The Arlanda Express in action. Photo by Let Ideas Compete.

By Marcus Cederstrom in Stockholm—

I have spent too much time wandering around airports trying to figure out the cheapest way to get into my latest European destination. It’s frustrating and really no way to start a trip after having been crammed on an airplane for several hours. Some airports are easier than others, though, and offer a few different options. Stockholm’s Arlanda airport is one of those.

Taxi

There is of course the classic taxi option. It tends to cost about about 500 SEK to take a taxi from the airport into central Stockholm. I don’t suggest it for a variety of reasons, one being the risk of black taxis that are more than willing to relieve you of your money in the 45 minutes it takes to get into town.

Bus

Another option into town is the bus. Flygbussarna takes about 45 minutes for the trip, but costs only a quarter of what you’d spend on a taxi. For 119 SEK, an adult can make the one-way trip into town. The cost is 89 SEK for a youth (under 25) ticket.

You can also save a bit of money by purchasing the round-trip ticket and buying the ticket online. The bus leaves on a pretty regular basis depending on the hour of the day. During heavily trafficked hours, the bus leaves every ten minutes. In the middle of the night, it departs every 30 minutes.

The Arlanda Express Train

Finally, there is the Arlanda Express. This is my favorite option (probably because I still qualify for the youth ticket!). The super-fast (200 km per hour) train will get you into Stockholm’s Central Station in 20 minutes. Adult tickets are 240 SEK, but watch for group deals where you and a buddy can travel one way for 280 SEK total. Youth and students pay only 120 SEK. Check the timetable to be sure, but the train leaves every 15 minutes for most of the day.

Public Transportation

And finally, public transportation. With a mixture of buses and trains, you can get from the airport into town for about 60 SEK. Of course, it will take you about two hours, but it is a good option if you’re willing to take the scenic route.

Getting into Stockholm from other airports

If you did fly into one of the other airports surrounding Stockholm (Ryanair to Skavsta for example), take the bus. Seriously. It will take you just over an hour and costs 75-99 SEK one way. The price depends on which company you choose (Flygbussarna or FlybyCoach) and whether you book online or not. Watch out for taxis: They’ll cost you well over 1000 SEK.

For more info on getting into Stockholm, view this article in our city guide. With the stress of getting from the airport to town out of your system, you’ll be able to enjoy and explore all that Stockholm has to offer. And with the money you saved on your way in, you’ll be off to a great start.

Popularity: 1% [?]

A night out in Stockholm. Photo by morner.

By Marcus Cederstrom in Stockholm—

Alcohol is not cheap in Sweden. Especially not in Stockholm. There’s just no way around it. Stockholm is consistently ranked as one of the world’s most expensive cities and a night out can easily add up. It doesn’t have to, though.

What to order

First, learn the lingo. The Swedish word for beer is “öl,” the ö being pronounced kind of like the awkward “uh” that ends up filling space in all those speeches you had to give in high school. Most people when ordering a beer though don’t ask for an “öl,” they ask for a “storstark,” literally meaning “big and strong.” This will result in you being served house beer on tap. Usually a Swedish brand, Falcon, Pripps, or Spendrups.

Where to go

Start your night at Mest on Götgatan. There are two subway stations close by (Slussen and Medborgarplatsen). Until 9 PM, a storstark will run you 29 SEK (about €3). In a city where it isn’t unheard of to pay over 50 SEK (about €5) for a beer, this is a great place to start.

If you find yourself out on a Thursday night and need an English language fix (despite the fact that finding a Swede who doesn’t speak English is about as rare as a unicorn sighting), head over to Southside Pub. The Irish pub is two subway stations south of Slussen at Zinkensdamm. On Thursday nights, Southside hosts a free pub quiz. You’ll have the opportunity to test your knowledge of obscure trivia against a surprisingly international crowd. Plus, you’ll have the chance to win a beer or two.

Any other night of the week, just one subway station north of Slussen at Gamla Stan is the Liffey, another Irish pub. This one doesn’t offer a quiz on Thursday nights, but instead stand-up comedy. In English. Often times by Swedes. The show will cost you a 50 SEK (about €5) “donation,” which was by far the most mandatory “donation” I have ever experienced. Every other night of the week, the Liffey offers live music at one of their two stages.

Of course, after a night of music, trivia, and laughs, a kebab is necessary. Head back towards Medborgarplatsen. Just a couple of blocks south of the subway station on Götgatan, you can get a kebab in a pita for about 30 SEK (about €3).

