Stockholm Travel Guide
Sweden’s capital – a Nordic vision of waterways, parks and spire-filled skylines – is justifiably renowned as one of the most handsome cities in Europe. Spread over no less than fourteen islands and surrounded by literally thousands of smaller, rocky islets, it combines the drama and open skies of Scandinavia with the verve, dynamism and urban cool of Western Europe.
As with any destination of this scope (there are nearly 1 million residents in the city), the soul of the place lies in its many faces: the stucco walls of the Old Town, the contemporary pulse of the galleries and the consumerist buzz of the shopping heartlands. Then there are the peaceful parklands, the thumping bass of the nightlife and the gourmet draw of the restaurants.
Stockholm’s location on the shores of the Baltic Sea means that visitors can experience both a beautiful summer evening and the winter charm of its frozen lakes and snow-fringed skylines. In fact, the city is known as Isdrottning (Ice Queen) by Swedes from the provinces, though this is more a dig at the capital’s perceived sense of self-importance rather than its wintry weather.
“You wonder what it thinks it is doing there, looking so important,” said the legendary Swedish auteur Ingmar Bergman, who thought of Stockholm more as a “large village” than a city, set as it is amidst forest and lakes. It’s true that modern Stockholm maintains a unique character, which is one of the reasons tourists keep coming in the face of stiff competition from other urban destinations in Europe. On top of the city’s exhibitions, museums and concerts, it enjoys a deeply romantic setting of well-preserved medieval architecture, sweeping water vistas and lively nightlife.
As for Stockholm’s famous cutting-edge design, you’ll find it standing proud with modernist high-rises and boutique fashion houses, as well as sleek museums and baroque facades. Ultimately, though, for a city two-thirds comprised of water and parks, Bergman’s words ring true. Despite being the most populated urban area in Scandinavia, Stockholm is so green and natural that it hardly feels like a city at all.
Stockholm’s earliest years are unclear but according to the Eric Chronicles, it was founded by Birger Jarl to protect Sweden from invasion. The earliest mention of its name dates back to the middle of the 13th century, by which time it had become the largest city in Sweden.
During the years of the Kalmar Union which united Sweden with Norway and Denmark, it became a key trading port, although relations with the Danes were often strained and there were a number of violent conflicts. In 1497, the Hans of Denmark succeeded in taking Stockholm, and for the next two decades, the city pinged between Danish and Swedish ownership before the conflict between the two nations culminated in a particularly gory clash in 1520 known as the Stockholm Bloodbath. Danish King Christian II executed 100 nobles and clergymen, many of whom were decapitated.
With the ascent to the Swedish throne of Gustav Vasa in 1523, Stockholm’s fortunes changed, with the Danes beaten back to Copenhagen and the city once again becoming a hub for Swedish life. Vasa also oversaw a building boom in the wake of the fire that destroyed much of the city centre in 1625. Nine years later, Stockholm was proclaimed capital of Sweden, but endured a troubled period. In 1710, over a third of Stockholm’s population died of bubonic plague and the city stagnated.
Scientific and artistic breakthroughs in the late 18th and 19th centuries, however, heralded the constructions of many of the fine buildings still standing today. Swift industrialisation followed, and within a few years of the city hosting the 1912 Olympic Games, Stockholm was home to more than 350,000 people whose houses now spilled out into the archipelago.
The physical expansion of the city was reflected by a stronger finance sector, and by the 1980s the krona had become a powerful currency. Today, Stockholm remains the hub for Swedish financial and cultural life, and its most popular tourist destination to boot.
Stockholm’s name translates as ‘Log Island’.
Stockholm established the world’s first national urban park in 1995 when it unveiled the Royal National City Park.
Founded in 1891, the Skansen was the world’s first open-air museum.
Stockholm has a humid continental climate.
Summer is from June until August,
Winter is November until March. Average temperature in the summer is around 16°C (61°F), with highs of 22°C (71°F). Average temperature in the winter is -2°C (28°F), with highs of 0.5°C (33°F). Snowfall occurs mainly from December through March, but can start as early as October.
Due to the northerly latitude, daylight varies from more than 18 hours around midsummer to about 6 hours in December, making Stockholm sunnier than Paris or London. During the summer months, Stockholm is one also of the warmest cities in Northern Europe. Light rainfall can occur at any time, and there are around 170 wet days a year, so whenever you choose to come, it’s advisable to bring wet-weather clothing as a precaution.
Getting around Stockholm
Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL)
Telephone: +46 8600 1000
Website: www.sl.se runs Stockholm’s well-integrated network of metros, commuter trains, buses and trams.
