To finally tie out the Stockholm travel guide series, I present to you all of the remaining areas Emma and I visited while living in the capital of Sweden this past summer. If you’ve been following along, I want to give you a heads-up that this one is formatted differently from the rest. Since we didn’t spend as extensive amounts of time in these areas compared to Gamla Stan and Östermalm, this travel guide will combine the eating, drinking, and activities sections into one per location. Nonetheless, if you ever find yourself in Stockholm and want to have a different experience than most be sure to consult this travel guide for some of the city’s less-traversed parts with tourists.
DJURGÅRDEN
Out of all of the things we did in Stockholm visiting Djurgården was by far at the top of my list. Situated right next to Östermalm, the island is full of natural beauty (see photo above), charming estates, and young Swedish moms taking their newborns out for a hot girl walk. Emma and I would dedicate two hours each week we were there to take a walk around the entire island. The times we did this we would easily rack up over 20,000 daily steps, which would be an occasion that gave us permission to have a big soft serve, fika, and a street hotdog within hours of one another. Djurgården has much more to offer than a scenic walking route, however. The island is home to countless museums, outdoor restaurants, and attractions that encapsulate the light-hearted and established culture of Sweden. Here are some must-see places when stopping by the island.
One of the most visited museums in Scandinavia is host to a ship that sunk in the 17th century right after it left the dock.
An establishment that’s home to many archives from ABBA’s past and present, including many of their most famous outfits while performing, and a recording studio where you can sing along to their most popular songs like you’re a true Dancing Queen.
A museum devoted to showcasing the Scandinavian lifestyle and traditions starting from the 16th century to the present day.
Set in a naval building from the 18th century, the Spirits Museum aims to illustrate the background and culture of alcohol in Sweden. A bonus – they have a great outdoor restaurant and a bar.
The world’s oldest open-air museum happens to have a café with a cinnamon roll that I wrote my Common App essay on.
An extensive garden that is home to a greenhouse cafe (which has amazing complimentary bread and butter), an orchard, a vineyard, and countless fields growing fresh produce all right in the heart of Stockholm.
An amusement park that isn’t just a place for your average boardwalk adrenaline rush; they also host a series of concerts during the summer and modify the experience on upcoming holidays.
SÖDERMALM
If Östermalm is Manhattan, Södermalm is Brooklyn’s equivalent. Home to rolling hills, pop-up shops, and people of all ages, Södermalm is the place that encapsulates Stockholm’s eclectic side best. Emma and I would venture to this area to do our laundry at a laundromat, spend hours surveying vintage stores for hidden treasures, and take a sack full of cheese and crackers to a park situated on the top of a hill so we could watch as the sun started to set on Gamla Stan. The things I would do to go back.
With locations around the world, Fotografiska is a Swedish-based museum centered around seeing photography from different perspectives. When we visited there were three different exhibits that delved into a diverse range of experiences. Although it was a cool outing, we felt like there could’ve been more to look at compared to the other museums we visited in the city.
This is Stockholm’s equivalent to Ladybird. A laid-back, outdoor venue with a bar, great food, and plenty of picnic tables that are bustling on warm summer days.
Window shop along the pedestrian street of Götgatan
Existing since the 12th century, this is the longest street in Södermalm and home to many cafés and shops that you can only find in Europe. Speaking of which, you can find the next suggestion along this road.
This is the first place where Emma and I had a fika when arriving in Stockholm, so it will always be a special spot. An observation that subliminally lets me know how good a bakery’s pastries are is how flaky their croissants look, and S:t Paul’s passed the test with flying colors.
If you’re a music devotee (like my little brother James) Hellstone should be at the top of your list for things to see when in Stockholm. It’s full of musical memorabilia and instruments new and old. Hellstone is a creative genius and enlisted a famous children’s book illustrator to do the branding for his music shop based on funny depictions of famous musicians and celebrities.
A company dedicated to bettering the quality of the coffee sold in Sweden while simultaneously increasing the wages farmers receive from its cultivation, Johan & Nyström has a variety of different Swedish pastries and an unsurprisingly abundant beverage menu. Crucial side note: they had the best cardamon bun I tried in all of the places we had fika in Stockholm.
Picnic at Ivar Lo’s Park
Located right next to Mariaberget, a lookout point with views of Gamla Stan and Kungsholmen, Ivar Lo’s Park is a perfect pasture to unwind in the middle of the hustle-and-bustle of Södermalm. Emma and I took a knapsack full of brie, crackers, salami, and ciders twice to this area to enjoy a suppertime picnic. We tried different areas of the park each time, and the green space closest to Mariaberget was our favorite.
This is one of those stores that you walk into and immediately recognize the dedication and careful eye that was put to use behind the scenes. You also know how much I wish I could help boys expand their perception of style? They have one of the best selections of uncommon yet still wearable vintage clothing that I’ve seen for men. If you’re a boy and find yourself in Stockholm, do yourself a personal favor and check this place out.
Last but certainly not least, Beyond Retro was the vintage store that had the best selection and one I would recommend most. It has a wide assortment of items for both men and women that you can’t find anywhere else. I bought the navy brocade, black sequined top, and white wood platforms that I wore all the time in Europe here, so there’s no telling what treasures you’ll be able to walk out with.
SKEPPSHOLMEN
With a diverse collection of modern and contemporary art pieces, the Moderna Museet was one of the few museums I went to this summer that left me feeling intense emotions from the story that each art piece contributed to its respective exhibit. In addition to their impressive collection featuring Dalí, Picasso, and Matisse paintings, they also have a fun gift shop full of trinkets that had us busy browsing for half an hour.
After we spent the morning at the museum we were starving and happened to stumble upon this quaint café situated across from the notable Skeppsholmen boat hostel. I still remember the joy I felt while eating an order of their potato pancakes that came with a side of sour cream and lingonberry jam. It’s the simple things in life.
