Stockholm is the capital of Sweden, and also the largest city. This is an important place of the Swedish government, parliament and also the official home of the Swedish emperor. Stockholm is the political and economic center of Sweden from 13th century.
Set across fourteen islands on the edge of the Baltic Sea, Stockholm is one of the most stunning cities in the world, and its nightlife is also something to behold.
Stockholm municipality is the largest among the Swedish, having a population of around 800,000. Stockholm is also famous for tourist attractions.
Stockholm is a city rich in history, culture, diversity and charm. Unique amongst its European counterparts for being spread across 14 islands, Stockholm effortlessly blends centuries of heritage and tradition, as showcased in its magnificent palaces and delightful Old Town, with a vibrant, contemporary swagger, modern design and cool, cosmopolitan culture.
And with all of this set against a stunning water-infused backdrop, to our minds Stockholm makes for a pretty perfect city-break destination.
Weather and When to Go
Stockholm is a city that witnesses quite extreme seasonal changes, from the enchanting, snow-tipped scenes of (very) chilly wintertime when the nights draw in early, to the long, sun-filled days of summer, when the city is abuzz with festivals and holidaymakers and the outdoors lifestyle comes to the fore.
Although a touch pricier and undoubtedly busier than any other time of year, we’d definitely recommend the summer months of June, July and August, as the White Nights really do showcase Stockholm at its most sensational.
Be aware however that some museums and restaurants may choose to close at this time of year.
Getting There
Low cost airlines offer direct flights to Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport from a number of UK and European airports including London (Heathrow and Gatwick), Edinburgh, Dublin, Bristol, Birmingham, and Manchester with companies like Easyjet, Ryanair, British Airways and Norwegian.
You can also fly to Skavsta Airport (89km southwest of Stockholm) and Vasteras Airport (86km west of Stockholm) with Ryanair.
Why not consider making Stockholm part of a multi-centre itinerary, perhaps combining with the Scandinavian cities of Copenhagen, Oslo, Bergen or Helsinki, or even one or more of the Baltics, perhaps, Riga, Vilnius or Tallinn?
Where to Stay
You can find a number of specially selected hotels dotted around the city, ranging centrally-located and budget-friendly.
If you are looking for something stylishly cool the 4-star Birger Jarl is recommended, as is the boutique, character-infused 4-star Hellsten and the more luxurious 5-star Sheraton, set in the heart of the Old Town.
Undoubtedly one of the most popular and quirky hotel offering is the Mälardrottningen Yacht, once part of the British Royal Navy fleet and today serving as a city-centre hotel for it is permanently moored by Riddarholmen in Gamla Stan, a mere stone’s throw from all the main sights and sounds of Stockholm.
Best Places to Visit in Stockholm
First and foremost, be sure to spend time in Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s mesmerizing and enchanting harbour-side Old Town.
Amidst the centuries-old cobbled streets and beautiful squares, you’ll find many of the city’s most important buildings and monuments including the Houses of Parliament, City Hall, Cathedral and the Royal Palace, where the colourful Changing of the Guard ceremony provides the ultimate in Swedish pomp and tradition.
For the ultimate in royal architectural splendour meanwhile, not to mention stunning parkland, take a trip to admire the majestic Drottningholm Palace, set on the island of Lovon an hour’s ferry ride from the city centre.
From a historic and ethnographic perspective, you’ll gain a fascinating insight into Swedish traditions and culture on a visit to the Skansen Open-Air Museum, whilst at the Vasa Museum, take a detailed look at the doomed Vasa Warship, painstakingly restored after over three centuries spent at the bottom of the sea.
For a spot of contemporary culture meanwhile, pay homage to undoubtedly Sweden’s most famous musical export at the recently-opened ABBA Museum, set amidst the tranquil and verdant surroundings of Djurgården, a magnificent royal park. And for those enthused by sleek Scandinavian style, check out the exhibitions and art galleries of Färgfabriken and Svensk Form.
Main Attractions
These are some of Stockholm’s unmissable tourist attractions.
City Hall
Stockholm’s major attraction is red brick city hall. The building is also known as “Stadshuset”. In 1923 it has become the location of Nobel Prize annual feast. The most inspiring attraction in the City Hall is Golden Hall. The specialty of this Golden Halls is the walls, covered with handmade mosaics.
The Nordic Museum
This shows the lifestyle of the Swedish people, how they lived in similar parts of Sweden all the way through the ages. The fascinating exhibition contains interesting attractions like costumes, tools dwellings and furnishings.
Museum of National Antiquities
This is the most impressing museum where you can see the Sweden’s development from prehistoric period from the present day. You can find archeological artifacts and treasures that include the massive collections of gold items taken from the tombs. The wonderful gold collection covered with costly stones which consists the skull of Saint Elizabeth of Thuringia.
