Madeleine Hyde

Spring 2025: As the körsbärsträd (cherry blossom trees) in Kungsträdgården begin to bloom, the Swedish capital comes alive. After a long, dark winter, Stockholmers are desperate for sunlight and the outdoors, and the city is always eager to oblige. The clack of joiners’ hammers building new uteserveringar seasonal terraces in front of bars, cafes and restaurants is the soundtrack to spring. Plus, events such as Valborg Fire festival (April 30), Stockholm Art Week (May 13-18) and the start of open-air concert season at Gröna Lund amusement park (May 9-September 11, gronalund.com) are all great excuses to get out and explore.  IMy love affair with Stockholm stretches back two decades (even though I’ve lived here only two years) – as long as I’ve had a Swedish significant other in my life. In that time, my relationship with the city has evolved and deepened in all sorts of interesting ways. As a young man I remember feeling dumbstruck by how cool and beautiful everything in Stockholm seemed to be, from its seemingly endless waterfront and elegant architecture to its abundance of hip design shops, cafes, bars and clubs. These days, as a dad-of-two, I’m simply grateful for the excellent standard of living the Swedish capital supports. But the rest is still pretty cool too. Here are the best things to do in Stockholm. How to have the perfect day in Stockholm Start your perfect day in Stockholm with posh eggs on bread at one of the city’s most popular breakfast cafes Pom & Flora (b

When it comes to choosing where to stay in Stockholm, here’s a little secret – pick one area and you more or less get them all. From metro to trains, trams, buses and even boats, the inner-city public transport system is efficient, easy to use, and runs until late. If the weather’s fair, you can even cycle around or take an e-scooter.  But if you want attractions specific to your tastes right on your doorstep, it’s simply a case of choosing what matters to you most. Be it the youthful buzz of bars, clubs, music venues and nightlife, cultural attractions such as museums and concert spaces, fine dining restaurants and cafes, top shops, or lush green spaces and waterfront views to make you forget you’re in the heart of a major European capital. Or perhaps just a bit of semi-suburban peace and tranquillity. Here is our full guide to where to stay in Stockholm. RECOMMENDED🏨 The best hotels in Stockholm🛏️ The best Airbnbs in Stockholm📍 The best things to do in Stockholm🍽️ The best restaurants in Stockholm This guide was updated by Malcolm Jack, a writer based in Stockholm. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. This guide includes affiliate links, which have no influence on our editorial content. For more information, see our affiliate guidelines.  

If you’ve never tried a Swedish buffet breakfast, you’re sorely missing out. The Swedes take their smorgasbord seriously, laden with cold cuts, pickles, cheese, good bread, pastries and more. But alongside this must-try brunch dish, you’ll find a growing number of brunch spots catering to British and American tourists, from pancakes to avocado toast and health-focused granola bowls. Whatever you choose, Stockholm has it in buckets. Here are the best brunches in the city.  RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Stockholm🍴 The best restaurants in Stockholm🏛️ The best museums in Stockholm right now 🏠 The best Airbnbs in Stockholm🏨 The best hotels in Stockholm This guide is by Stockholm-based writer Madeleine Hyde. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

If there’s one thing about Stockholm, it’s sure of its ways. This is the land of clean eating, of fika in the afternoons, and of surprisingly low-alcohol beer. And the last thing you want to do is get caught in some sort of embarrassing blunder, right? So fear not, we have you covered. Our local writers have compiled a list of 20 things you should know before visiting Stockholm for the first time, from where to use cash to when to bare all at the sauna. Ready? Here’s every travel tip you’ll need for your first time in Stockholm. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Stockholm🍽️ The best restaurants in Stockholm🏘️ Where to stay in Stockholm🏨 The best hotels in Stockholm This guide was updated by Madeleine Hyde, a writer based in Stockholm. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

It can get a little cold in Stockholm, but its restaurants? They’re hot. The Swedish capital has long been a haven for those with curious appetites, and the city’s ever-increasing diversity has made space for new restaurants and pop ups everywhere you turn. Now, the city is rich with both trendy and traditional spots – you just have to know where to look.  Here you’ll find Michelin-starred New Nordic spots, Middle Eastern gems, seafood and veggie neighbourhood joints. Oh, and you’re in Sweden. You have to sample the meatballs (even if you claim you’ve already tried them in IKEA). Here are the best restaurants in Stockholm right now.  RECOMMENDED:🛍️ The best spots for shopping in Stockholm📍 The best things to do in Stockholm🍽️ The best restaurants in Stockholm🏘️ Where to stay in Stockholm Words, restaurant reviews and photos by Stockholm-based writers Malcolm Jack and Maddy Savage. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

