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Stockholm is Sweden’s capital with the nickname Queen of Mälaren, and it’s not for nothing, the city has been given that name. Stockholm is scenic like few other capitals in the world; the lake landscape around Lake Mälaren is to the west, and countless islands and rocky reefs extend towards the Baltic Sea to the east. Stockholm is in the middle, built on many islands itself.
Stockholm’s old town is an island full of fine squares, crooked streets and narrow alleys without any modern buildings. Walking around this district is like a trip to a bygone era, and the Storkyrkan Church and Stockholm’s royal palace are among the sights here.
The modern center of Stockholm is a short walk north of Gamla Stan. The active business district is located around the square of Sergels Torg and it offers plenty of shopping opportunities as well as loads of cultural and dining options. The pedestrian street, Drottninggatan, is famous and a must for most travelers to the city.
Stockholm’s museums are highly see-worthy as well. Interesting museums are found almost everywhere in the city, and the highlight of them all is the unique ship Vasa, which sank on its maiden voyage in 1628. It can now be seen restored to its former glory. The Nordiska Museum and the Swedish National Museum are other good suggestions for places to see when in Stockholm.
Stockholm’s subway, Tunnelbanen, is a fantastic structure that differs from many other cities’ subways by being visibly blasted out of the underground’s granite. The stations lie deep below street level, and the effect of the large, blown-up halls is impressive. Many of the central stations are decorated with an environment, colors or a theme from the station area, this applies, for example, to the stations between Kungsträdgården and Solna Centrum.
The first line of Stockholm’s Tunnelbane was inaugurated in 1950, and it is Sweden’s only underground railway. Over time, the line network has been expanded, and today there are three lines, each branching out in the city’s suburbs. The stations are roughly built in three ways: There are mountain stations that are blasted into the bedrock, there are concrete stations, which are visibly constructed of concrete, and there are above-ground stations. Today there are around 100 stations, of which almost half are underground, the rest above. There are 38 hill stations and these are the most fascinating.
Gamla Stan is the Swedish name for Stockholm’s old town. Gamla Stan together with the facilities on the neighboring island of Riddarholmen formed the Swedish capital for several hundred years.
Gamla Stan itself is located on the island of Stadsholmen, and the central part is an exciting medieval quarter that invites you to explore the many narrow streets and alleys that, for example, lead to the squares Stortorget and Järntorget.
In the past, the inner part of Gamla Stan was surrounded by a city wall, it was located at the current streets Österlånggatan and Vesterlånggatan. When the last parts of the defenses were demolished in the 17th century, the right-angled streets around Lilla Nygatan and Stora Nygatan were created.
Stadshuset is Stockholm’s town hall with its beautiful location on Mälaren’s beach. Here it stands as the city’s landmark and is reproduced in virtually all presentations of the Swedish capital.
The town hall was built in 1911-1923 according to Ragnar Östberg’s drawings, and it is Sweden’s largest National Romantic work. Following inspiration from the Italian Renaissance, the Borgergården/Borgargården farm environment has been arranged in the building, and on the south side towards Riddarfjärden there is a beautiful vaulted corridor the entire length of the wing.
In the City Hall, there are a number of beautiful halls, not least Den Blå Sal/Blå Hallen, which is the building’s largest banquet hall. This is where the Nobel banquet takes place with all the dining guests, and the hall is also used for e.g. state visits. The dimensions of the hall are 50×30 meters in ground plan with 22 meters to the ceiling. In the hall there is also the large organ with more than 10,000 pipes.
The city council meets in the Rådsalen/Rådssalen. Pay special attention to the roof, which is inspired by old Viking buildings. In the Oval/Ovalen you can see the Tureholms tapestries, which were woven in France in the 17th century. Prinsens Galleri/Prinsens Galleri is the official reception room, it is beautifully furnished with an opening towards the water. In the Golden Hall/Gyllene Salen there are more than 18 million mosaic pieces in glass and gold, and it is of course quite an impressive interior to see. Gyllene Salen also lays the floor for the dance after the Nobel Banquet in Blå Hallen.
You can climb the 106 meter high tower in the City Hall, and from here there is a fantastic view of Stockholm. The entrance to the tower is from the archway in the south wing. The top of the tower was the last to be drawn. The result was a symbol of Tre Kronor, which is the Swedish national symbol. It was supposed to symbolize that the City Hall was not just the pride of Stockholm, but of all of Sweden.
Towards Lake Mälaren is Stadshusparken, which offers some lovely lawns with sculptures in, among other things, marble and bronze. To the southeast, in the direction of Riddarholmen, stands a 20-meter-high column, with the rebel Engelbrekt Engelbrektsson standing on top. To the east you can see the sarcophagus that was built for Stockholm’s founder Birger Jarl, but his remains were not moved from Varnhem as was thought. The sarcophagus is therefore empty.
On the prominent town hall location, there used to be a large steam-powered mill in a larger building; the so-called Eldkvarnen. The mill was built in 1805, and it burned down in 1878. However, the mill could be kept in operation until 1906, and it was demolished in 1910. In the walls of the City Hall today you can see a stone tablet commemorating the Eldkvarnen.
The National Museum is the Swedish state’s museum, and it houses Sweden’s largest art collection. The museum was inaugurated in 1866 in the current museum building, which is built in a Florentine/Venetian Renaissance style, which brings to mind Italy, the homeland of the fine arts.
The museum’s collection was founded by Gustav Vasa at Gripsholm Castle in Mariefred in the 16th century, and it has grown through purchases, gifts and spoils of war. In 1654, Queen Kristina took many works with her to Rome, and in 1697 great damage was caused by a fire. The collection also grew, however, and many works were added with Carl Gustaf Tessin’s purchases as ambassador in Paris 1739-1742. Gustaf III bought a number of sculptures in Italy at the end of the 18th century, and that is how the museum’s sculpture collection came about.
The National Museum opened in 1794 as one of the first public museums in the world. At that time, the museum was located in the royal palace. Today’s museum building was inaugurated in 1866 and stands as a result of German Friedrich August Stüler’s drawings. On the facade above the entrance door, translated from Latin, it reads: “Monument of antiquities, literature and art”.
