Travel Guides: All Countries / Europe / Sweden / Uppland / Stockholm
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| | | City of style |  | Why go on holiday to Stockholm?
Stockholm is one of Europe's most beautiful cities. Built over 14 islands, it rises out of the crystal-clear water like a graceful swan.
A capital city with all the cultural facilities that implies - theatre, museums and galleries, nightlife - Stockholm still manages to avoid the sense of brusque mayhem that other major cities create.
The surrounding archipelago has more than 24,000 islands, many with lovely summer chalets to explore.
How much does it cost?
At the time of writing, discount return flights from London cost as little as £100. Three-night city breaks start from just over £200. A boat from Newcastle will cost in the region of £150, plus overland transport from Stavanger.
When should I go?
Summer can be warm, sunny and beautiful - especially June and July. August is warm but sometimes rainy - average July temperatures are around 17C/63F.
Stockholm has an average nine hours of sunshine daily from May to July.
Winter is cold but Stockholm is still welcoming.
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| | | Summer in the suburbs |  | What should I do when I'm there?
Wherever you travel in the world, you will see no more beautiful town than Gamla Stan, Stockholm's old town. Take a day to wander down the eastern side - a medieval maze of lanes, arches and stairways.
The showy Vasterlanggatan is worth seeing, as is the splendid Royal Palace with its Royal Armoury and Treasury and Gustav III Museum. Gustav, a quirky monarch by all accounts, collected the Mediterranean treasures displayed there.
Sounds good. What else?
The centre of modern Stockholm - Sergels Torg - fails to charm visitors to the same degree as Gamla Stan, but is nonetheless a treasure trove of attractions.
Gems among the numerous churches and museums are the Strindbergs Museet - the apartment where the playwright spent his last years - and the Musikmuseet, where you get to handle musical instruments used by great musicians of the past.
The mosaics of the Stadshuset (town hall), the art and design at the National Museum, the delightful Hallwyl private museum and the fabulous Gold Room at the Historiska Museet are all of interest.
What about the city suburbs?
Djurgarden Island has a fun park, Skansen a huge open-air museum. Also see Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde - a gem-like palace with galleries and picturesque gardens. On Sodermalm stroll along the northern cliffs for great views and old houses.
A highlight of the northern suburbs is Millesgarden, an outdoor sculpture collection by Carl Millesdailyan. While you're in the area, take a walk in Haga Park with its butterfly house and Gustav III pavilion.
What about festivals and events?
Throughout the summer there are many festivals, concerts and events in the Sergels Torg (city centre) and Kuingstradgarden areas.
The biggest of these is the Stockholm water festival, over 10 days in August. There are concerts, exhibitions and cultural events, as well as boat sports, regattas and fireworks.
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| | | Land of the midnight sun | | Where's good for nightlife?
Stockholm's nightlife is intensive. The epicentre is Stureplan, where there are clubs, such as the Laroy, open to 5am, and pubs such as the Glenn Miller Cafe and Golden Hits.
At the Royal Dramatic Theatre you can see classics of the theatre by Chekov, Strindberg and Ibsen. Go ballroom dancing at the Mlarsalen or the Gota Kallare. For live jazz try Stampen in the Gamla Stan, and Englelen & Kolingen at Kornhamstorg.
What's the food like?
Traditional Swedish food centres on fish - with herring and potatoes the staple. Eat this in a kvarterskrog or krog (local pub).
Stockholm has developed its own modern-European-style cuisine based on French, Italian and Scandinavian foods flavoured with more exotic spices. The city has some excellent, if pricey, restaurants.
Edsbacka Krog has recently been awarded another Michelin star - its second. Also check out restaurants in the market halls of Hotorgshallen and Ostermalms.
What should I buy?
Sami handicrafts. The Duodji label proves authenticity on knives, textiles and trinkets. Glass as vessels, vases or ornaments, from the Smaland region.
Wood or pewter objects are expensive but good quality - typically Swedish is the Dalarna painted wooden horse.
What is there for children to do?
The main attraction is the Grona Lund Tivoli fun park - always crowded but packed with fantastic rides and amusements. Also on Djurgarden are the Skansen open-air museum, zoo, huge aquarium and forestry pavilion.
Then there's the Junibacken, which recreates the world of Astrid Lindgren's children's books, in particular Pippi Longstocking.
There's a Puppet Theatre Museum at Brunnsgatan and, if they like Abba, they'll enjoy the Muisikmuseet, which has some original pop paraphernalia as well as a touch-and-feel section.
Tourist office
The Swedish Travel and Tourism Council, 5 Upper Montague Street, London, W1H 2AG. Tel. 00800 3080 3080.
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| | Available rental properties in Stockholm |
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