scubish.com: Travel information for Stockholm

Stockholm is the capital of Sweden. It is situated in the south central part of the country on the border between the provinces Uppland and Södermanland (also known as Sörmland), on the east coast, between lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea. The municipality of Stockholm has approximately 765,000 inhabitants (2004), the greater metro area 1.9 million (2004). The population of the metro area grows by about 20,000 each year.

Understand

Stockholm is not the oldest town in Sweden but after its establishment in the 1250s it rapidly became a national centre, having a very strategic location between a major lake (Mälaren) and the Baltic Sea.
The city is in almost every respect the most important city in Sweden, even though more peripheral regions, especially in the south and west, feel they survive quite well without the political centralism exerted by the capital.
Stockholm is a mix of old and new. Particularly between 1955 and 1975, hundreds of older buildings were demolished during a great modernization process, encouraged by similar projects in London and other cities damaged during the Second World War.
Sweden's beautiful capital has a very picturesque setting that makes the city unique. The difference between summer and winter is quite large, with long, mild summer nights and lots of greenery, and dark, cold, often snowy winters with millions of Christmas candles in the windows.

Districts

Stockholm Municipality, covers an area of 187 square kilometers.

Inner town
The inner town, innerstaden, covers 35 km² of land and 12 km² of water, and contains most of the interesting locations.

Östermalm
Östermalm is an upper-class residential area, including Djurgården, the "national city park".

Norra Djurgården contains the campuses of Stockholm University and the Royal Institute of Technology, where the student unions hold low-cost pubs at weeknights. Check out http://www.fester.nu (Swedish only) for opening hours.

Södra Djurgården is an island with some of Stockholm's most tourist locations - Skansen, Gröna Lund and Vasamuseet.

Norrmalm
Norrmalm is the commercial district, with plenty of shopping opportunities. Southern Norrmalm is mostly called City.

Old Town
Gamla Stan, The Old Town, is the historical centre. It is dominated by the Royal Palace, the Riksdag and other government buildings.

Södermalm
Södermalm, Söder, used to be the home of the working-class, but it was gentrified during the 20th century. The more or less bohemian area south of Folkungagatan has recently become nicknamed SoFo (from SoHo).

Slussen ("The Lock") is a waterway-lock between Södermalm and Gamla Stan, covered by road bridges, and a mass transit hub.

Medborgarplatsen ("Citizens' square") is a square surrounded by restaurants and pubs - the cheaper ones are in the backstreets.

Western suburbs
The western suburbs, västerort, are diverse, containing both the wealthiest and the poorest neighborhoods.

Bromma Airport

Kista is the Swedish center of information technology. It contains Kista Science Tower - Sweden's tallest office building, and Kistagallerian - a shopping mall open until 9 pm.

Vällingby is known as one of the first planned suburbs in Europe.

Southern suburbs
Söderort, or söder om Söder, is mostly famous for the arenas.

The Globe Arena, clearly visible from most of Södermalm, host ice hockey games as well as international artist performances. Neighbors are Söderstadion - a soccer stadium, and Hovet - a medium-sized arena.

Hammarbybacken is an artificial hill for alpine skiing. A good experience if temperature is below zero, and you don't have the chance to go to a ski resort.

Bordering towns

Danderyd

Ekerö contains tho World Heritage sites - the Drottningholm palace and Birka - the "viking" town.

Lidingö is an island-suburb, mostly famous for Millesgården and Bosön, center for The Swedish Sports Confederation. Several world-famous athletes work out at Bosön. Lidingöloppet is a cross-country race included in the Swedish Classic Circuit.

Get in

By plane

Arlanda Airport: The main international airport is situated 40km north of the city. There are several methods for travelling between Stockholm and Arlanda. Taxis operate on a fixed price basis between Arlanda and Stockholm. Prices at the taxi stands currently range from SEK 395 (Transfer Taxi) to SEK 445. The cheapest way of getting from and to Arlanda by taxi costs SEK 350 with Airport Cab (phone: +46-8-252523) or Taxi Solna (phone: +46-8-280280). Both companies require pre-booking by phone. Otherwise you can freely choose among the waiting taxis or ask the operator for a specific company. A taxi ride takes approximately 40 minutes. The Arlanda Express train , which leaves from the lower level of each terminal, costs SEK 200 (SEK 100 for people under 25 years of age, and two adults for 220 during weekends and holidays) one-way, but gets you to the Central Station in 20 minutes and departs every 15 minutes during the day. Airport coaches (Flygbussarna) run frequently to and from the City Terminal, just next to the Central Station (approx. 40 mins) and cost SEK 95. They make a few stops in the northern suburbs along the way. The by far cheapest option is to use local transport. Bus 583 goes between Arlanda and the northern suburb of Märsta, from which commuter trains take you to Stockholm Central. This takes about an hour but costs only SEK 40 (or buy a SL travel card).

Bromma Airport: A smaller airport 10km west of central Stockholm, mainly used for domestic flights and inter-European hops to cities like Brussels and Paris. Airport coaches go to the City Terminal, price SEK 69. A cheaper option (SEK 20) is to take local bus 112 to Spånga station, and from there take a commuter train to Stockholm Central.

Skavsta Airport: Used by Ryanair and Wizzair. 100 km southwest of Stockholm, near the town Nyköping. Airport coaches go to/from the City Terminal in Stockholm. SEK 139 one way, SEK 199 round trip, takes about 80 minutes.