In Stockholm, you get what you pay for. And it’s the same for the drinks. Yes, you’ll likely find a (much) higher price point here than other European cities, but the bar scene here is absolutely top notch.  From huge, sprawling beer gardens to quirky little basement cocktail bars, Stockholm’s got it all. And all against a backdrop of beautiful scenery, elegant bars, cobbled streets and blue lakes. Whatever your vibe, here are the best bars in Stockholm right now.  RECOMMENDED:🛍️ The best spots for shopping in Stockholm📍 The best things to do in Stockholm🍽️ The best restaurants in Stockholm🏘️ Where to stay in Stockholm  This guide was updated by Maddy Savage, a writer based in Stockholm. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines. 

The Swedes know a thing or two about style, so it makes sense that Stockholm is a modern shopping hotspot. The Swedish capital is packed with delightful restaurants and fascinating things to do, but even the most reluctant shoppers should make time to peruse the cosy bookshops, vintage stores, and world-beating flatpack furniture monoliths. Yes, Stockholm is home to the biggest IKEA in the world, although you probably knew that already. The best places to go shopping in Stockholm cover all this and much, much more. Whether it’s a high-street bonanza in the middle of the day or a weekend morning at a flea market, there are so many brilliant ways to spend money here that it is difficult to know where to start. Luckily, help is at hand. RECOMMENDED:📍 The best things to do in Stockholm🍽️ The best restaurants in Stockholm🏘️ Your essential guide to where to stay in Stockholm🏛️ The 12 best museums in Stockholm right now 🏠 The best Airbnbs in Stockholm Madeleine Hyde is a writer, philosophy researcher and English teacher based in Sweden. At Time Out, all of our travel guides are written by local writers who know their cities inside out. For more about how we curate, see our editorial guidelines.

Stockholm is not a budget destination, and the prices of its best hotels often reflect that. Finding somewhere to stay in the city that gives you real value for your money can be a daunting task. Luckily, we’ve done some digging for you to locate the best cheap hotels in the city. In the Swedish language, there is no difference between staying and living somewhere, and the places on this list will show you why. From a restored 19th century ship to the latest additions to Stockholm’s thriving suburbs, there are several affordable and comfortable places to lay your head in this city. With generous buffet breakfasts, in-house saunas, cozy bars and thoughtful touches like mini-bars full of complimentary drinks, you may not even feel the need to check out Stockholm’s many restaurants and bars – these truly are hotels to feel at home in.

A arquitectura de Estocolmo reflecte a história da Suécia. De majestosos edifícios do século XIV na cidade velha até às construções clássicas nórdicas e modernistas espalhadas pelo centro da cidade, há muito para descobrir na cidade. Esta lista inclui algumas das melhores obras, nem todas consensuais como é o caso do estádio de 1980 que em tudo se parece a bola de golfe gigante. Numa visita a Estocolmo, não deixe de passar por aqui. Aproveite e siga este roteiro para dois dias traçado pelos nossos colegas da Time Out Estocolmo. 

The visual appeal of Sweden’s capital, nicknamed the ‘Venice of the North,’ speaks for itself. The bridges connecting the inner-city islands make fantastic spots for a shot of the lakes and city all in one (and probably some snow), but there are plenty of other sights worth capturing. Here we’ve collected the top ten dazzling, visually stunning places in Stockholm that will light up your Instagram account. (Or, if your feed is exclusively for food, take a look at our list of the finest restaurants in Stockholm.) Some are outdoor, summer locations like Gröna Lund or Skansen park; others are iconic and beautiful buildings and attractions like the city hall and Stockholm’s city library. We’ve also included indoor retreats: cafes with award-winning design and even artist-curated metro stations—the Stockholm metro system is not called the world’s longest art gallery for nothing. Grab your smartphone or camera and start exploring at these top spots for ‘gramming. Stockholm City Hall (Stadshuset)  A post shared by Beata (@suebsekreb) on Mar 11, 2018 at 2:32pm PDT Stockholm City Hall—with a spire that sticks out above old-town Stockholm’s skyline, at the tip of Kungsholmen island and just opposite Central Station—is by far Stockholm’s most iconic building. And it’s more than just the seat of local politics: it also hosts Stockholm’s most important events, including the annual Nobel Prize banquet. You can mingle like a laureate on a tour of this 1920s red-brick hall, whi

