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Stockholm is one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. Located on the east coast of Sweden, the Swedish capital is really a city of islands.  The city is built on the fourteen islands in Lake Malaren that mark the start of a twenty-four-thousand-island archipelago. Stockholm is a quaint city of cobblestone squares, towers and steeples, bridges and palaces, and modern skyscrapers, a combination of Old World charm and contemporary sophistication.  No wonder it is tagged by the world as the City of Bridges.

Stockholm was founded by Birger Jarl in an attempt to protect Sweden from being invaded by foreign navies as well as to put a stop to the pillage of towns on Lake Malaren. The name of the city was believed to have been derived from a log (stock), which was carried by the water currents to drift upon an islet (holm). Although all that happened more than seven centuries ago, it was only until the mid-seventeenth century that the city of Stockholm was proclaimed the official capital of Sweden.

The oldest part of the city is the Old Town, Gamla Stan, which features a medieval street net and a number of notable buildings.  Among these buildings are the large German Church (Tyska kyrkan), a number of mansions and palaces such as the Riddarhuset or the House of Nobles, the Bonde Palace, the Oxenstierna Palace, and the Tessin Palace.

While the medieval walls of the Gamla Stan (Old Town) may no longer remain, Stockholm’s history is still present in the preserved old winding roads. To reminisce this old charm during your visit to Stockholm, venture into the cobbled streets of Gamla Stan, where what was once a walled medieval city is now home to small shops and some of the city’s finest restaurants.

Stockholm offers a myriad of sights and activities that are sure to pique anybody’s interest. Just a few minutes away from the city center, the island of Djurgarden beckons tourists and locals alike to take a leisurely stroll on its grassy hills and walkways sheltered by an emerald canopy of trees. Legendary taverns, museums, art galleries, and different amusement sites are also found alongside the park to guarantee a fun-filled afternoon.

Fans of nautical history should drop by the Vasa Museum, dedicated to the oldest ship in the world, a royal warship that sank in Stockholm’s harbor in 1628. Another world record is Skansen, the first open-air museum in the world. Skansen features over a hundred homes and buildings from the eighteenth and nineteenth century; and coupled with folk dancing, crafts, and tours, it’s a great place to experience life the way it was long ago. The open-air park even offers a treat for little kids, like Lill-Skansen or the children’s “Little Skansen” where a petting zoo and a miniature train ride will keep your kids highly entertained.
Stockholm is also home to many architectural highlights that will surely appeal to any architecture buff. Grand buildings in Stockholm include Drottningholm Palace and Riddarholm Church. The suburban cities of Stockholm are also worth a look for their urban planning and architecture, which in Sweden is considered to be among the most advanced in the world.

Shopping at Stockholm is a shopaholic’s wet dream and a thrift shop fanatic’s nightmare. Swedish craftspeople are held in high esteem, and their works can also come with exorbitant price tags. Swedish glass, for example, is famous throughout the world, while Swedish wooden items are exceptional. For shoppers looking for bargains, it may take a lot more searching to find something within your budget. A casual shopper might want to stick with purchasing great-looking gifts and souvenirs, the most famous of which is the Dala horse from Dalarna.

When the question comes around to where to shop at Stockholm, the Old Town (Gamla Stan) is everybody’s favorite place. The main street to shop and browse at the Old Town would be Vaserlanggatan.

Food in Stockholm is expensive as well. For the visitor on a budget, stick to self-service cafeterias. Enjoy cheap eats at Café Bla Porten in Djurgardsvagen or the renowned eatery of Ortagarden.

For family-friendly restaurants, Lisa Elmquist and Solliden both offer an attractive dining and culinary experience.

Don’t miss out on picnic trips to Djurgarden and Skansen. Drop by on Ostermalms Hallen or Hotorgs Hallen for the ultimate picnic fare.

Djurgarden remains Stockholm’s favorite spot for an evening out. Stockholm is also known for being a gender-sensitive place.  The city even transforms into the capital of gay Scandinavia at night. With its bars, discotheques, and roving nightclubs tucked in its built, no other city in Scandinavia offers a broader and more diverse nightlife options than the ones offered by Stockholm.

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