In 1958, the museum’s newer collection from the 20th century was moved to the Moderna Museet, and five years later the Far Eastern collections were transferred to the Östasiatiska Museum. At the National Museum today, you can see a wide selection of works of art, including the great European painters from the 16th-19th centuries, for example Dutch 17th-century and French 18th-century art, as well as paintings by the French Impressionists.
The Vasa Museum is unique in the world and one of Stockholm’s absolute top attractions. The museum is built around the salvaged and restored warship Vasa, which sank on its maiden voyage in 1628.
Vasa was raised from the bottom of the Baltic Sea in 1961, and immediately afterwards a temporary building was erected around the ship so that it would continue to be protected from the elements. In 1990, the current museum building was inaugurated.
Vasa was ordered in 1625, and together with Tre Kronor, the two flagships were to secure King Gustav II Adolf’s power in the Baltic Sea. A thousand oak trees were felled and, after much work, the ship was launched three years after the order. It was 69 meters long, 52.5 meters high and 11.7 meters wide. It had two gun decks with a total of 64 guns, and the crew was about 150 men plus twice that number of soldiers.
After the launch, stability tests of the Vasa were to be carried out, but these were quickly interrupted by the fleet commander, as the ship heeled violently under only a small load. Nevertheless, the ship had to be in the fleet’s operation, and on its maiden voyage on 10 August 1628, the ship already sank in Stockholm’s Ström; it only reached from the shipyard in Nybroviken via Stockholm Castle to the water outside the current location of the Vasa Museum. The reason was a lack of stability, but for posterity it was a stroke of luck, because the fresh water is the reason why the ship is so well preserved today.
At the Vasa Museum, you can view the Vasa from six floors, and on each floor, in addition to the breathtaking view, there is a themed exhibition, among other things about 17th-century Sweden, about life on board a ship like the Vasa and about the salvage of the ship itself.
The exhibition hall is 34 meters high, which is enough to give a good idea of the ship’s dimensions with mast and full sails (which would, however, be somewhat higher and wider than the museum hall). Masts have been built on the outside of the Vasa Museum, and the tallest, as originally on the Vasa, reaches 52.5 meters measured from the keel.
In connection with the Vasa Museum, you can see a couple of museum ships moored at the quay outside the museum. It concerns a lightship and an icebreaker; both types of ships have been of great importance to Swedish shipping.
Stortorget is the centerpiece of the medieval Gamla Stan, and the well on the square was formerly also the formal center of Sweden. It was from here that distances from the capital were measured; it happens today from the square Gustav Adolfs Torg.
The beautiful and cozy Stortorget has been the scene of a number of executions over time. The first was in 1280, and the most famous were during the “Stockholm Massacre” in 1520, when the Danish king Christian II executed 83 noble and leading Swedes.
Today, things are more peaceful on the square, which in season offers outdoor dining, so you can sit and enjoy the beautiful houses and the good atmosphere. The stock exchange and the town hall previously had their addresses on Stortorget, which also has a smaller and special attraction. It is about the cannonball that is stuck in the house on the corner of Stortorget and Skomakargatan.
According to one story, it is said to originate from Gustav Vasa’s siege of the city in 1521, but there is no factual evidence for this. It is also said that a furniture dealer Grevesmühl had a new building erected here in 1795 and that he placed the ball where it had been in the previous building.
Storkyrkan in Stockholm is built on the island of Stadsholmen’s highest plateau. It is also called Sankt Nikolai Kirke/Sankt Nicolai Kyrka. Its history goes back to the 13th century, when the first church was built here on the site. Remains of this building can be seen in the northern masonry of the present church tower.
The first church is believed to have been destroyed by fire, and a new one was consecrated in 1306. Later in the 14th century, some chapels were built, but the largest extension was carried out in the 15th century.
In the period 1736-1742, the Storkyrkan’s exterior was changed from the medieval buttresses to the current Baroque style. The reason was that the church had to harmonize with the royal palace, which was built immediately to the north-east of it. One of the elements of the construction was the church tower, which was built with a height of 66 metres.
Storkyrkan has previously been a coronation church. The first coronation took place in 1336, when Magnus Eriksson was crowned king of both Norway and Sweden. This coronation was considered to have led to a stronger desire for Norwegian separation, and therefore the coronations were stopped. The next coronation here was in 1497 by King Hans, who was Danish union king of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. In later centuries, the tradition became firm until the last coronation of Oscar II in 1873. The church has also formed the setting for several weddings, among others of the later Danish king Frederik IX and his queen Ingrid, who was born a Swedish princess.
Inside, the church is partly restored towards a medieval style, and among the attractions is the pulpit, which was made in the 1680s according to instructions from Nicodemus Tessin the Younger.
Riddarhuset was built according to Simon de la Vallée’s drawings 1641-1674, and it is considered one of Stockholm’s most beautiful buildings. At the time of construction, the architectural influences came mainly from France and the Netherlands, which is clearly seen in the Riddarhuset.
The Riddarhuset building was and is the house of the nobility. In the building, the Swedish aristocracy gathered at meetings of the Riksdag, of which they formed a special part until 1866. Today, the name Riddarhuset is the designation for both this building in Stockholm as well as the institution that the nobility constitutes in Sweden. Since 1869, the nobility has held a meeting in Riddarhuset every three years.
Stockholm Palace, also called the Royal Palace, is the official residence of the Swedish monarch and family. On a daily basis, however, the royal family lives at Drottningholm Castle on Eckerö west of Stockholm.
Until a fire in 1697, the old castle, Tre Kronor, stood on the site. On the foundations of Tre Kronor, Nicodemus Tessin the Younger designed the new Stockholm Palace, which was to be a large baroque palace with 600 rooms and several large halls. The castle was completed in 1754, and the royal family could once again move to the castle from their temporary residence in the Wrangelska Palace on Riddarholmen.
With its 605 rooms, Stockholm Castle is one of the largest in the world still inhabited by a regent – at least officially. In the castle, there are a number of interesting museums, and you can see some of the official rooms and halls.