Västerås Airport: Situated 100 km west of Stockholm near the town Västerås. Serves Ryanair flights to/from London (Stansted) and Dublin. Airport coaches go to/from the City Terminal in Stockholm. SEK 130 one way, SEK 199 round trip, takes about 75 minutes.

By train
The main station lies directly in the city centre near the waterfront. It's connected underground to T-Centralen, the central hub for the subway system.

By boat
Ferries go to Finland and Estonia every day. For more information, see Baltic sea cruises.

Silja Line ferries to Helsinki and Turku leave from the Värtahamnen port, some 500 meters from the Gärdet subway station.

Viking Line ferries to Helsinki and Turku leave from the Stadsgårdsterminalen port in the south of the city. Expensive buses shuttle passengers to the Slussen subway station, or you can get there on foot by following the coastline north for a kilometre or so. There are also privately run (and more expensive) direct buses from the ferry terminal to the Cityterminalen bus station about 2.5 km away.

Birka Cruises go between Stockholm and Mariehamn on Åland. Ships depart from Stadsgårdsterminalen, see above.

Tallink serves the destinations Mariehamn on Åland, Tallinn in Estonia, and Riga in Latvia. Ships depart from the Frihamnen port.

A lot of European cruises have day long stops in Stockholm. During the summer there is at least one cruises ship on visit.

Get around

Stockholm Transport (SL) runs a wide subway, commuter train and bus system as well as some tram and ferry services. SL website offers a journey planner.

Subway

There is an efficient metro system called the Tunnelbanan (sometimes abbreviated T-Bana on signs). With exactly 100 stations, it is quite extensive for a city of this size and will get you around almost all the downtown places as well as most nearby suburbs. Trains run until almost 1 AM weeknights and 3:30 AM weekends. There are passes available for 24 hours (90 SEK), 72 hours (190 SEK), or 7 days (230 SEK) and single journey tickets valid for one hour cost from 20 SEK upto 80 SEK (12 SEK upto 48 SEK if you're under 20 or over 65) depending upon the number of zones or the type of single ticket you choose to travel with. When you purchase the 72-hour transit pass, you also receive free admission to Kaknästornet (TV tower) and Gröna Lund (Stockholm's amusement park). If you are going to be in Stockholm for a while, go ahead and purchase a 30-day card, which allows unrestricted access to all of the buses, trams, subways, and commuter trains, as well as the Djurgården ferry, for 620 SEK.

The Stockholm Card allows free transportation and parking as well as admission to the 70 museums in Stockholm.

Commuter train

The commuter train (pendeltåg) in Stockholm covers much of Stockholm county, as well as some locations in bordering counties. There are currently 51 stations. The busiest routes are along the Kungsängen to Västerhaninge and Märsta to Södertälje lines, with departures every 15 minutes during the day, and every 30 minutes in the evening, and with extra cars during rush-hour. On the other lines, the service is less frequent. Commuter trains use the same tickets and passes as the subways and public buses.

Bike
Cycling is an attractive option. On a bike, a journey across central Stockholm's islands will take no longer than 30 min and is normally faster than travelling by subway or car. There are cycle paths along most major roads and drivers are generally considerate towards cyclists. Cycling is possible in winter when the paths are covered in ice, but extra care must be taken. In summer, bikes can be hired on Strandvägen where the ferries dock.

Bus & Ferry
Stockholm has an extensive bus system which reaches areas the Tunnelbana does not. There are also a few ferries that go to Djurgården and Skeppsholmen. Bus and ferry travel is included with any 24- or 72-hour transit pass as well as the monthly pass.

Taxi
Taxis are on the expensive side. The Stockholm taxi market was deregulated several years ago, which made it considerably easier to find a taxi, but no pricing regulations are in effect. This means that small operators can, and sometimes will, charge outrageous prices. Try to stick with the major companies (Taxi Stockholm, Taxi Kurir, and Taxi 020) to avoid being ripped off. If you hail a taxi from any other company it might be a good idea to ask for a price estimate before commencing your journey. Expect to pay about 100 SEK for a 5 minute trip. All taxis of the major companies accept credit cards.

Late at night in the city center, you may be offered a ride with a 'Black Taxi'. Most of the time this will get you home for roughly the same cost as ordinary taxis--just don't ask for a receipt. However, some unpleasant episodes have been known to happen to passengers, so try this at your own risk, and preferably not alone.

It's often possible to negotiate a price with a licensed taxi driver before entering the cab. In this case, it's implied that you won't receive a receipt, and the driver won't be paying any taxes or his employer. The money (paid in cash) will go straight into the driver's pocket, which means that you can often get a cheaper ride. However, if you don't know the area well enough to estimate the regular metered price you might get ripped off.

See

Stockholm's Old Town (Gamla Stan) is the beautifully preserved historical heart of Stockholm. T Gamla Stan station is on the west side of the compact quarter, which is best covered on foot. Riddarholmskyrkan is a beautifully preserved medieval church.

