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What I am about to describe is not just another luxury hotel review. But please read on and you will see how this is a very different kind of luxury experience, but special in every way. Birka is essentially the original Stockholm – a bustling Viking trading hub located on the island of Bjorkko in Lake Mälaren, west of modern-day Stockholm. It was founded in the 8th century and served as one of the earliest urban centers in Scandinavia, playing an important role in the trade routes connecting the Viking territories with the rest of Europe, Byzantium and the Middle East.

Once a center for traders bringing goods such as furs, textiles, jewelry and exotic goods, today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site that welcomes visitors to explore the site, learn more about Sweden’s deep Viking heritage and marvel at this symbol of global trade. . And what’s really special is that you can stay overnight in Birka, after most tourists have left, to truly appreciate the historical values, nature and spirit of the island, and the place is very much yours.

But first, how do you get there? Most visitors come on board – operated by M/S Victoria Strömma Kanalbolaget – which departs from Stockholm and stops at various jetties along the way. Top tip: If you have a car, do as we did and drive to Jungfrusund in Ekerö and board the jetty there. Parking is expensive in Stockholm, but in Jungfrausund you can park for free for up to two days. Alternative options are to drive to Lindby Brigga, Adelso and travel by motorboat or charter a yacht and moor at the guest port of Birka.

Welcome

Anyone disembarking the M/S Victoria at Birka is greeted by a wooden sign, resting against an old wooden wheelbarrow, with the word ‘Welcome’ in Viking runes, set against a picturesque backdrop of red buildings and lush greenery.

You can visit Birka for the day, as most people do, or stay overnight and enjoy a glamping experience. We were there to do the latter, but when we first wanted to take the tour we didn’t inform them of our arrival when we arrived. Tours run daily after the boat arrives – one in English and one in Swedish.

Trip to Birka

If you visit Birka, I strongly recommend you take the tour. You’ll still have plenty of time to explore the island at your own leisure, but the tour – which is included with your visit – will give you really valuable insights.

It takes about an hour and involves walking over varying terrain, but nothing too strenuous. On the tour, which is delivered by someone in traditional Viking costume, you’ll learn about how the island is now much larger than before due to the post-glacial uplift of the terrain, but also learn about excavations and burial chambers. island

You will learn about how traders from all over Europe, as well as other parts of the world, came to Birka, as archaeological excavations have uncovered Arabic silver, beads and ceramics from Eastern Europe, and exotic textiles from Asia. In return, the merchants would receive Swedish goods such as iron, horn, hides and furs.

The Birka controlled the trade routes in northern Scandinavia for about 200 years, but ended when the inhabitants died or left the island, we’re not sure which. About 5,000 graves – mostly cremation graves – exist on the island today and are a moving reminder of what was once a thriving community.

The tour ends near the monument of Angar, a cross that has the highest point on the island. It was built to honor the Benedictine monk Ansgar, a missionary sent to Sweden in the 800s by Holy Roman Emperor Louis the Pious to bring Christianity to the country. While his mission was not entirely successful, a monument bearing his name was erected a thousand years later in 1834 and still stands today.

It is worth a visit if only to see Lake Mälaren.

The glamping experience

Five glamping tents, each with historic Viking names and sleeping 2 to 4 people, are a relatively new addition to the island.

They are fenced off from most visitors to ensure a degree of privacy, and are located above the water’s edge.

The scenery inside the glamping tent is very peaceful and relaxing, and offers a wonderful vista over Lake Mälaren.

Each tent is equipped with proper beds and hotel-standard bedding, lockable chests for your valuables, stools and tables.

Shampoo, conditioner and shower gel are all provided, as are towels and lights, and showers and toilets are available in the service building near the glamping area. Or, if you’re feeling brave, take a dip in the fresh water where the Vikings bathed by the small beach along the way.

