of the slope. There are a few other slopes on the outskirts of the city... including Ekholmsnäsbacken, Flottsbro and Väsjöbacken. 

 

I would be remiss in talking about winter sport activities without mentioning Hellasgården. This nature area is located in Nacka, just a 15 minute bus ride on #401 from Slussen (10 minute walk from the hotel). Here you can find plenty of walking paths, cross skiing tracks and outdoor ice skating (with rental). Another activity offered here, not for the faint of heart (literally), is ice swimming. A very nordic activity involving heating up in a sauna or bastu and then plunging into frigid waters. Brrrr...!



This Weekend!

December 3rd, 4th & 5th

Winter has a tight grip on northwest Europe. This has caused quite a lot of travel disruptions... we hope that your travel plans aren't affected! Stockholm has become a winter wonderland with lots of activities going on.

• I have written earlier about all of the Christmas markets in the city. This weekend there is a special market open at Drottningholm Palace. It is a little bit outside of the city, but worth the trip. A popular market... here you will find all sorts of traditional handicaft, hand made holiday decorations as well as delectable treats. While you are there, see the palace as well. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage List! The easiest way to get there from the hotel, besides driving, is to take the subway to Brommaplan (green line) and from there take bus #301-323, or 177 & 178 to Drottningholm. More info!
• The Architecture Museum is having their 20th annual gingerbread house exhibition. It is running from December 1st to January 9th... but the competition is only until December 10th, and the public gets to vote! This year's theme is "I'm home now" and there are three categories: Professional architects & bakers, amateurs and children up to 12. The winners will be announced on December 12th. The museum is open 10am to 6pm all weekend and can be combined with the Modern Art Museum that is just next door.
• After 5 years in Malmö, Leksaksland (a museum dedicated to toys) is returning to Stockholm... with the premiere this weekend. Perfect for children or parents experiencing nostalgia, it is located in the downtown area so it is easy to pop in and take a break from holiday shopping.

And now for something happening on Monday, December 6th: Hammarby Ski Slope is opening for the season! Thanks to the cold weather and early snow, the slope is opening earlier than usual. It is a small slope but offers an unique experience... from the top of the mountain you can see out over Stockholm! It is located just to the south of the Södermalm neighborhood. During the first week they will be open in the evenings (5pm to 10pm) on the weekdays and 9am to 6pm on the weekends. They do rent ski equipment there. Contact me at the hotel for more information.

The weather this weekend? A little colder on Friday & Saturday (between -5 and -10 degrees Celsius) with it warming up on Sunday to about -3. Cloudy with some snowfall.

Ice Skating in the Middle of Stockholm

Photo by Henrik Trygg

One of the more enduring and endearing sights of winter-Stockholm is the public ice-skating rink in the Kungsträdgården park in central Stockholm. Last week the rink opened for its 48th season! The rink is set up around the statue of Charles XIII in the middle of the park and while it's not the largest rink, people don't go there for the excercise but for the tradition, to soak up the Stockholm winter atmosphere and to get into the Christmas spirit. Skating equipment available to rent! It costs 50 SEK for adults and 20 SEK for children. The rink is open 7 days a week until the first week of March and generally closes at 6:30pm except on Tuesdays and Thursdays when it is open until 8:30pm. There are several cafés open around the rink... perfect for warming up with a hot chocolate after doing some skating.



Charles XIII



Kungsträdgården is located smack-dab in the middle of Stockholm, in between the royal palace and the NK department store. There is always something going on here... if not an event, then at least it is the place to feel the pulse of the city. Sunday, November 21st is the official start of the Christmas season in Stockholm. It is called Skyltsöndag and it is when a lot of the larger stores, like NK, will be unveiling their Christmas window decorations. There will be a Christmas parade that will start at Hötorget at 1:30pm and end in Kungsträdgården where there will be Christmas carolling between 2 and 3pm. Jultomten (Santa Claus) may show up! The weekend after that will be the start of the Christmas market in Kungsträdgården. I'll write more about that later as we get closer to the Christmas season...

Tip #11 - Walking/Jogging Paths

The Swedish Heart and Lung Foundation has created special paths throughout the country (110 so far) designed to make walking or jogging safe and easy. There are four in central Stockholm and the paths are well marked with kilometer markers and maps. My favorite is the one that goes around Djurgårds Canal... it is 7 kilometers long, though there is a bridge along the way if you would just like to do a five kilometer walk/run. The walk takes you along both sides of the canal through leafy forests, wetlands, parks and embassy village. Along the way you will find a few cafés, restaurants and ice cream kiosks if you want to take a break. I did the whole walk a few days ago with friends and it just took a couple of hours (with a stop or two).
The other three paths are Södermalm (11 km- and perfect if you are staying at the Rival Hotel), Kungsholmen (9 km) and Brunnsviken/Haga Park (12 km). All three of these paths are through green areas (mainly), along the water and with plenty of interesting things to see... and, of course, there is nothing saying you have to do the whole course!