The Stockholm archipelago (skärgården) is one of the world's most spectacular. Stretching 80 kilometres east of the city, the archipelago comprises 24 000 islands, islets and rocks. Explore islands with restaurants, youth hostels and country stores, or entirely deserted islands - no matter what, the experience will be entirely unique. If you visit Stockholm in the summertime, make sure you take a boat trip to see the archipelago. You can find several boat excursions. Most of them are operated by Waxholmsbolaget and depart from Strömkajen, opposite the Royal Palace. During the summer you can also use Strömma Kanalbolaget with faster and more modern ships, departing from Nybrokajen (by Strandvägen). Many will pass the picturesque town of Vaxholm, on the mainland to the northeast of the city, well worth a stopover if you have the time. The islands offer a wide variety of nature, from the lush green of the inner archipelago to the bare cliffs of the more distant outposts. If you want to go on a day trip, Grinda is a good alternative; the ride lasts from 75 minutes to nearly 3 hours depending on your choice of boat. During part of the summer, Strömma Kanalbolaget offers a day cruise (11 hours, SEK 775 including lunch, dinner and guided tours) as well as a shorter, 2.5 hour boat excursion (SEK 190), both departing from Nybrokajen. The latter does not go far out, and you will miss the 'real' archipelago. Möja, Sandhamn and Utö are popular destinations further out. If you plan to go island-hopping there is a 16-day card entitling you to free travel (SEK 490).

The Royal Palace , built between 1697 and 1754 and located on the east side of the Old Town, is open to the public. Tickets to The Royal Apartments, the Tre Kronor Museum, the Treasury, and Gustav III's Museum of Antiquities cost 70 SEK each, with the sumptuous Apartments being the main draw; if royal regalia is your thing, you'll probably want to pay 110 SEK for a combination ticket and visit the Treasury as well. Open 10-4 daily in the summer, 12-4 and closed Mondays in the winter.

The Stockholm Public Library at Sveavägen 73 (T Rådmansgatan) was built in 1928 and designed by the most famous Swedish architect Erik Gunnar Asplund. The interior of the cupola-shaped building is spectacular, with three floors of bookshelves covering 360 degrees of circular wall, capped by a high dome. Books (both fiction and non-fiction) are available in many different languages, including English and German. On the cliff overlooking it is the old Observatory, which has a fine view of the city to the east. There is a small cafe.

The Stockholm School of Economics A time honored institution that has seen some of the most famous people in Sweden come and go in its halls. The school is located in an imposing building on Sveavägen close to the Public Library. Hang around for a while and see the future rulers of the country frolick in their sunday bests. The cafe located downstairs has got some excellent coffee as well.

The Stockholm City Hall , where the Nobel Prize Banquet takes place every year, is an imposing brick building in the city centre. Guided tours are held daily, and allow you to see the impressive halls used for the Nobel festivities, the Blue Hall and the Golden Hall. (Hantverkargatan 1, Tunnelbana T-Centralen or Rådhuset, buses 3 and 62).

There is a hill near Zinkensdamm subway station providing a beautiful panorama of Gamla Stan and the city centre. When exiting the station turn back and head to the north. Walk up a small street to the right and climb the hill. Look for the "Kattenvägen" sign.

Museums
Stockholm has more than 70 museums, including the Butterfly Museum, Army Museum, and Dance Museum to name but a few.

Nordiska Museet Nordic Museum.

Vasamuseet features Vasa, an original warship from 1628 which sank just after being launched. Retrieved from the water in 1961, the ship is almost wholly preserved and unique in the world. A must-see, especially since it is uncertain whether current methods of preservation will be able to maintain her condition in years to come.

Kulturhuset The House of Culture - with exhibitions, several theatre stages, restaurants, an art bookshop and much more. On ground level there is an Internet café (called Access IT).

Moderna Museet (The Museum of Modern Art) is headed by Lars Nittve, formerly of London's Tate Modern. Although its Stockholm counterpart might not have as vast a collection, there is still enough to satisfy both the modern art buff as well as the curious amateur. Entrance is 80/60 SEK. Also, the building, by Spanish architect Rafael Moneo, is a sight in itself.

For those more interested in classical art, Nationalmuseum (The National Museum) offers pieces by Rembrandt, Rubens, Goya, Renoir, Degas and Gauguin, as well as well-known Swedish artists such as Carl Larsson, Ernst Josephson, C F Hill and Anders Zorn. The museum also has a collection of applied art, design, and industrial design. The museum is situated in a beautiful 19th century building and has a nice café in its atrium.

A very nice museum is the Tekniska Museet, Museum of Science and Technology, also recommended for smaller children. (Bus 69.)

Nobelmuseet has lots of material on the Nobel Prize, including videotaped speeches by laureates. Located in Börshuset (old Stock Exchange house), Stortorget, Gamla Stan. Open till 17:00, Tuesdays till 20:00. NB: some of their material claims that they are open until 18:00, but that is incorrect.

Skansen The first open-air museum in the world, as well as a zoological garden specializing in Nordic fauna, such as moose, reindeer, bear, wolf, lynx and wolverine. Located on the island of Djurgården it features over 150 historic buildings from previous centuries. Hosts and hostesses in historic costumes are a further attraction, and domestic occupations such as weaving, spinning, and glass blowing are demonstrated. Usually open 10 AM to 4 PM, with longer hours until 10 PM in the summer; pricing is equally variable but figure on SEK 70 in summer and SEK 50 in the winter. Get there on bus 44/47, or a ferry from Slussen.

If you're interested in older Scandinavian history, from the Stone Age to the Vikings, you might want to visit Historiska Museet (The Museum of History) at Narvavägen 13-17 (buses 44 and 56 to Historiska museet, buses 47, 69, 76 to Djurgårdsbron/Historiska museet). In the Gold Room, you'll find gold treasures from the Bronze Age to the 16th century.

For the real Viking buff, there's also Birka, the site of a former Viking city of about 1,000 inhabitants situated on Björkö, an island in Lake Mälaren. Today, however, traces of the settlement are hard to spot and the small museum (+46-8-56051445, closed during winter) is really only worth the ride if you are genuinely interested in the subject. Boats to Björkö are operated by Strömma Kanalbolaget.

