Discussion: O in Stockholm?

I am visiting Stockholm for work from 22-25 August and am hoping to get out on a local map for an orienteering run on one or two evening. Can anyone tell me the best contact for getting hold of a map or two? Many thanks in advance for advice!

If you wnat to get to an actual evening event try this website for recreational (motion) events in Stockholm.

http://stockholm.motionsorientering.se/

In the menu bar click on 'Program-norr' or 'Program-söder' for event calendar in northern and southern Stockholm. Not sure what level the courses are - most events seem to offer courses ranging from nyborjarer (beginners) to 'medel svar' (medium) In the calendars click on 'Plats' to see a map with the location and click on 'Inbjudan / arrangör' for details like time, courses lenthgs etc.

You could also contact Stockholm Orienteering Federation orientering@stockholmsidrotten.se
for more info.

There are some fantastic maps that you can buy from the refreshment counter at Hellasgården near Nacka, only a 15-minute bus ride from the tunnelbana station at Slussen.

Take the #401 bus from Slussen...ask the driver if he stops at Hellasgården. Very easy and accessible. Not only are there orienteering maps at the Hellasgården refreshment stand, but also look for courses posted on the wall that you can run. And there is an old permanent course with sheet metal markers encircling tree trunks that is actually quite challenging.

Once you have the map, for future trips you can take the T-bana to Bagermossen and simply walk 500m north to the map. Swedish planning has placed a premium on retaining vast tracts of natural open space around clustered housing. Much more intelligent IMO than the US's unplanned, car-dependent suburban sprawl. Good luck! At this time of year, you should be able to enjoy many hours of fun orienteering after work.

Luffarligan is good, just turn up and get a map and then go for a run.

Nacka Reserve is also a good area, I thought you could buy the map from the local shop in Nacka Reserve but I couldn't spot it on the website. The map covers a large area and only 20mins from the center of town by bus, or subway to the western side.
You can probably send them a message asking where to buy it from.
http://www.nackareservatet.se/index.asp

Yes...that's the area I was speaking of in my post above. Maps are available in the Hellasgården refreshment stand (not the restaurant)...located midway down the main road that traces a big S-bend on the Nackareservatet map in your link.

Then after your run, you can take a sauna, go for a dip off the swimming pier, and then a "strong" beer and a delicious shrimp salad sandwich for dinner on the outside deck, before catching the #401 back to Stockholm.

It used to be possible to buy local o-maps at Kartbutiken downtown. I haven't been there in a while though.

It's still possible. Find it here: http://butiken.metria.se/kartbutiken/images/custom...
The map store is really close to Central Station, so it's really convenient. They have a pretty big section of orienteering maps for sale, including a bunch of the awesome Nacka maps mentioned above.

Many thanks to everyone for the great tips! I have found not one but two events on teh Tuesday evening, north and south of Stockholm, so am spoilt for choice! I am staying close to the central station so will check out the butiken store. Looks like it will be very hard to focus on the work with so much good orienteering just on the doorstep. Hopefully the Swedish terrain will feel like a breeze after next week's races in the Haut Savoie!

the butiken store

Swedish lesson, part 1:

butik = store
karta = map

...so "butiken store" means "store store" ;)

PS. Joking aside I hope you get a great visit to Stockholm.

PPS. If you´re looking at events on Tuesday 23rd my recommendation based on distance to travel would be to go north. Ursvik would probably be the easiest to get to (subway to Hallonbergen then a short walk), Viksjö would require a local train to Jakobsberg (20 min) and then a local bus from the train station, but has the merits of being my home town (20+ years ago) ;) and a offering more "wilderness like" terrain...

If you want a ride from the train to Viksjö I can probably sort one out for you - a couple of friends live right next to the T. Send me a mail if you need a hand. It's a lovely little area.

Quick post to thank everyone for their advice. Unfortunately, work commitments prevented me from getting to either of the events on the Tuesday. However, I had bought a map of Nacka at the Kartbutiken (which was right across from my hotel) and got out for a long terrain/path run on the Wednesday morning. Was great to catch a metro from my hotel next to central Station and then run straight onto the map from the train station! It was a lovely summer's morning and had a great time in this beautiful forest. Spent a total of 90 minutes running around the paths and through the terrain before I reluctantly had to tear myself away and go back to work. Saw quite a few O markers in the forest, including the Naturepasset controls that I was hunting (BTW I am pretty sure that #18 on the Naturepasset course is on the wrong feature :-)). I will definitely be back out there for a run next time I am in Stockholm. I will also plan better so that work doesn't interfere with the more important O activities. So thanks again for the helpful advice.

Good to hear you enjoyed it :)