Stockholm, Sweden’s capital city is one of the beautiful Nordic capitals, along with Copenhagen, Oslo, Helsinki & Reykjavík. Across the world there are many renowned and influential cities set on harbours and canals, but Stockholm is quite possibly the only capital city in the world that encompasses quite so many islands, spanning fourteen in total.
Stockholm boasts many cultural highlights but they are arguably matched by it’s natural ones given that you’re never far from a waterway, nor from the beautiful fields and forests that wind their way through and around most of Stockholm. Indeed the Royal National City Park forms an arc over 6 miles long that stretches through the city.
When to visit Stockholm
Stockholm can be visited year round, but be mindful that from November to March temperatures hover around or well below zero degrees and there is regular snowfall. In addition to this winter days are very short, with only a couple of hours of daylight on average from November to February. For this reason summer (June-August) is likely a better time to travel to Stockholm, with average temperatures in the low 20s and languorously long days. Indeed around Midsommar the sun barely sets at all. The long summer days will give you the chance to full enjoy all that the city offers but late Spring and early Autumn are nice times of the year to visit as well.
How to Get to Stockholm
From London you can fly to Stockholm Arlanda with SAS from London Heathrow, with Easyjet from London Luton or with Norwegian Airlines from London Gatwick. The flight time is around 2hrs30 and return fares usually range from £40 to £100 return, it’s worth comparing them on Skyscanner and then booking directly with the airline. Once you reach Arlanda the 20 minute Arlanda Express train will get you to the city centre in under 20 minutes.
Where to stay in Stockholm
It’s worthwhile staying in Gamla Stan, the historic heart of Stockholm, or one of the trendy nearby suburbs such as: Norrmalm – the busy district around the Central Station, Södermalm – which is filled with artistic shops, cafés, bohemian & vintage fashion stores and art galleries, or Östermalm – the posh city centre of Stockholm. Like in most Nordic countries accommodation in Sweden errs on the expensive side compared to other parts of Europe, for example a studio for two in central Stockholm averages around £100 a night on Airbnb. This is perhaps not surprising given that average wait times for rental contracts in the heart of the city can be up to 21 years long!
What to see and do
Gamla Stan
Stockholm’s oldest district is it’s historical city core, Gamla Stan. Located on the small island of Stadsholmen in the heart of Stockholm, this area features charming cobblestone streets in typical nordic colours, as well as lots of boutiques, cafes and restaurants. It’s worth having a good wander around this area and seeing what you stumble across but a few must sees include the central square Stortoget and The King of Sweden’s Royal Residence which is located on the far north side of the island.
Gamla Stan is also the perfect place to try out some local delicacies. Having sampled many of them myself I would highly recommend Stockholm’s Gastabud who do gourmet pub style food including the famous swedish meatballs with potato mash & lingonberries. Another spot we loved was Cosy Cafe, the perfect place for Fika, i.e. a traditional Swedish tea break. Fika usually includes a sweet treat such as a cinnamon scroll and a hot drink. The chocolate balls at Cosy Cafe are absolutely divine.
Södermalm
Södermalm is located just to the south of Gamla Stan, it’s got a bohemian vibe, with lots of art galleries, vintage shops & cafes. It was built in the 17th & 18th centuries so the architecture is worth checking out. This area is further away from most of the big tourist attractions so you’re more likely to enjoy it alongside the locals. It’s also home to the Montluisvägen walkway which offers many beautiful viewpoints over the city towards Gamla Stan.
Djurgården
Djurgården (which translates to Animal Park) is arguably the prettiest island in Stockholm, its largely forested and is a perfect place for walks and picnics. It is also the island with the most activities on offer, including some of Stockholm’s best museums. From the cultural ones such as the Nordic Museum & ABBA the museum, to the history oriented Vasa Museum (featuring the only preserved seventeenth-century ship in the world) through to the Skansen Open-Air Museum & zoo which is a perfect family outing.
Parks & Palaces
While in Stockholm it’s worth putting some time aside to enjoy Stockholm’s natural highlights. One way to do this is to go for a walk around Langholmen Island– to reach it just follow Soder Malastrand boulevard to the west from where Gamla Stan and Sodermalm meet. Another option is to visit Royal Djurgarden park where you can see Rosendalls Slott, a Royal Palace. In summer another nice outing is to catch the train from the central station out to Ulriksdal Station which is half an hour’s walk from Ulriksdal Slott, another Royal Palace on the banks of Edsviken Lake.
There’s so much more to say about Stockholm, but the above guide should already keep you busy for a fair wee while. Go get your island hopping on!
Travelling elsewhere in Europe?