Maybe not for everyone, but still entertaining: Spårvägsmuseet or Transport Museum, which is a museum of Stockholm's public transportation. Walking through historical buses and subway cars is quite fun but not enough text is in English.

Swedish Museum of Natural History (Naturhistoriska riksmuseet) - One of the two major museums of natural history (the other one is located in Gothenburg). The museum's collection is well-known around the globe and consists of animals, plants, fungi, minerals and fossils. The exhibits have been collected from the poles to the equator, and some were aquired during the voyages of James Cook. The museum is adjacent to Cosmonova, the world's largest IMAX/Omnimax-theatre.

Walk around, have a drink at Gondolen with an excellent view of the old town. When taking the elevator up, use the one located inside the building connected to the restaurant. If you use the one located in the support tower, it will cost 20 SEK per person. Stockholm is a very easy city to enjoy by foot with no steep streets. Particularly in the summer months (which can be a very short time), the city shows itself at its best. If Gondolen is full or you wish an vegetarian alternative Herman further up Katarinabacken (the road going south east from Slussen) is a nice place. Another cocktail lounge in the area is Sjöfartshotellets penthouse lounge located a bit up the road from Slussen (closer than Hermans).

Go swimming. You are never far from water in Stockholm. The area of Långholmen has many nice spots for swimming.

Stay informed. You can find Internet cafés and terminals at many locations with prices between 15 and 20 SEK for an hour.

Watch a movie. There are many cinemas in Stockholm. Most movies aren't dubbed but subtitled, so if your English is good enough this is a good way to pass some time.

Go nightclubbing and enjoy the fun of Swedish pop music.

LGBT events
The people of Stockholm are generally tolerant to homosexuality. There is an annual LGBT pride festival - Stockholm Pride - in the summer. The national LGBT organization, RFSL, can provide information on other events and locations. Please note that it is illegal to purchase sexual services.

Buy

Famous for glassware and design.

Gamla Stan, the old town, is a very popular shopping area. Västerlånggatan is where you find all the touristy shops but also some nicer establishments. If you don't like this crowded street try Österlånggatan instead for a calmer experience.

There are many department stores like Åhléns City, PUB and NK (Nordiska Kompaniet) in the city center as well as a couple of shopping malls: the biggest is Gallerian, the most expensive is Sturegallerian and the newest is Västermalmsgallerian at Kungsholmen. For a set of nice fashion shops, Biblioteksgatan near Stureplan is worth a visit. Östermalms Saluhall is a market hall with all kinds of expensive food.

If we move on from the rich Östermalm and Stureplan to the arty and media-savvy Södermalm, there are lots of shopping opportunities there as well. Götgatsbacken has lots of clothes stores and restaurants, including the fancy mall called c/o Stockholm. The SoFo district on Södermalm has lots of designer clothes, design shops and restaurants. The Street market at Hornstull on some weekends have similar offerings.

Science Fiction Bokhandeln is a bookshop at Västerlånggatan 48 in Gamla Stan selling science fiction, fantasy, horror, role-playing games, some popular science; a lot of it is in English.

Pet Sounds Records (Skånegatan 53) is a record store with indiepop and other styles of music with more cred than chart placements. It's a real institution among Stockholm's music fans.

Megastore (Sergels torg) has all kinds of records, DVDs and computer games.

Akademibokhandeln (Mäster Samuelsgatan 28) is a huge bookstore (by Swedish standards anyway).

Hedengrens bokhandel (Sturegallerian) is a sophisticated bookstore with books in Swedish, English and other languages. They tend more towards fine arts books than the bestsellers.

Eat

Stockholm features a large variety of restaurants, including Asian, Indian, Mexican and fast food; many of them offer rather cheap but good 'eat all you can' lunch buffets. It is far more difficult to find authentic Swedish cuisine, though. For vegans, Vegan Stockholm has a good list of vegan restaurants and cafes.

Most restaurants offer lunch at a reduced cost, including non-alcoholic beverages, bread, butter, salad and coffee Mon-Fri, usually 11-2. Expect to pay between 60-80 SEK.

Sweden has enforced non-smoking in all bars, pubs and restaurants. Smoking is usually only permitted outdoors.

Budget

Hötorgshallen . Deli market situated in the basement of the Cinema Sergel near Hötorget. Here you can get everything from sushi via meze to Swedish meatballs.

Folkets kebab. Very nice kebab shops on Hornsgatan 92 and Folkungagatan 62, both on Södermalm.

Creperie fyra knop, Svartensgatan 4. Authentic French-speaking crêpes/galettes place. Mains 70-92 SEK.

Stockholms glass- & pastahus, Valhallavägen 155 and Götgatan 58 . Really tasty homemade ice cream.

Nystekt Strömming, a typical swedish food! Fried herring in all variants, e.g. with potatomash. Just a small stand, a few metres outside Slussen station. Very good and quite famous! Open 11h-18h, during winter 11h-15h.

Max, Central Station and Norrmalmstorg. Hamburgers in Swedish style. Free restrooms and coffee!

Mid-range

Peppar. Awesome cajun and creole food at decent prices. Some have argued that they make the best burger in the city. The place is especially known for having excessive decorations at all major holidays like christmas and halloween. They also make really good jalapeño bread. Torsgatan 34, 08-34 20 52

Hermans, Fjällgatan 23. Sumptuous weekend vegetarian buffet (theme changes weekly) followed by delicious coffees, teas, and desserts (140-190 SEK depending on beverage/dessert choice). The view over Stockholm is amazing -- go there at sunset and sit on the back terrace. They sometimes have live entertainment, 08-643 94 80. .