The castle’s beautiful reception rooms are decorated in different styles, ranging from baroque and rococo to Gustavian neoclassicism. Among the open halls is the Festsalen/Festvåningen, where large gala dinners are held. There is also access to the Rigssalen/Rikssalen, where the king previously read the opening speech to the Riksdag from his silver throne.
In the Skatkammeret/Skattkammaren in the castle’s basement, Sweden’s regalia have been on display since 1970. Here you can see, among other things, Gustav Vasa’s imperial sword and Erik XIV’s crown. There are also several prince and princess crowns and the baptismal font used in royal christenings.
In the northeast wing of the royal palace (Lejonbacken) is the Gustav IIIs Antikmuseum/Gustav III’s Antikmuseum, Sweden’s oldest art museum. It opened its doors as early as 1794. The collection consists of the purchases that King Gustav III made on a trip to Italy in 1783-1784.
In the castle’s cellars, in addition to seeing the Treasury, you can also get close to the history of the Swedish military and royal family in the Livrustkammeret/Livrustkammaren (Slottsbacken 3). Among the many objects in this part of the castle are the kings’ chariots, suits, armor and weapons. Among other things, you can see King Karl XII’s uniform and King Gustav III’s mask from an opera masquerade in 1792. The museum is Sweden’s oldest museum. It dates from 1628, when King Gustav II Adolf ordered that his equipment from a campaign in Poland should be stored forever.
Tre Kronor is the name of the castle that burned down in 1697, which gave way to the current royal palace. Museum Tre Kroner/Museum Tre Kronor (Norrbro) is located in the lower part of the current north wing of the castle, which was the part that survived the fire in 1697. The museum depicts the history of Tre Kronor from the first fortifications to the castle there today. An interesting detail is that the entrance to the museum is through a five meter thick wall that was built as part of the site’s defense in the 13th century.
Drottninggatan is Stockholm’s pedestrian street, where there is always a throng of people browsing the many shops or enjoying the many outdoor dining venues during the summer season.
The street was laid out in the 17th century, and in the city plan it was from the beginning the primary street from Gustav Adolfs Torg and north out of Stockholm. It got its current name in 1639, and it came about as a tribute to Queen Kristina, who replaced her father on the throne as a young person.
Riddarholmen is one of the centrally located islands in the heart of Stockholm. In addition to buildings worth seeing, it offers an opportunity to get a beautiful look at the Swedish capital. From the western side of the small island, there is a fantastic view of Stockholm’s town hall, Stadshuset, towards Södermalm and towards Kungsholmen. It is from here that many photos of the City Hall are taken, and you can also enjoy the view of the beautiful old boats that sail on trips towards Lake Mälaren.
On Riddarholmen you can see Riddarholmskyrkan, which is immediately next to Gamla Stan. The church was built in 1280-1310 as a church for the local Franciscan monastery. The other monastery buildings were demolished in the 17th century, and Riddarholmskyrkan then continued as a parish church until 1807, after which it passed to the status of a burial and memorial church
Sergels Torg is modern Stockholm’s central square, which is named after the 18th-century sculptor Johan Tobias Sergel. The square itself is located at street level with a lowered pedestrian level. To the east stands a 37 meter high glass obelisk with the name Kristallvertikalaccent. The obelisk was created in 1974 by Edvin Öhrström, and it is set up in a superellipse-shaped fountain.
Around Sergels Torg are some of Stockholm’s most important shopping streets, not least the pedestrian street Drottninggatan to the west. To the south is the Kulturhuset, and to the northeast is the southernmost of the five high-rise buildings, Hötorgsskraporna, which was built in the period 1955-1966.
The Riksdagen is Sweden’s parliament building, and it was built in 1895-1904 to house the country’s two political chambers; the first chamber and the county council. In 1971, Sweden switched to a unicameral system, and the Riksdagen was rebuilt so that it is today the home of the Swedish parliament.
The parliament building was built in neo-baroque style after a design by Aron Johansson, and it is divided into two building parts; Östra and Västra Riksdagshuset. The exterior is richly decorated, and among the details you can see the Swedish coat of arms above the central entrance portal. At the top here you can see a sculpture group representing Mother Sweden.
You can see the interior on guided tours, and it is an experience in the Art Nouveau style of the time. Fine decoration, classy meeting rooms and impressive staircases are some of the things that dominate.
The Swedish opera is considered to have started with a performance on 18 January 1773 in Stora Bollhuset in Gamla Stan. Store Bollhuset was built in 1627 for ball games, which it also housed for the first decades after its opening. It was then set up as Stockholm’s and Sweden’s first theatre.
King Gustav III actively supported the development of this art, and he initiated an actual opera house in 1775. The result was Stockholm’s original opera house, opened in 1782 under Gustav III, and 10 years later a real drama unfolded when the Swedish king was shot here during a masquerade on 16 March 1792.
However, after another 100 years of operation, Gustav III’s opera was demolished in 1891 and the current building erected and inaugurated in 1898. The style is neo-baroque and according to Axel Anderberg’s design. The building is also called the Oscarian Opera after King Oscar II. Today, both opera and ballet are performed on the site’s stage.
Hedvig Eleonora Kyrka is a characteristic church, which was consecrated in 1737. The church is named after King Karl X Gustav’s queen Hedvig Eleonora.
The church came into existence when the area was separated as a new parish, and the construction of the octagonal church was started in 1669, but was quickly stopped due to a lack of money. Instead, a small wooden church was built, and in 1725 the construction of the current church was resumed. The church’s dome was first built in 1866-1868, and in terms of style it is also different from the lower part of the building.
Inside you can see the Golden Altar/The Golden Altar, which is made of wood and dates from 1747. The pulpit was added in 1784 and is in classicist style. Otherwise, the paintings and chandeliers, which are copies of the crown donated by parishioners in 1673, are interesting.
Historiska Museet in Stockholm is the leading history museum in Sweden, and the museum exhibits some of the largest and most significant archaeological finds that have been made in the country.
The so-called Gold Room is the highlight of the museum. Here you can see countless gold and silver objects from history. These are, for example, gold necklaces from the 300-500s, silverware from the Viking Age and reliquaries from the Middle Ages.