The metro (tunnelbana, or T-bana) is the core of the system (stations are marked with a blue ‘T’ on a white background) and is integrated with the commuter train service, although services on the latter are less frequent. There are not many trams left in the city, although visitors might find the vintage Djurgårdslinjen (tram 7) a useful novelty, as it passes many city sights.
The bus network is far more comprehensive, with a good inner-city service and some handy connections to attractions in the suburbs. Most tickets are loaded onto the SL Access smartcard. You can load these with single tickets or travelcards valid for 24 or 72 hours.
Taxis can be hailed on the street or ordered by telephone from
Taxi Stockholm
Telephone: +46 8 150 000
Taxi Kurir
Telephone: +46 7 7186 0000
Computer/radio taxis can also be ordered online and accept major credit cards as payment. Taxis have higher rates for evenings and weekends. Tips are usually included in the fare.
Scattered over 14 islands and governed by strict speed limits, Stockholm is not an ideal city for drivers – or at least those drivers unfamiliar with the layout. There is a congestion charge scheme in place and petrol prices are high. Visitors might be better advised to use the excellent public transport system instead. The main car park in the centre is the Galleriangaraget, at the Gallerian complex, Hamngatan 37, which has in excess of 1,200 car parking spaces.
Q-Park
Website: www.q-park.se provides a website, complete with maps, which focuses on parking in Stockholm.
Stockholm Parkering
Telephone: +46 8772 9600
Website: www.stockholmparkering.se offers many parking facilities in the city.
A cheaper alternative if you’re planning on arriving early in the morning (before 09:00) is to leave your car at one of several park-and-ride car parks just outside the city limits and use public transport to reach the centre. These car parks are priced reasonably and there are more than 20 scattered around Stockholm, offering over 3,000 parking spaces. Be aware that parking meters in Stockholm almost never take cash, and that foreign credit or debit cards may be rejected. There will usually be information on the meter on how to download an app to your smartphone for online payment.
There’s a good network of bike paths around Stockholm, and during summer in particular, it’s an appealing way of getting around. The city’s bikeshare system is called
City Bikes
Telephone: +46 7 7444 2424
Website: www.citybikes.se and is available between the 1st of April and the 31st of October.
A bike card is needed to use the service, and can be bought in either a three-day or season-long form. In addition
Rent a Bike
Telephone: +46 8660 7959
Website: www.rentbike.se
Cykelstället
Address: Scheelegatan 15.
Telephone: +46 8651 0066
Website: www.cykelstallet.se both provide bicycle and scooter hire.
Gamla Stans Cykel
Address: Stora Nygatan 44.
Telephone: +46 8411 1670
Website: www.gamlastanscykel.se also offers bike hire in the Old Town.
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Things to see in Stockholm
Attractions
This spellbinding Old Town is one of the largest, best-kept medieval neighbourhoods in all of Europe. With colourful buildings dating back to the 13th century, it features sights, restaurants, bars and plenty of places to buy authentic, handcrafted souvenirs. It is also home to the Stockholm Cathedral, the Nobel Museum and the stunning Royal Palace.
Address: Stockholm.
Opening times: Daily 24 hours.
Website: www.stockholmgamlastan.se
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
One of the most entertaining museums in Stockholm, ABBA: The Museum is dedicated to the famous pop group and, along with exhibitions covering their back catalogue, wardrobe and touring habits, also boasts a dancefloor where fans can dance and sing along to the band’s classic tunes.
Address: Östermalm, Djurgårdsvägen 68, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8 1213 2860
Opening times: Daily 10:00-18:00.
Website: www.abbathemuseum.com
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
One of Sweden’s most popular museums, the Vasa Museum remembers the ill-fated warship Vasa, which sunk to the bottom of Stockholm harbour just minutes after beginning her maiden voyage in 1628. Displays recreate life on board the ship and a film shows how the salvage operation was carried out.
Address: Djurgården, Galärvarvsvägen 14, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8 5195 4880
Opening times: Daily 10:00-17:00.
Website: www.vasamuseet.se
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Voted by the Swedes as the country’s finest building, Stockholm’s City Hall was built in 1911, following an art nouveau design by Ragnar Östberg. The building’s Blue Hall (which is actually red) is the venue for the annual Nobel Prize banquet. Visitors need to join one of the scheduled tours to see the interior and access the tower.
Address: Kungsholmen, Hantverkargatan 1, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8 5082 9000
Opening times: Daily 08:30-16:30.
