Stockholm stretches across 14 islands, which are connected by bridges. The archipelago with around 30,000 islands lies directly in front of the city. The proximity to the water, the special light and magnificent buildings from different eras make Stockholm so special. A casual lifestyle and a lively gastronomic scene complement the Nordic maritime flair. Stockholm is easy to explore on foot. With 70 museums, the city offers plenty of bad weather alternatives and even the metro with its spectacular art stations is worth a trip.
It makes orientation easier if you learn some vocabulary before your trip: Gamla Stan is the old town, Stortorget the central square of the old town, with probably the most photographed colorful house gables in Scandinavia. Södermalm is the coolest district in the city. The former working-class district comprises seven blocks of houses with vintage stores, art galleries and organic cafés.
Östermalm impresses with its magnificent Art Nouveau facades and the enticing market hall Östermalms Saluhall. The most important culinary words are fika, the extended coffee break with at least one sweet and smörgåstårta, a sumptuous sandwich, often with fish or prawns. In addition to the highly praised Kanellbullar, the cinnamon buns, Kardemummaknutar, cardamom knots, are also a fantastic alternative.
Viewing Stockholm from the water is also part of a city tour. Numerous providers offer boat tours along the central promenades Strömgatan and Nybrokajen. But with just one ticket from Stockholms Lokaltrafik SL, you can use the Tunnelbana, i.e. the metro, bus and Pendelbåtar, the commuter ferry, as often as you like. When your feet get heavy and even a cinnamon bun won’t give you any more energy, hop on one of the boats. Depending on time, mood and appetite, you can chug through the archipelago with a prawn buffet or head to Nackastrand for a sundowner.
Our following culinary tips offer a relaxed mix of Stockholm highlights and Swedish serenity.
Café Schweizer – since 1920
One of the best places for traditional Swedish smörgås or fika is Café Schweizer in Stockholm’s Old Town. Located just around the corner from the Royal Palace in Gamla Stan, it serves sumptuous fish sandwiches, delicious cinnamon buns and freshly squeezed orange juice. A Schweizeri is more common in Sweden. These are eateries founded by emigrant Swiss pastry chefs from the beginning of the 19th century. Address: Västerlånggatan 9
Herring stall on Korntorget
Nystekt Strömming is an authentic Swedish snack in the Old Town. This stall serves freshly fried herring. The Hering Special comes with lettuce, cucumber, mashed potatoes, red onions, a herring and crispbread. There is also seating on Korntorget, where grain was loaded in the Middle Ages.
Restaurant Den Gyldenen Freden
Restaurant Den Gyldenen Freden from 1722 is a classic for traditional Swedish cuisine in Stockholm’s old town. The city’s intellectuals were already meeting here in the 18th century. Den Gyldene Freden is one of the oldest continuously operating restaurants in the world. Classic Swedish home cooking such as köttbollar, matjes and elk is served in the originally preserved rococo rooms. The Nobel Committee still meets here on the second floor almost every week. Address: Österlånggatan 51
Second Hand is First Choice
Swedes love second hand stores. The range of well-stocked stores with clothing, porcelain and decorative items is correspondingly large. With a bit of luck, you might find a beautiful design piece or a Scandinavian branded item. The best second-hand area is the trendy Södermalm district around Hornsgatan, but you can also find pre-loved souvenirs in Gamla Stan on Köpmansgatan.
Restaurant Kryp In
Small cozy restaurant in the middle of the old town with very good and modern Swedish cuisine. Table reservations recommended. In good weather, the tables in the alley are perfect. Address: Prästgatan 17
Meatballs for the People
The founders of the restaurant were fed up with the fact that the whole world, including the Swedes, ate meatballs with a bland taste and from the freezer. The Swedish classic Köttbollar is celebrated in Södermalm. The Swedish meatballs are made from pork, beef, lamb or game and are always served with creamy mashed potatoes, sweet and tart lingonberries and plenty of sauce. Address: Nytorgsgatan 30
Museum and restaurant Fotografiska
It doesn’t get much smarter than this: the old customs house on the waterfront showcases world-class photography exhibitions, houses a top restaurant on the top floor and grows lettuce in hydroponics in the basement.
