Wow!! Where to start! First of all, if you love the vibe and feel of an active area, you simply can’t find a better location then Helena’s flat. The flat is located in the heart of Gamla Stan. Our group had a great time going out each evening and finding a different local pub or restaurant to experience. Yes, it is definitely a tourist area by day and the streets are flooded with visitors eager to take home mementos of their visit...but at night the area becomes noticeably more local. As a matter of fact, one evening as we were having a late dinner, we were invited to sit in for a few drinks with several local residents who were originally from Sweden, Austria and the United States. It was a great time!!
As for the flat itself, it was absolutely charming! There were fresh flowers throughout the entry, a welcome message, maps and guides and everything else you would expect as if visiting a close friend.
We had two concerns PRIOR to arriving at the flat. One was the stairs. We were at the back end of a 2 week vacation and none of us travel lightly, as such we had approximately 7-10 bags with about 5 of those pushing 45-50lbs. We were well aware of the absence of a lift so it didn’t come as a surprise. While it was definitely an effort to get everything up to the top floor, and likely comical to Helena’s neighbors, the spiral stairs actually add to the charm of the flat. Besides, all those calories that you burn while carrying bags upstairs means more room to sample the wonderful food and drink throughout Old Town!!
The other concern were the bells from the church next door. There was one of our party who was a light sleeper and she was very worried beforehand. However, as we were winding down on our last night in town, she made a point to state that the bells didn’t bother her at all. They really blend into the overall background noise.
While we did not have the opportunity to meet Helena in person due to her work obligations, she was a phenomenal host. I had a LOT of questions during our visit and she was always quick to respond.
All in all, we would ALL love to come back and spend more time at Helena’s delightful flat and would recommend it to anyone. The flat and Helena herself made you feel as if you were more engrossed in the local community than simply staying at a hotel. It was a great way to conclude our adventure!!