In addition to the Gold Room, a visit to the museum is like a journey through Sweden’s history, and the museum’s collections and presentation of history give a good general impression. For example, you can choose to go in depth in a single theme or a special period.
Nordiska Museet is a museum housed in one of Stockholm’s best-known and most beautiful buildings. The museum building is built in a castle-like style in the Dutch Renaissance, which is also known from, for example, Frederiksborg Castle and Rosenborg Castle in Denmark. The dimensions are large, as the museum is 153 meters long and 81 meters high. The Nordic Museum was completed in 1907 after 19 years of construction.
The Nordic Museum was founded in 1872 by Artur Hazelius, who also founded the nearby open-air museum Skansen. In the beginning it was located in Drottninggatan under the name Skandinavisk-Etnografiska Samlingen; it changed its name to Nordiska Museet in 1880.
Inside the museum, you enter the central 126.5 meter long corridor, where there is a 24 meter ceiling. This is where the museum’s large statue of Gustav Vasa stands. The huge statue with the seated king is made of painted oak and dates from 1925. In the forehead of Gustav Vasa there is a piece of oak, which Vasa is said to have planted himself.
The collections are rich in many themes around cultural history. There are permanent exhibitions, but new themes are also regularly organized for the public. The museum depicts Sweden from the year 1520 to the present day.
Skansen is a 30-hectare recreational area on the island of Djurgården, and it contains a lot of different attractions; not least the outdoor museum, which is the dominant feature in Skansen.
In Skansen you can see around 150 buildings that represent different types of construction in Sweden. In the south-west corner is a market town environment with a number of houses that represent the past centuries. Here, for example, is an old-fashioned gas station and grocery store.
In the center is the elegant Skogaholm manor, which dates from 18th-century Central Sweden; precisely in the landscape of Närke. The mansion is quite interestingly furnished with the elegant living rooms.
From southern Sweden you can see Skånegården, a typical Scanian half-timbered farm. The oldest parts date from the 1820s, but the one on display is furnished as in 1920s farm life. The nearby Oktorpsgården is from Halland and shows life in the 1870s. Other farm settings are Ekhäradsgården from Värmland and Delsbogården in the northern Hälsingland.
Special environments are Samevistet, which is the Sami representation in Skansen, Finngården, which is an example of a Finnish settler environment from immigrant Finns in Värmland, and here are also typical windmills from Øland. In Skansen you can also see Seglora Church/Seglora Kyrka, which was built in 1729-1730 as a parish church in Seglora in Västergötland.
Gröna Lund is Stockholm’s amusement park, and with its beautiful location and lovely atmosphere, it is one of the city’s most popular attractions. There are lots of amusements here, both the quiet ones and the raucous ones, such as several slides and a free-fall tower as much as 100 meters in height. Towards the water there is a carousel and a promenade, from which there is a fine view of Södermalm, Skeppsholmen and Nybrohamnen, among others.
Gröna Lund first opened its doors as an amusement park in 1883, making it Sweden’s oldest of its kind. The name Gröna Lund itself comes from an inn that was located here in the 18th century. From the center you can take the museum tram to Gröna Lund. It is an atmospheric trip with line 7 from, for example, Nybrohamnen. You can also sail from the same place with Djurgårdsfärjan.
Drottningholm Palace is a beautiful and elegant castle that is included in UNESCO’s list of world cultural heritage. By sailing 50 minutes through beautiful nature from the center of Stockholm, you reach the castle, which is Sweden’s Versailles, built as a baroque castle from 1662 for the dowager queen Hedvig Eleonora. The year before, a former castle had burned down. Long before arriving by sea you can enjoy the sight of the castle, but if you don’t have time to sail here, you can take other public transport.
In 1681, the actual building of the castle was largely finished, and interior work could begin. The building style is inspired by classicism, and the castle is divided into a main building with two wings. In the main building you enter the castle’s beautiful staircase, and of the other rooms and halls, Queen Lovisa Ulrika’s Gustavian library and the parade hall are among the most impressive. There is access to part of the castle, while the south wing, inhabited by the royal family, is closed to the public.
In 1744, the later Queen Lovisa Ulrika received Drottningholm Castle as a wedding present, and it was she who sold the place to the Swedish state in 1777. The royal family continued to use the castle, and the English landscape garden was laid out under Gustav III. A thorough restoration was carried out in the years 1907-1911.
Today, Drottningholm Palace is a lovely excursion destination, and in addition to the castle, the beautiful castle park is worth a stroll. Immediately behind the castle is the baroque garden, which dates from the end of the 17th century. The garden was recreated in the 1950s and 1960s. The English landscape garden was laid out by Gustav III in the 18th century, and that part is typical of the style with open lawns and lakes.
In the castle park is the small Chinese castle, Kina Slott, which was built with contemporary Chinese inspiration as a gift to Queen Lovisa Ulrika in 1753. The first castle was made of wood and therefore not of a permanent nature. The current castle was built 1763-1768 and it contains collections of Chinese porcelain. The castle has stylistically exotic features, but it is mainly in French Rococo.
Birka on Björkö in Lake Mäleren is the first Viking trading town in the region. Sweden’s Vikings sailed east through the Russian rivers to trade in the Middle East, and this was just one of the trade routes that went out from here.
The town is believed to have had approximately 700 inhabitants, and was active from around the year 750 to the end of the 9th century. It is not known why Birka was abandoned, but at least it happened quite quickly.
Birka also played a role in the Christianization of the Swedes. Ansgar is considered the Apostle of the North, and he came to Birka in the year 830, where he founded a Christian congregation. Christianity had been started, but it was not completed until the 11th century. In 1836, a memorial was erected on Björkö.
Archaeological excavations started in the 1680s, but systematic excavations were not started until the latter half of the 19th century, and excavations have been carried out on the vast area ever since.
On the nearby Adelsö there was a royal farm at Hovgården, from which the king could monitor and control trade in the area. The history surrounding the city and the active trade is depicted in the associated museum. Both Birka and Hovgården can be found on UNESCO’s World Heritage List.