Website: www.stadshuset.stockholm
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
- Kungliga Slottet (Royal Palace)
Situated in the heart of Stockholm, the Royal Palace is the official residence of the Swedish Monarchy and the chief venue for official state events. With 608 rooms, it is among the largest surviving palaces in Europe. The changing of the guard at the palace is as much of a spectacle in Stockholm as it is in London.
Address: Gamla Stan, Slottsbacken, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8402 6000
Opening times: Daily 10:00-16:00.
Website: www.kungahuset.se
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
- Historiska Museet (Museum of National Antiquities)
Sweden’s national historical museum is one of the biggest museums in the country and it traces the nation’s past from prehistoric times to the present day through several highlights, including the spectacular Gold Room which houses the gold of the Viking chiefs. These hoards, recovered from tombs or hiding places, show Scandinavian Viking culture at its most prosperous and magnificent. It also has one of the finest European collections of medieval painted wooden religious sculptures.
Address: Östermalm, Narvavägen 13-17, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8 5195 5600
Opening times: Tue-Sun 11:00-17:00.
Website: www.historiska.se
Admission Fees: No
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
- Skansen (Open-air Museum and Zoological Park)
This open-air museum and zoo on Djurgården was founded in 1891 with the aim of preserving Sweden’s rural culture. It is Stockholm’s most visited museum and contains some 160 historic wooden farms and houses from across Sweden. The farms have their own animals and there is also a zoo and an aquarium.
Address: Djurgården, Djurgårdsslätten 49-51, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8442 8000
Opening times: Daily 10:00-15:00.
Website: www.skansen.se
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Carl Milles (1875-1955), the best known Swedish sculptor of the 20th century, lived at Millesgården, now a museum and garden dedicated to the artist himself. All of his major works are here, and they sit alongside his own personal collection of art from Ancient Greece and Rome (unique in Sweden).
Address: Lidingö, Herserudsvägen 32, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8446 7590
Opening times: Tue-Sun 11:00-17:00.
Website: www.millesgarden.se
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
Sweden’s largest art gallery, the National Museum’s collection includes paintings, prints, sculptures and drawings ranging from the Renaissance to the 20th century. The galleries are full of exhibitions mostly of artworks from the museum’s collection and beautiful paintings and sculptures decorate the rooms alongside applied arts and design. The museum’s collection includes works by Rembrandt, Carl Larsson and Edouard Manet.
Address: Norrmalm, Södra Blasieholmshamnen 2, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8 5195 4300
Opening times: Tue-Sun 11:00-17:00.
Website: www.nationalmuseum.se
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
A vast sporting and events arena, the Ericsson Globe (known as Globen) has the dubious but nonetheless impressive honour of being the world’s largest spherical building. Events schedule aside, the attraction of most interest to visitors is SkyView, a glass gondola that carries passengers up the outside of the building’s shell.
Address: Johanneshov, Globentorget 2, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8600 9100
Opening times: Mon-Fri 09:30-18:00, Sat-Sun 09:30-16:00.
Website: www.aviciiarena.se
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: Yes
UNESCO: No
- Strindbergsmuseet (Strindberg Museum)
A tribute to one of Stockholm’s most famous cultural figures, Blå Tornet (The Blue Tower) was the last home of novelist and playwright August Strindberg from 1908 until his death in 1912. His apartment and library have been preserved in their original state and an exhibition showcases his final works.
Address: Östermalm, Drottninggatan 85, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8441 9170
Opening times: Tue-Sun 12:00-16:00.
Website: www.strindbergsmuseet.se
Admission Fees: Yes
Disabled Access: No
UNESCO: No
Tourist Offices
Address: Kulturhuset, Sergels Torg 5, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8 5082 8508
Opening times: Mon-Fri 09:00-19:00.
Website: www.visitstockholm.comThings to do in Stockholm
- Kayak the Stockholm Archipelago
Home to almost 30,000 islands, Stockholm’s vast archipelago is a slice of the seaside a stone’s throw from the city centre. Although exploring the network of pint-sized islands and teeny islets can be done via organised tours and boat trips, rent a kayak from
Dalarö Kajak
Telephone: +46 7 397 410 34
Website: www.dalarokajak.se and explore for yourself.
- See a concert in Stockholm’s stylish concert hall
In a city of such style, it is no surprise that
Stockholm Concert Hall
Telephone: +46 8 506 677 88
Website: www.konserthuset.se one of Sweden’s most notable landmarks – is so architecturally chic.