You’ve probably tried Swedish meatballs at IKEA, and you may have even heard of Swedish cinnamon buns. But asides from that, what is Swedish cuisine? Ask most locals, and they’ll respond saying that a typical dish at one of the best restaurants in the city is one that starts off simple, then gets unexpected flavors added in—think cardamom, saffron and spoonfuls of jam in unusual places. And then there’s the fast food; Swedes love it, and Stockholmers especially—as such an international city, we have some of the best take-away restaurants in the land. Stockholm is also leading the street food scene with artisan burgers and craft pizzas; even the humble hot dog has had a makeover, and you can easily grab these snacks on the go on your way to the city's top attractions or before hopping on a local tour. When eating like a local in this city, the trouble is not in deciding where to start, but where to stop!

Stockholm is a city that has exploded outwards from just one tiny island, and its architecture reflects that journey. From majestic 14th-century buildings in the old town to the Nordic classicist and modernist constructions spread across the inner-city, including familiar attractions and plenty of other Instagrammable places, the variety of Stockholm’s architecture is best explored to help visitors understand how different eras have shaped this city. This list includes some of Stockholm’s finest, starkest and most controversial architecture, from a 1980s stadium that resembles a giant golf ball to wooden cottages that housed working-class Stockholmers centuries ago. Ticking them all off is one of the most satisfying things to do in Stockholm, a truly unique Nordic capital.

Just ten minutes’ walk up from the central station is one of Stockholm’s hottest hostels, that embraces all that is Swedish. City Backpackers have their own sauna, but if you feel like trying a few more, there’s Viking-themed sauna tours on offer. At City Backpacker’s, you can start your day like a local: the breakfast is a simple Swedish affair of yoghurt, muesli and sandwiches. You’ll also find traditional meals of meatballs, herring and pickles on offer next-door. This hostel welcomes backpackers in the traditional dormitory-style accommodation, of course, but if you want to go a little more upmarket, there are also private double rooms available at a decent price.  NeighbourhoodCity backpackers sits on the quieter side of the border between Norrmalm and Vasastan, districts of central Stockholm which combine the modern with the traditional. Vasagatan street leads you there from the Central station, lined with pubs, cafes and restaurants that keep this vein of inner-city Stockholm pulsing day and night.  Nearby1. Vigårda, Vasagatan 14: For burgers and DJ sets on a Friday night.2. La Neta: For Stockholm’s best Mexican food.3. Bonniers Konsthall: For contemporary art at an independent gallery. Time Out tipCity Backpackers hostel owns the neighboring Swedish bar and restaurant, Nomad. That means that guests get a discount on their meatballs and locally-sourced tap beer, well worth taking advantage of.

You won’t find this motel by a highway, but on the high street of the newly-renovated marina area of Hammarby, just south of central Stockholm. Motel L is a colourful addition to this carefully curated area. The rooms, including bathrooms, are in bright and bold patterns, decorated with wall illustrations designed by local artist Lisa Bengtsson. The beds are designer too, as well as the rainfall showers in your bathroom. If you can tear yourself away, head downstairs to enjoy your buffet breakfast, use the hotel’s gym or head into Pipes bar for pub food and tap beers. NeighbourhoodThe waterside district of Hammarby, a bridge away from Södermalm, has won awards for its architecture and town design. This modern suburb has a growing centre of its own, but should you want to explore further, Hammarby is served by both trams and ferries, and is walkable from Gullmarsplan metro station. Nearby1. Nya Carnegiebryggeriet: For beers brewed in-house. 2. Nobelberget (across the bridge at Sickla): For vintage markets and live music. 3. Globen Sky View: For a panorama of southern Stockholm.