Gustav Vasa’s Gripsholm Castle from 1537 can be reached by ship from Stockholm or by train to Läggesta Station and further 3 km by bus to Mariefred. Trains also depart from Läggesta Station via the narrow-gauge veteran railway towards Mariefred and Gripsholm Slott; however, it only runs on special days.
Bo Jonsson Grip built a castle here in 1380. It was bought by Queen Margareta in 1404, after which the place was crown property. Gustav Vasa bought the castle in 1526, and in 1537 he started the construction of the current Gripsholm Castle, which is a so-called Vasaborg. The castle was completed in 1545.
In addition to the exciting interior, which is by and large not original, the castle contains large parts of the Swedish National Museum’s portrait collection dating back to the 15th century.
There are four towers at Gripsholm Castle. The Griptårnet/Griptornet was built as a defensive structure with cannon positions, and it has also been designed as a prison. In the Vasatårnet/Vasatornet there was living space, and here, among other things, was the king’s bedroom. The Teatertårnet/Teetertornet, also called the Kirketårnet/Kyrktornet, is a combined residential and defensive tower that was once arranged as a castle church. Fængselstårnet/Fängelsetornet was, as the name suggests, a prison, and here, among other things, Johan III sat as an inmate.
Stockholm’s Ström runs from the center of Stockholm towards the Baltic Sea through the archipelago, which consists of thousands of islands and reefs. All around the islands are cozy towns, beaches and lots of beautiful nature.
If you want to experience the archipelago, you can take a guided tour by boat. There are different routes and lengths on the trips that are sailed. You can of course also choose to simply sail with one of the regular scheduled boats that sail across the archipelago.
Trips to actual excursion destinations include, for example, the towns of Gustavsberg and Vaxholm, the islands of Fjäderholmarna and an archipelago deviator along the Strömmakanalen to Sandhamn.
Vaxholm is probably the most visited place in the archipelago. The boat trip to the cozy and beautifully situated city takes approximately 45 minutes from central Stockholm.
The atmosphere in Vaxholm is special, and you can see, among other things, a number of summer villas from the 1800s and 1900s, built by Stockholm families in true Swedish style. Adding to the old summer atmosphere is Waxholms Hotell, which was built in Art Nouveau style in 1903.
Vaxholm’s largest building is the town’s fortress; Vaxholm’s Fästning. The first defenses were built in 1549 under Gustav Vasa, and they were supposed to protect the entrance to Stockholm. In the decades around the year 1600, the fortress was greatly expanded, which happened again a few hundred years later, namely in 1838, when the buildings you see today originate from.
In the latter half of the 19th century, the ships became so large that they no longer sailed right past Vaxholm’s Fästning, and thus it slowly lost its military importance. In 1870-1877 Oskar-Frederiksborg was built as a replacement for the fortress in Vaxholm.
Today, Vaxholm’s Fästnings Museum is housed in the fortress, and here you can look at the history of Swedish coastal defense over the past many centuries.
Stockholm’s forest cemetery is a different attraction with culture-bearing landscapes and an architecture that together form a beautiful framework for the site’s actual purpose as a cemetery. The unique context has also resulted in the site being included on UNESCO’s list of world cultural heritage.
The cemetery was decided to be established in 1912, and it was laid out via an international architectural competition in 1914-1915. Two years later, construction began, and in 1920 Skovkapellet/Skogkapellet was completed as the first chapel on the site.
In 1922-1923, a service building was built, now known as the Tallumpavillonen, and in it there is now an information center about the cemetery. The name Tallum was chosen as it was the name of the architects’ winning project in 1915. Since then, several chapels, a crematorium, small gardens and groves have been built, all established with the aim of making the best use of the cemetery’s services for the public under the circumstances.
A beautiful walk can, for example, take Sju Brunnars Stig, which leads from the Almhöjden meditation grove to the Resurrection Chapel/Resurrection Chapel; it is an all that was already established at the cemetery establishment.
The 3.6 km long wall around Skogskyrkogården was also built as relief work in the period 1923-1932. At that time there was high unemployment in the country, and it was partly remedied by public projects such as this masonry.
Several nationally and internationally famous Swedes are buried in the cemetery. These are, for example, Greta Garbo, Erik Gunnar Asplund and Eyvind Johnson.
Uppsala is a city in the Uppland region north of the Swedish capital of Stockholm. The city had its origins in what is today called Gamla Uppsala, which lies north of the present city. Uppsala became the seat of an archbishop in 1164, and around 1273 the archbishop and the city name Uppsala were moved to Östra Aros, which was located as a river port in the center of today’s Uppsala.
A cathedral was built on Domberget at about the same time, and the town developed continuously through new privileges and other things. In Uppsala, Sweden’s first university was founded in 1477 as the second in the Nordics after the Danish Studium Generale in Lund from 1425.
Hamngatan 37
gallerian.se
Hamngatan 18-20
nk.se
Hötorget/Drottninggatan
pub.se
Solna
solnacentrum.se
Drottninggatan 53
souk.se
Klarabergsgatan 50
ahlens.se
Drottninggatan, Hamngatan, Klarabergsgatan
Aquaria Vattenmuseum
Falkenbergsgatan 2
aquaria.se
Gröna Lund
Lilla Almänna Gränd 9
gronalund.com
Leksaksmuseet
Tegelviksgatan 22
leksaksmuseet.se
Skansen
Djurgårdsslätten 49-51
skansen.se
Skansen-akvariet
Djurgårdsslätten 49-51
skansen-akvariet.se
Spårvägsmuseet
Tegelviksgatan 22
sl.se
Stockholm was built on the strategically important trade route between the waters from Lake Mälaren to the Baltic Sea’s open water. On the high ground of the area, the ships were reloaded, creating a breeding ground for activity on the site that became a smaller settlement. The trade in the ships was mainly about the products iron, copper and leather, which came from the interior of the Scandinavian peninsula.
The position as a transhipment site continued to become more important and it became necessary to consolidate the central area where there were only a few inhabitants. In 1250, Birger Jarl built a castle in the now central Stockholm, and in 1252 he granted the city commercial property rights. Thereby the city was founded.