The restaurant at Fotografiska Museum is simply called The Restaurant. It is an award-winning restaurant with a focus on sustainable and seasonal cuisine, predominantly plant-based, complemented by fish and sustainable meat in the evening. The restaurant has been awarded the Michelin Green Star for its sustainable practices and offers spectacular views of the water and the city. The reservation also includes admission to the exhibitions in the museum.
Restaurant Hermans
Hermans is a vegetarian and vegan restaurant with an all-you-can-eat buffet and a wide range of plant-based dishes, including salads, curries, homemade bread and vegan spreads. The restaurant attaches great importance to organic ingredients and sustainability, uses mainly organic raw materials and is environmentally certified. There are attractive discounts for students.
The Hermans is particularly popular for its terrace with spectacular views of the harbor and the old town of Stockholm, which is also used as a garden in summer with up to 240 seats. There is a heated veranda for cooler days. The ambience is cozy and family-friendly, and the restaurant is also LGBTQ+ friendly. Address: Södermalm, Fjällgatan 23B.
Ship tour with fish buffet
When your feet get heavy from sightseeing through Stockholm, the best way to end the day is with a boat tour. Strömma Kanalbolaget, once purveyor to the court of the Swedish royal family and which has been operating in the archipelago for over 100 years, offers extended dinner cruises with a stopover at Vaxholmen Castle. The cruises last three to four hours and are a perfect end to the day. Address: Nybrokajen no. 5 and 7
Saluhall market hall in Östermalm
The beautiful old Saluhall market hall in the art nouveau district of Östermalm has been selling Swedish specialties and international delicacies for over 130 years. In addition to the stalls selling fish, meat, cheese, fruit and vegetables, there are also a large number of food stalls and restaurants.
Restaurant The Gossip
The Gossip is a popular street food restaurant. It serves authentic Bengali cuisine. The restaurant is located near Nytorget, a lively neighborhood in Södermalm known for its cafés, bars and stores. Södermalm itself is a trendy, artistic neighborhood that is often compared to Berlin’s Prenzlauer Berg and is popular for its nightlife and cultural scene. Address: Skånegatan 71
Coffee on board
Of course, there are nicer places to drink coffee in Stockholm. But this little tip is proof of the coffee craze of the Swedes, which culminates in the fika – an extended coffee break with at least one sweet. There are no sweets in the early morning, but on the shuttle ferries between the 14 islands on which Stockholm is located, they serve free coffee to passengers in the morning.
Picnic on Monteliusvägen
On the Monteliusvägen in the hip Södermalm district, you can look out over the Gamla Stan and Kungsholmen districts from above. The path is 400 meters long and offers seating and picnic areas. When the weather is nice, the sun shines on the old town opposite in the afternoon. A good place to do as Astrid Lindgren said: “And then you also have to have time to just sit there and look ahead of you.”
More Sweden Stories
Landskrona in the province of Skåne offers nature and culture. The world-famous writer Selma Lagerlöf wrote her first novel here. The Landskrona Photo Festival showcases the old fortress town every two years. Just opposite Landskrona is the Öresund island of Ven, a very popular excursion destination. Northwest of Landskrona lies the Kullaberg nature reserve – a hiker’s paradise and the seaside resort of Mölle, where you should pay a visit to Krukmakeri. The Stockholm Metro is considered the longest art exhibition in the world and every year in December is Nobel Prize Week. The Swedish city of Uppsala, 80 kilometres north of Stockholm, is one of the most important in the country. Many centuries before Stockholm was mentioned as a small trading post, Uppsala was the pagan centre of the Vikings. We report on cult and culture in Gamla-Uppsala and on the entertaining messages of the Swedish rune stones and reveal Stockholm’s secret eye-catchers.
The research was supported by Visit Stockholm