Neoclassical in design, this beautiful blue building houses the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra and plays host to annual Nobel Prize Awards Ceremony. Tours are available.
Stockholm is famous for its coffee culture and the locals regard the ritual of stopping for a slurp of the black stuff (accompanied by a cinnamon bun) with something approaching religious fervour. Known as fika by the Swedes, the experience should also involve at least half an hour of chat.
Swedes are relaxed about getting their kit off, and the city’s many public saunas offer an abundance of choice. The classic smoke sauna is fuelled by fragrant pinewood; there are several examples in Stockholm, although most are modern electricity-powered numbers. Leave your modesty at the door.
- Tuck into a Swedish smörgåsbord
The smörgåsbord is Sweden’s answer to the Middle Eastern mezze and usually includes a dollop of köttbullar (meatballs), rye bread, herring and cheese. Also worth looking out for is pyttipanna, a dish composed of chopped meat, spices and potatoes, topped with a fried egg and pickled beetroot.
Stockholm tours and excursions
Stockholm tours
Choosing to stay on land in Stockholm is like not getting your feet wet in Venice. The Stockholm Card gives free boat tours on certain services during the summer. Strömma Canal Company and Stockholm Sightseeing both run various boat tours of the city, with departure points from quays near the Royal Dramatic Theatre, the Grand Hôtel and City Hall.
Telephone: +46 8 1200 4100
Website: www.stromma.se
City Sightseeing offers a variety of bus tours departing from the Royal Opera House. The ‘Stockholm in a Nutshell’ tour (combining a 90-minute bus tour around the city centre and a one-hour boat cruise to Djurgården) is one of the most popular.
Telephone:
+46 70 624 4772
Website: www.city-sightseeing.com
Stockholm excursions
The classic excursion from Stockholm, this is a water tour of the entire surrounding archipelago, getting up close to the 24,000 islands and islets of the Stockholm Archipelago – a region famed for its wild beauty and unique atmosphere, especially in summer. The standard package stops at three or four of the most appealing islands. During summer, Strömma Canal Company operates excursions departing from Stockholm Nybroplan, including lunch, coffee, a two-course dinner and guided tours. The full-day tour lasts 11 hours.
Telephone:
+46 8 1200 4000
Website: www.stromma.se
- Drottningholms Slott (Drottningholm Palace)
Just 15km (9 miles) west of central Stockholm, Drottningholms Slott on the island of Lovön is one of the most magnificent legacies of Sweden’s imperial age, justly compared to Louis XIV’s Versailles. Now a UNESCO World Heritage site, work on the palace was begun by the great Swedish baroque architect, Nicodemus Tessin the Elder in 1662, for the dowager queen Hedwig Eleonora. Nicodemus died in 1681, and so the palace was finished by his son Nicodemus Tessin the Younger.
It is surrounded by equally splendid gardens containing the delightful Rococo Chinese Pavilion, almost a palace in itself. It also has the world’s best-preserved palace theatre, with its 18th-century stage machinery still in working order – a popular venue for summer concerts and performances. Closed to the public in winter, the palace is the official residence of King Carl XVI Gustaf and the Swedish royal family. Guided tours in English are available on request.
Telephone:
+46 8 402 6280
Website: www.kungahuset.seShopping in Stockholm
There’s an awful lot more to the Stockholm’s retail scene than plastic Viking helmets and ABBA knick-knacks. Shopping here is heavenly, thanks to the fact that the profits of Sweden’s post-war prosperity have spent decades pouring into the city’s boutiques and stores. The area around Biblioteksgatan has most major European fashion designers, while antique shops can be found around Odengatan.
For a more bohemian selection of clothing than you’d find downtown, as well as quirky design, vintage items and curios, head for Södermalm (particularly the SoFo district), where you’ll find one-off shops and boutiques selling cool and creative items, as well as buzzing cafés, restaurants and hip galleries.
The pick of Swedish arts and crafts is at Konsthantverkarna, at Södermalms Torg 4. Norrgavel, Birger Jarlsgatan 27, has a great selection of cool home furnishings. Nordiska Galleriet, Nybrogatan 11, excels in furniture design, and Designtorget, Kungsgatan 52, in eclectic curiosities.
For those interested in combining novelty value with retail therapy, meanwhile, the world’s largest IKEA sits in Skärholmen, a short distance southwest of Stockholm proper. Since opening this store in 1965, the Swedish home furnishings giant has established a presence in 28 countries around the world. There are further megastores and shopping malls in the vicinity.