In the end, depending on just how many of those storstarks you decided to have, you’ll have managed to explore Stockholm’s nightlife on a budget any Cheapo would envy.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Buildings in Stockholm's Old Town. Photo by pntphoto.

By Marcus Cederstrom in Stockholm—

Many cities throughout Europe offer free walking tours, though, unfortunately, Stockholm does not. Despite the ease in which Stockholm can be navigated on foot. Despite the natural beauty of a city built on islands. Despite Sweden being the land of the midnight sun.

However, on Sunday, February 21st, 2010 at 11:00 AM, Stockholm will be celebrating its International Tourist Guide Day with a free guided tour. This is a perfect opportunity for Cheapos in the area to take advantage of authorized guides and learn a bit about one of Europe’s best preserved medieval Old Towns.

The history and sights of Old Town

Old Town Stockholm has much to offer, including Stortorget, the site of the Stockholm Bloodbath in 1520 which eventually led to Swedish independence, the royal castle, and the colorful, picturesque buildings that complete any European Old Town.

Stockholm’s Old Town is rich with history, with several small squares tucked away on the island, as well as statues reminding visitors of the area’s history. And of course, there are the beautiful churches of Stockholm dotting the islands which are perfect for Cheapos looking for a free fix of medieval history and architecture.

Catching the tour

The Association of Authorized Local Guides (FSAG is the Swedish acronym) will be hosting the event and offering free walking tours of Gamla Stan and Riddarholmen in Stockholm. FSAG has about 290 guides and can teach you about Stockholm in 29 different languages, some of which will be on display this Sunday.

The walking tours will be available in several different languages, hence the international appeal of the day. All tours will be leaving from Slottsbacken, right next to the large obelisk situated near the royal castle and Storkyrkan in Gamla Stan. There is no need to book in advance.

If you have any questions about the event, and exactly which languages the tour will be offered in, check out the FSAG site.

Popularity: 3% [?]

Storkyrkan on Stadsholmen. Photo by palestrina55.

By Marcus Cederstrom in Stockholm—

Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s Old Town, is made up of four different islands: Stadsholmen, Riddarholmen, Helgeandsholmen, and Strömsborg. Stadsholmen is known colloquially as “Gamla Stan” although all four are technically a part of the Old Town.

Between the different islands, Gamla Stan is home to several historical buildings including the Royal Castle and the Swedish Parliament. The islands are also home to three beautiful churches. Storkyrkan, or “The Great Church” and Tyska kyrkan, the “German Church,” are both located on the main island of Stadsholmen. Riddarholmskyrkan (Riddarholmens Church) is located, on, well, Riddarholmen, which means the “Knights’ Islet.”

The three churches give a glimpse of the religious and royal history of Stockholm and Gamla Stan. And you won’t pay more than 60 SEK (about $8 US) for the entire experience.

Storkyrkan
Stortorget 1
Visiting hours: 9 AM-6 PM Monday-Saturday; 9 AM-4 PM Sunday

Storkyrkan is the site of the last royal wedding of Sweden. It will also be the site of the next royal wedding of Sweden, as the Crown Princess and her fiancé are to be married there in June 2010.

Of course, it is not royal weddings that make the church so impressive. Instead it is the red brick, Gothic architecture inside. Highlights include the large statue of St. George slaying the dragon to the left of the altar and the beautiful paintings, some of which depict a Stockholm from hundreds of years ago. Plus, visiting the church is cheap. Between May and September you’ll have to pay 30 SEK, the rest of the year entrance is free.

Note: The Storkyrkan is closed for upkeep from January 11, 2010 to May 2, 2010.

Tyska kyrkan
Svartmangatan 16
Visiting hours: Tuesday and Fri: 9:30-11:30 AM and 1-4 PM, Wednesday: 9 AM-12 PM

Visiting Tyska kyrkan is free. Always. Built in the 1500’s, the church was the first German parish located outside of Germany. Mass in German is still held here every Sunday. Like so many centuries-old churches, Tyska kyrkan has seen several additions and renovations, the most notable after a large fire in 1878. This gave rise to the current church spire, which rises 96 meters into the Stockholm sky.

