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Built on 14 islands around one of Europe’s largest and best-preserved medieval city centres, Stockholm is superbly positioned, with stunning and extremely varied scenery in every direction. Stockholm itself is a city of contrasts – water and islands, history and innovation, small town and big city, short winter days and long, light summer nights – offering a dazzling array of impressions. And as the city is compact in size with everything within easy reach, this is a perfect destination for city breaks or longer stays, all year round.
Last updated: Feb 2008
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CULTURE
A monarchy for the past 1,000 years, a cultivated capital since the 13th century, a pop and rock city, a design Mecca and home to baroque royal palaces, modern light-coloured furniture and IT innovations. Stockholm has it all. Culture in the traditional sense of the word will be found among the enormous array of museums, concerts, theatres, galleries and exhibitions – most within walking distance.
Museums
Stockholm has over 75 museums with lots of exciting experiences on offer. The unique and spectacular Vasa Museum is home to the 17th century war ship rescued from the seabed after 333 years under water. See the Vasa in all her majestic glory, complete with masts, ropes and tackle, and ready for action. The Royal Palace houses a number of excellent museums such as the Royal Treasury and Royal Armoury. Skansen, the world’s oldest open-air museum, focuses on popular history with its authentic Nordic homes and buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries. Nordic wildlife, crafts, folk music and a wealth of events bring this mini-Sweden to life.
Just one bridge separates the renaissance painters and Flemish masters at the National Museum of Fine Arts from the Museum of Modern Art on Skeppsholmen. This light and airy museum, with its fantastic view of the city, houses one of the Western World’s most representative collections of modern art, from Cézanne and Gauguin through Picasso, Dali and Magritte to Andy Warhol. Exciting exhibitions of the latest in contemporary art are an ongoing feature. Another must for art fans is Prince Eugen’s Waldemarsudde – an early 1900s royal residence and home to a unique collection of Nordic art. Millesgården is worth a visit for Carl Milles’ monumental sculptures and the breathtaking views.
Galleries
A weekend spent browsing Stockholm’s hundreds of art galleries also offers a golden opportunity to add to a personal collection. The galleries are dotted around the city, featuring heavily in Östermalm and picturesque Hornspuckeln in Södermalm. Stockholm’s metro is said to be the world’s longest art gallery. Some 90 of the 100 or so stations have been decorated by various artists, and have their own individual – often colourful – style.
Drama is performed on hundreds of stages across Stockholm, the most prestigious being the Royal Dramatic Theatre. The theatre was a contemporary of Sweden’s greatest author, August Strindberg, who has his own museum and whose plays were occasionally produced by Ingmar Bergman. This master director’s home ground is host to several film festivals, the largest being the Stockholm Film Festival in November. The Nobel Prize banquet is held in December in the City Hall, where the Golden Hall provides a stunning experience with its millions of golden mosaic tiles.
World heritage
The 18th century Swedish King Gustaf III championed culture and left his mark on Stockholm, particularly in and around Drottningholm Palace, which is on the UNESCO World Heritage Site list. The list also includes Skogskyrkogården, a cemetery where architecture fans flock to see Gunnar Asplund’s work.
Dance and music
Gustaf III also founded Sweden’s first opera house, the Royal Opera, which features a wide repertoire. A modern challenger is Folkoperan, with its acclaimed modern interpretations of the classics. Stockholm has many other meeting places for music lovers. The Concert Hall, Berwaldhallen and the House of Dance are just a few examples, with events throughout the year. Stockholm’s musical calendar features a wide range of venues, from intimate historical settings such as the Royal Palace to the colossal Globe Arena (Globen).
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DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE
Swedish art glass and everyday glass have developed side by side. Most glassworks today are part of the Orrefors Kosta Boda group, using the skills of well-known designers. There are also a number of more intimate, independent glass designers such as Stockholm’s Glasbruk at Skansen. Swedish pottery makers such as Rörstrand and Höganäs have been around for centuries. The range of individual potters is enormous, and many have studios throughout the city. Pay a visit to the glass and ceramics shop Blås & Knåda on Hornsgatan.
