Built across a series of picturesque islands,the capital of Sweden is an international business centre known for itsbeautiful open spaces, royal palaces and many cultural institutions.
The city of Stockholm is spread across 14 of the islands that cover muchof Lake Mälaren, one of the largest lakes in Sweden. Take a trip to the capitalcity to discover galleries, historic museums, royal architecture and sprawlingparks that date back to the 13th century.
Stockholm is a simple city to navigate on foot since most of the keysites are close to the centre of town. An excellent public transport system andmore than 760 kilometres (450 miles) of cycling paths help for destinationsfurther afield. Follow the historic route that leads through the Royal NationalCity Park aboard a hired bike, or hop on a boat for a tour of the canals thatcover almost a third of the city’s area.
Visit Djugården and you’llcome across the major attractions of the city. Right in the city centre you canescape into nature at Skansen, anopen-air museum among the oldest in the world. Explore the Vasa Museum to discover the story behind Midsummer. There’s plentyto entertain youngsters, including characters from children’s books at Junibacken, a museum aimed at children.
Strollaround the oldest part of Stockholm, GamlaStan, or watch the Changing of the Guard at the Royal Palace. The NobelMuseum is a great place to get to know past winners of the Nobel Prize. The nearby Den Gyldene Freden has been one of the most visited restaurants inthe city since 1722.
Stockholm has many centres for art. See works by some of the biggest names in Europe atthe Museum of Modern Art or acquaintyourself with the next generation of photographers at Fotografiska. Bellevue Parkhosts some impressive pieces by the famous Swedish sculptor Carl Eldh. EachAugust the King’s Garden hosts thepopular festival for teens, We Are Stockholm.
Before you leave the city, board a boat to see the Stockholm archipelagoand the 20,000 islands in the area. Thanks to Sweden’s long summer days, manycan be seen on a day trip from the city centre. Hike through forests or alongbeaches to stumble across medieval towns like Sandhamn and Vaxholm.