Riddarholmskyrkan
Riddarholmen
Visiting hours: 10 AM-4 PM in September and May; 10 AM-5 PM June-August (closed from mid-September to mid-May)

Riddarholmskyrkan is actually not a church anymore. By 1807, there were so few people living on the island that the city decommissioned Riddarholmskyrkan as a church and began charging admission. (Today, the island is said to have only one permanent resident, a man well into his 90’s).

Some people might argue that the beautiful black spire and the church’s wonderful architecture are reason enough to charge admission. However, it is actually what lies inside that attracts the crowds. Riddarholmskyrkan is the burial site of the Swedish royalty. For a stretch of over 300 years (1634-1950), all but one member of the Swedish royal family (Queen Christina who abdicated the throne) was buried in the church. Entrance to wander amongst old Swedish royalty is just 30 SEK, or 10 SEK if you’re a student.

Popularity: 3% [?]

One of the Stockholm City Bikes racks. Photo by ITDP-Europe.

By Marcus Cederstrom in Stockholm—

Stockholm is a beautiful city and one that can easily be toured on foot. If you’re hoping to get around a little faster though, cycling around town will allow you more freedom. Bike lanes are common and well respected by motorists and pedestrians alike.

It’s no surprise then that Stockholm City Bikes, a bike sharing program run as a joint venture between the city of Stockholm and Clear Channel, has emerged as a popular service in Stockholm. Best of all, once you join the program, your rentals are free!

When to rent

The program offers 1,000 bikes at 80 unmanned bike stations throughout the city, many of them located in the middle of town. Bikes are available every day of the week, from 6 AM to 6 PM. Of course, touring Stockholm on a bike in the middle of the winter can be a dangerous endeavor. With this in mind, Stockholm City Bikes are only rentable from April 1st to October 31st.

The three-day card and the season pass

When renting a bike from the Stockholm City Bikes program, you have two different options. The first is the three-day rental card, which costs 125 SEK. It is valid for three days from the time you first use the card, not from the time you buy the card.

The other option is the season pass. This is valid throughout the entire season, from April through October and can be purchased at sales locations for 250 SEK, or online for 200 SEK. If you intend on biking around Stockholm for more than three days, plan ahead and buy the card online and save 50 SEK.

The most convenient sales locations include any SL Center (the public transportation company in Stockholm), Central Station, Slussen, or the Stockholm Tourist Centre. You can also buy the card online at Stockholm City Bike’s website, where, as we mentioned, you can get the season card for 200 SEK instead of 250. Unfortunately, cards cannot be purchased at the bike racks.

Getting your bike

Once you’ve purchased your card, all you have to do is find a bike stand from which to rent. At every rack, you’ll find an automatic card reader with very clear instructions. Just hold your card up against the reader, wait for it to register, and then grab your bike. You only have 30 seconds from the time your card is registered, but if you’re too slow, don’t worry, just repeat the process—albeit a little quicker this time!

Get it back on time

Rentals last three hours, at which point you are expected to return the bike to any of the city’s numerous bike stands. If three hours isn’t enough for you, you can just head to a nearby stand and re-rent the bike. The three-hour rule is strictly enforced, mostly because it is difficult to argue with the computer and the time stamp it records.

If you are late, you receive what Stockholm City Bikes refers to as a “penalty point.” Three penalty points and your card will be blocked. If you keep your bike for more than five hours, your card is automatically blocked regardless of the number of penalty points you might have already accumulated.

Stockholm City Bikes has its limitations, not being able to buy a rental card at the bike stand, for example. Regardless, the service covers almost all of Stockholm and allows tourists (and locals for that matter) a great way of getting around.

Popularity: 4% [?]

The scene at Gamla Stan's Christmas market. Photo by D@vidDovi©.

By Marcus Cederstrom in Stockholm—

Swedes seem to love Christmas. And the season starts in November. The lights and candles start emerging, trying to ward off the oncoming darkness. Christmas decorations go on sale in shops throughout the country. People start discussing their holiday plans. It is also when many Christmas markets start opening.

It’s not hard to find a Christmas market in Stockholm at the end of November or beginning of December, but there are three that really stand out.

1. Gamla Stan Christmas Market

First off is the market in Gamla Stan. Set in Stortorget, a small square in the shadow of both the Royal Castle and the church, Storkyrkan, the Gamla Stan Christmas market is beautiful. The small stands offer homemade Christmas gifts and traditional Swedish Christmas foods from sausages to delicious baked goods.