This excellently-located boutique hotel puts you right in the centre of Södermalm, one street away from SOFO (hence, it calls itself NOFO). There’s colour and patterns throughout, but it’s always stylish and tasteful. Local art, quilted headboards, fluffy throws and feature walls give the rooms a luxurious look. There are the little things too: a kettle with tea and coffee and a spread of magazines makes a difference. Breakfast is included and is a feast, including homemade breads and freshly squeezed juices. Just as much detail goes into the wine bar, which also serves a range of locally-sourced beers. NeighbourhoodSOFO describes the streets directly south of Folkungatan, an avenue at the heart of Södermalm. Like the districts of London and New York its name echoes, it’s a hub of all that is vintage, hipster and diverse. At its epi-centre you’ll find Nytorget, a green space surrounded by old houses and some of Stockholm’s favourite cafes and second hand shops. Nearby1. Kvarnen: For a traditional Swedish pub experience.2. Ugglan: For games of shuffleboard and table tennis with your pint.3. Coffice: For coffee and buns and getting some emails done.

Elite is a brand of four-star hotels across Sweden which come without the high-end prices. One of them is on the buzzing avenue of Sankt Eriksgatan, which runs diagonally through inner-city Stockholm’s west side. The affordable double bedrooms here are in a classic Swedish design. Breakfast is always included and is a hearty, very Swedish affair of breads and jams, muesli and yoghurts. If you’ve left room after your morning meal, head downstairs to The Bishops’ Arms, their in-house, English-themed pub, and try their afternoon tea with a Swedish twist of scones served with fig jam and cheese. NeighbourhoodVasastan is one of the most sought-after postcodes in Stockholm. Here, avenues of gorgeous apartments in pastel colours meet park squares where children clamber on rocks and parents drink coffee outside all summer. This part of town is mostly served by the green metro line. Nearby1. Kaffeverket: For the cake and chai lattes.2. Fondueboden: For a taste of the Alps in central Stockholm.3. Lilla Ego: For innovative Swedish cuisine.

This Stockholm establishment is so popular, it has even opened a branch in Los Angeles, California. Luckily for us, the rest of its cafes are in central Stockholm. A local favourite is in the middle of Södermalm island; what it lacks in robot murals (you have to go to Norrmalm for that) it makes up for with the smell of flowers, as there’s no wall between the café and the plant boutique next-door. The staff are chatty, the coffee top-rated and the fika is simply delicious. Grab a pistachio and blackcurrant bulle and a friend, or your laptop for some light working, and blend in amongst the Stockholmers. Time Out tip: Besides the coffee, Il Caffe also does great leaf tea. There are no teapots, but you can ask for it in a coffee filter instead.

Lådan (meaning “the box”) is the new street food concept bar from the guys who brought burgers to Stockholm. Based in buzzing Norrmalm, here at Lådan the Fliipin’ Burgers team sell the famous sliders from their food truck, alongside Chicago-style pizza slices, sweet potato chips and an insanely extensive craft beer menu. There are no plates, so you’ll eat directly off your tray, and décor is just a few colourful posters against corkboard and exposed piping. Here you make and pick up your order yourself before taking a seat at a bench, as if you’re at a festival, yet amongst the flow of Stockholm commuters kicking back after work. Time Out tip: Food at Lådan is made for sharing: portions of everything, including the burgers themselves, are deliberately small. So take a few friends, order a big tray and try out the delicious array on offer.

Seafood is surely best enjoyed by the sea, and Vaxholm island provides the perfect setting. Vaxholm is the gateway to the archipelago, accessible from the city centre by bus. Boulangerie cafe sits opposite one of Vaxholm’s harbours, with outdoor seating that looks straight onto the passenger ferries. Inside, it is an intimate setting: a traditional-looking bakery, with a make-it-yourself corner of loose leaf teas and tempting piles of cakes at the cashier. The staff are just as inviting as the place itself. Just keep an eye on when the buses leave, which may be just once or twice an hour on weekends. Time Out tip: Come to Boulangerie for the shrimp sandwich but stay for the cakes. As an added bonus, many of the cakes are available lactose-free.

Stockholm’s leading ice cream shop produces a delicious range of organic gelato and sorbets that includes both vegetarian and vegan options. They pop up all over the city centre in summer and, if the sun is out, there will be queues out of the door. You can take your ice cream to the window bar—perfect for people watching—or away with you to the nearest green space. Plus, there are even gluten-free cones (they really think of everything here). Time Out tip: Remember that during Swedish summer, the sun stays out late. Luckily, so do the ice cream shops: most Stikki Nikki outlets stay open until 8pm all summer.

