From 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.
Best time: Late afternoon in summer, for a swim at Smedsuddsbadet and the sunset from Västerbron
The route, stop by stop
- 1Stockholm City Hall
Ragnar Östberg's red-brick City Hall, inaugurated on Midsummer Eve 1923 and host of the Nobel banquet. Rooms are seen on guided tours and the tower by timed climb; tickets are sold online (stadshuset.stockholm). 20 min outside, or 60 min with a tour.
- 2Norr Mälarstrand
The 1.6 km parade street along the north shore of Riddarfjärden, from City Hall to Rålambshovsparken; take the shore promenade and the park laid out in 1941-1943. 25 min.
- 3Rålambshovsparken ('Rålis')
One of Stockholm's first functionalist parks (from 1936), known as "Rålis": the amphitheatre built in 1953 hosts Parkteatern in summer, and on warm days the lawns fill with football, brännboll, kubb, barbecues and picnics. 20 min.
- 4Smedsuddsbadet
City beach on Riddarfjärden opened in 1973, with a small sand beach, jetty, lawn, changing rooms and outdoor showers; about 10 min on foot from Fridhemsplan metro. 30 min, longer with a swim.
- 5Västerbron
The arch bridge opened in 1935, about 600 m long with viaducts and 26 m above the water. Walk up to the middle for the view of Riddarfjärden, City Hall and Gamla stan, then continue to Långholmen. 15 min.
More walks in Stockholm
- Gamla stan beyond the crowds: Riddarholmen, Stortorget and the back lanes
- Söder heights at sunset: Mariaberget, Monteliusvägen and Skinnarviksberget
- East Södermalm: Fjällgatan, Vita bergen and the 18th-century wooden houses
- Djurgården: Vasa, Rosendal and the art villas to Blockhusudden
- Skeppsholmen and Kastellholmen: the museum island and the citadel
- Östermalm and Strandvägen: Hallwylska, the market hall and the waterfront boulevard
- Långholmen and Reimersholme: the prison island and the bathing rocks
- Hagaparken: Gustav III's pavilions and the Copper Tents on Brunnsviken
- Vasastan: Strindberg's Blue Tower, the observatory hill and Asplund's library
- Skogskyrkogården: Asplund and Lewerentz's Woodland Cemetery (UNESCO)
- Tunnelbana art ride: T-Centralen, Kungsträdgården, Rådhuset, Solna centrum, Stadion, Tekniska högskolan