Sweden's capital is built on islands where Lake Mälaren meets the Baltic, so the ordinary SL ticket also covers the Djurgården ferry and commuter boats, and the inner archipelago starts at the city quays. Locals live by weekday dagens lunch, the afternoon fika with a kanelbulle, cash-free card or Swish payments, and the Systembolaget alcohol monopoly (age 20). Summer means cliff and lake swimming inside the city; from late September many outdoor sights and island boats run winter hours or stop.
Must-see
The sights to fit in even on a short trip.
- 01Vasa Museum
- 02Royal Palace
- 03Stortorget
- 04Stockholm City Hall
- 05Skansen Open-Air Museum
- 06Royal Djurgården
- 07Fotografiska
- 08Monteliusvägen
- 09Strandvägen
- 10Nationalmuseum
History & museums 68
- Monteliusvägen
- Vasa Museum
- Kungsträdgården metro station
- Royal Djurgården
- Skeppsholmen and Kastellholmen
- Skinnarviksberget
- Stockholm City Hall
- Woodland Cemetery
- Army Museum
- Berwaldhallen
- Millesgården
- Nationalmuseum
- Royal Armoury
- Royal Swedish Opera
- Skeppsholmen Bridge
- Sofia Church
- Solna centrum metro station
- Stadion metro station
- ABBA The Museum
- Drottningholm Palace
- Gustav III's Pavilion
- Haga Park
- Hallwyl Museum
- House of Nobility
- Kastellet
- Katarina Church
- Katarina Elevator
- Kungsträdgården
- Prince Eugen's Waldemarsudde
- Royal Dramatic Theatre
- Royal Palace
- Skansen Open-Air Museum
- Stockholm Cathedral
- Stockholm City Museum
- Stockholm Concert Hall
- Swedish History Museum
- Thiel Gallery
- Ulriksdal Palace
- Birger Jarl's Tower
- Fotografiska
- German Church (St Gertrude's)
- Jewish Museum
- Mårten Trotzigs gränd
- Östermalm Market Hall
- Postal Museum
- Riddarholmen Church
- Strindberg Museum
- Liljevalchs Art Gallery
- Maritime Museum
- Moderna Museet
- Nordic Museum
- T-Centralen blue-line platform
- Tekniska museet (National Museum of Science and Technology)
- Gröna Lund
- Museum of Ethnography
- Bonniers Konsthall
- Nobel Prize Museum
- Sven-Harry's Art Museum
- Museum of Spirits
- Stureplan and Svampen
- Åsöberget wooden houses
- Copper Tents
- Fjällgatan
- Hötorget
- Mäster Mikaels gata
- Sergels torg
- Stortorget
- Strandvägen
Where to eat 167
- Lillebrors Bageri
- Poli Caffè
- Washoku Tomo
- Aira
- Bergstrands Bageri
- Chao Na
- Dashi
- Ett Hem
- Frantzén
- La Gelateria SoFo
- La Piccola Nonna
- Nyhetsgrillen
- Stockholm Roast
- Triton
- 800 Grader Slice Shop and Bar Ottocento
- Amo
- Bord
- Caffè Ugo
- Caffetteria del Corso
- Ekstedt
- Franky's Burger
- Günters Korvar
- Lilla Ego
- Nour
- Petri
- Seafood Gastro
- Sempre
- Socker Sucker
- Sosta
- Viet Kitchen
- Baggio Kaffebar
- Beck Kaffebar
- Bistro Mirabelle
- Bistro Zissou
- Brunos Korvbar
- Hantverket
- Kajsas Fisk
- Konditori Genuin
- Lao Wai
- Miyakodori
- Nostrano
- Pärlans Konfektyr
- Pat's Place
- Pataka
- Reggev Hummus
- Snö
- Sundevich
- Sushi Sho
- Svedjan Bageri
- Thongwiset
- Tradition
- Valhallabageriet
- Wedholms Fisk
- Bakfickan
- BAP Burgers & Pastrami
- Bar Agrikultur
- Bobergs Matsal
- Bullar & Bröd
- Café Pascal
- Chez Jolie
- Cypern
- Esperia
- Falafelbaren
- Farang
- Fosch Artisan Pâtisserie
- Green Rabbit
- Indio Kitchen
- Knut
- Lisa Elmqvist
- Mancini
- Matbaren
- Meno Male (Vasastan)
- Minh Mat
- Nystekt Strömming
- Omnipollos Hatt
- Operakällaren
- Panem
- Rolfs Kök
- Skeppsbro Bageri
- Spritmuseum Restaurant
- Teatergrillen
- Totemo Ramen
- Verandan at Grand Hôtel
- Black Milk Gastro Bar
- Brasserie Astoria
- Den Gyldene Freden
- Dionysos
- Drop Coffee
- Haga Tårtcompani & Bageri
- Johan & Nyström
- Kalf & Hansen
- KB (Konstnärsbaren)
- Lu
- Lux Dag för Dag
- Magnus Johansson Bageri & Konditori
- Mellqvist Kaffebar
- Prinsen
- Rockin Grill
- Savoj
- Solen
- Stadshuskällaren
- StikkiNikki
- Stora Bageriet
- Surfers
- Ulla Winbladh
- Vanak
- Vete-Katten
- Voisine
- Wäng Izakaya
- Xulo
- Allegrine
- B.A.R.