Open all day at Östermalmstorg, Östermalms Saluhall is one of nothern Europe’s loveliest covered food market. Also of interest to gourmet travellers is, Glasshus, Birkagatan 8, which sells some 50 different kinds of exceedingly good ice creams and sorbets, well worth a visit on a hot summer day. Marsipanbåten, moored at Strandvägskajen 18, is the place to go if you’re a marzipan fan.
Stockholm’s best, and oldest, department store is NK (Nordiska Kompaniet), Hamngatan 18-20, which has over 100 departments, selling everything from crafts to health food. Gallerian, Hamngatan 37, and Åhléns City, Klarabergsgatan 50, also sell a bit of everything, from fashion to kitchen appliances, with lower price tags. For trendy fashion and innovative clothing and accessories, try PUB, Hötorget, where Greta Garbo once worked, or Sturegallerian on Stureplan, also home to Stockholm’s most renowned spa.
Standard Swedish shopping hours are Monday to Friday 09:00-16:00 and Saturday 09:00-14:00. In Stockholm, however, many stores are open for longer and on Sunday.
You’ll find creative souvenir outlets selling everything from designer textiles to one-off ceramics, so while you might end up having to spend a fair bit, there’s exceptional choice. Top tip: check out the city’s numerous museum shops, which stock high quality fabrics, books, jewellery and stationery.
Visitors leaving the country may reclaim the standard VAT tariff of 25% within 30 days of purchase – only available at shops displaying the ‘tax free shopping’ sign and for purchases up to Kr15,000. The receipt and unopened goods must be presented at the airport for a refund.
Global Blue
Website: www.globalblue.com/en can provide further information.
Restaurants in Stockholm
Stockholm is widely recognised as one of Europe’s most dynamic gastronomic cities, so there’s no shortage of exciting restaurants on show from those serving traditional Swedish cuisine to pop-ups selling contemporary fusion food. As you would expect from a city on the water, fish and shellfish are perennially popular and of the highest quality. Note that many restaurants are closed on Sundays, as well as in the summer months. The restaurants below have been grouped into three pricing categories:
Expensive (over Kr1,200)
Moderate (Kr400 to Kr1200)
Cheap (up to Kr400)
These prices are for an average three-course meal and a bottle of house wine or cheapest equivalent; they include sales tax but not service charges. Sales tax of 12% and any service charges are included in prices shown and bills. A 5-10% tip is normal and expected but not mandatory. As all wines are imported to Sweden, they are subject to steep price hikes and added tax, and tend to be expensive.
Expensive
Cuisine: Asian
It might have begun life as a restaurant serving bog-standard Chinese fare in the 1940’s, but the modern Berns Asiatiska is a different beast entirely. Serving a mixture of Asian cuisines, it does the best steamed dim sum in Stockholm as well as quirkier dishes based on local ingredients such as red-fish with clam broth. For the full experience, choose the nine-course set menu – either with fish and meat, or vegetarian dishes.
Address: Norrmalm, Berzelii Park 9, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8 5663 2767
Website: www.berns.se
Cuisine: Swedish
Going back to its roots since renowned chef Christer Lingström packed up and left with his two Michelin stars, Edsbacka Wärdshus is a wonderful inn-like restaurant that concentrates on traditional Swedish fare that changes with the seasons. Food has been dished up here since 1626 but it’s hard to believe it’s as good as the dry-aged steak and Iberico ham that they serve today.
Address: Sollentuna, Sollentunavägen 220, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8 1220 8980
Website: www.edsbacka.nu
- Matbaren Mathias Dahlgren
Cuisine: Swedish
Having won a Michelin star at his last restaurant, Bon Lloc, chef Mathias Dahlgren is now at the Grand Hôtel where his name and presence grace the hotel’s gourmet restaurant. The cuisine is Swedish and Baltic with wines paired with every dish. And guess what? It’s won him another two Michelin stars. Enjoy the lacto-ovo-vegetarian cuisine at Rutabaga, the organic rye bread of the Green Rabbit bakery or medium-sized meals at the bistro Matbaren.
Address: Södermalm, Blasieholmshamnen 6, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8679 3584
Website: www.mdghs.se
Moderate
Cuisine: Swedish
One of the oldest restaurants in the world, Den Gyldene Freden (translation: ‘The Golden Peace’) is an 18th-century tavern that serves up traditional Swedish home cooking with a classy, elegant twist. The restaurant is particularly famed for its souvas, thinly sliced smoked reindeer meat.