Tennstopet. More traditional Swedish cooking. On one evening in August each year they will serve the Swedish culinary delicacy Surströmming (fermented herring). Dalagatan 50, 08-32 25 18.

Pelikan, Blekingegatan 40 (T-Skanstull), 08-556 090 90 (Reservations 08-556 090 92). (See also the "drink" category). Offers a small selection of Swedish dishes (including the famous Köttbullar (meatballs)). The selection changes according to the season; the food is excellent and very good value for the money.

::NB: I've been there on March 30, 2007. What is called "...stake fried on pan..." in their menu is actually barely cooked cold meat mush, so be careful if you like it well done.

Mäster Anders, Pipersgatan 1 (T-Rådhuset).

Helenes Krog, St. Eriksgatan, One of the biggest steaks in Stockholm. Party!!!

Byn Creperie & Ciderie, Rödabergsgatan 11A . Galettes, crêpes, moules and cider in an authentic atmosphere with chansons on the stereo. Mains 89-169 SEK.

Döden i grytan, Norrtullsgatan 61 . Like a neighborhood Italian restaurant, but with great chefs that really know what they are doing. The winner of Dagens Nyheter's Gulddraken award 2006 in the medium-priced restaurant category. Mains 95-295 SEK.

Seikoen, Tegelbacken 2 . Classy sushi restaurant with a great view over the water and the old town. There are many cheaper sushi places in Stockholm, but it's worth the price to eat here instead. Mains 140-245 SEK.

Splurge

Gondolen . Gondolen is a fancy and expensive restaurant run by the famous chef Erik Lallerstedt. There is an inexpensive branch named Köket in the same premises where you can eat the best of Swedish cuisine with a glass of wine for no more than 100 SEK. T-Slussen. Dress code may apply!

Café Opera, Kungsträdgården (T-Kungsträdgården). The place if you want to be seen with celebrities. Offers good food and drinks. Dress code applies.

Drink

See Sweden#Drink for general information on alcohol in Sweden.

Bars and nightclubs
The most famous nightlife district is Stureplan, at the crossing of Birger Jarlsgatan, Kungsgatan and Sturegatan. Great if you can stand high entrance fees (100 SEK or more), long lines, rude doormen and the risk of violence.

It is common that the more trendy bars have a long queue in the evenings. Do not try to argue with the doormen - they do not take any nonsense. Vote with your feet and go somewhere else. Stockholm nightclubs are infamous for rejecting dark-skinned guests (including anyone darker than the average Swede).

Get out early (at least before midnight), well-dressed and not too drunk, and you will be welcome at most clubs.

During the summer, the club Trädgården (The Garden) is a popular club due to the fact that half of the club (including one dance floor) is situated outside, and Swedish summers tend to get quite hot.

For more information about Stockholm's nightlife, you can pick up the free monthly Nöjesguiden magazine, the newspaper Dagens Nyheter on thursdays, and the free Metro and Stockholm City on fridays. They are only available in Swedish though.

Coffee
As Swedes like drinking coffee, there are many coffee-bars all around. Beware, Swedish coffee is relatively strong. Don't hesitate to ask for a refill at self-service cafeterias, as it is often free. Avoid the bars you can try anywhere in the world (Costa's Coffee, Wayne's Coffee, Coffee by George etc...) Go for the small local cafés!

Muggen in Götgatan 24 (T-Slussen)

Cafe Panorama on Kulturhuset's 5th floor overlooking the always crowded Sergels torg with a nice open terrace.

Cafe Rival in Mariatorget 3 (T-Mariatorget). Very nice café in the Södermalm district, the cafe and neighbouring hotel are owned by Benny Andersson of ABBA fame. (You won't find any traces of ABBA in the place, though.)

Cafe Ritorno, Odengatan 78 (T-Odenplan). Nice coffee shop with personal service. Small outdoor service in the summer.

Mellqvist Bar, Rörstrandsgatan 4 (T-S:t Eriksplan). In my humble opinion Mellqvist serves the best coffee in Stockholm. Expect to drink while standing in this very small coffee bar.

Skåningen Kaffebar, Skånegatan 12 (T-Medborgarplatsen). Very good coffee with excellent personal service. Small outdoor service where you can smoke.

Non Solo Bar , Odengatan 34. An Italian cafe whose barristas have won the Swedish barrista championships multiple times. Amazing espressos and cappucinos and a quite nice assortment of sandwiches.

Cafe Helgalundens Korta Varor at Grindsgatan 35 (T-Skanstull). Extraordinarily good coffee and sandwiches. Not to mention the service. They also carry a good selection of Swedish Indie-music, some truly hard-to-find DVD's and a few freshly printed T-shirts. All of it is sold at very affordable prices.

Fåfängan - Café and Restaurant at the top of Klockstapelsbacken (Londonviadukten) with a good view of the city. Music some days during lunchtime. Photos of Fåfängan

Budget
If you are looking for good value for your money, you should try to find a place in Stockholm's Södermalm district. A good starting point would be the subway station Medborgarplatsen.

Carmen, Tjärhovsgatan 14. Cheap beer and a lot of broke hipsters at this Södermalm bar.

Gröne Jägaren, Götgatan 64. Cheap beer since 1692 and karaoke. (T-Medborgarplatsen) There are several other places in the hood and you will probably find a seat.

