Stockholm Guide 2023
I get so many emails and DMS asking about Stockholm tips so I figured a little guide is in order. This is in no way comprehensive, I’m just sharing a few favorite places in the city.
This will be a work in progress and I’ll add more to the list as time goes by, so do check back before your trip here. Oh, I also get lots of requests to meet up for coffee but I’m far too shy so I apologize in advance for declining those sweet asks.
Most of Stockholm is beautiful and very walkable so I highly recommend going around on foot or using our public transportation, SL buses and Tunnelbanan (the subway). You can tap a credit card on buses and the subway but if you would like a pass for several days you can get an SL Card or get a pass through the SL app.
Gamla stan (the Old town) is definitely worth a visit but do avoid the main street Västerlånggatan, which is very touristy and busy. I would also avoid Drottninggatan for the same reason if it wasn’t that some of my favorite shops are on it. Skip the little shops that sell stuff with Swedish flags, vikings and other typical souvenirs though.
Culture
Skansen Djurgårdsslätten 49-51, DJURGÅRDEN
Skansen is the world’s oldest open-air museum, showcasing the whole of Sweden with houses and farmsteads from every part of the country. Very nice café, Petissan, in one of historic buildings.
Nordiska Museet Djurgårdsvägen 6-16, DJURGÅRDEN
Nordiska museet is Sweden’s largest museum of cultural history and stories about the life and people of the Nordic region. Cute café at the back, called Lusknäppen!
Millesgården Herserudsvägen 32, LIDINGÖ
One of my favorite places to visit in Stockholm. It’s a tiny bit outside the city centre but well worth the short subway and bus ride. Beautiful sculpture garden, fantastic exhibits, wonderful buildings and a nice restaurant/café. So worth a visit!
Fotografiska Stadsgårdshamnen 22, SÖDERMALM
Photography and visual art from all over the world. There’s a nice restaurant as well!
Moderna Museet Exercisplan 4, SKEPPSHOLMEN
Museum of modern art with a fantastic museum shop. Café Blom inside is a nice place to take a break too.
Nationalmuseum Södra Blasieholmshamnen 2, CITY
Sweden’s museum of art and design with paintings, sculpture, drawings and graphic art from the 16th century up to the beginning of the 20th century. Nice restaurant inside too.
Waldemarsudde Prins Eugens väg 6, DJURGÅRDEN
The mansion built for Prince Eugen (1865–1947), and a gallery building that was added in 1913. The prince was one of the leading landscape painters of his time and aside from art by him he was also an important art collector. Beautiful surroundings as well!
Thielska Galleriet Sjötullsbacken 8, DJURGÅRDEN
Beautiful art museum in a beautiful building. Unique collection of works of art from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries by leading artists. The café isn’t that great though to be honest.
Stadsbiblioteket Sveavägen 73, VASASTAN
The public library. A must for any book worm and architecture buff. Designed by Gunnar Asplund in the 1920’s, it’s absolutely stunning inside and out.
Liljevalchs, Djurgårdsvägen 60, DJURGÅRDEN
An art museum with various exhibits. The main attraction for me is architectural. The new brutalist addition to the old building is so beautiful. You can see a little bit from the outside but inside I highly recommend going to the top floors. Stunning gallery space with an amazing ceiling! The museum shop is nicely curated too!
Shop
Muji Klarabergsgatan 5, CITY
A favorite shop for all things organization and cleaning as well as basic clothes and kitchenware. Muji is located on the 4th floor at Åhléns City. EDIT: Muji is closing August 31 2023.
Åhléns City Klarabergsgatan 50, CITY
The Flagship Åhléns offers pretty much everything from beauty and fashion to homeware. Muji is located on the 4th floor and don’t miss Sally Voltaire & Systrar, a shop in shop with beautiful homegoods on the 3rd floor.
Iris Hantverk Kungsgatan 55, CITY & Västerlånggatan 24, GAMLA STAN
A beautiful shop! Their core business is handmade brushes by visually impaired craftsmen in Sweden and Estonia but they also sell other beautifully curated home goods.
Designtorget Centralstationen, CITY & Sergelgatan 20, CITY & Götgatan 31, SÖDERMALM
All things contemporary Swedish design.
Granit Kungsgatan 42, CITY & Götgatan 31, SÖDERMALM + more locations
Another favorite shop for home decor and organization in a monochrome color scheme.
