Why is Stockholm worth a visit?

Stockholm is the most popular tourist destination in northern Europe and for good reason. The old town Gamla stan is undeniably one of the most beautiful historic centers in Europe. In addition, Stockholm’s location on several islands and surrounded by greenery makes it one of the cities in the world with the closest proximity to water and nature. This explains the enormous recreational value of the Swedish capital. But the city’s shopping and gastronomy scene is also one of the best in Europe. Sightseeing, shopping, sport and going out can therefore be combined in Stockholm like in hardly any other city in the world.

Here are our top 5 reasons to travel to Stockholm:

1. Stockholm has a beautiful location on the water. The city is spread over a total of 14 islands and is therefore not nicknamed the “Venice of the North” for nothing.

2. Stockholm is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. As the city has not been destroyed in the last few centuries, it has one of the most architecturally valuable historical centers on the continent, Gamla stan.

3. for a metropolis, Stockholm is an exceptionally green city with numerous parks and gardens. With the Royal National City Park, the Swedish capital is even home to the only urban national park in Europe.

4. the capital of Sweden has an extremely interesting museum landscape to offer. Here you can learn all about Nobel Prize winners, Nordic culture, Swedish design, a sunken battleship and, of course, the legendary Swedish band ABBA.

5 Stockholm is a vibrant city with a very diverse and varied gastronomy, event and shopping scene. The city’s stores are a real treasure trove, especially for lovers of Scandinavian design.

For whom is Stockholm worth a visit?

Fans of extraordinary sights:

A whole range of extraordinary sights await visitors in Stockholm. In the Swedish capital, you can see an almost completely preserved medieval warship, immerse yourself in the history of the legendary band ABBA or get to know Swedish folklore in Europe’s largest open-air museum.

Lovers of historical and modern architecture:

Stockholm has been lucky enough not to have been destroyed by wars or fires in recent centuries. As a result, the Swedish capital is one of the cities in Europe with the best-preserved buildings. Not only the medieval Gamla stan is an architectural hotspot, but also many buildings from later centuries, such as Stockholm Palace, the City Hall and the Avicii Arena.

Water and nature fans:

No other European capital has such a close relationship with water and nature as Stockholm. It is only a stone’s throw from anywhere in the city to the countryside or the shore. Accordingly, the city offers fantastic sporting opportunities, from jogging and cycling to sailing, boating, kayaking and horse riding.

Fans of Scandinavian design:

Scandinavian design now has its fans all over the world. Fans of the simple, functional and natural furnishing style will go into a shopping frenzy in Stockholm.

Lovers of Swedish cuisine:

Sweden fans know that the country’s cuisine consists of much more than just kött and kaneelbullar. Lovers of fresh and simple Scandinavian cuisine can feast to their heart’s content in Stockholm.

Royalists:

Sweden is one of the few European countries that has retained its monarchy to this day. As the residence of the Swedish royal family, there are several royal buildings to marvel at in Stockholm, including Stockholm Palace, Drottningholm Palace, Ulriksdal Palace and Haga Palace.

Families and children:

Last but not least, Stockholm is also one of the cities that is great to visit with children. This is not only due to its proximity to nature, but also to the many attractions in the city that are suitable for children. Especially the amusement parks Gröna Lund and Junibacken, the open-air museum Skansen, the aquarium Skansen-Akvariet and the Vasa Museum will make the little ones’ hearts beat faster.

Best time to travel

The best time to visit Stockholm is in the summer months of June, July and August. Then the temperatures are pleasant even in the far north of Europe and the days are long and blessed with plenty of sunshine. May and September are also good times for a city trip to the Swedish capital. However, the weather can be rather mixed in the early and late summer. If you like it wintry, you can of course also travel to Stockholm in the cold season. The Swedish metropolis exudes a very special charm in snowy white.

Getting there

By car:

Getting to Stockholm by car is a little arduous, as a trip to the Swedish capital is a good 1,000 kilometers even from northern Germany.

By train:

It’s not much different by train. If you take the train to Stockholm, you need to allow at least half a day for the journey.

By plane:

We recommend traveling by plane. There are daily connections from Stockholm to all major airports in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. In Germany, there are several daily flights from Stockholm to Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Hanover, Karlsruhe, Cologne/Bonn, Munich and Stuttgart. In Switzerland, there are connections to Geneva and Zurich. And in Austria, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Vienna are connected to Stockholm.

Food and drink

Most people in this country are primarily familiar with Swedish cuisine through the restaurants of a blue and yellow furniture store. As a result, the majority of Germans reduce the cuisine of the Scandinavian country to Köttbullar (meatballs), Kaneelbullar (cinnamon buns), salmon and herring. Not wrong, but not quite right either.

Stockholm’s gastronomic scene is just as diverse today as in other European cities. Whether Italian, Greek or Asian – everyone will find something to their taste here. But of course you should also try the culinary delights of the local cuisine when visiting Sweden’s capital. And there are plenty of opportunities to do so in numerous typical Swedish restaurants.

In addition to the obligatory Köttbullar, these include Smörgåsbord (a kind of buffet of cold dishes such as fish, meat and cheese), Graved Lax (pickled salmon, usually served with mustard sauce and crispbread), Ärtsoppa (pea soup, often served with pancakes) and Surströmming (a specially fermented herring).

Fika is an absolute must when it comes to eating and drinking in Sweden. Twice a day (usually around 10 am and 3 pm), “real” Swedes take time for a coffee break of around a quarter of an hour. However, the coffee must never be drunk alone. A fika always includes something sweet. The classic is kanelbullar, but it can also be cookies or sponge cake.

If you want to experience Stockholm’s local food culture, you should definitely visit one of the city’s many street food stalls and markets. The most famous market is undoubtedly Sulahall in the Östermalm district. The historic food market is now a paradise for gourmets. From fish and seafood to cheese and meat, all the delicacies that Swedish cuisine has to offer can be found here.

As you would expect in Sweden, the prices for fresh food are quite high. If you want to go easy on your travel budget, it’s better to eat out for lunch. Many restaurants in Stockholm offer a lunch menu, which is considerably cheaper than an à la carte meal in the evening.

When it comes to drinks, beer drinkers get their money’s worth in Stockholm. The Swedish capital has an interesting craft beer scene with numerous small breweries offering artisan beer. And in winter, of course, Swedish glögg is a must. The spicy mulled wine warms your bones and soul, even in Swedish winter temperatures.

Sights