The Swedish Museum of Natural History
This is the biggest museum in Sweden, and also one of the oldest museums in the world. There are interesting exhibitions and educational programs from the subjects of human environment to the Universe and DNA.
Stockholm Royal Palace
The Stockholm Palace is the official residence of the Swedish Monarch. It is located in Stockholm and it also contains the offices of the king and Swedish Royal Family along with the court of Sweden.
Vasa Museum
The Vasa Museum is a maritime museum which contains an almost fully intact ship from the 17th century which was salvaged. This ship is the warship Vasa which sank in 1628. During a visit to the Vasa Museum, travelers can learn all about life on the ship from the nine exhibitions that are located around the ship. This museum receives over one million visitors annually.
Stockholm National Museum
The national museum was founded in 1792 contains nearly one million drawings from the Middle Ages to the year 1900. Visitors to the museum can also find porcelain items, paintings, sculptures and modern art. Beyond the rich history and culture of the city, Stockholm also has some of the best cafes, restaurants and nightlife for visitors who are interested in a mixture of modern and historical activities.
Grona Lund Amusement Park
Gröna Lund is Sweden’s oldest amusement park and it is located in the city of Stockholm. The park has 7 roller coasters including the Twister which is made of wood. Twister opened in 2011 and it is 50 feet tall and moves at around 38mph. Gröna Lund is also a popular concert venue during the summer. An interesting aspect of Gröna Lund is that it is built around commercial buildings from the 19th century which are not part of the park.
Shopping Scandinavian Artwork
Stockholm is frequently called as “ shopping capital of the North”. You will get all the items what ever is famous, not only in Sweden but from all over the world. Stockholm is considered as modern Scandinavian Design. Sweden designs are same like Ikea, the great furniture and accessories designers. You can find famous 5 stores in the inner city of Stockholm. Svenskt Tenn and Asplund are the famous stores among them.
The Vasamuseet
Vasa, the costly warship started its maiden journey from Stockholm in 1628, with great expectations. But unfortunately the ship has not reached its destination. After three centuries once again Vasa discovered. This ship belongs to 17th century which is preserved in the world. This is open for public and it is considered as one of the 7 wonders of Sweden.
The Kaknas Television Tower
The Kaknas Tower is the tallest constriction in Scandinavia, also known as Kaknastornet. The height of the tower is 508 feet. You can use elevator to climb the tower. From the tower you can see the entire city of Stockholm with a great background. There is a restaurant on the top; you can have meals or coffee over there.
Skansen Zoo
The Zoo Skansen is an open air zoo located in Stockholm, Sweden. It was created in 1891 as a way to show the way of life in different areas of Sweden. The Zoo exhibits many Nordic animals like the bison, red fox, lynx, reindeer and wolf. The zoo attracts over 1.3 million visitors annually.
Ice Skating in Kungstradgarde
Ice-skating is the most popular activity in the winter. You can enjoy the Ice-skating always in Kungstradgarden. Ice-skating is the best time pass for the tourist and locals in Stockholm.
Food & Drink
Given its proximity to water, you can expect seafood to be a staple favourite on most restaurant menus, with smoked salmon, gravlax and pickled herring particularly prevalent.
Of course, the traditional Swedish meatball has to be sampled and you’ll usually find them accompanied by potatoes, gravy and lingonberry jam.
Be sure whilst you’re here to enjoy Fika, both a noun and a verb used to describe the Scandinavian coffee experience, often accompanied by a pastry.
Also don’t be surprised to see reindeer, elk and ox available as an alternative to the more traditional red meats you are probably used to!
Bars and Nightlife
Stockholm in known for its sophisticated bars and cultured locals, it’s a great place to meet interesting people and dance the night away at one of its many clubs.
The nightlife in Stockholm is really a remarkable entertainment. You can enjoy the nightlife completely if you are not with your children. The interesting highlights of nightlife is music, bar and restaurants.
Among the most popular is Fasching, which is traditionally a jazz bar but these days plays an eclectic mix of different musical genres. Summer is probably the best time for a night out in Stockholm, as the long nights really bring out the best in the city and its population.
Tradgarden is an open-air nightclub located underneath the iconic Vasterbron Bridge, which only operates during the summer months and is always busy. Leaving the dancefloor at 5am, it’s always a good idea to take a dip in the sea on your way back to your hotel.
Plan a City Break to Stockholm
Stockholm really is one of the most underrated cities in Europe, and a city which I really liked. There’s certainly no shortage of landmarks and attractions and a few days spent exploring the city won’t fail to uncover a treasure trove of riches. Plan your trip today.