It's Monday again! That means travel news here on FREEDOMtravel, with short extracts from this week's press releases. This week it's all about everything from buns to Thailand. By the way, have you eaten any buns yet?
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Where you get the best value for money
Did you know that there can be a difference of over 60 grams depending on the semla you choose for Fat Tuesday? Sambla has looked at the price per kilo at some of our biggest bakeries and cafés to see where you'll get the most bang for your buck this year.
Our beloved semlor has become more expensive than ever. According to Nordea's "semmelindex", a pastry in Stockholm now costs an average of SEK 59 - an increase of 30 per cent since 2020.
| Pastry shop | Price | Weight | Price per kilo |
| Return | 58 kr | 215 g | 270 kr |
| Bergstrand's Bakery | 58 kr | 191 g | 303 kr |
| The bakery | 59 kr | 188 g | 314 kr |
| Espresso House | 52 kr | 156 g | 333 kr |
| Little brother | 58 kr | 167 g | 347 kr |
| Big Bakery | 62 kr | 175 g | 354 kr |
| Haga | 59 kr | 162 g | 364 kr |
| Thelin's pastry shop | 59 kr | 159 g | 371 kr |
| Factory | 59 kr | 158 g | 373 kr |
| Bread & Salt | 63 kr | 152 g | 414 kr |
| Average: | 59 kr | 172 g | 337 kr |
Three million have travelled with Viking Glory
Viking Line's flagship Viking Glory, which departs every evening from Stockholm to Mariehamn and TurkuThree years later, the ship has carried three million passengers, filled every cabin for E-type's gigs and made nearly two million beds. Here are some figures from Viking Glory's first three years:
- 92,000 Fazer chocolate bars sold
- 21 000 seafood platters served
- 103,000 prawn sandwiches sold
- 191 000 pizzas baked
These Swedish tourist attractions received the most bad reviews
Which Swedish tourist attractions are the most disappointing? To find out, language learning provider Preply analysed over 35,000 reviews of the most popular attractions in Sweden to see how often words like 'overrated', 'disappointing' and 'tourist trap' were used by tourists to sum up their experience. Skansen leads the list, with over 180 negative reviews.
- Skansen
- ABBA - The Museum
- Vasa Museum
- Photographic Centre
- Drottningholm Castle
- The Royal Palace
- Universeum, Gothenburg
- Lilla Torg in Malmö
- Öresund Bridge / Stockholm City Hall
- Historical Museum
Lots of ski and music events at SkiStar this spring
During March and April, SkiStar invites you to a range of different events at all ski destinations in Sweden and Norway. From spectacular skiing competitions to great music experiences. Here are some of the spring events:
Åre:
- Audi Fis Ski World Cup (8-9 March)
- Rix FM in Åre (27-29 March)
- The interceptor (28-30 March)
- Red Bull Homerun (17-20 April)
- Åre Sessions 2025 (30 April-4 May)
Vemdalen:
- Steilhang Race by EQPE in Klövsjö (27-29 March)
- The Vemdals final (24-27 April)
Sälen:
- The Dream Mountains (27-29 March, Högfjällshotellet)
- Star FM in Sälen (3-6 April)
- SkiStar Winter Games Sälen (10-13 April)
- Up the Wall by EQPE (19 April)
- Ski & Rock (24-27 April)
Hemsedal:
- Snowboard NM (5-6 April)
- SkiStar Winter Games (24-27 April)
- Wintering Hemsedal (2-4 May)
Trysil:
- European Cup in slopestyle (2-5 April)
- Winter end Trysil (24-27 April)
- BUSI Tour by Birk Ruud (26 April)
- Banked Slalom by Helene Olafsen (26 April)
Thailand trendier than ever - TV series fuelling demand
At TUI, bookings to Thailand have increased by 20 per cent this winter compared to last year. For winter 25/26, bookings are already up 63 per cent compared to last year. Since the premiere of the third season of the TV series The White Lotus TUI has seen an increase in traffic to the product pages for Koh Samui by 44 per cent.
The travel company has also seen a surge in Google searches for the series' filming locations. Those who want to stay close to the filming locations can choose TUI BLUE The Passage.
How to find the best price for your summer holiday - according to Ticket
Dreaming of a sunny summer holiday but worried about the cost? The travel experts at travel agency Ticket share their top tips for finding affordable holidays. 5 smart ways to travel cheaper this summer according to Ticket:
- Travel before the end of the school year - Temperatures are already pleasant in the Mediterranean, but prices are still lower.
- Aim for August - Prices often fall when school starts.
- Keep track of campaigns - Many airlines and charter operators offer discounts and promotions.
- Book last minute when the weather is good - When the weather is good in Sweden, fewer people book holidays, which can push prices down.
- Consider alternative destinations - Look at travelling to, for example Albania, Bulgaria or lesser known Greek islands.
Reflection of the week
Most bad reviews? Well, maybe, but that's probably also because these attractions are big and get a lot of reviews... right?
"Travel before the end of school"... well, we're talking about those who don't have school-age children, right?