Another good starting point for a late night out is in the kungsholmen district. Located around the Subway (T-bana) station of Fridhemsplan, you can find quite a few cheap places.

Dovas, S:t Eriksgatan 53 A. Cheap beer, 25 kr for a 1/2 liter bottle of norrlands guld.

Theodoras, S:t Eriksgatan 53 B. Located about 10 meters further down the street, with the same owner, it is basically a quieter copy of it's brother, Dovas.

Nivå 22, Fridhemsgatan 17. Very popular place in Stockholm, particulary in winter time as the upper deck is considered outside, and smoking is allowed.

Mid-range

Oliver Twist, Repslagargatan 6 (T-Slussen). Warm and cosy English-style pub offering good food, real ale, and other beers from around the world. A place where younger and older drinkers meet.

Akkurat, Hornsgatan 2 (T-Slussen). Friendly English-style pub offering good food, real ale, plenty of beers from all over the world as well as 450 different whiskies. A place where younger and older drinkers meet.

Bishop's Arms, Bellmansgatan 10 (T-Mariatorget). Warm and cosy English-style pub offering good food, real ale and other beers from around the world. Live jazz music Wednesday evenings. A place where younger and older drinkers meet.

Pelikan, Blekingegatan 40 (T-Skanstull), 08-556 090 90 (Reservations 08-556 090 92). An old style working-class beer hall with a very authentic feeling, for those traditionalists who think Kvarnen has sold out in recent years. High noise level but quite a friendly crowd. Also offers simple and authentic Swedish food at a reasonable price.

Kvarnen, Tjärhovsgatan 4 (T-Medborgarplatsen), 08-643 03 80. A Stockholm beer hall with old traditions. Popular with fans of the Southside football club Hammarby IF. In recent years this place has expanded, adding more modern, trendy bars in adjoining rooms. Has a wide selection of beers and food at decent prices.

Indigo, Götgatan 19 (T-Slussen), 08-643 58 59. A really small bar with an eclectic color scheme, usually drawing a rather young crowd. Situated in the centre of Södermalm, this is a good place to start the evening.

Södra Teatern Bar, Mosebacke Torg 1-3 (T-Slussen). Open Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights, this very relaxed and stylish bar offers a marvelous view of Stockholm from its lounge. Be sure to come before 11pm to get seats offering the best view.

Sjögräs bar, Timmermansgatan 24 (T-Mariatorget). Next door to a decent, if a bit expensive, restaurant by the name 'Sjögräs' (Seaweed), specialising in Caribbean fare, this small bar offers a wide selection of rum brands. The standard European beers are still the most popular choices for the young and rather trendy clientele, however.

6:e Tunnan, Stora Nygatan 43, Gamla stan (T-Gamla stan). Medieval bar and restaurant, with medieval food and mead. Shows almost every night. Bar open until 3 am.

Debaser , Karl Johans Torg 1 and Medborgarplatsen 8 (T-Slussen and T-Medborgarplatsen). Stockholm's premier rock club. The name of the place was taken from an old song by The Pixies, and many of the bands that play there know their Pixies discography by heart, but they also have other types of music there than alternative rock.

Jazzclub Fasching, Kungsgatan 63 . Stockholm's premier jazz club. Every Saturday, they are the hosts to the long-running club Soul with old soul records that will put most people in a real partying mood (even if they didn't know that they liked old soul music).

Splurge
If the price does not matter to you and you prefer well-made drinks instead of cheap beer, you should head towards the northern part of town, called Östermalm. A good starting point would be Stureplan (subway station T-Östermalmstorg). A large selection of nightclubs (discos) and bars are within walking distance from Stureplan.

IceBar T-Sergels torg (in the "Nordic Sea Hotel") . The bar is made of ice. Entrance: 140 SEK, including warm clothes and one drink. Additional drinks 85 SEK.

Brasserie Godot, Linnégatan (T-Östermalmstorg) . If you fancy long drinks with a cool crowd this is the place for you. Ask for an Old-Fashioned, Godot Crush or a Bloody Mary.

The Cadier Bar . Inside of the Grand Hotel located at S. Blasieholmshamnen 8 it is one of the more upscale places one can find in Stockholm. Recently refurbished it offers a modern yet classic atmosphere and really good drinks at that.

Grill . Located at Drottninggatan 89, this popular restaurant has an awesome selection that is worth every Kronor. Try the charcoal-grilled lobster Côte d'Azur, Alaskan barbecued ribs of deer with chili, or one of their many grilled desserts. The crowd is well-to-do, so dress to be seen (business casual looks like the order of the day.)

Sleep

Budget
You should have an STF or Hostelling International membership card since you get discounts in Swedish youth hostels (vandrarhem). As with all swedish STF hostels, the standards are higher than your average hostel in other countries, and they are targeted not only at young people but families and old people as well.

Långholmen, Långholmsmuren 20 (T-Hornstull), 08-720 85 00 (vandrarhem@langholmen.com) . Spectacular hostel built in an old prison where you actually stay in the old cells (making them limited to the size). The place is clean and the staff is nice and friendly. The prices are fair and the atmosphere is really one of a kind. It is also a hotel and the breakfast buffet holds top-standard and is worth its 75 SEK. They have a guest kitchen, Internet terminals, washing machine/dryer, and there are a lot of green areas and bathing opportunities around. Subway stop is about 7 minutes by walk.