The market opens November 21, and because it is in the middle of a square in Old Town, there is no entrance fee, although I would suggest that you pay 20 SEK for glögg and pepparkakor. Glögg is a traditional spiced wine served during the Christmas season and pepparkakor can best be described as ginger cookies, but Swedish.

2. Kungsträdgården Christmas Market

Next is the market in Kungsträdgården. This market is quite a bit bigger than the one in Gamla Stan and is located in the large park in the middle of the city. This market also offers a lot of homemade gift ideas, but is a bit more open and kid friendly than the one in Gamla Stan. This has a lot to do with the ice skating rink set up around the statue of King Karl XIII.

The Christmas market at Kungsträdgården opens November 27 and entrance is also free, but again, I suggest spending a few kronor on a little snack. “Brända mandlar” are roasted, candied almonds. You’ll be able to smell them from wherever you are in the market, and they do taste as good as they smell. Speaking from experience, be careful before you pop them in your mouth. They are hot when you first buy them. Wearing gloves, you don’t realize just how hot they are. You’ve been warned.

3. Skansen Christmas Market

Finally, there is the Christmas market at Skansen. This is one of the few that will cost you to get in. Technically, you’re actually just paying to get into Skansen, which is an open-air museum and park that gives you a look at the history and culture of Sweden. It even has a zoo with Nordic animals. During the Christmas season, Skansen sets up a wonderful Christmas market in the middle of the park.

This is one of the larger markets, and of course homemade gifts and delicious Swedish foods are available here as well. The difference is that most of the people behind the counters are dressed in traditional regional folk costumes. The Christmas market at Skansen opens November 28.

Popularity: 4% [?]

A train at Telefonplan Metro Station. Photo by harry_nl.

By Marcus Cederstrom in Stockholm—

Each day in Stockholm, 700,000 trips are made using public transportation. Considering only about 800,000 people live within Stockholm city limits, that number is pretty impressive. With the efficient and user-friendly SL, Stockholm’s public transportation company, it makes sense that so many Stockholmers take to the metro, buses, and more.

The lowdown

Stockholm is a very walk-able city, but if you’re less interested in wandering around than getting around efficiently (or if you just want to get out of the cold on your way to your next destination), public transportation is really the way to go. Subways, buses, trains, and even boats and street cars are covered by the SL umbrella, and every single one of them is clean and on time.

SL offers a smorgasbord (pun absolutely intended) of ticket options. Luckily, the SL website gives a great rundown of everything that is available. Some of the options are perfect for a short trip to Stockholm.

Standard and prepaid tickets

SL offers standard one-trip tickets. These are not worth your money if you plan on using public transportation more than once or twice, but they are worth explaining. Stockholm is broken up into three different zones according to SL. Zone A will cost you two tickets, Zone B will cost you three, and Zone C will cost you four.

Really, if you’re just staying in the city all you need to worry about is Zone A and the two ticket price. These tickets are only valid for an hour after you use them. If you plan on using public transportation more than four times during your stay in Stockholm, consider a pre-paid strip of tickets or a day pass.

The prepaid strip of tickets is 16 single tickets for the price of 180 SEK. This gives you eight trips within the city and ends up being about half the price of the standard one-trip tickets. You’ll get a stamp which, unfortunately, is only good for an hour after stamping. But remember, you’ve got seven more trips before you need to think about paying for transportation again.

Day passes

There are also day passes. The 24-hour pass costs 100 SEK, the 72- hour pass is 200 SEK, and the seven-day card is 260 SEK. Day passes are valid at any time and can be used as many times as you wish. Depending on your length of stay, day passes are a great way to save money and still get everywhere you want to go.

The Stockholm Card

Finally, there is Stockholmskortet, The Stockholm Card. The Stockholm Card ranges from 375 SEK for 24 hours to 595 SEK for 72 hours. It allows you free entrance to over 70 museums in Stockholm and gives you free access to public transportation.

Buy your ticket before boarding the bus

Note that you cannot buy tickets on the bus. Bus drivers stopped carrying money a couple of years ago in hopes of speeding up service and keeping everyone safer. There are plenty of places where you can buy tickets though, including SL service centers, most subway and train stations, Pressbyrån (a Swedish convenience store), and, if you happen to have a Swedish cell phone provider, with your cell phone.

Popularity: 7% [?]

