Stockholm guide | Stockholm attractions and things to do
Stockholm is one of the most beautiful major cities in the world, and also one of the most vibrant and modern, famous for producing sleek architectural designs, edgy fashion and world-class nightclubs.
The city is built across 14 islands and welcomes more foreign visitors than any other in Scandinavia. It is situated at the point where the vast Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea and was built on this strategic spot in the mid 13th century, enabling the founder to tax merchant vessels going in and out of the lake.
As water covers one third of the city area, maritime life is an important aspect of Stockholm and there are numerous bridges, marinas and locks that make up much of the urban landscape. Unusually for a city river, the water is so clean that you can drink it and even catch salmon from it.
Stockholm is served by Arlanda International Airport which is 45km north of the city centre. Public transport is one of the city's crowning features, being both modern and highly efficient, and transfers can be made from the airport by bus and express train.
Stockholm also has fine rail links, both within Sweden and to a number of European destinations. Stockholm is on the Eurolines route, so there are a large number of long distance bus and coach services to destinations across the continent including London, Berlin, Amsterdam, Paris and Rome. Buses into Stockholm terminate at the City Terminal, next to Central Station.
Stockholm’s climate is very much dependent on the sea winds, so even the warmest summer day can whip up a strong breeze that swirls into the city streets.
On average, though, Stockholm has a pretty sedate climate. It seldom gets very hot or very cold, and even the occasional heatwave between June and August won’t see temperatures rise above 30 degrees.
Thanks to the Atlantic gulf stream the winters are surprisingly mild and the only months when you can expect snow on the ground are January through March. Rain is similarly rare, with June and July the wettest months.
With the long, dark winters of northern Europe, Stockholmers need plenty of distractions, and you don't have to go far to find some form of entertainment.
You could catch a performance at the Stockholm City Theater which is housed in the impressive Cultural Center at Sergels Torg. Other venues include the well-known Klara "Soup theater", Unga Klara, Backstage and the Park Theater. The best place to catch celebrities is probably the Royal Dramatic Theater at Nybroplan, which offers an exclusive atmosphere and royal boxes.
Stockholm has a lot to offer to those in the mood for more cultural diversions, and the island of Djurgården is an excellent first stop. In Vasamuseet, on the west of the island, you can watch a dramatic reconstruction of the war ship Vasa, which sank in the Stockholm harbour on its maiden voyage. Close by is the magnificent Nordiska museet, which has been mistaken by many visitors for a royal palace owing to its façade.
Liljevalchs and Waldemarsudde are a must-see for art buffs, while the Museum of Maritime History is a boat lover's dream. Skansen is not just a zoological park, but also a reserve for historic architecture and crafts. Next to Skansen is the Biological Museum.
A visit to the Museum of Medieval History will teach you all about the history of Stockholm through the centuries of the Middle Ages. The National Museum of Natural History is a bit off the beaten track, out by The University of Stockholm, but it is well worth the effort of taking a bus or the metro.
For jazz and blues lovers, Fasching and Stampen are the top choices. The major pop and rock concerts are usually held at the Globe Arena, Cirkus the Stadium or the Concert Hall.
Stockholm's undisputed centre of nightlife is the area between Kungsträdgården and Stureplan. This is where you find the hottest clubs and bars, and you can count on long queues after 11pm.
In Kungsträdgården, Cafe Opera is the ultimate nightlife attraction, but Victoria and Daily News Cafe are also very popular. Vasastan also has a number of good pubs and bars, such as Cliff Barnes and Storstad.