Skeppsholmen Viewpoint
On one of our last nights living in Stockholm, Emma and I walked around Skeppsholmen after getting ice cream and sat alongside the viewpoint. We witnessed such a precious expression of life, with adults of various ages and backgrounds meeting at the viewpoint’s dock for a swing dance club session. Everyone involved, both the dancers and spectators like ourselves, were in jolly spirits from how wholesome the gathering was. It was a prime example that joy is infections, and for that reason, whenever I think of Skeppsholmen I will always think of this memory first.
NORRMALM
A café created in the 1920s that has a variety of delicious homemade pastries, sandwiches, and bonbons to snack on while catching up with friends, family, or what’s going on in the morning paper.
This is a must-see spot to grab a kanelbullar and latte when visiting Stockholm. We would go here every morning we stayed in Stockholm with our parents and brother before embarking on the rest of our travels. By the end of these few visits, my mom became obsessed with their take on a simple morning breakfast sandwich with homemade wheat bread, cheese, lettuce, and butter. Given that she still talks about it to this day, when in Stockholm be sure to start your day here with a light breakfast.
MOOD is an indoor-outdoor shopping mall that has many local boutiques and restaurants to explore. My personal favorite shop to look around was Leila’s General Store, which was full of adorable tea towels and decorations sporting the Swedish flag.
We stumbled upon the Hobo Hotel on our bar crawl around Gamla Stan instead of going next door to Stockholm Under the Stars. Although I can’t speak about what the hotel itself is actually like, their bar is a great low-key spot to get drinks. They had a great menu and friendly British bartenders who even used us as their guinea pigs to try their iteration of a pornstar martini.
KUNGSHOLMEN
A large green space along the water that’s full of picnickers, runners, food carts, and dogs during sunny summer weather. We spent the afternoon here trying to get a tan toward the end of our stint in Stockholm and made sure to enjoy a street hotdog with crunchy onions while resting in the grass.
Not only is this the place where the city council operates, but it’s also where the Nobel Prize banquet is held each year. Its grounds have a great view of Södermalm and are full of glamorous, traditional charm.
If you happen to be in Stockholm during the summer months, you need to make a stop at this place. Mälarpaviljongen is a restaurant and bar located on a pontoon with lots of fresh and delicious meals to choose from. Emma and I walked here from Gamla Stan with our cousin Amanda for lunch one day and it was amazing. They had Ceaser salads with chicken and I opted for their potato lasagna, which replaced pasta with thinly sliced and boiled potatoes. It’s a place that feels like fairies would be flying around if they existed from how magical all of the branches from the surrounding willow trees fall around the pavilion.
Walk alongside the water on Norr Mälarstrand
Norr Mälarstrand has a pedestrian path that spans from City Hall to Rålambshov Park and beyond. It takes you past various restaurants, benches, and docks along the water, and is a great way to pass time when the weather is nice.
VAXHOLM
This ice cream sent me into another dimension. Whether the intense blueberry flavor or triple-churned texture is to blame, nonetheless Glass på Hörnet has made its way up to my list of the best ice creams I’ve ever tried.
Situated away from the hustle and bustle of the town square, Camilles Trädgård & Café can be found in the side yard of owner Camille’s house. Everything is homemade, gluten-free, and vegan, with lots of small pies and locally-brewed kombucha to choose from.
UPPSALA
Constructed in the 16th century under Sweden’s most notable king Gustav I Vasa, the grounds of Uppsala Caste are full of history. It has a great bird’s eye view of the city on one end and faces the Botanical Gardens on the other.
Full of well-manicured trees and blooms of all shapes and locales, the Botanical Gardens of Uppsala is a great place to immerse yourself in the beauty of nature with the diversity of plant species.
This restaurant establishment has been perfecting its craft for five generations and you can tell. With lines out the door during lunchtime, Güntherska should be at the top of your list of places to visit when in Uppsala. Emma and I had our minds set on trying one of the delicacies behind their display window. We ultimately decided on getting a passionfruit and raspberry tart after finishing our panini sandwiches, and it was one of those flavor combinations that leave you wanting more.
We stumbled upon this quaint little bookshop focused on providing English speakers with a wide assortment of books to choose from after finishing lunch at Güntherska. Little did we know at the time that we had just come across an award-winning company that happens to have locations in Stockholm and Gothenburg. They are very community-oriented shown by their efforts in planning different events each month, like hosting a gothic Halloween workshop or having an author come to the shop and read over breakfast.
Zara
Uppsala surprisingly had the best Zara of all its storefront locations I got to visit this summer. When Emma and I visited they happened to have a sale, and their stock still didn’t seem too depleted, as there were many cute items to choose from in our sizes. I picked up a white sundress here that I wore at least once a week onward for the rest of our travels.
SALTSJÖBADEN
Our Uncle Niklas took Emma and me here with our cousin Alexander and their dog Casino for dinner towards the beginning of our trip. It was such a beautiful spot that had a view of the Grand Hotel Saltsjöbaden and was full of preppy-looking locals. Holmen Kök & Bar has an atmosphere of a yacht club from all of the wooden and shiplap features found throughout, while also having a host of great food and drink options to choose from. This was the place where we saw the most beautiful-looking boys our age, so ladies take notes if you’re trying to find your Swedish prince! A fun post-dinner activity that our uncle took us on was driving around the residential area of Saltsjöbaden. Since it’s a pretty bougie area, there are lots of traditional and experimental Swedish mansions to take a gander at.
Stockholm and its surrounding areas have so much beauty and culture to offer, and I hope this guide serves as a North Star for what to eat, see, and do if you ever find yourself in the hidden gem of Europe!
💘 Hanna
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