Address: Gamla Stan, Österlanggåtan 51, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8 249 760
Website: www.gyldenefreden.se
Cuisine: Knut
Knut serves Nordic food with one foot in the wilderness and the other in civilization. Both inspiration and raw materials come from the roots in Norrland. We also have a private room for parties of 12 up to 30 people, with a separate entrance from the street. It is perfect for birthday parties and corporate events, or if you want to invite the family to a secluded evening with a Nordic setting.
Address: Regeringsgatan 77, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8 304 057
Website: www.restaurangknut.se
Cuisine: Swedish
One of the trendiest places to eat in Stockholm, Rolfs Kök is where the local cognoscenti go for supper. The sparse interior veers towards minimalism, albeit very stylishly, and the food tends towards small portions of nouvelle cuisine – all of which is prepared in an open kitchen.
Address: Norrmalm, Tegnérgatan 41, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8 101 696
Website: www.rolfskok.se
Cheap
Cuisine: Fast food
Long before apps and expressways characterized the dining experience, our journey started in picturesque Norrland. In 1968, in Gällivare, Curt Bergfors and Britta Fredriksson founded the first MAX restaurant, then called X-grillen. Inspired by American drive-ins, but with a strong vision of sustainability and quality, we set a new standard for fast food.
Address: Vasagatan 7, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8 5061 2070
Website: www.max.se
Cuisine: International
Located right in the heart of downtown Stockholm, Kungshallen’s 800-seat food hall is a great place to fill up, whether you choose to sit down or take meals away. It offers a range of 16 different restaurants, from Tex-Mex and Indian to Greek, Lebanese and sushi, as well as a range of more esoteric Swedish specialities.
Address: Norrmalm, Kungsgatan 44, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 7 0865 5620
Website: www.kungshallen.eu
Cuisine: Italian
A top budget option in the Old Town, Vapiano specialises in light Italian fare – all of which is made as you watch. There are four branches in Stockholm with potted herbs on the tables, trendy furniture and even cool bathrooms, it’s little wonder this place has proved a hit with locals and tourists alike. Vapiano now even has a Take Away & Home Delivery section.
Address: Gamla Stan, Munkbrogatan 8, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8 222 940
Website: www.se.vapiano.comStockholm Nightlife
A late-evening summer sun, combined with long winter nights, translates into a highly active nightlife agenda. Expect strong jazz traditions, smart bars and a thriving club scene (often Spanish in flavour). The area around Stureplan is the most happening place for night owls, but you’ll generally find something worth exploring wherever you are – the cultural scene is incredibly vibrant and eclectic. There’s a wide stream of cultural productions, ranging from art exhibitions, dance and theatre performances to jazz and classical concerts.
Bars in Stockholm
Something of a Stockholm institution, Kvarnen has long been hugely popular thanks to a typically rootsy Södermalm charm, a closing time of 0300 on Saturdays and a hugely atmospheric main beer hall dating back to 1907. The crowd is an ultra-cool but ultra-friendly bunch drawn from all age groups. Swedish and Czech rustic food is served along with Swedish local beer.
Address: Södermalm, Tjärhovsgatan 4, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8643 0380
Website: www.kvarnen.com
The site of Sweden’s first pharmacy, which opened its doors in 1637, Pharmarium is a so-hip-it-hurts bar with décor inspired by the medical paraphernalia that once lined its walls. Cocktails are its main selling point and come served in test tubes and shrouded in dry ice. The beer and wine is also good.
Address: Gamla Stan, Stortorget 7, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8 200 810
Website: www.pharmarium.se
Achingly trendy (and with the prices to show for it), the Spy Bar is an intimate and stylish place with excellent DJ entertainment, where a media crowd mixes with fashionistas and alternative sorts. It gets seriously crowded past the witching hour, so it’s good to arrive early.
Address: Norrmalm, Birger Jarlsgatan 20, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8 5450 7600
Website: www.entrgroup.se
Clubs in Stockholm
The kind of jazz club needed by every city with a cultural pulse, Fasching is a legendary joint that’s been doing its thing since the 1970s. The concert hall generally stays open until 0100, although on Fridays and Saturdays the doors only shut at 0400. A good range of international acts take to the stage.
Address: Norrmalm, Kungsgatan 63, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8 200 066
Website: www.fasching.se
One of Stockholm’s most popular nightspots, the ship Patricia boasts seven different bars, five indoors and two outside. Particularly popular with the gay community, its Sunday Club night is legendary and has been running for 20 years and shows no sign of slowing down. The party goes on until 5 o’clock in the morning on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Look out for a number of drinks offers.
