Go Green: Stockholm & Copenhagen

Explore this capital city in an environmentally friendly fashion - by walking! Start your city walk at the Stockholm Stock Exchange, located in the old town section of Stockholm. The building is owned by the Swedish Academy and is the site of the yearly announcement of the winner of the Nobel Price for Literature. Continue on to see the Stockholm Palace, first built in the 13th century as a fortress, it is now the private residence of the Swedish royal family.

Gustav Adolfs torg is the central square in Stockholm and the perfect place to begin your tour. There you’ll find the Royal Opera, Ministry of Defense and Swedish State department. Just south of the square stands the impressive Parliament Building. The terrace on the east end of the building is a public park and holds a restaurant dating back to 1832, and the Swedish House of Lords. Travel back in time to Stortorget, the city’s oldest square is the historical center of medieval Stockholm.

At Hammarby Sjostad, an environmentally-friendly lakefront community of 20,000 residents, visit the GlashausEtt, the neighborhood’s visitors’ center where you can find out more about how the community relies on renewable energy that provides over 17,000 homes with electricity.

Do you consider yourself environmentally conscious? Well so does the city of Malmo, which is transitioning from a pollution-filled industrial center to an environmentally-conscious and eco-friendly urban landscape. Explore the many historical parks and buildings throughout the city, the oldest parts dating back to between 1300’s and 1600’s, and learn how its citizens are taking a stand against pollution.

Learn about Malmo’s innovative Bo01 international housing exhibition, known for its striking architecture. The aim of this new city district is to be a leading example of environmental adaptation of a densely built urban area. It is also home to the Turning Torso, an amazing twisting skyscraper that is now the tallest building in Scandinavia.

Welcome to one of the most environmentally friendly cities in the world. Over 36% of its population takes advantage of Copenhagen’s elaborate bike path system to commute to work. Walk through “Middelalderbyen”, Copenhagen’s inner and medieval city, where you will see extravagant domed churches and elegant 18th century mansions. Browse through the shops on Strøget, Europe’s longest pedestrian shopping strip, located next to Rådhuspladsen (The City Hall Square) and Copenhagen City Hall. Then walk along the Nyhavan, a 17th century waterfront known for its colorful houses and numerous cafés and restaurants.

Hop onto a solar-powered boat for a tour of the world’s largest offshore wind farm. Learn all about the enormous wind turbines, 20 in all, how they are impacting the environment and how much work it takes to manage and maintain them.

Ascend the grand double staircase, through the main entrance and enter the greeting hall of this magnificent castle. Originally built as a “summerhouse” for King Charles IV, this beautiful 16th century castle is now a museum of cultural history and houses some of Denmark’s national treasures, including the Danish Crown Regalia.