Stockholm, Sweden
This ancient yet evolved Nordic destination effortlessly blends all the innovations of a modern city, from New Nordic cuisine to Gram-worthy streets at every turn, with its proud roots as a harbor city on an archipelago at the mouth of the Baltic Sea. First-time visitors need not be intimidated; Stockholm is approachable and relatively easy to explore, even for the uninitiated. And while you’d be in good company were you to plan a trip with no real plan, strolling the streets or intentionally getting lost, there are plenty of spots you simply cannot pass up, from the art museums to the Rosendals Garden and a surprisingly located – and surprisingly popular – amusement park.
Know Before You Go
Stadshuset
The Stockholm City Hall is located in the eastern tip of the Kungsholmen island. It’s a prominent feature of the Stockholm city skyline and waterfront, thereby naturally becoming a real tourist magnet. It houses offices, conference rooms and ceremony halls, the most famous of which is The Blue Hall where the annual Nobel Prize banquet is held. There are daily guided tours in both swedish and english, as well as brochures containing the same information in around 30 languages.
Globen
Ericsson Globe, Stockholm Globe Arena or just Globen (“the globe”), is an indoor arena and with its impressive diameter of 110 meters (361 feet) and an inner height of 85 meters (279 feet), it’s the largest hemispherical building on Earth. This arena is used for many things: ice hockey and basketball games, concerts and performances and was for many years the place where the final of Melodifestivalen (where the swedish representative of that year’s Eurovision Song Contest was chosen) took place. Want to see what the view from the top looks like? Skyview takes you to the top of Globen, where you can enjoy a 360 degree unobstructed view of magical Stockholm!
Wasa Museum
You’ll find the Wasa Museum on the beautiful island of Djurgården. It’s a maritime museum showcasing the only (almost) fully intact 17th century ship ever salvaged. After only about 1,300 m (1,400 yd) into her maiden voyage, Vasa sank in the busy Stockholm harbor in 1628. This tremendous misfortune was due to the ship’s unstable construction; it was too heavy in the upper structure of the hull. Since the opening of the museum in 1990, it is the most visited museum in Scandinavia.
Skansen
Skansen (“the sconce”) is the first open-air museum and zoo in Sweden, opening in 1891 as a way to showcase life in Sweden before the industrial era. Here you can experience what life was like in a typical swedish 19th-century town, with craftsmen such as shoemakers, silversmiths, glass-blowers and bakers demonstrating their skills. Another part of the museum is the open-air zoo, containing mostly typical Scandinavian animals. In the summer it’s a popular choice for celebrating Midsummer, and in the winter it hosts the annual traditional Christmas market, attracting around 25,000 visitors each weekend. Skansen has a special place in every Stockholmer’s heart!
ABBA
I don’t think there are many people who haven’t sung along to one of ABBA’s songs; whether it’s been on a high school dance back in the 70s or 80s, a theme party, a night out or cosied up on the sofa watching “Mamma Mia”. Whatever your memory with ABBA might be, this museum will take you right into their world of music. Located in Djurgården, this interactive exhibition (not actually a museum, despite its name!) offers the visitor to experience some of the group’s most famous moments and performances throughout their career.
Stockholm Archipelago
The Stockholm Archipelago is made up of around 30,000 islands, islets, and skerries, two-thirds of which are inhabited by 10,000 permanent residents. The archipelago is very popular among Stockholmers, having around 50,000 summer houses scattered among the islands. In the area, which reaches about 80km (50 miles) east into the Baltic Sea, you’ll find many quaint coastal towns of varying sizes, luxurious spas and retreats and traditional Swedish gourmet restaurants. Among the many thousands of islands you can experience island-hopping, enjoy some fresh seafood, go water skiing, camp on the beach or just take a chill moment to catch your breath and feel the salty breeze on your skin.
Can’t-Miss Neighborhoods
Östermalm
Östermalm is both a lively district and a high-class residential area. Around Stureplan you’ll find the biggest concentration of nightclubs and bars in the whole city. Bibliotekstan is Stockholm's most luxurious shopping area with both exclusive international brands and local high-end stores. Feeling a little stressed? Why not take a relaxing afternoon at Sturebadet, a bath house in the middle of Stureplan. Hungry? Why not pay a visit to Östermalmshallen - an abundant experience for all senses. Finish off the day by enjoying a glass of wine at the waterfront along Strandvägen. You’re also just a bridge-crossing away from the island of Djurgården, where you’ll find many museums, the amusement park Gröna Lund, the open-air museum and zoo Skansen and Rosendals Trädgård, among many things.