Design and auctions
Typical Swedish design elements such as light-coloured woods and clean lines feature throughout Stockholm’s interior design firms. The many Designtorget shops, the craft gallery Konsthantverkarna and the trendy design shop Design House Stockholm are great for clean-cut Swedish interior design. A permanent exhibition of Swedish design from 1900-2000 is on show at the National Museum of Fine Arts. For auctions of quality items, look up Bukowski’s Moderna, Stockholm’s Auktionsverk’s Moderna Kvalitén, Nutida Konst and Design. The Stockholm Furniture Fair is an event not to be missed in February.
Fashion
Many fashion designers are absorbed by the expansive H&M clothing company. A number of designers have succeeded on their own, however: Filippa K has achieved widespread acclaim for her casual and comfortable fashion, and Anna Holtblad is best known for knitted garments from her clothing range. Tiger is a popular brand known for its jacket collection for men and women, as is Acne for its jeans. Sweden has many skilled silversmiths, who these days work with more than just silver. The metal-working arts also happily blend exclusive materials with more modest ones: iron with white gold, rubber, plastic and silver, real diamonds with artificial stones.
Swedish Grace
Swedish architecture has been a source of inspiration throughout the ages. The heyday of Swedish architecture was in the 1920s when the building style in fashion was called Swedish Grace, a phrase coined by the editor of British magazine Architectural Review. The Swedish style was considered simple and elegant, with pleasing forms. This style is still in vogue and often praised by the foreign press. But Stockholm’s architectural roots go back much further than that. One of the oldest buildings, Riddarholmen church, dates from the 13th century. The city’s architectural history is well-preserved, as Stockholm was spared destruction through two World Wars. Architecture fans won’t want to miss the City Hall, the City Public Library, the Museum of Modern Art and the Culture Centre (Kulturhuset).
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| ROYAL STOCKHOLM
Sweden has been a monarchy for the past 1,000 years. Over the centuries, Swedish royals have often chosen to reside in Stockholm, the seat of the majority of Sweden’s national institutions since the 13th century. The Swedish Royal Family, Bernadotte, traces its ancestry back to the French marshal Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, who in 1818 became King of Sweden as Karl XIV Johan. The current King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia have three children: Crown Princess Victoria, Prince Carl Philip and Princess Madeleine. Crown Princess Victoria, the eldest, will succeed to the throne.
Stockholm has an almost unlimited array of regal activities from which to choose. This royal city offers many interesting sights in gorgeous natural surroundings, as well as shopping at purveyors to the court and majestic palaces – some of which offer overnight accommodation.
Royal Palaces
The Royal Palace in Gamla Stan, with its 608 rooms, is one of the largest palaces in Europe – much of it open to the public. Besides exploring the splendid rooms and halls, visitors won’t want to miss the Palace museums, such as the Royal Armoury and the Treasury. The Palace guards have been at the Royal Palace since 1523, and today, military units and bands from all over the country participate in the grandiose changing of the guards here. A stroll to the nearby Royal Stables will allow visitors a closer look at His Majesty’s horses, magnificent coaches and striking uniforms.
Drottningholm Palace is the permanent residence of the Swedish royal family. Magnificently situated on the shores of Lake Mälaren, this 17th century palace and its unique court theatre were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1991. In the summer, boats regularly travel to and from Drottningholm.
Ulriksdal Palace is also worth a visit. Built in 1644, it has been used by royalty since the days of Karl XI. King Gustav VI Adolf and his family lived here for most of the 20th century. The apartments, furnished by Carl Malmsten among others, house many exquisite antiques. The palace theatre, Confidencen, is also a famous attraction.