- Babette
- Bak
- Bar Saigon (formerly Saigon Baguette)
- Barrels Burgers & Beer
- Blå Porten
- Flippin' Burgers
- Freyja
- Gondolen
- Grodan
- Il Caffè
- Lykke Nytorget
- Misshumasshu
- MR Cake
- Pelikan
- Slipen (bakery and café)
- Söders Hjärta
- Sturehof
- Tennstopet
- Tössebageriet
- Ulriksdals Värdshus
- Amida Kolgrill
- Art Bakery
- Bistro Bananas
- Bitza
- China!
- Cucina Povera
- Eatnam
- Järnvägsrestaurangen Östra Station
- K-märkt Garnisonen
- Kvarnen
- Lennart & Bror Fisk
- Meatballs for the People
- Ox Lan
- Punjabi Masala
- Tak
- Tranan
- Villa Godthem
- Ai Ramen (Sofia)
- Café Nizza
- Café Saturnus
- Chic Konditori
- Chili Masala
- Gojo
- Gunnarsons Specialkonditori
- Maiz Mexican
- Riche
- Ritorno
- Robin Delselius Bageri
- Tosto
- Villa Källhagen
- Kaffe
- Thelins Konditori
- Arirang
- Eken
- Fotografiska Restaurant
Night out 59
- Ambar
- Cinemateket (Filmhuset)
- Bar Ninja
- Bio Skandia
- Cadierbaren
- Folii
- Hernö Gin Bar
- Kafé 44
- Lucy's Flower Shop
- Mikkeller Söder
- Savant Bar
- Bar Europa
- Bio Capitol
- Bio Fågel Blå
- Glenn Miller Café
- Stampen
- Stjärtilleriet
- Tyge & Sessil
- Akkurat
- Bar Hommage
- Bio Rio
- Fasching
- Harvest Home
- Hosoi
- Katarina Ölkafé
- Le Hibou
- Nalen
- Omaka
- Pharmarium
- Schmaltz Bar & Delicatessen
- Slaktkyrkan & Hus 7
- Stigbergets Fot
- Stockholm Brewing Co.
- Tudor Arms
- Vina
- Zita
- Zum Franziskaner
- Kollektivet Livet (Stadsgårdsterminalen)
- Nya Carnegiebryggeriet
- Oliver Twist
- Takpark by Urban Deli
- Grand
- Internationella Pressklubben
- Mosebacketerrassen
- Södra Teatern
- Stockholm Under Stjärnorna
- Tjoget
- Alba
- Berns
- Pet Sounds Bar
- Röda Huset
- Trädgården / Under Bron
- Coquetel Social
- Duvan
- Häktet
- Himlen
- Tiki Room
- Debaser Hornstulls Strand
- Slakthuset
Locals only 51
- Eriksdalslunden allotments and Årstaviken shore
- Tanto Bastu
- Ivar Los park
- Djurgårdsbrunnskanalen walk
- Nackareservatet
- Rönnells Antikvariat
- Bergianska trädgården
- Carl Eldh Studio Museum
- Hornstullsbastun
- Kastellholmen
- Papercut
- Pop Stockholm
- Stora Skuggan
- Bellevueparken and Café Bellevue
- Fredhällsbadet
- Hellasgården (sauna, lake and ice hole)
- Hornsbergs strandpark
- Judarskogen nature reserve
- Norra begravningsplatsen
- Pet Sounds
- Record Hunter
- Reimersholme
- Vitabergsparken (Vita bergen)
- Fjäderholmarna
- Observatorielunden
- Princess Estelle's Sculpture Park
- Rosendals Trädgård
- Royal Academy of Fine Arts
- Stockholm Transport Museum
- Swedish Museum of Performing Arts
- Vanadislunden
- Vintervikens Trädgård
- Flatenbadet
- Isbladskärret
- Mariedals Trädgårdscafé
- Rålambshovsparken ('Rålis')
- Tantolunden and its allotment gardens
- Årstaskogen
- Brunnsvikens strandbad
- Ersta Terrass
- Långholmen (beach and rock bathing)
- Smedsuddsbadet
- Stora Henriksvik
- Café Uddvillan
- Lasse i Parken
- Lisa Larsson Second Hand
- Myrorna Ropsten
- Beyond Retro (Brännkyrkagatan)
- Hornstulls marknad
- Fåfängan
- Vinterviken (Nobel's dynamite valley)
Walking routes 12
- 01Gamla stan beyond the crowds: Riddarholmen, Stortorget and the back lanesStart on Riddarholmen, the quiet islet of royal tombs and noble palaces, then cross into Gamla stan and keep to the parallel streets east of Västerlånggatan: Stortorget, the stair alley of Mårten Trotzigs gränd, Prästgatan, the medieval merchants' street Köpmangatan and Österlånggatan, ending on the Skeppsbron quay facing the harbour.