Zinkensdamm, Zinkens väg 20 (T-Zinkensdamm), 08-616 81 00 . Very nice and fairly big youth hostel and hotel. It's very clean, the staff is helpful and friendly and the prices are fair, however the rooms are rather small. Features a fairly big guest kitchen, a nice garden, Internet terminals, and laundry machine/dryer.

Backpacker's Inn, Banérgatan 56 (T-Karlaplan), 08-660 75 15, (info@backpackersinn.se) is actually a school, more or less converted into a youth hostel in summer. It is large (320 beds) and really centrally located, close to the subway (200m), and within walking distance to downtown. There is a shopping mall and several supermarkets nearby. The showers are in a separate building (since the only ones available are those at the gym hall), and the sleeping rooms (14 beds) are classrooms. Breakfast (decently priced) and Internet (expensive - go to an Internet cafe instead!) available. If you need a cheap place to stay (135 SEK in the dorm if you are a member of the STF and 180 SEK for non-members) and want to meet a lot of people, this is for you.

STF Vandrarhem af Chapman (Chapman for short) is just 15 minutes walk from city centre. Advance booking suggested. You can specify whether you want to stay in the boat or on the land, and it really is a spectacular place to stay.

City Backpackers is located close to the train station. It is clean and friendly. They offer free wireless Internet. Rooms are around 200 SEK for a dorm bed.

Mid-range
Hotels located far from city center are cheaper. If possible try to find one close to the subway or commuter trains.

Rex Hotel, Luntmakargatan 73 (near T-Rådmansgatan), 08-16 00 40 . Nice small mid-range hotel north of the city center.

Splurge

Grand Hotel . Considered one of the most luxurious hotels in Scandinavia. It's centrally located overlooking the royal palace. The rooms are quite pricey but you get what you pay for in terms of service and comfort. The facilities include a fitness centre, several banquet halls, an upscale bar (the Cadier Bar), and a restaurant which gives an excellent Swedish Smörgåsbord. If you aren't staying there it's still quite an experience to go there and have a look.

Hilton Slussen. International business hotel located on Södermalm with an excellent view of the Old Town and the City Hall.

Hotel Rival. Owned by a former member of ABBA, this place is hip, elegant, and comfortable. Great customer service.

Sheraton Stockholm Hotel . The Sheraton Stockholm Hotel is a five-star hotel located in the very heart of Stockholm’s central business district, shopping areas, and attractions – perfect for both business and leisure guests. The hotel offers stunning views of Lake Mälaren, City Hall, and Old Town, as well as the largest average room size in town.

Rica Talk Hotel . The Rica Talk Hotel is conveniently located at Mässvägen 2 SE-125 80 Stockholm next door to Stockholmsmassan, Stockholm's newest convention center, and a short stroll from the Alvsjo station. The breakfast buffet is very extensive and plentiful. It has been likened to a Swedish Westin Hotel in design, service, and standard. There is a restaurant on the 2nd floor called Meet, which has mid-priced fare. If you're up late, the bar serves food as well - by the way, the 'toast' (which is a grilled cheese sandwich) is the only food served after 11. If Patrik the bartend is there, ask him for his special Mojito or 'Patrik's Peter' (and make sure to wink).

Stay Safe

Stockholm is generally safe for tourists and business travelers, with a relatively low crime rate. Most crimes against tourists in Stockholm are crimes of opportunity that occur in the downtown area. Pick-pocketing, bicycle theft, auto theft, and auto vandalism occur there. It is well-advised to avoid a number of suburbs at night. The area around the Central Station is also rather unpleasant at night. All the drug dealers and drunks hang around there. Medborgarplatsen and Götgatan was the place and street with the most violence in 2006. If alone it is best to stay away from Slussen at night, as this is a number one spot for fights etc. Also avoid underground tunnels such as 'Gula gången' and the walkways under Central Station and other train stations (T-Centralen, Gullmarsplan, Slussen).

Homeless people can occasionally be seen begging downtown, though in lesser extent than other parts of the world. A responsible way to deal with them is buying their newspaper, Situation Stockholm, for 40 SEK. People handing out laminated begging cards in the tunnelbana usually belong to organized gangs, and should be ignored.

Get out

Millesgården on Lidingö, a large island northeast of the city center, displays many works by famous sculptor Carl Milles in his former residence (house and studio). A new extension was recently built for temporary exhibitions. Always make sure to have a map of Stockholm handy.

Although the Royal Palace is situated in the center of the city, the royal family actually lives at Drottningholm Palace on the Lovö island in Lake Mälaren, about forty minutes from the city centre by public transport. The 18th century palace is beautiful, and much of it is open to the public. The surroundings are well worth a walk as well. Take the subway (T-bana) to Brommaplan, change to bus 301 or 323, or 177 or 178 to Drottningholm. In the summertime, there is also regular boat service from Stadshuskajen (the City Hall Quay) to Drottningholm operated by Strömma Kanalbolaget (SEK 130 for a return ticket). Consider the combination return ferry ticket (SEK 210, includes the palace and the Chinese Pavilion). But, if you are a student with an ISIC card, don't buy the combo ticket because you won't get the discounts offered by the Palace and Chinese Pavilion. Sadly, there are no interpretative signs in the Palace or in the Chinese Pavilion. So, catch a (free) guided tour, offered nearly every half hour in Swedish and English, and you'll get a lot more out of it. Or, buy a guide book (SEK 50).

