Straddling 14 islands on Lake Malaren, Stockholm is beautifully located and considered Scandinavia's most progressive, open-minded city. The trendy and highly fashionable city is considered a bastion of Nordic cool. Equally divided between water, green space and urbanity, Stockholm offers a fantastic standard of living for its inhabitants.
Stockholm is a stunning city easy to fall in love with on first glimpse.
Galma Stan is the first choice of many travellers. It is beautiful neighborhood with a 13th century atmosphere, medieval alleyways and ornate 17th-century preserved houses. For something more modern, book an apartment in bustling Norrmalm, home of Stockholm’s shopping mecca, Sergels Torg. Södermalm, or “alternative Stockholm” offers accommodation next to bohemian cafés, edgy shops, and funky restaurants. An apartment in Djurgården is perfect for family stays. Children will especially enjoy the Gröna Lund Amusement Park and Skansen open-air museum and zoo. Further outdoor activities can be found in Östermalm, which centres itself around its parks. Accommodation in Vasastan offers a more lively choice.
Stockholm is a city of contrasts where functional, contemporary design is twinned with the narrow cobbled lanes of the Old Town and folklore. On Skeppsholmen is the Museum of Modern Art, the Architectural Museum and the East-Asia Museum. Edgy Fotografiska spotlights fine art photography from all over the world. Skeppsholmsbron Bridge offers a fantastic vantage point to the adjacent Slussen, the Royal Court, and the stunning buildings of Strandvagen. Stockholm has a lot of historic museums worth visiting. Located on Djurgården island is Vasamuseet (“The Vasa Museum”), home to a 17th century warship called the “Vasa”, and the world’s oldest open air museum, Skansen whose main draw is its Nordic zoo.
Eating out in Stockholm can be expensive and can take a large chunk out of your budget. It is wise to be on the lookout for signs that read “Dagens rätt” (Today’s dish/special). You’ll find affordable lunch options and some off regular dinner menus with upwards of a 50% discount. Seafood is a must while in Stockholm. You can pick out fresh lobsters and raw fish which are cooked for you at Blasieholmens Akvarium och Restaurang (B.A.R). Rosendals Trädgård Kafé and Bageri remains a popular place with locals for freshly baked bread and pastries made from biodynamic flour. Pelikan serves homemade Swedish meatballs in cream sauce with lingonberries in addition other traditional Swedish dishes. Guests should note that that although tipping in Swedish restaurants is not expected, it is customary to round the bill up to the nearest 20kr. Most of Stockholms clubs, pubs, and lounges are clustered around the neighborhoods of Östermalm, Gamla stan, and Södermalm.
Taxis are expensive so avoid them while in Stockholm. The cheapest way of getting from Arlanda Airport to town is via an airport transfer bus, such as Flygbussarna and Swebus. However, the 20 minute Arlanda Express train gets you into town faster. Suburban and regional train lines can also be used to reach the city centre. Car rental services can also be found at the airport. Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL) runs Stockholm’s extensive subway (tunnelbana), bus and tram network, and some long-distance trains. Tickets can be purchased at stations and kiosks showing the “SL” logo. You can purchase the Stockholm Card which provides unlimited rides on public transport including ferries and access to roughly 80 museums and attractions around the city. Stockholm is best explored by bike or from the water so rent a Stockholm City Bike to explore over 90 kilometres of biking paths, take a brunch cruise with Stromma, or paddle a kayak down its labyrinth of waterways and canals.
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