Arket Drottninggatan 53, CITY & Götgatan 36, SÖDERMALM (opening soon)
My favorite clothing store. Great for minimal, Scandinavian fashions as well as really nice home decor. Also recommend their café.
Afro Art Hornsgatan 58, SÖDERMALM & Norrtullsgatan 10, VASASTAN + shop in shop at Åhléns City
Beautiful handmade baskets, textiles and paper crafts designed in Sweden and made by artisans in Africa, Asia and Latin America.
Svensk Hemslöjd Norrlandsgatan 20, CITY
Traditional Swedish handicraft.
Marimekko Norrmalmstorg 4, CITY
Beautiful and fun Finnish designs.
Bysis Bok & Papper Bysistorget, Hornsgatan 80, SÖDERMALM
A great book and gift shop with the best selection of cards and stationery as well as fun children’s toys and jig saw puzzles.
Paper Cut Krukmakargatan 24, SÖDERMALM
Handpicked selection of magazines, books, stationary on film, fashion, art, design and music.
Konst-ig Åsögatan 124A, SÖDERMALM
A bookstore that focuses on architecture, art, design, fashion, graphic design and photography.
Grandpa Södermannagatan 21, SÖDERMALM
A great store with a curated range of fashion and lifestyle products.
Skansenbutiken Djurgårdsslätten 49-51, DJURGÅRDEN
One of my favorite shops for gifts selling traditional Swedish wares. They’re part of the Skansen open air museum but you can enter the shop outside the gates without paying admission.
Shop vintage
Arkivet Sergelgatan 18, CITY & Norrtullsgatan 33, VASASTAN & Nybrogatan 44, ÖSTERMALM
Curated second hand fashion.
Stockholms Stadsmission Hornsgatan 58, SÖDERMALM & Köpmangatan 15, GAMLA STAN + more locations
A chain of charity shops with clothing and home goods.
Myrorna Mäster Samuelsgatan 49, CITY & Adolf Fredriks kyrkogata 5, CITY + more locations
A chain of charity shops with clothing and home goods.
Vasakällaren Odengatan 88, VASASTAN
Large antique shop in a basement.
Moderna & Antika Roslagsgatan 7, VASASTAN
Large antique shop in a basement.
Hötorgets Loppmarknad Hötorget, CITY
A flea market that takes place on Sundays.
Eat & drink
The Italian Cousins, Odengatan 78, VASASTAN
Delicious pizza slizes, Italian wine, cute place and super friendly service.
Arket Café Drottninggatan 53, CITY
The coffee shop inside the Arket Shop
Bagdad Café Fredsgatan 5, CITY
The restaurant/café at Medelhavsmuseet where my friends and I often go for a glass of wine and spanakopita.
Scandwich Malmskillnadsgatan 17, CITY
Great sandwich place. The best tuna sandwich I’ve ever had!
Gast Café Rådmansgatan 57, CITY
Nice little place just off busy Drottninggatan with brunch type food.
Konditori Thelins Kungsgatan 51, CITY & Odengatan 34 + more locations
A chain of coffee shops. My friends and I prefer the Odengatan branch but they’re all over the city. Highly recommend their cardamom bun!
Fabrique Kungsgatan 47, CITY & Sveavägen 29, CITY + more locations
Another chain of coffee shops that you can find all over the city. Rustic and industrial.
Vetekatten Kungsgatan 55, CITY
A classic traditional Swedish coffee shop with a warren of rooms and a large variety of pastries.
Eatnam Birger Jarlsgatan 36, CITY & Odengatan 85, VASASTAN & St.Paulsgatan 2 SÖDERMALM
Vietnamese food.
EcoBaren Drottninggatan 88, CITY
This is the restaurant at Centralbadet, a spa, just off Drottninggatan. The restaurant itself isn’t fantastic but the building and park surrounding it is. An oasis!
Rosendals Trädgård Rosendalsvägen 38, DJURGÅRDEN
The greenhouse cafe serves lunches, sandwiches and pastries of the season. The whole cafe is organically certified. There are also beautiful gardens and shops.
Views
Monteliusvägen, SÖDERMALM
Stunning walk with views over the city.
Fjällgatan, SÖDERMALM
Beautiful view over Djurgården.
Tyghusplan, DJURGÅRDEN
Lovely view over the royal castle from outside the Museum of Far Eastern Antiquities.
Stay
Since this is my own city I don’t have any first hand experience with hotels or other accomodations. If you have tips of where to stay in Stockholm, do leave them in a comment, I know they will be much appreciated.
