Stockholm, Sweden’s stunningly beautiful capital city, is known as the Venice of the North. Spread across 14 islands within an archipelago where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic Sea, the various parts of the city are connected by 57 bridges. This Nordic gem is one of contrasts, with charming medieval alleyways and buildings, sophisticated modern architecture, landscaped parks and grand tree-lined boulevards, all surrounded by some of the most beautiful natural beauty in Europe.
I recently made my first trip back to Stockholm in nearly 30 years. During the early 90s, I spent several months in this beautiful city researching and writing my graduate school thesis, focused on the urban planning aspects of the various New Town suburbs built outside the city. I was anxious to visit the home I lived in, and see how much the city had changed since then. I was pleasantly surprised to find that not much has changed at all. The city still possesses the same natural beauty, culture and elegance that I remembered, but with a 21st century vibe.
Founded in the 13th century, Stockholm became Sweden’s official capital in 1634 and has since grown into the political, cultural, and economic heart of the country. Stockholm offers something for every traveler, from historic sites, world class museums, charming neighborhoods, galleries, and parks, promising a memorable experience.
Stockholm Area Attractions
Norrmalm (Central Business District) – A good place to start any visit to Stockholm is in Norrmalm, the city’s bustling central business district. Here, visitors will find a vibrant mix of cultural, commercial, and historical attractions, with a blend of modern and historic architecture. It’s home to the Stockholm Central Station, the iconic Sergels Torg square (a high activity pedestrian plaza sunken below the surrounding streets), and the Drottninggatan pedestrian street, which stretches over a mile and is lined with shops, department stores, cafes, and restaurants. It also boasts significant cultural institutions like the Stockholm Concert Hall and the Royal Swedish Opera. Just past the opera house along Strömgatan is the Kungsträdgården (King’s Garden) park, a beautiful urban oasis dating to the 17th century, full of colorful gardens, cherry trees, ornate fountains, cafes and restaurants. Concerts are held regularly during the summer. Continuing along the waterfront promenade, past the iconic Grand Hotel Stockholm, is the National Museum, an art museum with a vast collection of paintings, sculptures, and drawings dating from the 16th century and onward. Past the museum, a pedestrian bridge leads to Skeppsholmen Island, which is home to the Moderna Museet (Modern Museum). The museum houses an impressive collection of modern and contemporary art, featuring works by Picasso, Dalí, and Matisse, among others. The island is also home to AF Chapman, a 19th century full rigged steel ship that is now used as a hostel. In fact, when I first arrived in Stockholm in 1991, I stayed a few days at this hostel.
Gamla Stan (Old Town) – The old town area of Stockholm is known as Gamla Stan, which is located on an island situated between Norrmalm to the north, and trendy Södermalm island to the south. Founded in the 13th century, Gamla Stan contains a labyrinth of narrow, cobblestone streets, medieval buildings, and charming squares. Stortorget is the oldest square in the city, bustling with activity and surrounded by colorful townhouses. Gamla Stan is packed with cafés, restaurants, tourist shops, studios, galleries and museums, including one of Stockholm’s oldest restaurants Den Gyldene Freden, opened in 1722 and famed for its traditional Swedish fare. Notable landmarks include the Royal Palace, one of the largest palaces in Europe, the Stockholm Cathedral, the Nobel Prize Museum and the Post Museum.
The Royal Palace – The Royal Palace is the official residence of the Swedish monarch, and the setting for most of the monarchy’s official receptions. The palace contains over 600 rooms, and holds several museums, including the Royal Apartments, the Treasury, and the Armory. Visitors can witness the Changing of the guard which takes place every day during Spring and Summer just after noon (and 1:15pm on Sundays). During summer, you listen to a military band and see the horse parade.
Öostermalm – Just east of the central business district is the upscale Öostermalm neighborhood. Here is where you’ll find some of Stockholm’s most expensive residences, along with upscale shopping and dining. It is also home to the Swedish History Museum and the Army Museum. Traversing through the center of Öostermalm is Karlavägen, a wide tree lined boulevard containing a linear park, and lined with handsome buildings in the Art Nouveau, Neo-Baroque and French Renaissance styles. The boulevard leads westward to Humlegården, a beautiful park that is popular with business people and local residents.
Skansen Open Air Museum – Adjacent Öostermalm is Djurgården Island, which houses numerous sites. The most popular is the 75 acre Skansen Museum, the world’s oldest open-air museum, showcasing Sweden’s history and culture. Visitors can stroll through historic 19th century buildings and homesteads from different parts of Sweden, meet Nordic animals, and enjoy traditional Swedish folk music and dance performances. Craftsmen in traditional dress demonstrate various techniques in shoe making, tannery, silversmithing, baking and glass blowing. Skansen also contains a zoo with a wide variety of Scandinavian animals.
Vasa Museum – The maritime themed Vasa Museum is also located on Djurgården. The museum is home to the Vasa ship, a almost fully intact 17th-century warship that sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 and salvaged 333 years later. The museum offers an intriguing look at maritime history and the painstaking efforts to preserve this historical treasure. The ship can be viewed from six levels, from her keel to the very top of the sterncastle.
ABBA Museum – The ABBA museum plays homage to Sweden’s most famous pop group. Visitors are likely to walk in and dance out. Located on Djurgården, the ABBA Museum offers a fun and immersive experience with exhibits on the band’s history, costumes, and music. A recording studio allows visitors to sing along to their best hits.