Address: Söder Mälarstrand Kajplats 19, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8743 0570
Website: www.patricia.st
The biggest club in the city, comprising a number of different bars and dancefloors, Sturecompagniet is well established as one of the best known nightspots in Stockholm. The venue itself is spread across four halls on two levels, centring on a spectacular atrium that combines modern touches with a show-stopping grandeur.
Address: Norrmalm, Sturegatan 4, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8 5450 7670
Website: www.sturecompagniet.se
Live music in Stockholm
Since its inception in 1982, Debaser has arguably become the best place in Stockholm for top-notch Swedish and international live pop and rock music. It has played host to everyone from The Strokes and Bob Dylan to Dizzee Rascal and Arcade Fire. The venue’s name, taken from the title of a song by cult legends Pixies, says it all.
Address: Hornstulls strand 4, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8658 6350
Website: www.debaser.se
Nalen is run by the Swedish Artists and Musicians Interest Organisation and is housed in a wonderful old building containing four concert venues where you can hear pop, rock and jazz from big international stars as well as obscure Swedish bands. If you get peckish halfway through, there’s also a restaurant serving local dishes.
Address: Norrmalm, Regeringsgatan 74, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8 5052 9200
Website: www.nalen.com
The Stockholm Sinfonietta, one of the world’s best chamber music orchestras, performs at the beautiful Riddarhuset or, as its name translates, the ‘House of Nobility’. Built between 1641-74 to accommodate members of the Swedish aristocracy ahead of meetings in Parliament, the building now doubles as a national archive.
Address: Östermalm, Riddarhustorget 10, Stockholm.
Telephone: +46 8 723 3990
Website: www.riddarhuset.seStockholm Food And Drink
Food In Stockholm
- Layer cake (smörgåstårta)
Smörgåstårta is a Swedish layer cake consisting of sandwiches: slices of white or rye bread, toppings, and fillings, frosted with cream cheese, mayonnaise, yogurt, or a combination, and garnished with various vegetables.
- Swedish potato dumpling (palt)
The dough further consists of rye or barley and is filled with a mixture of fried, minced bacon and sauteed onions. But not all potato dumplings are created equal – it is said that there are as many variations of palt as there are villages in the Scandinavian country.
- Swedish hash (pyttipanna)
Pyttipanna (Swedish), pyttipanne (Norwegian), pyttipannu (Finnish) or biksemad (Danish), is a culinary dish consisting of chopped meat, potatoes and onions fried in a pan, similar to a hash, and popular in Scandinavia. The term is Swedish for “small pieces in pan”.
- Brown baked beans with pork
The classic dish is prepared by boiling the beans in water, mixing with potato flour and adding a touch of vinegar and syrup for that sweet and sour flavor Swedish people know so well. Traditionally the beans are enjoyed with some fried slices of salted bacon, while others insist they are to be enjoyed together with boiled potato
- Burger patties with onion sauce
Swedish burger patties (pannbiff) are closely related to a whole host of similar dishes from all across Northern Europe, but that does not make them any less important within the world of classic Swedish cuisine. In Sweden, beef or pork (or a mixture of the two) is blended with breadcrumbs and milk to form a small and compact patty. The traditional onion sauce is an essential accompaniment and made by adding friend onion and cream to a classic roux.
- Cabbage pudding (kålpudding)
Cabbage pudding (kålpudding) is a filling classic and a simplified version of the stuffed rolls that were transported from Türkiye to Sweden during a period of exchange in the late 17th century. The original rolls were made with vine leaves which enterprising Swedes swapped out for cabbage.
Pea soup and pancakes is a classic dish traditionally eaten on Thursdays. The reason for this is said to be that the country’s once Catholic population needed a hearty meal before Friday’s fast. Swedes have been enjoying this classic soup since the 13th century although the addition of pancakes came at a later point.
Herring is often the first thing that comes to mind when we think of Swedish cuisine, and sure enough it’s a common feature at Christmas, Easter and Midsummer celebrations. Sometimes served pickled and sometimes served fresh, herring is a beloved fish that Swedes enjoy on a daily basis.
- Swedish beef stew (kalops)
Kalops is a very old Swedish dish – a rich stew of slow-cooked beef with onions, black pepper and bay leaf for flavour. Add a few carrots and the dish will soon begin to resemble a classic French bœuf bourguignon, but the fact of the matter is that kalops is actually even older than its famous French cousin.
Drink In Stockholm
It has intense aromas of allspice, clove, licorice, caramel and dried oranges that just flow out of the bottle as soon as you open it. When you take a sip, you’ll taste molasses, allspice, cloves, brown sugar, rum, oak, vanilla and leather.