When night falls, head for the Kulturehuset. Photo: Pineapplebun

By Marcus Cederstrom in Stockholm—

On October 25th, the clocks changed and Sweden fell back one hour. For many people around the world, this just means that it gets darker a little earlier, in Stockholm it means that on Monday the 26th Stockholmers were greeted with a sunset around 4:00 pm. The days are short in Sweden now and only getting shorter as winter approaches.

Luckily, there are plenty of things to do to keep busy, and some that will really appeal to Cheapos.

Daylight on the island of Djurgården

The city of Stockholm is built on a string of islands, which makes for beautiful sightseeing. Start your day by taking advantage of the daylight and wandering around the island of Djurgården. Walk along Strandvägen on your way to the island or take bus 47 from Central Station and get off at Djurgårdsbron.

The island itself is an amazing blend of nature and history. Several museums dot the island from the famous Vasa Museum, one of the most popular museums in Stockholm, to Waldemarsudde, a beautiful art museum, to Skansen, a living outdoor museum. For Cheapos, however, Djurgården can be enjoyed without spending a dime (or krona, in this case).

Walking around Djurgården, it’s easy to forget you are in the biggest city in Sweden. That might be because as you head east on the island you’ll be staring out towards the edge of the Stockholm archipelago. Or it could be the large National Park that runs through Stockholm and Djurgården.

The area of the National Park on the island is known as “Isbladskärret” and is a beautiful place to see the birds of Sweden, most notably the herons, which can be seen flying home to their nests as the sun sets in the spring.

Off to Kulturhuset

As the sun starts to set, (remember, the days are short during the fall and winter here in Stockholm) start heading back to the city and to Kulturhuset, (The Culture House).

Kulturhuset is located right in front of Sergels torg, the large chessboard-like square. Several bus stops in the area as well as one exit from Central Station make it hard to miss Sergels torg. Coming from Djurgården, you can either walk back along Strandvägen, or take bus 47 and get off at the Sergels torg stop.

Kulturhuset is known for its free exhibitions. Keep in mind that most of the exhibitions are closed on Mondays, and on all other days they don’t open until 11 AM. Closing times vary depending on the day of the week, so be sure to check Kulturhuset’s website if you’re unsure.

Once inside, Kulturhuset has a lot to offer. Each of the five floors has something, most of which are free. You’ll always have access to the Library for Comics and Graphic Literature on the 2nd floor, and the Kidzone on the 4th floor. Revolving photo exhibitions, film festivals, musical performances, and even literature workshops can be found on the other floors throughout the year.

After having explored the natural beauty of Stockholm, as well as the cultural offerings, relax with one of the numerous global newspapers available or befriend a local and finish your day with a game of chess. You’ll have experienced Stockholm, and done so on a budget that any Cheapo would love.

Popularity: 6% [?]

The scene at Nystekt Strömming. Photo by sebilden.

By Marcus Cederstrom in Stockhom—

Just outside of the Slussen subway station on Södermalmstorg is a small trailer selling fried fish on hard bread. Not convinced yet, Cheapos? Well, it just happens to be one of the best lunch deals in all of Stockholm.

Knäckis at Nystekt Strömming

Throughout Stockholm, Nystekt Strömming is known as a great place to grab a quick lunch or an afternoon snack. (The beautiful view of the water doesn’t hurt, either.) The food is simple, consisting mainly of fried herring on various forms of bread.

The classic, and very Swedish, main attraction is the “knäckis”—fried herring with cucumber and red onions on hard bread, called “knäckebröd” in Swedish. The knäckis will run you about 30 SEK (around $4.50), and you’ll have to wait a few minutes because they fry your food to order.

Most locals like to wash down fried herring with a beer or maybe even a Swedish schnapps. Staying true to its budget roots and sidewalk-cart feel, Nystekt Strömming only offers cans of soda and, of course, coffee. Instead of a beer, try a Ramlösa, sparkling water from southern Sweden.

Tip: Take in the Baltic Sea with your sandwich

For an authentic Swedish experience, order a herring sandwich, grab a seat at a table next to the cart or one of the benches in the square, and enjoy the scenery. Not only will you be staring out towards the Baltic Sea, but Södermalmstorg is also a great spot for watching Stockholmers going about their daily lives.

Visiting

To get there, take the red or green metro line to Slussen. Despite the potential for late night snacking (especially considering the number of bars just up the street on popular Götgatan), Nystekt Strömming has relatively limited opening hours. Stop by during the week from 10 AM-6 PM or on the weekend from 11 AM-4 PM. Make sure to bring cash, as no cards are accepted.