Restrooms

Many department stores and fastfood restaurants have clean restrooms, often for the charge of 5 SEK. That is also the cost of public toilet booths found in most city squares. Restaurants' toilets are often reserved for customers and might be messy. Some good, clean toilets are found in Max (at Norrmalmstorg and Stockholm Central) and in the bar Sturehof (at Stureplan - the establishment is too big for crew to keep track of people borrowing the toilet).

(; UN/LOCODE: SE STO) is the capital of Sweden, and consequently the site of its Government and Parliament as well as the residence of the Swedish head of state, King Carl XVI Gustaf.

Stockholm has been Sweden's political and economic center since the 13th century. Today it is the largest municipality of Sweden, with a population of 786,509 (March 2007), while the populations of the Stockholm urban area and Metropolitan Stockholm are roughly 1.2 and 1.9 million, respectively, making Stockholm one of the biggest cities in the Nordic Countries (only rivalled by Copenhagen).

With its location on the east coast of Sweden at the mouth of Lake Mälaren, by the Stockholm archipelago, it is widely renowned for its natural beauty.

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History

The location appears in Norse sagas as Agnafit, and especially in connection with the legendary king Agne. The earliest mention of Stockholm in writing dates from 1252, when the mines in Bergslagen made it an important site in the iron trade. The first part of the name (stock) means log, while the second (holm) means islet, and refers to the islet Stadsholmen in central Stockholm which for centuries constituted the main part of Stockholm.

The city is said to have been founded by Birger Jarl in order to protect Sweden from a sea invasion by foreign navies, and to stop the pillage of towns such as Sigtuna on Lake Mälaren. It is also said that the name derives from the spot where a log (stock) pushed into the waters, and following its currents, drifted upon an islet (holm). This location would thus constitute the best location for a harbour for returning ships.

The strategic and economic importance of the city made Stockholm an important factor in relations between the Danish Kings of the Kalmar Union and the national independence movement in the 15th century. The Danish King Christian II was able to enter the city in 1520. On November 8, 1520,
massive executions of opposition figures, called the Stockholm Bloodbath, took place. This massacre set off further uprisings, which eventually led to the break-up of the Kalmar Union.

With the accession of Gustav Vasa in 1523 and the establishment of a royal power, the population of Stockholm began to grow, reaching ten thousand by 1600.

The 17th century saw Sweden rise into a major European power, reflected in the development of the city of Stockholm. From 1610 to 1680, the population multiplied sixfold. In 1634, Stockholm became the official capital of the Swedish empire. Trading rules were also created that gave Stockholm an essential monopoly over trade between foreign merchants and other Swedish and Scandinavian territories.
Between 1713–1714, Stockholm suffered from the Black Death. After the end of the Great Northern War and the destruction of several areas of the city in 1721, the city stagnated. Population growth halted and economic growth slowed. However, Stockholm maintained its role as the political centre of Sweden and continued to develop culturally under Gustav III. The royal opera is a good architectural example of this era.

By the second half of the 19th century, Stockholm had regained its leading economic role. New industries emerged, and Stockholm transformed into an important trade and service centre, as well as a key gateway point within Sweden. The population also grew radically during this time, mainly through immigration. At the end of the century, less than 40% of the residents were Stockholm-born. Settlement began to expand outside of the city limits. In the 19th century, a number of scientific institutes opened in Stockholm, including the Karolinska Institute.

In the late 20th century, Stockholm became a modern, technologically-advanced, and ethnically diverse city. Many historical buildings were torn down, including the entire historical district of Klara , and replaced with modern architecture. Throughout the century, many industries shifted away from work-intensive activities into more high-technology and service-industry areas.

The city continued to expand and new districts were created, such as Rinkeby, and Tensta, some with high proportions of immigrants.

Reference: German Wikipedia, :de:Stockholm, in German.

Geography

Location
For details about the other municipalities usually considered part of Stockholm, see respective municipality. North of Stockholm Municipality: Järfälla, Solna, Täby, Sollentuna, Lidingö, Upplands Väsby, Österåker, Sigtuna, Sundbyberg, Danderyd, Vallentuna, Ekerö, Upplands-Bro and Vaxholm. South of Stockholm: Huddinge, Nacka, Botkyrka, Haninge, Tyresö, Värmdö and Salem.

Stockholm Municipality

Stockholm Municipality is an administrative unit defined by geographical borders. The officially adopted name for the municipality is City of Stockholm (Stockholms stad in Swedish). As a municipality, the City of Stockholm is subdivided into district councils, or boroughs, which carry responsibility for primary school, social, leisure and cultural services within their respective areas. The City of Stockholm is usually described in terms of its three main parts: Stockholm City Centre (Innerstaden), South Stockholm (Söderort) and West Stockholm (Västerort). The districts of respective parts are:
In the latest century, the population of nearby municipalities of Stockholm County has become important to mention next to the population of Stockholm Municipality, as many municipalities are constituting parts of Stockholm urban area and as such often considered part of the general term "Stockholm".

The cities claiming to having been with Stockholm are:

Kiev

Riga

Sarajevo

St. Petersburg

Akhisar

See also

Largest European metropolitan areas

Ports of the Baltic Sea

List of people connected to Stockholm

Stockholmska

Stockholm syndrome

External links

;Municipal government and Visitors Board websites

Stockholm - Official website

Stockholm Visitors Board - The official visitors' guide, operated by the (municipal) Stockholm Visitors Board

VisitSweden - Stockholm - Official visitor's guide operated by sweden.se

;Other websites

Stockholm travel guide from Wikitravel

Visit Stockholm a guide operated by a for-profit website

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