Stockholm grew extremely fast, and this was not least due to the large trade in the Baltic Sea, which was led by the Hanseatic League, whose weight was in the northern German trading towns. In just about 100 years, Stockholm had become Sweden’s largest city at this time. The city was the most dominant in the region, and previous significant settlements such as Birka were finally abandoned.
Stockholm was mentioned in the Erik Chronicle, which is believed to have been written in the years 1322-1332. Stockholm was referred to as the city between the bridges, and that description can be understood even today.
Stockholm city, which was in the present Gamla Stan, was expanded rapidly and at one time overcrowded. Fires ravaged often, but the city was quickly rebuilt in the narrow alleys that are still preserved. The large buildings of the time included the Great Church and the tower Trekroner. In the 1300-1400s, however, the pressure on the small area of the city was so great that the Norrmalm and Södermalm areas were developed. In this way, the contours were established for what Stockholm is today.
In 1388, Stockholm was besieged under the Danish Union Queen Margrethe I, and the city fell in 1398. The union between Denmark, Norway and Sweden was a reality and the queen let a larger city wall erect. At the end of the 15th century Stockholm had 5,000 inhabitants, which was a considerable amount according to the conditions of the time.
In 1471 Sweden overcame the Danish Union Army in Norrmalm. The country broke with Denmark-Norway, but rejoined the Union in 1497-1502 under King Hans. King Christian II again conquered Stockholm after King Hans, and in 1520 he had 83 leading Swedish men executed at Stortorget during the so-called Stockholm Blodbad.
In 1523 Gustav Vasa was crowned king of Sweden and the time under Danish rule was ended. Stockholm became the Swedish city’s leading city and the king’s residence city. However, Stockholm first became the official capital in 1614.
At the end of the 1500s, Stockholm was a fortified town with residence castle, great churches and in general a city in growth. Its and Sweden’s potential allowed Sweden to become a major power in the Baltic in the 1600s, and Stockholm became the center of royal house, military and administration. This led to strong growth in population.
The thirty-year war took place in the years 1618-1648, and it meant a boom for Stockholm. Trade increased and many noble mansions were erected at Riddarholmen, among others.
Throughout the century, more people moved to the city and more neighborhoods were expanded. Around 1700 the city had 45,000 inhabitants, large living quarters, mansions and a royal palace.
The 18th century became a stagnation period for the city, which met with increasing competition around the Baltic Sea. It came mainly from Tsar Peter the Great’s construction of St. Petersburg as a new Russian capital in 1703. In 1711, Stockholm was hit by a plague epidemic that, as usual, made a dent in the population.
However, in the century there was also scientific and cultural flourishing in the capital, and in the late 1700s, under King Gustav III, the city continued the positive development, which began in earnest in the 1600s.
The 19th century was yet another flourishing time for Stockholm. The city was rebuilt by replacing many old neighborhoods with new and more modern ones. A number of public buildings and institutions were also erected, such as hospital and educational facilities.
Industrialization also made its mark on the city. From 1860 railroads were built, and from 1877 Stockholm got a network of trams. The city developed its industries, and working districts such as Sundbyberg and wealthy districts such as Djursholm followed with both industries and increasing economic activity. In 1900, around 300,000 people lived in Stockholm.
Throughout most of the 20th century, Stockholm was in a boom. In 1912, the city hosted the Olympic Games, and for a time it put the Swedish capital on the world map for many people around the world.
During both world wars of the 20th century, Sweden was neutral, thereby avoiding devastation, and relative growth was established in relation to many other places more directly affected by the acts of war. Growth and the generally increasing urbanization led to an increase in the population from 500,000 in 1930 to a million in 1960.
In the 1960s, large areas of Stockholm were demolished to make way for modern construction. Of that, Sergels Torg is the best example; the central square was erected in the old Art Nouveau quarter of Klara. Modernization has been much debated ever since, but it has helped to give Stockholm a metropolitan atmosphere with large, modern and partly monumental buildings in the center.
Over the past decades, much has been done to continuously develop Stockholm as a tourist city at the same time as one of Scandinavia’s leading business cities. For tourists, the city’s water wealth is now, as at its founding in the 13th century, still what provides the basis for many activities, and the city’s beautiful location is also unforgettable.
Stockholm, Sweden[/caption]
Overview of Stockholm
Stockholm is Sweden’s capital with the nickname Queen of Mälaren, and it’s not for nothing, the city has been given that name. Stockholm is scenic like few other capitals in the world; the lake landscape around Lake Mälaren is to the west, and countless islands and rocky reefs extend towards the Baltic Sea to the east. Stockholm is in the middle, built on many islands itself.
Stockholm’s old town is an island full of fine squares, crooked streets and narrow alleys without any modern buildings. Walking around this district is like a trip to a bygone era, and the Storkyrkan Church and Stockholm’s royal palace are among the sights here.
The modern center of Stockholm is a short walk north of Gamla Stan. The active business district is located around the square of Sergels Torg and it offers plenty of shopping opportunities as well as loads of cultural and dining options. The pedestrian street, Drottninggatan, is famous and a must for most travelers to the city.
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Stortorget is the centerpiece of the medieval Gamla Stan, and the well on the square was formerly also the formal center of Sweden. It was from here that distances from the capital were measured; it happens today from the square Gustav Adolfs Torg.
The beautiful and cozy Stortorget has been the scene of a number of executions over time. The first was in 1280, and the most famous were during the “Stockholm Massacre” in 1520, when the Danish king Christian II executed 83 noble and leading Swedes.
Today, things are more peaceful on the square, which in season offers outdoor dining, so you can sit and enjoy the beautiful houses and the good atmosphere. The stock exchange and the town hall previously had their addresses on Stortorget, which also has a smaller and special attraction. It is about the cannonball that is stuck in the house on the corner of Stortorget and Skomakargatan.
According to one story, it is said to originate from Gustav Vasa’s siege of the city in 1521, but there is no factual evidence for this. It is also said that a furniture dealer Grevesmühl had a new building erected here in 1795 and that he placed the ball where it had been in the previous building.