Aquavit is a strong spirit originating in the Nordic countries, at least 37.5% in the alcohol strength department, with a dominant taste of caraway, dill, or both. Whether you’ve heard of it, tasted it or had twelve shots of it last night, it is – in our humble opinion – an undervalued classic.
Absolut Raspberri är en bärig och fruktig vodka med smak av hallonsylt och inslag av handplockade skogsbär. När det kommer till drinkar passar Absolut Raspberri bäst i fruktiga, muddlade drinkar som Raspberry Blimey eller som en twist i klassiska drinkar som Raspberri Collins.
- Spirits Schnapps (or snaps)
Schnapps (or snaps) is the country’s preferred distilled liquor from potatoes or grains. Drinking it is a right of passage woven into the Nordic country’s history, particularly given the idyllic growing conditions for barley, rye and wheat, rather than grapes.
STOCKHOLM Lungo is an all-
Arabica blend of Indian and Colombian beans which gives it a smooth taste with remarkable intensity of a pure Arabica. The Monsooned Arabica gets a darker roast to enhance its body and cereal notes.
Alongside their love for cinnamon buns and sweet treats, Swedes also have an affinity for kaffeost- an utterly unique way of making coffee. Translating to “coffee cheese,” kaffeost is coffee brewed inside a cheesecloth bag immersed in water or milk. The cheesecloth bag contains finely ground coffee beans and sugar.
Stockholm Hotels
Stockholm is an easy city to explore with kids. All the stations have lifts, and buses and trams have spaces for several pushchairs. Plus travel is free for under sevens. Small ships and ferries dart in and out of the islands and docks ready to transport you to other parts of the city, or out into the archipelago. There’s also a lot of colour to this city and plenty of variety to keep little ones going. Many people speak English and the vibe is friendly.
Where To Stay? Which Neighbourhood?
- Stockholm’s Old Town, on the island of Gamla Stan, and often called that, is the wonderful maze of cobbled streets and tall, colourful, closely packed buildings. Stay here and you’re close to the Royal Palace, Sweden’s Parliament, the cathedral, Riddarholm, and several beautiful churches, a number of excellent museums and, at Christmas time, the Christmas Markets, plus its cafes, boutiques and tucked-away bars. Getting from Gamla Stan to the rest of the city is easy, there are foot bridges to Norrmalm and Södermalm, and there are ferries to the islands of Skeppsholmen and Djurgården. So Gamla Stan is a good choice if you want to be in the thick of things too.
- South of Gamla Stan is Södermalm, which is where you’ll find some of Stockholm’s most beautiful old houses, but also its hippest modern residents. if you want mini beaches and floating bars, the freshest cuisine and the coolest cafes, then this might be the best place to stay in Stockholm for you.
- Bustling Norrmalm is the commercial and business-y part of town, but don’t cross it off your list, it’s right in the thick of things, and home to many of Stockholm’s art galleries and museums, so it’s a great choice if you’re not here for long, or if you’re looking for a large, approachable hotel. And even if you’re not staying here you’ll undoubtedly want to wander along Drottninggatan, a fully pedestrianised shopping street, or check out the lively market stalls at Hötorget.
- Odenplan is another downtown district, and worth mentioning here because it’s where you’ll find the commuter rail station, so it’s a convenient base if you want to travel out of Stockholm as well as explore the capital. Odenplan is also known for vintage boutiques and cafes. And it’s where you’ll find the National Library and the Stockholm Observatory.
- With its impressive architecture and high-end stores, elegant Östermalm is often compared to New York’s Upper East Side. This is a district of tree-lined avenues and colourfully painted townhouses, museums, galleries, parks and cafes. Even if you don’t stay here we recommend you take a long stroll through the lovely Humlegården park before visiting one of the area’s many museums. Our Guru’s also recommend Östermalm for families.
- Whilst not as centrally-located as other neighbourhoods, Vasatan is still a terrific spot for visiting Stockholm. It’s got a lively buzz to it, with plenty of restaurants, bars, and antique shops to enjoy — plus, it’s relatively inexpensive.
- The islands of Skeppsholmen and Djurgården are lovely areas if you’re looking for somewhere relatively peaceful. They’re both close enough to the centre for all your sightseeing needs, whilst also offering a fair degree of tranquillity with their waterfront parks and gardens. Djurgården is just a footbridge from Östermalm, and yet its royal parkland, picturesque harbours and colourful, traditional Swedish cottages make it feel a lot further away.