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Stories from Stockholm, Sweden

Every story, long read and guide in the ULTIMATE Stockholm City Guide, in one place.

Areas

Stockholm by area

From Gamla Stan to the new waterside city, each district has its own guide: the old town and the palace, the city and its waterfront, Östermalm’s boulevards, the cliffs of Södermalm, the museum island of Djurgården, Kungsholmen, Vasastan’s neighbourhood tables and the Royal Seaport.

The gabled red and ochre houses of Stortorget, Gamla Stan’s main squareArea guideGamla StanThe old townThe Grand Hôtel’s façade on the waterfront of Blasieholmen, with its flagsArea guideNorrmalm & CityThe city and the waterfrontThe grand façades of Strandvägen above the boats moored on NybrovikenArea guideÖstermalmStrandvägen and StureplanOld ochre wooden and brick houses on a street of Södermalm in summerArea guideSödermalmCliffs and viewsThe bow of the warship Vasa in the Vasa MuseumArea guideDjurgårdenThe museum island

On the water

Stockholm is built on islands: the Djurgården ferry and the boats from Strömkajen are part of everyday life, and SL tickets are valid on them.

  1. Area guideKungsholmenThe City Hall island
  2. Area guideVasastanNeighbourhood tables
  3. Area guideHammarby Sjöstad & Royal SeaportThe new waterside city

Practical

Plan your trip

The practical things to know before you go: entry rules, SL tickets and contactless payment, Arlanda Express and the boats, and itineraries for a first visit.

The western façade of the Royal Palace, with a guard in his sentry box, on a snowy morningBefore you goStockholm essentialsEntry, tickets, the airport and 112The red painted rock vault of Solna centrum metro stationGetting aroundBy metro, train and boatSL, Arlanda Express and the boatsGamla Stan, Riddarholmen and the City Hall across the water, seen from above on a bright dayItineraryThree days in StockholmThe classic first visitA lounge at Lydmar Hotel, with sheepskins, velvet and photographs on dark wallsLuxury guideLUX LivingThe finest addressesThe Royal Swedish Opera across Norrström in winter lightItineraryThe Gold weekendThe Grand Hôtel and the opera
  1. ItineraryThe Platinum weekendEtt Hem, Frantzén and AIRA

Our advice

Tap in, no ticket needed

SL accepts contactless bank cards and phones on the metro, trains, trams and buses, and Arlanda Express reaches the city in 18 minutes. Stockholm by metro, train and boat

Day trips

Beyond the city

The archipelago, Drottningholm, Uppsala, Sigtuna and Gripsholm, all within reach for the day: islands and a fortress, a palace on the lake, a cathedral city, an old main street and a royal castle.

The Stockholm archipelago around Sandhamn from the airBeyond the cityThe archipelago30,000 islandsDrottningholm Palace reflected in Lake Mälaren under a blue skyBeyond the cityDrottningholmThe royal palaceUppsala Cathedral's spires above autumn treesBeyond the cityUppsalaThe university cityThe painted wooden houses and shop signs of Stora gatan in SigtunaBeyond the citySigtuna & SkoklosterStora gatan and a baroque castleThe red brick towers of Gripsholm Castle at MariefredBeyond the cityGripsholm & MariefredA crown estate since 1404

Our advice

Give Djurgården a whole day

The Vasa Museum, Skansen, Nordiska museet and ABBA The Museum stand side by side on the island; come early to the Vasa, which opens every day at 10:00. The Djurgården guide

In depth

In depth: Stockholm, the city on the water

Swedish cuisine, the city on the water, design and music, eating, the grand hotels, film, getting around and where to buy: the stories behind Stockholm.

Stortorget in Gamla Stan at night at Christmas, with a lit tree before the gabled housesChristmas & New YearChristmas in StockholmStortorget, Skansen, Lucia and the julbordAn angler casting into Strömmen in central StockholmIn depth: nature & wildlifeWild StockholmSalmon, old oaks and the city parkSwedish meatballs with mashed potato and lingonberriesEatSwedish CuisineMeatballs, herring, fika and the julbord

Fika

Keep the afternoon free for fika: coffee and a cinnamon bun at a konditori is as Swedish as the smörgåsbord.

  1. FeatureStockholm, the classic and the newGrandeur, palaces, the table and the water
  2. FeatureStockholm on filmThe Square, Millennium and Let the Right One In
  3. The back storyDesign and musicThe museums and the stages
  4. The back storyEating in StockholmThe starred tables and the classics
  5. The back storyThe grand hotelsFrom the Grand Hôtel to Ett Hem

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