Other splendid royal palaces in the Stockholm region that are open to visitors are the Gripsholm Palace, Strömsholm Palace, Rosersberg Palace and the Tullgarn Palace.
Royal Parks
There are two royal parks in Stockholm, one being Kungliga Djurgården, the former Royal Hunting Grounds. Today, the park plays host to many of the city’s major museums and attractions, including royal buildings such as Rosendal Palace and Waldemarsudde, the home of the painting prince, Prince Eugen. The other royal park, Hagaparken, was founded by Gustav III at the end of the 18th century, and greets visitors with beautiful architecture in relaxing natural surroundings. Among its many buildings of cultural and historical importance are Haga Palace, the ‘Copper tents’ and Gustav III’s Pavilion.
Purveyors to the court
Only the best will do for kings and queens, and why should visitors be satisfied with anything less? Of Sweden’s 130 purveyors to the court, about fifty are located in Stockholm.
A regal shopping trip might begin at Svenskt Tenn on Strandvägen, where interior design is the focus. On the same avenue, Gaudy makes and sells jewellery and ornaments worn by royal celebrities. A short cut through Stockholm’s chic Östermalm area brings rewards in the form of handmade chocolates from Ejes Chokladfabrik on Erik Dahlbergsgatan.
Royal sleep
Live like a king with a stay in one of the number of palaces that offer overnight accommodation. Spend a night at the palaces of Södertuna Slott or Sundbyholms Slott, or why not try Häringe Slott, where Greta Garbo once stayed. Throughout the centuries, regents and distinguished landowners have visited these palaces, beautifully situated near water.
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CHILDREN
Stockholm and its surrounding areas are both fun and convenient to visit with children. There’s plenty of room for running around and adventure – with its broad pavements, green parks and location on the water, Stockholm is a great place for running, jumping and discovering. High chairs in restaurants, ramps for prams in the Stockholm metro and rooms for eating packed lunches in museums are more or less taken for granted in Stockholm.
Most Stockholm sights can be reached by metro, bus, or commuter train. Children under seven always ride for free when accompanied by an adult. On weekends (Friday-Sunday from noon onwards), up to six children under the age of 12 can ride for free in the company of an adult. Pram ramps and lifts take families down to the metro platforms. A bus ride with a pram or stroller is free for both the adult and the accompanying child. Fun things to do in Stockholm
Stockholm’s museums and other attractions arrange activities for children and young people in the form of tours and different workshops, many of which are designed to appeal especially to a young audience.
The Vasa Museum is home to a fully-rigged 17th century ship. Discovered after more than 300 years under the Baltic Sea, it was in near mint condition. Junibacken is the magical world of Pippi Longstocking and other characters from Astrid Lindgren’s famous children’s books. Aquaria is a water museum that exhibits exotic fish and other marine life. Skansen, an open-air museum for the entire family, dates from 1891 and features historical buildings, houses, farms, restored workshops and surroundings typical of the period. Here, visitors can see Nordic fauna such as elks, wolves and bears, as well as exotic snakes and monkeys in Skansenakvariet. Lill-Skansen is a petting zoo for children. Tekniska Museet (the National Museum of Science and Technology) has many interesting gadgets inside and outside the museum. Don’t miss out on the new Cino4 experience. At Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet (the Swedish Museum of Natural History), visitors can discover and explore the natural world and animal life in Sweden. Cosmonova, next to the Swedish Museum of Natural History, shows films in the world’s largest format, Omnimax. Spårvägsmuseet (the Tram Museum) is a great place to have a try driving a bus. Playgrounds
Playgrounds in Stockholm are year-round gathering places for young and old alike. Check out Humlegården playground on Karlavägen, Vasaparken’s playground on Odengatan, and Rosendals trädgård in the middle of Djurgården, which also has a playground for children. Gröna Lund’s Tivoli, Sweden’s oldest amusement park and home to Europe’s highest free-fall ride (80 metres [262 feet] of sheer terror), is also on Djurgården, and is open from April to September.