- 02Söder heights at sunset: Mariaberget, Monteliusvägen and SkinnarviksbergetA short climb from Mariatorget onto Mariaberget, the protected 18th-century cliff quarter on north-west Södermalm, then west along the cliff path Monteliusvägen to Skinnarviksberget, the highest natural point in the inner city, with the whole of Riddarfjärden, City Hall and Gamla stan below.
- 03East Södermalm: Fjällgatan, Vita bergen and the 18th-century wooden housesWalk the high ground of east Södermalm, where painted wooden houses went up after the Katarina fire of 1723 and the city's poor settled around Vita bergen in the 1700s. Katarina kyrka, the painted wooden houses of Mäster Mikaels gata, the harbour view from Fjällgatan, Vita bergen with Sofia kyrka and the cultural reserve of Åsöberget, ending at the Fåfängan lookout above the harbour entrance.
- 04Djurgården: Vasa, Rosendal and the art villas to BlockhusuddenCross Djurgårdsbron into the Royal National City Park and walk east across the island: the Nordic Museum and Vasa Museum, the garden of Rosendals trädgård, Prince Eugen's Waldemarsudde, Ernest Thiel's gallery and the eastern point of Blockhusudden over Lilla Värtan. One way, about 5 km plus museum time.
- 05Skeppsholmen and Kastellholmen: the museum island and the citadelCross the bridge from Blasieholmen onto Skeppsholmen, the naval island turned museum island inside the Royal National City Park, past the hostel ship af Chapman and the domed Skeppsholmskyrkan to Moderna Museet, then over the low bridge to Kastellholmen, where the Swedish naval flag has flown every day since the 1660s.
- 06Östermalm and Strandvägen: Hallwylska, the market hall and the waterfront boulevardFrom the private palace museum on Hamngatan, through Berzelii park to Östermalms saluhall, the 1888 food market hall, past Hedvig Eleonora kyrka, then down to Strandvägen, the stone-palace boulevard along the water, to the bridge onto Djurgården.
- 07Kungsholmen waterfront: City Hall, Norr Mälarstrand and Rålis to VästerbronFrom City Hall west along Norr Mälarstrand, the shore promenade on Riddarfjärden, to Rålambshovsparken ("Rålis"), where Stockholmers play kubb, grill and picnic, a swim at Smedsuddsbadet, and up onto Västerbron, the 1935 arch bridge with the best view of the city on the water.
- 08Långholmen and Reimersholme: the prison island and the bathing rocksFrom Hornstull cross Pålsundet onto Långholmen, Stockholm's prison island until 1975 and now a green island with a path around the whole shore, past the old shipyard and the former central prison (now a hotel, hostel and restaurant with a prison museum), to the beach at Långholmsbadet, then over Långholmsbron to the small island of Reimersholme.
- 09Hagaparken: Gustav III's pavilions and the Copper Tents on BrunnsvikenGustav III's English landscape park on the west shore of Brunnsviken, part of the Royal National City Park. Walk north from the Turkish Kiosk past the king's pavilion and the Echo Temple, Haga Palace (home of the Crown Princess and her family since 2010, seen from outside), the foundations of the never-finished Haga Palace, to the Copper Tents and the butterfly house.
- 10Vasastan: Strindberg's Blue Tower, the observatory hill and Asplund's libraryA short walk up the Stockholm esker in Vasastan: Strindberg's last home in the Blue Tower, Tegnérlunden, the old observatory on its hill in Observatorielunden, Gunnar Asplund's rotunda library of 1928 and the steep Vanadislunden park.
- 11Skogskyrkogården: Asplund and Lewerentz's Woodland Cemetery (UNESCO)The Woodland Cemetery in Gamla Enskede, made 1915-1940 by Gunnar Asplund and Sigurd Lewerentz and on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1994. From the entrance avenue to the granite cross and the crematorium chapels, up the elm-covered meditation hill, to Asplund's Woodland Chapel and along the Path of the Seven Wells to Lewerentz's Resurrection Chapel. Greta Garbo is buried here.
- 12Tunnelbana art ride: T-Centralen, Kungsträdgården, Rådhuset, Solna centrum, Stadion, Tekniska högskolanStockholm's metro stations double as an underground art gallery. Ride the blue line from T-Centralen's blue leaf vines to the palace fragments at Kungsträdgården, the joke details of Rådhuset and the red-and-green cave of Solna centrum, then change at T-Centralen to the red line for Stadion and Tekniska högskolan. Get off, look, and take the next train.