About the author: Marcus Cederström was born in Sweden and moved to the US just before his 6th birthday. He grew up bi-culturally, which he blames for his love of traveling. After 17 years in the US, Marcus moved back to Sweden. Scuba diving in Greece, Easter in Spain, and Oktoberfest in Germany have been just a few of the stops along the way, all of which are chronicled in his blog, A Swedish American in Sweden.

Popularity: 6% [?]

The view from here...photo by Alex Robertson Textor

By Alex Robertson Textor—Two weeks in the Nordic countries visiting friends in familiar cities and discovering new territory required me to rely heavily on airplanes as well as trains to get around.

I took five flights during my trip: Stockholm to Helsinki; Helsinki to Copenhagen; Copenhagen to the Faroe Islands; Faroe Islands to Copenhagen; and Copenhagen to Stockholm. All but the final of these flights was unavoidable, scheduling-wise. During the last stretch I badly wanted to take the train, but logistics and pricing got in the way.

All in all, the packed itinerary yielded four airlines I’d never encountered before—one regional airline, two legacy airlines, and one low-cost airline. Here are my reviews.

Flight #1: Stockholm to Helsinki
Airline: Blue1

SAS subsidiary Blue1 is a regional airline with a dense route map covering Finland. The total experience is pretty humdrum. Notable dimensions of the experience included the offer of little candies from a basket at the close of the flight and a good in-flight magazine, which featured interesting articles on Helsinki allotment gardens and a  unique lighthouse accommodation along the Finnish coast. There was a free drink service but no snack is served on board.

Cost of one-way ticket: 739 SEK (about $95) purchased on the Swedish version of the SAS site.

On-time? No. 45-minute delay.

Flight rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Flight #2: Helsinki to Copenhagen
Airline: Finnair

This Finnish legacy carrier runs a seriously well-designed ship, which has earned kudos for its routes to Asia and its overall brand. Of note was the rack of free newspapers on offer to guests—I plumped for Helsinki’s Swedish-language Hufvudstadsbladet—and the plush blue seats. Snack service consisted of a cheese and cucumber sandwich, a small cup of concentrated orange juice, and a tiny Mars candy. The in-flight magazine contained thoughtful stories on the Finnish town of Rauma, the Japanese lust for vintage Finnish design, and Finland’s Valamo Monastery, the only Orthodox monastery in the Nordic countries.

Cost of one-way ticket: $111, purchased through Orbitz.com.

On-time? Yes.

Flight rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Flight #3: Copenhagen to the Faroe Islands (roundtrip)
Airline: Atlantic Airways

This air carrier faces no competition on its routes, which in high season connect the Faroe Islands’ Vagar international airport with Denmark, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, and the UK. The airline, sadly, lacked personality. A snack was served in a big paper bag. It consisted of a bland ciabatta sandwich and a single wrapped Fazer mint. The in-flight magazine is very glossy. Perks of note: Danish and Faroese newspapers draped over seats and the drinks cart, which materializes with unexpected regularity and dispenses hard liquor free of charge. Bummer of note:  A stopped-up toilet on the Copenhagen-Faroes route.

Cost of roundtrip ticket: $404, purchased on the Atlantic Airways Web site.

On-time? Yes.

Flight rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Flight #4: Copenhagen to Stockholm
Airline: Norwegian Air

Norwegian Air Shuttle—these days more often referred to as “Norwegian”—is a quietly successful airline. Branded as a budget airline, Norwegian indeed offers some very reasonable advance fares. Norwegian doesn’t destroy passengers with arbitrary charges, either. With other European low-cost airlines charging for all sorts of things like checking in at the airport and checked baggage, Norwegian’s free 20 kg baggage allotment felt like a gift. Nothing on board is free, of course. The in-flight magazine is written in uneven English, though it contained a few items of note: a short article suggesting that passengers use their mobile telephones to check in for flights, DJ Rune Lindbaek’s tips for Oslo visits, and an overview of Swedish landscape architect Ulf Nordfjell’s oeuvre.

Cost of one-way ticket: €44 (about $62), purchased on wegolo.

On-time? Yes.

Flight rating: 3 out of 5 stars

About the author: Alex Robertson Textor is Editor-at-Large at EuroCheapo. He has written travel stories for the New York Post, New York Times, and Rough Guides, among other publications, and he also maintains Spendthrift Shoestring, a blog on budget travel and culture.

Popularity: 11% [?]