Stadshuset (City Hall) – Famous for hosting the Nobel Prize banquet, the Stockholm City Hall (known as Stadshuset) is an architectural masterpiece located just west of the central business district. Visitors can take a guided tour to explore its magnificent halls, adorned with artworks. The Golden Hall is completely covered in mosaics that present allegories of events and persons from Swedish history. The City Hall’s 300 foot tower is adorned with three crowns, and visitors can climb the tower for breathtaking views of the city. The city hall is also home to the Nobel Prize ceremonies held annually in the mammoth Blue Hall.
Södermalm – South of Gamla Stan is one of Stockholm’s trendiest neighborhoods, Södermalm. The neighborhood is home to hipsters and creative individuals, and is full of boutiques, vintage stores, eclectic shops, design stores, galleries, restaurants and cafes. For the best panoramic views of Stockholm, head to Monteliusvägen, a scenic walking path on the heights of Södermalm. The path offers stunning vistas of Lake Mälaren, the City Hall, and the Riddarholmen Church. It’s a perfect spot for a leisurely stroll, especially at sunset.
Fotografiska – Fotografiska is one of the world’s largest and most influential photography museums. Situated in the Södermalm neighborhood, it hosts rotating exhibitions by renowned photographers and emerging talents. After exploring the exhibits, enjoy a meal at the museum’s award-winning restaurant with panoramic views of Stockholm.
Drottningholm Palace – Drottningholm Palace, located on the island of Lovön, serves as the private residence of the Swedish royal family and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. The palace, built in the late 17th century, is renowned for its beautifully preserved baroque architecture, expansive French-style gardens, and significant cultural heritage. Visitors are particularly drawn to the Drottningholm Court Theatre, one of the oldest still-operating theaters in Europe, and the Chinese Pavilion, an exquisite example of rococo style. With its rich history and stunning surroundings, Drottningholm offers a glimpse into Sweden’s regal past and architectural splendor. A fun and leisurely way to reach the palace is by boat, which leaves regularly from the Klara Mälarstrand ferry terminal. The one-way trip takes approximately one hour, offering beautiful views of Lake Mälaren and its surroundings.
Swedish Cuisine
Swedish cuisine is quite delicious, and has regional differences between the northern and southern half of the country. To the north, meats such as reindeer and other game dishes are more common, such as tjälknöl (reindeer fillet with stirred lingonberries and pickled mushrooms). In the south, fresh vegetables play a greater role. Perhaps the best known dish is Swedish meatballs, known as köttbullar. They are typically served with mashed potatoes and a side of lingonberries or lingonberry jam. We had a delicious dinner of Swedish meatballs dinner at Nomad, located on Vasagaten, in Norrmalm.
Other popular dishes include meat stew, pea soup, potato dumplings and pancakes. A crispbread, known as knäckebröd is typically served with meals. Seafood is very popular, including cured salmon, pickled herring, and crayfish.
Open faced sandwiches are also very popular, including shrimp sandwiches known asräksmörgås. They include a slice of bread topped with a pile of shrimp, slices of hard boiled egg, lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and topped with crème fraiche, dill and roe.
The famous Swedish smörgåsbord includes a buffet of both hot and cold dishes, including seafood, hard boiled eggs, cold meats, meatballs, sausages, cheeses, spiced cabbage and various salads.
The “fika” tradition is one of the major Swedish culinary customs in which you take a break and enjoy a social moment with coffee and a piece of cake or pastry. A variety of pastries are displayed in bakeries, including cinnamon buns, delicious cardamom buns, and custard cream and almond stuffed pastries. A favorite dessert is known as princess cake, which is a sponge cake lined with jam and vanilla custard, whipped cream, and topped with a green colored marzipan coating.
Getting Around Stockholm
Stockholm boasts a comprehensive public transportation system comprising a vast metro rail system known as the Tunnelbana, buses, trams, and ferries, making it easy to navigate the city and its surroundings. The city is also bicycle-friendly, with extensive bike lanes and rental options.
Getting To and from the Airport – The city’s central train station (Stockholm Central Station) is located in the central business district. It is from here that visitors can access the Arlanda Express trains that go to Arlanda Airport. Tickets can be purchased online (and are less expensive than purchasing at the station), and are valid up to 90 days from purchase. Taxis and buses are also available to access Arlanda.
Public Transit – Stockholm’s metro system has been operating since 1950, and has grown to include 100 stations. The city’s main metro station is named T-Centralen, and is located adjacent to Stockholm Central Station. From here, patrons can access all three rail lines (blue, red and green) that extend to the city’s various neighborhoods and satellite cities. Users can purchase tickets in advance online, at convenience shops, at station ticket machines or at the ticket booth by credit card or cash. The tickets offer a limited amount of time (roughly 75 minutes) for travel, including transfers. Make sure you have built enough time as security will check your ticket. Alternatively, there are 24-hour, 72-hour, 7-day and 30-day tickets available.
The Stockholm metro system has been called ‘the world’s longest art gallery’,[5] with more than 90 of the network’s 100 stations decorated with sculptures, rock formations, mosaics, paintings, installations, engravings and reliefs by over 150 different artists.
Locals take the Waxholmsbolaget ferries to the islands. It runs regular boat and ferry services across the entire region. Tickets are purchased on board the ferries and are paid by Visa/Mastercard (no cash).
Another ferry company that is more focused on tourists is Strömma Kanalbolaget which offers cruises, activities and sightseeing tours along Lake Mälaren and the surrounding archipelago.
Taxis and Ridesharing – Taxis and ridesharing companies such as Bolt and Uber are also available in Stockholm.
Getting around by foot or by bike is also easy and the best way to enjoy the surroundings. There are numerous bike rental companies available throughout the city.