Shopping
For fun toy shops, check out Buttericks on Drottninggatan, Leksaksborgen on Östermalm and Den Goda Fen on Södermalm.
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WINTER
In the winter, visitors to Stockholm are more likely to see snow, ice and crisp sunny days than in other European cities. Winter officially starts on the first Sunday of advent, four Sundays before Christmas. During this time, Christmas markets can be found throughout the city. The markets offer a wide variety of Swedish sweets, smoked sausages, reindeer meat, glögg (mulled wine), and a range of handicrafts and decorative arts.
Skansen, the open-air museum on Djurgården, has a large traditional Christmas market. Stockholm’s oldest area, Gamla Stan (the Old Town) is full of small shops and restaurants with cheery Christmas decorations and plenty of atmosphere. The famous Stortorget Christmas market is also held here. The best-known Christmas market in the archipelago is on the island of Utö. It specialises in local products such as honey, handicrafts and freshly-smoked fish. Drottninggatan, one of the longest pedestrian streets in Stockholm, glitters with Christmas lights. The NK department store on Hamngatan traditionally has the most spectacular window displays.
Julbord, the Swedish Christmas table, has a venerable heritage and is served as a smörgåsbord (buffet) with all the traditional dishes. From November to Christmas, many restaurants in and around Stockholm serve julbord. Many of the steamboats that grace the waters of the archipelago also serve these traditional Christmas buffets for lunch and dinner.
Lucia is always celebrated on the 13th of December. Originally a festival commemorating St. Lucia from Syracuse in Italy, Lucia Day is celebrated in Sweden to bring light to one of the darkest days of the year. Visitors can take part in the Lucia festivities by attending the coronation of Sweden’s Lucia and the Lucia celebrations at Skansen, the Lucia Concert at Globen (the Globe Arena) and the Lucia Concert in Stockholm Cathedral. Activities
Winter opens up a whole new dimension of outdoor activities in Stockholm. Adventurous visitors can go for a brief dip in the icy waters and then warm up in a hot sauna, or go long-distance skiing in the Hellasgården nature reserve just 20 minutes from Stockholm. It is even possible to go downhill skiing in the Stockholm area.
Skates are available for hire at the skating rink in Kungsträdgården in central Stockholm. Visitors can also try long-distance ice skating, a Stockholm favourite, as soon as the water freezes over. Or simply take a walk on the ice and discover the city from another angle. The Stockholm archipelago is also open for business throughout the winter for excursions and overnight stays – quite the exotic experience.
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Stockholm is a city of contrasts that creates a dazzling array of impressions. A modern city with a flourishing business culture, it has successfully retained its history and natural splendour. The narrow streets of the Old Town sit comfortably alongside the modern city centre, hotels, museums and shops. Below are some must-do experiences for the first-time visitor.
Day one Arrival: Start a stay in Stockholm with a combined sightseeing tour by bus and boat. Frequent departures are available from Gustav Adolfs Torg near the Royal Opera House. Continue with a light lunch at the old indoor market, Östermalmshallen. This 19th century setting houses a number of excellent restaurants and cafés.
Afternoon: Explore the Vasa Museum, home to the richly ornamented 17th century sailing vessel that sank on her maiden voyage.
Evening: Take an early evening walk through the lanes of the Old Town and dine at one of the many restaurants.
Day two
Morning: Begin the day with a visit to Stockholm City Hall, a remarkable architectural landmark and the site of the annual Nobel Prize Banquet. Next, stop at the Royal Palace for the changing of the guard and then meander along the streets of the Old Town for shopping and lunch at one of the many pavement cafés.
Afternoon: Cross over to the island of Djurgården by shuttle ferry and visit Skansen, the world’s first open-air museum. Founded in 1891, it showcases the rich culture and traditions of Sweden’s past and present.
