Stockholm
Discover Stockholm
Stockholm is Sweden's capital and largest city, with nearly a million inhabitants in the city, and 2.4 million within Stockholm County (as of 2021). The inner city is made up of 14 islands across Lake Mälaren and three streams into the brackish Baltic Sea, with the Stockholm archipelago with some 24,000 islands, islets and skerries. Over 30% of the city area is made up of waterways, and another 30% is made up of green areas. Air and water are said to be the freshest of any European capital. Stockholm hosts the Nobel Prize ceremony and has around 70 museums. Stockholm is the hub of most Swedish rail and bus traffic and has two of the country's busiest airports nearby, so it is a good starting point for visiting other parts of Sweden.
What to Experience in Stockholm
Taste of Stockholm...
Stockholm features a large variety of restaurants, and the dining scene has markedly improved since the turn of the century, both in terms of quality and variety. However, dining in Stockholm can be expensive if you aim for something else than the fast food bars, the run-of-the-mill British-style pubs or the ethnic restaurants that dominate the budget bracket. Be prepared to pay around 175–250 kr or more for most main courses at quality restaurants. If you are on a tight budget, self-catering is a good option. Most hotels and hostels have a good breakfast buffet, in many cases included with the room. A lot of restaurants have "dagens rätt" – a lunch offer, normally including a lower- or non-alcoholic drink, bread, butter, salad and coffee – usually M–F 11:00–14:00. Expect to pay around 100–150 kr, generally more in the centre and less in the suburbs. Many Asian, Indian and fast food restaurants offer rather cheap "all you can eat" lunch buffets. Many restaurants' kitchens close at 22:00 even on weekends, so don't get out too late. A glass of house wine costs in the range 60– kr, 400–700 kr for a bottle. Sweden has enforced non-smoking in all bars, pubs, restaurants and enclosed areas. Quite a few restaurants are closed for vacation for a few weeks in July or early August.
Climate
Despite its northern location, Stockholm has fairly mild temperatures throughout the year. The city sees a dramatic seasonal variation in sunlight, from more than 18 hours of daylight around Midsummer (03:30–22:00), to around 6 hours of daylight around Christmas (08:45–14:45). Stockholm has an average of nearly 2,000 hours of sunshine a year. Average yearly precipitation is 539 mm (21.2"), with July and August slightly the wettest months. Snowfall can occur from late November to early April, but the amount of snowfall and snow on the ground varies greatly from year to year, and through the winter. No date is a safe bet for snow in Stockholm; for real Scandinavian winter, visit Dalarna or Norrland. In other words, May to September tend to have the most comfortable weather. From Midsummer to the end of July, most inhabitants leave the city, and some venues close for summer, making the city more dominated by tourists.
Essential Information
Getting There
Multiple OptionsStockholm (STO ) is served by several international airports; Stockholm-Arlanda Airport (ARN; near Sigtuna) being the dominant one. Stockholm-Bromma (BMA ) is the only airport within the city. The airports in Skavsta (NYO; near Nyköping) and Västerås (VST) also receive some international flights. 59.648817.93611 Arlanda Airport (ARN) 40 km north of the city is Sweden's largest airport, and the destination for most flights to Sweden. There is a dedicated train every 15 minutes from the Arlanda terminals to Stockholm Central Station (20 min; 175–350 kr/person depending on group size, youth 160 kr). Also regular trains (270 kr; much cheaper fares can be had in advance) and SL commuter trains (180/90 kr) serve the airport. The cheapest ride – unless you have an SL day card and don't use the airport's train stations – is by the FlixBus buses (45 min; 70–80 kr, cheaper in advance). With SL, you can take the commuter train or a bus to a station with more frequent services to the city....
Getting Around & Staying
Getting Around
Stockholm is easy to access by public transport, and on bicycle during the warm season. Travelling by car is suitable outside built-up areas. SL (Storstockholms Lokaltrafik) runs an extensive metro, commuter train and bus system, as well as some light rail and ferry services. They serve Stockholm County, with Sigtuna and Norrtälje in the north, and Södertälje and Nynäshamn in the south, with extensions to Uppsala, Gnesta and Bålsta for an extra fee (see below). The SL website has detailed ticket and price information in English, and a journey planner. It is always updated. The simplest way to pay for tickets is to simply use your credit card to pay for tickets, by tapping at entry gates and electronic readers. Tickets cannot be bought on buses by cash. As you board a public transport vehicle, you will be required to validate your trip every time by swiping the payment card at the rectangular validators in the front of the vehicle (you should hear a beep and see a green light).
Where to Stay
Stockholm is primarily a business city, so beside the Grand Hôtel (Norrmalm) and a few other luxury venues, Stockholm has several business (typically 4-star) hotels, which charge 900-1200 kr for a single room. They usually have vacancies during weekends and summers, and might give special offers for tourists. Many hotels have basement rooms without windows, often smaller and more austere than the regular rooms, and significantly cheaper, especially the singles. The hotels make no secret of the fact that this room category has no window, but do make sure to read the description of your room carefully before you book to avoid unpleasant surprises. The cheap bunks are in short supply. Look for hostels at Svenska Turistföreningen and SVIF. Advance booking is usually needed, especially in summer, and for those in the inner city. Stockholm has some spectacular hostels, such as af Chapman (Skeppsholmen), Långholmen (Södermalm) and Jumbostay at Arlanda.
Money & Budget
As in the rest of Sweden, VISA and MasterCard are accepted by nearly all stores, and ATMs are readily available. Stockholm, like the rest of Sweden, is very much a card-oriented place and quite a few smaller venues do not accept cash. Even fewer accept foreign currencies, such as euros or US dollars. In contrast to many other European cities, most shops in Stockholm (except the small independent ones) are open all week, including Sundays; only closed down for a few major holidays a year. Closing time tends to be rigid, though. Popular Swedish clothing brands that you can find in several major stores include Acne Jeans, WESC, Cheap Monday, J Lindeberg, Whyred, Tiger and Filippa K. There has been an explosion of young designers starting their own small labels.
Safety Information
Safety Overview
For its size, Stockholm is a safe city by international standards. Still, travellers should use common sense to avoid crime. While police officers can be spread thin, Stockholm has patrolling security guards (ordningsvakt) in central neighbourhoods. These are usually helpful to visitors. Security staff at nightclubs might be more harsh, especially at intoxicated patrons. Drunkenness is less accepted in bars and clubs than in smaller towns, and could lead to the security staff forcibly ejecting the trouble-maker. Bouncers in Stockholm are stricter than in other European cities, and you may be kicked out for no reason. Most crimes against travellers are crimes of opportunity, such as pickpockets, bicycle theft, auto theft, and auto vandalism. As always, do not leave valuable items in your car, and watch your bag in crowded places. Most shops and all major taxi companies accept credit and debit cards, so there is no need to carry a lot of cash.
Nearby Destinations
Glimpses of Stockholm
View over Stockholm
Vista.
scenery of a body of water beside a city
people sitting on bench near brown concrete building during daytime
aerial photography of buildings
A view of a city with a bridge in the foreground
body of water near city buildings during night time
brown and white concrete building near body of water during daytime
a city with a tall tower
Stockholm
View over Stockholm
Vista.
scenery of a body of water beside a city