Gamla Stan
Gamla Stan (literally “Old Town”) is where the city of Stockholm was actually founded all the way back in 1252. It’s one of Europe’s oldest and best preserved medieval city centers and of course one of Stockholm’s main tourist attractions. It’s a lively island of narrow cobbled streets and colorful buildings, giving Old Town it’s unique character. There are two main streets - Västerlånggatan and Österlånggatan - full of cafes, restaurants, bars and souvenir shops, but taking a stroll down a winding side street or two will guarantee the most authentic experience of Gamla Stan’s atmosphere. On this island you’ll also find some must-sees such as The Royal Palace, Storkyrkan (Stockholm Cathedral/Church of St. Nicholas) and Stortorget, the location for Stockholm Bloodbath in 1520 and also the square where the famous Christmas market has been held every year since 1837.
Södermalm
Södermalm is both an island and a district in the southern parts of the city centre, known to be the cool and hip part of town. Here you’ll find small shops, award-winning restaurants and art museums wherever you turn. Between Söder Mälarstrand in the north with some of the best views and bars in Stockholm, to the lush park of Tantolunden in the west and the many cosy cafes and unique boutiques in the east, there is definitely something for everyone on the beautiful island of “Söder”.
When to Go
Stockholm’s at its best in the summer, from May-September, when all that the city has to offer really starts to shine. Some of the locals’ favorite things to do in the city, such as enjoying a drink at one of the many rooftop bars, enjoying a dinner with friends along the water, going for a walk in one of the city’s hiking trails or spending the afternoon kayaking is most enjoyed with blue skies and warm weather.
The wintertime however, also has a lot to offer, with traditional Christmas markets, glögg-stands and skiing possibilities – all without leaving the city!
Featured Local:
Ruta Mozuraityte
I’m Ruta, a coffee-lover-turned-barista also working part-time as a paralegal based in the lovely city of Stockholm. Having lived here for almost 20 years (I moved from Lithuania when I was a kid), I’ve been able to both call this beautiful city a home and constantly feel the urge to explore new nooks and corners to add to my city favorites. Traveling has always been a huge part of my life, whether it’s been for vacation or a new place to live (I’ve visited 18 countries so far), the wanderer in me never seems to get enough! My other passions include enjoying delicious food and wine with dear friends, reading gripping literature in the sun and caring for this one and only planet we have the honor to call our home.
Ruta’s Must-Dos
Djurgården
If there’s one thing Swedes like to do no matter the weather or season, it’s going for walks. Apart from having fika, going for a walk with a friend to catch up is a very typical thing to do. While you’ll be getting some fresh air and light exercise, you can enjoy the beautiful surroundings Stockholm has to offer. Djurgården is a typical place to go for a stroll; its central location makes it easily accessible and gives an opportunity to visit other places nearby. It’s actually the island where you’ll find Skansen and many museums like the Vasa Museum, the museum of modern art (Moderna Museet), and the ABBA museum, just to name a few. (If you prefer a walk in nature, I highly suggest Haga, located on the edge of the northern part of the city.)
Vaxholm
You can get to Vaxholm either by taking the bus from Tekniska högskolan or by boat/ferry from the city central. The boat ride takes 45-75 min depending on the boat and offers a perfect voyage through the many isles that make up Stockholm and its outer parts. Once there, there are numerous boutiques and local restaurants and cafes to enjoy! A must to see is Vaxholm castle/fortress, which has been of military importance since it was built.
More of Stockholm
STHLM Brunch Club
When Sthlm Brunch Club opened its doors, the brunch scene in Stockholm was pretty much nonexistent. With its somewhat (hidden) location in the Vasastan part of Stockholm, it became a purposeful destination. Offering all of the traditional brunch dishes like American pancakes, eggs Benedict and avocado toasts, it became a great hit already from the start! Nowadays their menu has more variety than in the beginning, but it’s a safe bet for a delicious brunch. Be aware of their major popularity though - don’t come during their busiest hours of 10.30-13.30, unless you don’t mind a bit of a wait!
Skepparholmen Spa
Skepparholmen Spa (as well as others like Yasuragi) is located in the eastern parts of Stockholm, in an area called Nacka Strand. Depending on your mode of transport, it takes somewhere between 25-45 min from the city central to get there. As the name suggests, the area is located on the bigger outer islands of the city, with beautiful views over the water. Enjoy a peaceful and relaxing day or weekend to recharge at one of the spas here!
Ambar
Ambar is a totally unpretentious wine bar in Stockholm where great wines and spirits meet izakaya and Britpop – the perfect combination! The owners are very protective of not becoming too well-known on the Stockholm foodie map, which makes this the perfect, most unpretentious wine bar in St. Eriksplan. Go here to drink some really good wines and maybe try some Japanese spirits while eating one plate after another from their (small) Japanese- and Chinese-inspired food menu. Expect to enjoy a stellar drink list served in a casual and friendly way by a true drink enthusiast!