Evening: Dine at one of Stockholm’s many stylish new restaurants with their innovative menus. The interior design often adds to the experience.
Day three
Morning: Travel by steam ship to the 18th century Drottningholm Palace, the residence of the Swedish Royal Family and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stroll through the beautiful baroque garden and the English park.
Afternoon: Enjoy the extensive array of shopping opportunities on offer in Stockholm. Everything from antiques to modern Swedish design is at hand.
Evening: Try a traditional Swedish smörgåsbord (a Swedish buffet) at the Grand Hotel. Reservations are advisable.
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You might not have the chance to meet with Carrie and the other girls, but Stockholm is perfect for a dazzling Sex and the City weekend. Meet with friends and enjoy a weekend in this beautiful Scandinavian capital. Fantastic shopping, cosy coffee shops, cool restaurants, pulsating nightlife – there’s so much to choose from!
Day one Afternoon arrival:
Arrive at Stockholm Arlanda Airport in the afternoon. Step on board the speedy Arlanda Express train, which runs straight to the city centre. Check in at one of Stockholm’s cool design hotels: the Rival Hotel, Berns Hotel, the Clarion Stockholm or the Nordic Light Hotel will suit every need.
Evening: While unpacking, order room service and enjoy a luxurious glass of champagne. Once settled, take a nice long shower and get ready for the evening.
Start the evening at Gondolen with one of their famous cocktails, while savouring the amazing view of Stockholm from 33 metres above the ground. Dine afterwards at Nox in the upper-class Östermalm area.
After dinner, move on to the trendy Hotellet, a perfect place for after-dinner drinks with good music and after work people. Round off the evening with a visit to the hip club Solidaritet, and why not also try the most famous club in town, Spy Bar. Back at the hotel, before hitting the pillow, place a final room service order for a late night/early morning snack.
Day two
Morning: Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at the hotel before heading off to Södermalm. This is the relaxed, hip and trendy area where small shops, cafés and restaurants provide a great atmosphere.
Afternoon: Stroll around the ‘Sofo’ area and explore the perfect blend of shops featuring vintage styles, the latest in Swedish design and cosy interior design trends. Stop for a delicious café latte and a cinnamon bun at one of the cafés. Don’t miss Grandpa, a funky shop featuring a DJ playing groovy tunes on Saturday afternoons.
Have a late lunch at Brunogallerian. Try the best sushi in town at Ljunggrens and then continue shopping. Take the metro to the market Street near Hornstull. This is a hip and trendy market with plenty of cool stuff. Before heading back to the hotel to get ready for the evening, stop in for a quick drink at the new white bar at classic Operakällaren. A cosmopolitan will get anyone going!
Evening: Pre-dinner drinks at the wine bar at Berns. Dinner at Riche on Stureplan, the heart of Stockholm’s nightlife. After dinner in the restaurant, move on to the hippest place in town – the bar at Riche is where Swedish celebrities go to see and be seen. Continue clubbing at the upmarket Plaza Club just down the street from Riche. Plaza has the essential ‘champagne atmosphere’ for an evening of fun until dawn.
Day three Morning: Start the day with a relaxing brunch at the Hotel Anglais near Stureplan, before meeting up with professional shoppers from the Smart City Shopping team. Smart City Shopping will give an exclusive tour of the best shops in Stockholm. Spend the day at the shopping highpoints of the city that offers exclusive brands from the entire fashion world. Be tempted by everything from beautiful bags to smart suits and stunning dresses.
Afternoon: Away from the bustling shopping precincts, retreat to the calm of the Sturebadet baths and enjoy a spa treatment to get the skin glowing. Enjoy a late lunch at the charming restaurant for some soul searching.
Evening: Dinner at the intimate little restaurant Roxy in Södermalm. Great food and friendly staff – like having dinner with friends. Linger in the bar before heading back for a good night’s sleep. Or, for night owls, the place to be on a Sunday night is Café Opera.
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