Storkyrkan in Stockholm is built on the island of Stadsholmen’s highest plateau. It is also called Sankt Nikolai Kirke/Sankt Nicolai Kyrka. Its history goes back to the 13th century, when the first church was built here on the site. Remains of this building can be seen in the northern masonry of the present church tower.
The first church is believed to have been destroyed by fire, and a new one was consecrated in 1306. Later in the 14th century, some chapels were built, but the largest extension was carried out in the 15th century.
In the period 1736-1742, the Storkyrkan’s exterior was changed from the medieval buttresses to the current Baroque style. The reason was that the church had to harmonize with the royal palace, which was built immediately to the north-east of it. One of the elements of the construction was the church tower, which was built with a height of 66 metres.
Storkyrkan has previously been a coronation church. The first coronation took place in 1336, when Magnus Eriksson was crowned king of both Norway and Sweden. This coronation was considered to have led to a stronger desire for Norwegian separation, and therefore the coronations were stopped. The next coronation here was in 1497 by King Hans, who was Danish union king of Denmark, Norway and Sweden. In later centuries, the tradition became firm until the last coronation of Oscar II in 1873. The church has also formed the setting for several weddings, among others of the later Danish king Frederik IX and his queen Ingrid, who was born a Swedish princess.
Inside, the church is partly restored towards a medieval style, and among the attractions is the pulpit, which was made in the 1680s according to instructions from Nicodemus Tessin the Younger.
Riddarhuset was built according to Simon de la Vallée’s drawings 1641-1674, and it is considered one of Stockholm’s most beautiful buildings. At the time of construction, the architectural influences came mainly from France and the Netherlands, which is clearly seen in the Riddarhuset.
The Riddarhuset building was and is the house of the nobility. In the building, the Swedish aristocracy gathered at meetings of the Riksdag, of which they formed a special part until 1866. Today, the name Riddarhuset is the designation for both this building in Stockholm as well as the institution that the nobility constitutes in Sweden. Since 1869, the nobility has held a meeting in Riddarhuset every three years.
Stockholm Palace, also called the Royal Palace, is the official residence of the Swedish monarch and family. On a daily basis, however, the royal family lives at Drottningholm Castle on Eckerö west of Stockholm.
Until a fire in 1697, the old castle, Tre Kronor, stood on the site. On the foundations of Tre Kronor, Nicodemus Tessin the Younger designed the new Stockholm Palace, which was to be a large baroque palace with 600 rooms and several large halls. The castle was completed in 1754, and the royal family could once again move to the castle from their temporary residence in the Wrangelska Palace on Riddarholmen.
With its 605 rooms, Stockholm Castle is one of the largest in the world still inhabited by a regent – at least officially. In the castle, there are a number of interesting museums, and you can see some of the official rooms and halls.
The castle’s beautiful reception rooms are decorated in different styles, ranging from baroque and rococo to Gustavian neoclassicism. Among the open halls is the Festsalen/Festvåningen, where large gala dinners are held. There is also access to the Rigssalen/Rikssalen, where the king previously read the opening speech to the Riksdag from his silver throne.
In the Skatkammeret/Skattkammaren in the castle’s basement, Sweden’s regalia have been on display since 1970. Here you can see, among other things, Gustav Vasa’s imperial sword and Erik XIV’s crown. There are also several prince and princess crowns and the baptismal font used in royal christenings.
In the northeast wing of the royal palace (Lejonbacken) is the Gustav IIIs Antikmuseum/Gustav III’s Antikmuseum, Sweden’s oldest art museum. It opened its doors as early as 1794. The collection consists of the purchases that King Gustav III made on a trip to Italy in 1783-1784.
In the castle’s cellars, in addition to seeing the Treasury, you can also get close to the history of the Swedish military and royal family in the Livrustkammeret/Livrustkammaren (Slottsbacken 3). Among the many objects in this part of the castle are the kings’ chariots, suits, armor and weapons. Among other things, you can see King Karl XII’s uniform and King Gustav III’s mask from an opera masquerade in 1792. The museum is Sweden’s oldest museum. It dates from 1628, when King Gustav II Adolf ordered that his equipment from a campaign in Poland should be stored forever.
Tre Kronor is the name of the castle that burned down in 1697, which gave way to the current royal palace. Museum Tre Kroner/Museum Tre Kronor (Norrbro) is located in the lower part of the current north wing of the castle, which was the part that survived the fire in 1697. The museum depicts the history of Tre Kronor from the first fortifications to the castle there today. An interesting detail is that the entrance to the museum is through a five meter thick wall that was built as part of the site’s defense in the 13th century.
Drottninggatan is Stockholm’s pedestrian street, where there is always a throng of people browsing the many shops or enjoying the many outdoor dining venues during the summer season.
The street was laid out in the 17th century, and in the city plan it was from the beginning the primary street from Gustav Adolfs Torg and north out of Stockholm. It got its current name in 1639, and it came about as a tribute to Queen Kristina, who replaced her father on the throne as a young person.
Riddarholmen is one of the centrally located islands in the heart of Stockholm. In addition to buildings worth seeing, it offers an opportunity to get a beautiful look at the Swedish capital. From the western side of the small island, there is a fantastic view of Stockholm’s town hall, Stadshuset, towards Södermalm and towards Kungsholmen. It is from here that many photos of the City Hall are taken, and you can also enjoy the view of the beautiful old boats that sail on trips towards Lake Mälaren.
On Riddarholmen you can see Riddarholmskyrkan, which is immediately next to Gamla Stan. The church was built in 1280-1310 as a church for the local Franciscan monastery. The other monastery buildings were demolished in the 17th century, and Riddarholmskyrkan then continued as a parish church until 1807, after which it passed to the status of a burial and memorial church
Sergels Torg is modern Stockholm’s central square, which is named after the 18th-century sculptor Johan Tobias Sergel. The square itself is located at street level with a lowered pedestrian level. To the east stands a 37 meter high glass obelisk with the name Kristallvertikalaccent. The obelisk was created in 1974 by Edvin Öhrström, and it is set up in a superellipse-shaped fountain.
