Stockholm is a dynamic and cultural hotspot with a plethora of unique activities on offer. The city is steeped in natural beauty while at the same time at the forefront of technical modernity. From medieval cellar bars and the world’s oldest open-air museum to modern art spaces, Stockholm is a city full of surprises that will reveal a new side of itself with every visit.
The city is built on 14 islands, meaning you’re near water wherever you turn. The surrounding Baltic Sea and its archipelago adds tranquility to the urban landscape making Stockholm an ideal destination when you crave a big-city break without the stress. Explore the city like a local as you discover the true charms of the capital with our tailor made Stockholm city guide.
Eat
Start your day off right by going to the hip bakery Fabrique Stenugnsbageri for some of the best cinnamon buns and sourdough bread in town and top it off with an oatmeal latte. If you prefer a healthy and vitamin-packed brekkie, we warmly recommend Pom & Flora, where you can enjoy an all-day breakfast in a chic interior. Make sure to try their kale croque madame when there. Young creatives flock to the Nytorget 6 in the hip SoFo district in Södermalm. Order their shrimp salad and share a few starters while enjoying a drink outside. It’s ideal year-round as you’re kept cozy under heat lamps in winter and you can watch all the pulchritude walk past come summer.
Keen on trying some traditional Swedish husmanskost (comforting, simple home-cooked food) when in Stockholm? Reserve a table at Tranan and then pay a visit to their popular cellar bar. Admire the wall paintings by Swedish artist Niclas Åkerblom and toast with the hip Stockholm crowd under the restaurant. If you’re craving even more traditional Swedish cuisine, Tennstopet has been the go-to spot for more than 150 years. For something a bit more international, visit Nizza, a popular boîte where French and Swedish influences meet in a bustling environment. Admire the checkerboard floors, which give off a cosmopolitan bistro feel.
Play
Stockholm has plenty of tourist attractions and cultural spaces to offer and some of the city’s best museums grant free admission. Check out the newly renovated Nationalmuseum and rest your eyes on classic art and design in an impressive environment. Moderna Museet, located on picturesque Skeppsholmen, houses pieces from artists such as Picasso, Dali and Matisse. While it’s free to get in, they do charge for temporary exhibitions. If photography is more your jam, head to Fotografiska in trendy Södermalm and admire contemporary exhibitions by Swedish and international photographers.
If you’re keen to discover some Swedish wildlife and learn about national traditions and history, the world’s oldest open-air museum, Skansen, can be found on the little island of Djurgården. See traditional Swedish animals (such as moose and wolves) up close in habitats that mimic their native ones. Since you’re already on the picturesque island of Djurgården don’t forget to drop by the idyllic Rosendal Trädgård for a fika (a coffee and cake break) in one of the garden’s greenhouses. Sit back and relax before you return to the hustle and bustle of city life.
Either walk or hop on a boat to return to the city centre and travel back in time again by heading to Stockholm’s Gamla Stown. While touristy, the old town still offers charming cobbled alleyways and colorful facades. Stop off at a vintage bar and have a drink before heading out for a longer night of fun.
For a taste of Stockholm’s nightlife, make sure to party in Trädgården, the place to be for locals during spring and summer thanks to its vast outdoor spaces and eclectic dance floors. Stockholm doesn’t disappoint in winter. Locals swarm Under Bron for a pumping party. Don’t forget to immortalize your night in the club’s own photoautomat. If slow dancing is more your thing, Natten is the place to dance the night away to classic ballads.
Stay
Miss Clara by Nobis
This former girls school (built in 1910) is a hugely popular boutique hotel in the city due to its modern take on Art Nouveau and the simple yet stylish rooms in Jugend-style. Rounded windows, dark herringbone parquet floors and Egyptian cotton sheets promise luxurious stay. Miss Clara is situated just around the corner from Drottninggatan (the main shopping street in the city), a short underground ride away from the Old Town. Don’t miss the hotel’s French Live Sessions where you can nibble on oysters and imbibe on champagne or their Sunday jazz brunches where American pancakes and Korean fried chicken are on the menu. As if that wasn’t enough, Miss Clara’s restaurant offers a mix of Swedish and international courses and has its own Italian-style pizzeria next door. This boutique hotel is fitted with a bar as well as a modern gym with a sauna, which all the guests have unlimited access to.
Haymarket by Scandic
Looking for a classic but still hip and modern hotel for your Stockholm stay? Then Haymarket by Scandic is a perfect match. The Art Deco–inspired hotel opened its doors in 2016 and offers a state-of-the-art stay situated on Hötorget in Stockholm in the central area of Norrmalm. Enjoy the hotel’s cocktail bar, in-house cinema, fitness studio and chic brasserie. Of course, there’s free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TV’s in every room for your convenience. This elegant hotel also offers a laundry service and a lifestyle concierge. An extra plus for night owls is that the hotel is situated close to trendy nightlife district Stureplan.
