Stockholm is one of those cities you'll immediately fall in love with. It has charm, history, a thriving food and drink scene and the world's first national city park.
The city stretches across 14 islands altogether, and just outside of the city area is the stunning Stockholm archipelago, the largest in Sweden and second-largest in the Baltic Sea after Finland.
But besides its interesting geography, Stockholm is a seriously cool place that's pretty much winning at a lot of things: its coffee culture, thriving design scene, incredibly good public transport system and endless list of impressive bars and restaurants.
For those planning a break to the Swedish capital, read on to find out where you should be staying, eating and enjoying yourselves in Stockholm.
Where to stay in Stockholm
Look no further than the Radisson Collection Strand Stockholm, which prides itself on an amazing location and impressive design. Its trendy harbour side location is not only ideal for getting around, but its recent dramatic makeover will make you want to spend more time than usual inside a hotel's walls.
The star of the show is the speakeasy-style bar, which is perfect for a pre-dinner cocktail or post-dinner nightcap, while the stunning atrium restaurant serves Swedish fare underneath the glow of 300 hanging pendant lights.
Book your stay at the Strand here.
Where to eat and drink in Stockholm
Restaurants
Stockholm is home to several Michelin-starred restaurants, and you've come to the right place if you're after interesting dining experiences and restaurants and chefs with a serious reputation.
Head to Frantzén, where 23 guests change rooms and floors as they work their way through a menu that includes things such as rose of scallops, truffle toast, and a show-stopping Rubik's cube style dish. Or Ekstedt that shuns molecular dining and instead cooks all its food over open flame.
I particularly fell in love with Oaxen Krog & Slip, which is split between a casual bistro (Slip - where we went), and Krog which is more fine dining. Housed in a refurbished shed at a boatyard, old wooden boats hang above you while you feast on whole grilled turbot, spiced King crab arm, grilled pea-bread and Norrøna herring under candlelight.
A name I heard pop up time and time again when asking for recommendations was Meatballs for the People, and it certainly didn't disappoint. With the classic Swedish meatball as the focus, different varities are on offer from elk, beef and even salmon.
Barrels is also great for a decent burger and some good beer. Save room for dessert and go for a dessert burger, which is basically a muffin-based "burger bun" with ice cream sandwiched in between. Yum!
And other restaurants worth checking out are: Pelikan, Tennstopet, Agrikultur and the food hall, Hötorgshallen.
Fika
Fika is a huge part of Swedish culture, and in short it means taking time in the day for friends or colleagues, to share a cup of coffee and a little something to eat.
This means that Stockholm has a thriving coffee and cake scene, and I was spoilt for choice when it came stuffing my face with Kanelbulle (cinnamon buns), Arak balls and all the other pastries, cakes and cookies Sweden has to offer.
For something truly decadent, head to Mr Cake, which combines Swedish fika with American sweet treats, creating everything from red velvet croissants, to blueberry cheesecake doughnuts and traditional cinnamon rolls.
Snickarbacken 7, Drop Coffee and Flickorna Helin are all worth a visit, too.
Bars
We hate to break it to you, but Sweden isn't cheap, and high taxes = high drinks prices, too. Nonetheless, Stockholm has a ton of beautiful bars, both perfect in the cold, harsh winters around burners, or spilling out onto the streets the moment the ice melts.
Mälarpaviljongen is a fantastic bar, with amazing views on a jetty filled with flowers, while Tak boasts beautiful views and cocktails with a Eurasian twist.
The Stockholm beer scene is big too, and visiting a craft brewery like the Stockholm Brewing Co. is a must. Kvarnen is a great bar for a huge selection, while a "beer cafe" like Katrina Olkafe or Folk and Friends is great for a beer and a quick bite to eat.
My favourite discovery however was the bar at the Hallwyl museum, recommended to me by a local, hidden away in the courtyard, lit at night by fairy lights. Perfect for a catch up with friends.
Things to do in Stockholm
Abba Museum
Yep, Stockholm has an entire museum dedicated to ABBA, and you can do everything from dancing with holograms of the band, mix your own songs, and see tons of the costumes from the band. It's a must if you're a fan of the music.
Adult tickets are 250 SEK (around £21), find more info here.
Other museums
Like most capital cities, Stockholm has a ton of great museums including the aforementioned ABBA museum, alongside the Fotograftiska, Skansen Open-Air Museum, and the Moderna Museet.
I highly recommend checking out the Vasa Museum, where you can see the only preserved 17th Century ship in the whole world. It's an incredible sight to see.
Adult tickets are 130 SEK (around £11), find more info here.
Gröna Lund
Enjoy a day out at Stockholm's amusement park, which is only open from late spring to September, and is definitely worth a visit.
Go rooftop hiking
A great way to see the city is above ground, and what better than a guided tour from the rooftops of a building? No worries, you're well secured with safety equipment, but it's a great experience and you get to see some beautiful sights and learn about some history, too.
Book in with takvandring.com.
Gamla Stan
Gamla Stan, or the Old Town, is one of the largest and best-preserved medieval cities in Europe, thanks to it being a pedestrian-only zone. There's tons to see along the cobbled streets including gorgeous churches, hidden side streets, and of course the Royal Palace with over 600 rooms.
What else is there to know about Stockholm before you visit?
- Holiday in Sweden is a serious business, and it's not uncommon for Stockholm to be pretty deserted of residents in the summertime as they head off to their island cabins or countryside homes.
- You'll seen signs everywhere saying card only, as Stockholm is keen to become a cash-free city. So instead bring your bank card rather than rushing out to get currency.
- Public transport here is amazing, and on an SL card you can get on pretty much any transportation system - including some of the ferries.
- Buying alcohol is kind of tricky and you can't just pop to the local shop and pick up some. Instead you'll need to head to one of the government run Sytembolagets, with a valid ID during particular hours.
- Get on board with the Stockholm Pass, which provides free entry to more than 60 big tourist attractions, as well as some transportation.