There is surely nowhere better to enjoy a classic Swedish worker’s meal than at a traditional Stockholm ‘foodhall’ (similar to a German beerhall, but with the focus on the food). The western-central district of Vasastan hasn’t always been upmarket-hipster, something that Tennstopet is testament to. Here there’s un-crafted, Swedish lager on tap and everything on the menu is classically Swedish: served to you at white-linen-covered tables against wood-panelled walls. The hearty food comes in generous portions, on massive white plates. There are also a lot of mayo-based dips and dill, but it wouldn’t be authentically Swedish without them. Time Out tip: For a cheaper meal, opt for the fixed-price lunchtime menu, centred on the dish of the day, which is served between 11.30 and 14.30, from Monday to Friday.

The Swedish word for a hostel, ‘vandrarhem’ (literally, a wanderer’s home), evokes images of coming home from a country walk to a warm fire. No wonder: the term was coined by the Swedish tourist association, STF, originally formed by a group hiking enthusiasts. STF still runs many hostels across Sweden today, including this one, on-board a 19th-century ship moored on Skeppsholmen island. The AF Chapman has simple bunkbed cabins that have been lovingly restored to keep their original features and style. If you feel more like a Captain than crew, splash out on the Superior Navigation cabin, which comes with an en-suite bathroom. NeighbourhoodSkeppsholmen (the ship island) is perfectly positioned between the old town on one side and the opulent east end of Stockholm on the other. There is even an off-shoot island, Kastellholmen, with its own small castle. Skeppsholmen is easily accessed on foot or by bus from the King’s Gardens (Kungsträdgården), which has a metro stop on the blue line. Nearby1. Moderna Museet: For Stockholm’s biggest modern art collection. 2. Stallet: For Stockholm’s major world music venue. 3. Kungsträdgården park: For the cherry blossom in Spring, and mini-festivals on weekends throughout the summer. Time Out tipArrive in style to your boat by boat, without spending any extra crowns! Any SL (Stockholm’s transportation company) ticket includes the passenger ferries running between Gamla Stan, Skeppsholmen and Djurgården islands. Look for the SL sign on the boa

As you might have guessed from the name, Hobo Hotel doesn’t play by the rulebook. On the brutalist square of Brunkebergstorg is a slick and modern hotel with rooms put together by a Berlin designer, centered around the theme of adventure travel. Each room comes with a board of pegs loaded with useful things for travelers: maps and local info, bags and umbrellas. There are also speakers that you can stream your own music through, and the occasional decorative cactus. Pay a bit more for the bigger rooms on the top floors and you get your own panoramic view of central Stockholm. NeighbourhoodNorrmalm, where Stockholm’s train lines meet, is also where Sweden’s biggest commercial and cultural institutions have gathered. Sweden’s latest high street fashion outlets can be found along Drottningatan and countless pubs and bars along the parallel avenue of Sveavägen. The two roads meet at Sergel’s Torg, a concrete mess or a wonder of brutalist architecture, depending on your viewpoint.  Nearby1. The Royal Opera House: For Sweden’s biggest and grandest opera and a nightclub, Café Opera. 2. Kulturhuset: For arthouse cinema in English.3. Tak at Six: For drinks with a rooftop view in summer. Time Out tipBook a ‘popcorn Sunday’ to get two cinema tickets and a 20% discount at the restaurant with your superior room (double or twin) on a Sunday night for just €55 per person. Popcorn, of course, is included.

The Clarion Hotel Amarenten is the Nordic Choice hotel group’s offering on Kungsholmen, a central island just west of Stockholm’s main station. Not only are you well-positioned here, but this is a hotel that really takes care of its guests. Rooms are in a simple Swedish design but with colourful fabrics that create an at-home feel. The breakfast offers many organic options, and use of the gym is for free. For something a bit naughtier, there’s the in-house bar, Tap Room, which is not the beer-based establishment it sounds like: here, mixed cocktails are served on tap. NeighbourhoodKungsholmen, ‘the royal island’ is the gem of central Stockholm’s west side. Here, avenues of colorful apartments meet pristine parks, all ending up on one of the island’s many gorgeous waterfronts. Nearby1. Stadshuset: For tours of Stockholm’s most iconic building, City Hall.2. Restaurant Agnes: For high-end, Mediterranean-inspired dining.3. Brewdog, Sankt Eriksgatan: For killer IPAs and hot dogs.  Time Out tipYou always get a discount on Nordic Choice hotels if you get a membership, even more of an excuse to keep returning to Scandinavia!