For my night’s sleep? As you know, I’ve been lucky enough to stay in many beautiful hotels around the world, but I’m not exaggerating when I say this was probably one of the best nights sleep I’ve had in years! I’m not sure what it was… maybe because we went to bed relatively early when night fell, or maybe it was the calm nature of the water lapping at the shore outside, but I slept really, really well and was completely refreshed the next day. Experienced. the morning

facilities

There is much to see on the island. Next to the archaeological site and Angar monument already mentioned, there is a museum and shop with exhibits and some excellent reconstructions showing life in Birka in the Viking Age. It also includes many interesting items that have been exposed on the site.

Surrounding the museum are several full-scale reconstructions of Viking-era buildings and boats, ancient Norse crops and livestock, giving visitors a better understanding of what life was like in these early Swedish settlements. This authentic reconstruction is based on knowledge gained during archaeological excavations on the island.

If you download Birka’s audio guide to your mobile phone, you can hear about 10-year-old Alvar living in the village during the Viking Age or about the reconstruction of the houses.

There is also a church on the island, managed by the Ekerö parish, which is open to visitors as well as for summer weddings and christenings. Named after the Christian missionary, the Ansgar Chapel was designed by architect Lars Israel Wahlmann and built around 1930, one hundred years after the Ansgar monument was erected.

Finally, make sure you visit the restaurant Särimner, where the boat docks, where you can sit inside or outside.

We had lunch there both days, enjoying locally produced food such as classic Swedish meatballs served with pickled cucumber, lingonberry, potatoes and cream sauce, beetroot beef served with gray pea hummus, root vegetables and sauerkraut, or smoked salmon served with herbs. enjoyed Chutney and roasted root vegetables, spinach and pickled red onion. And beer comes from local breweries, too.

A Viking dinner at Restaurant Särimner is included in the glamping experience, where you can enjoy Swedish dishes such as classic toast Skagen. This classic dish of shrimp in a creamy mayonnaise dressing with fresh dill and a squeeze of lemon is often enjoyed as part of a midsummer celebration or other festive occasion.

Hearty mains include dishes such as root vegetable gratin and red wine braised beef cheek with asparagus, Sariman’s fish and seafood casserole and glazed ribs with fries, all exceptionally cooked.

An espresso crème brûlée with fresh berries was a lovely way to end the evening at sunset over Bjerkfjorden.

location

Birka is located on the island of Bjorkko in Lake Mälaren, about 30 kilometers west of Stockholm.

Another nice touch

A really lovely part of our stay was having the breakfast basket delivered in the morning. The chef had asked us what we liked in tea, coffee, juice, rolls, yoghurts etc the night before and this was duly dropped by the quad bike the next morning. Again, the weather was kind to us so we were able to enjoy this outdoors.

expenses

Birkani boat tours, which include a round trip, museum admission and a guided tour of the ancient fields, start at just 395 SEK (approx. $40 USD) per person.

The glamping experience, which includes an overnight stay, Viking dinner and breakfast package, starts at 3790 SEK (about $400 USD) for a 2-person tent or 5700 SEK (about $600 USD) for a 4-person tent. Glamping guests receive a discounted boat trip to and from Birka along the Stromma Kanalbolagat. Boat trips are booked separately with the discount code found in the glamping confirmation.

The site is only easily accessible to visitors during the warmer months of the year, with a regular ferry service running from Stockholm from May to September.

The best bit

One of the really special things about glamping at Birka is having the place to yourself after all the other tourists have left. And, while it’s hard to pick a specific highlight of our glamping experience because we loved every minute of it, the Viking dinner was truly beautiful. There were just the four of us and the chef, and he made us an extraordinary meal, especially when you consider that most of the ingredients are brought to the island. It was very peaceful and the weather was kind to us, meaning we were able to dine outside overlooking the water as the sun went down. All very magical!

final judgment

If you are in Stockholm, I wholeheartedly recommend a visit to Birka. It is a very special place, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and of great historical importance. But, to make your visit special and more memorable, I would definitely recommend that you opt for a glamping experience to fully immerse yourself in the historical values, nature and spirit of the island. It will give you more time to get to know the site and allow you to better appreciate everything it has to offer.

Disclosure: Birka was sponsored by Our Visit Strömma Kanalbolaget And our journey was kindly supported Visit Stockholm.