Did you miss the last travel news? Read the Lighthouse cruise, festival train and sports capital
You might also like:
Elmia cancelled and positive forecast for Swedish tourism
Direct flights, camping app with community and April Fool's jokes
Reduced interest in these trips - and this is where Swedes are travelling?
Christmas destinations and the Baltic Sea's new pleasure cruisers
Trend report, super swing and the world's 25 best travel destinations
Christmas markets, festive hotels and a magical dining experience
English (UK) 
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Polski
Netti Starby says:
Semlor has really become expensive and what interesting to see differences in prices. Hugs <3
03 March 2025 - 6:14
Helena says:
Buns in a pastry shop are expensive ... but delicious! 😉
03 March 2025 - 14:04
Monnah says:
I made the same reflection as you when I read the list of tourist attractions with bad reviews. These are places that I like, all of them actually! I think you should go to Skansen when the weather is nice, but I like all outdoor activities. The ABBA museum was so much fun for me and my daughter when we were there. When little sister came to the castle with her aunt and uncle, she started crying because it was BROWN and did not have a single tower anywhere. If you have those expectations, I understand the disappointment, but the exhibitions are absolutely amazing? Fun list, anyway. I bake the semlor myself. I've always liked homemade ones much better and have never had a shop-bought semla that was tastier than my own. (Hello hubris!!!) I feel sorry for the bakeries in Stockholm that do not come in the top layer and therefore lose potential customers, undeservedly.
03 March 2025 - 8:10
Helena says:
Yes, that list of bad reviews is a bit hard to understand... Of course, big attractions with a lot of visitors also get some negative reviews, so it's not surprising. The question is how many positive ones they get, in comparison? Homemade buns are the best, but I can't bake ... 😉
03 March 2025 - 14:06
Snows says:
I have to say I'm a bit surprised by that list of bad reviews but hey, it's all a matter of taste. Lilla Torg in Malmö is just one place with several restaurants so I am surprised that it is included.
I've had a Shrove Tuesday bun this year but boy have they been expensive. A simple wheat bun with cream shouldn't have to cost so much...
03 March 2025 - 8:38
Ditte says:
Was also surprised by the list of disappointing sights - but perhaps the result would have been much more different if another company had done the survey. Now we have not seen the questions and how they were asked. In any case, I can answer that the attractions listed in Stockholm very often have good reviews and are very well visited, not least among Asian tourists and many from Europe. Wondering which target group Preppy was aimed at, would be nice to know. Was it Swedes, Scandinavians or others. And with so many bad reviews, these destinations would not be so popular. Take a sing-along evening at Skansen. Not an empty seat. Many foreign visitors who use euros also think Sweden is cheap.
As for the sights in other places, many people also seem to wonder about the outcome.
03 March 2025 - 13:28
Hanneles book paradise says:
Didn't think the size was important.... saw tiny buns at the centre, but had already bought RED ones to share.
03 March 2025 - 15:43
JoY says:
I don't really understand the negative list, wondering what the questions were etc, think all the places in Stockholm are good. Gothenburg and Malmö I know nothing about.
There seems to be a lot going on up in the mountains, would be fun to watch slopestyle in Trysil.
Semlor is good, usually bake but have not done it, become purchase bun that I have filled. And then we have the bakery nearby that makes the tastiest semla according to me, at a cost of 45:-.
Now I do not understand what happened, your blog posts are not updated with me and you post new every day, It was like that a few weeks ago and suddenly the order was restored but now it is not updated. The technology seems to be failing.
03 March 2025 - 19:33
BP says:
Thought of you today when I saw that the buns at Lidl cost SEK 29.90 for two. Did not buy them as they looked like it had passed the best before date long ago. But as you know, you get what you pay for ...
I'm not really surprised that Skansen is first on the "black" list, but I wouldn't have guessed that second, third and fourth would be so high up.
Then it always depends on the age group that "voted" and what you prioritise when you go to different attractions.
03 March 2025 - 20:01
pilla says:
Bought a Ritorno semla yesterday and oh so good! my favourite cafe in sthlm but the price OMG! lucky you don't invite a family
04 March 2025 - 7:45
Annika says:
Buns by the kilo today. Buns are expensive, but good. However, I can't believe I didn't eat more than one roll when I was home for over a month in Jan-Feb. But I was not hungry. Ate a single one, from a patisserie in Vasastan, and it was not even particularly good.
But how funny about the list of places that received the most complaints. Skansen? Incomprehensible.
The Abba museum too...no idea.
The Vasa Museum, I can partly understand (because I find it very boring myself)
I do not understand what is happening in Stockholm. All those places are wonderful in my opinion.
And yes, I can believe that Thailand is attracting interest now after White Lotus. That series has that tendency.
GOOD that you told me that you approve comments before publishing. I missed that. But now I know 🙂
04 March 2025 - 15:39
Sara in Barcelona says:
I don't have many types of semolina to choose from here in Barcelona, but the one I buy here is very good, with handmade almond paste etc, and it costs 3.75 euros, which in SEK is 41.86, so a little cheaper here then 🙂
Hugs!
04 March 2025 - 18:31