Around Sergels Torg are some of Stockholm’s most important shopping streets, not least the pedestrian street Drottninggatan to the west. To the south is the Kulturhuset, and to the northeast is the southernmost of the five high-rise buildings, Hötorgsskraporna, which was built in the period 1955-1966.
The Riksdagen is Sweden’s parliament building, and it was built in 1895-1904 to house the country’s two political chambers; the first chamber and the county council. In 1971, Sweden switched to a unicameral system, and the Riksdagen was rebuilt so that it is today the home of the Swedish parliament.
The parliament building was built in neo-baroque style after a design by Aron Johansson, and it is divided into two building parts; Östra and Västra Riksdagshuset. The exterior is richly decorated, and among the details you can see the Swedish coat of arms above the central entrance portal. At the top here you can see a sculpture group representing Mother Sweden.
You can see the interior on guided tours, and it is an experience in the Art Nouveau style of the time. Fine decoration, classy meeting rooms and impressive staircases are some of the things that dominate.
The Swedish opera is considered to have started with a performance on 18 January 1773 in Stora Bollhuset in Gamla Stan. Store Bollhuset was built in 1627 for ball games, which it also housed for the first decades after its opening. It was then set up as Stockholm’s and Sweden’s first theatre.
King Gustav III actively supported the development of this art, and he initiated an actual opera house in 1775. The result was Stockholm’s original opera house, opened in 1782 under Gustav III, and 10 years later a real drama unfolded when the Swedish king was shot here during a masquerade on 16 March 1792.
However, after another 100 years of operation, Gustav III’s opera was demolished in 1891 and the current building erected and inaugurated in 1898. The style is neo-baroque and according to Axel Anderberg’s design. The building is also called the Oscarian Opera after King Oscar II. Today, both opera and ballet are performed on the site’s stage.
Hedvig Eleonora Kyrka is a characteristic church, which was consecrated in 1737. The church is named after King Karl X Gustav’s queen Hedvig Eleonora.
The church came into existence when the area was separated as a new parish, and the construction of the octagonal church was started in 1669, but was quickly stopped due to a lack of money. Instead, a small wooden church was built, and in 1725 the construction of the current church was resumed. The church’s dome was first built in 1866-1868, and in terms of style it is also different from the lower part of the building.
Inside you can see the Golden Altar/The Golden Altar, which is made of wood and dates from 1747. The pulpit was added in 1784 and is in classicist style. Otherwise, the paintings and chandeliers, which are copies of the crown donated by parishioners in 1673, are interesting.
Historiska Museet in Stockholm is the leading history museum in Sweden, and the museum exhibits some of the largest and most significant archaeological finds that have been made in the country.
The so-called Gold Room is the highlight of the museum. Here you can see countless gold and silver objects from history. These are, for example, gold necklaces from the 300-500s, silverware from the Viking Age and reliquaries from the Middle Ages.
In addition to the Gold Room, a visit to the museum is like a journey through Sweden’s history, and the museum’s collections and presentation of history give a good general impression. For example, you can choose to go in depth in a single theme or a special period.
Nordiska Museet is a museum housed in one of Stockholm’s best-known and most beautiful buildings. The museum building is built in a castle-like style in the Dutch Renaissance, which is also known from, for example, Frederiksborg Castle and Rosenborg Castle in Denmark. The dimensions are large, as the museum is 153 meters long and 81 meters high. The Nordic Museum was completed in 1907 after 19 years of construction.
The Nordic Museum was founded in 1872 by Artur Hazelius, who also founded the nearby open-air museum Skansen. In the beginning it was located in Drottninggatan under the name Skandinavisk-Etnografiska Samlingen; it changed its name to Nordiska Museet in 1880.
Inside the museum, you enter the central 126.5 meter long corridor, where there is a 24 meter ceiling. This is where the museum’s large statue of Gustav Vasa stands. The huge statue with the seated king is made of painted oak and dates from 1925. In the forehead of Gustav Vasa there is a piece of oak, which Vasa is said to have planted himself.
The collections are rich in many themes around cultural history. There are permanent exhibitions, but new themes are also regularly organized for the public. The museum depicts Sweden from the year 1520 to the present day.
Skansen is a 30-hectare recreational area on the island of Djurgården, and it contains a lot of different attractions; not least the outdoor museum, which is the dominant feature in Skansen.
In Skansen you can see around 150 buildings that represent different types of construction in Sweden. In the south-west corner is a market town environment with a number of houses that represent the past centuries. Here, for example, is an old-fashioned gas station and grocery store.
In the center is the elegant Skogaholm manor, which dates from 18th-century Central Sweden; precisely in the landscape of Närke. The mansion is quite interestingly furnished with the elegant living rooms.
From southern Sweden you can see Skånegården, a typical Scanian half-timbered farm. The oldest parts date from the 1820s, but the one on display is furnished as in 1920s farm life. The nearby Oktorpsgården is from Halland and shows life in the 1870s. Other farm settings are Ekhäradsgården from Värmland and Delsbogården in the northern Hälsingland.
Special environments are Samevistet, which is the Sami representation in Skansen, Finngården, which is an example of a Finnish settler environment from immigrant Finns in Värmland, and here are also typical windmills from Øland. In Skansen you can also see Seglora Church/Seglora Kyrka, which was built in 1729-1730 as a parish church in Seglora in Västergötland.
Gröna Lund is Stockholm’s amusement park, and with its beautiful location and lovely atmosphere, it is one of the city’s most popular attractions. There are lots of amusements here, both the quiet ones and the raucous ones, such as several slides and a free-fall tower as much as 100 meters in height. Towards the water there is a carousel and a promenade, from which there is a fine view of Södermalm, Skeppsholmen and Nybrohamnen, among others.
Gröna Lund first opened its doors as an amusement park in 1883, making it Sweden’s oldest of its kind. The name Gröna Lund itself comes from an inn that was located here in the 18th century. From the center you can take the museum tram to Gröna Lund. It is an atmospheric trip with line 7 from, for example, Nybrohamnen. You can also sail from the same place with Djurgårdsfärjan.
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