Bad Bunny concerts turns Stockholm's biggest mall to one big festival area

But first, a bit of geography for anyone flying in. Westfield Mall of Scandinavia – one of the largest shopping centres in the Nordics – sits in Solna, just a quick hop north of central Stockholm. It stands right next door to Sweden’s national arena, Strawberry Arena. Boasting over 200 shops and restaurants under one roof, the mall is truly a destination in its own right. 

So while the concert itself happens in the stadium, the mall is your ultimate destination for everything else happening around the big weekend.

Getting here is easy. The pendeltåg – Stockholm's commuter train – drops you at Solna station in just 7 minutes, then a few minutes on foot gets you to both the arena and the mall. 

Flying in for the show? Skip the airport scramble. There's a direct bus dedicated just for the concert, leaving from Arlanda Airport straight to Arenastaden. The bus runs all three days, once an hour between 09:15 and 16:15, from 99 kronor – with Bad Bunny on the speakers the whole way, so you land already in the right key and mood.

Plenty, and this is the part most people miss. At Westfield Mall of Scandinavia, aim for Halo Plaza – the big circular atrium in the heart of the mall, right by the entrance closest to the arena and open to the floors above. That's the centre of gravity: music, bars, and a tattoo studio setting the tone. From there it spreads out. The festival area runs live DJs and dance performances, with a bar pouring mocktails by Fors for everyone who's here for the music and not the hangover. Fancy a permanent souvenir of a very good weekend? The tattoo studio will oblige. Want to leave your mark a different way? Step into the on-site music studio and record a message straight to Bad Bunny himself.

Then there are the carnival parades, winding through the whole mall and out across the Arena Square all three days – and if the mood takes you, you're meant to join in, not just watch. Head up to the Top Floor for the rooftop pre-party: more live music, more DJs, competitions, and a view over the whole thing before you cross to the arena.

Secure your ticket for the pre-party

Pro tip: When you arrive at the mall, you can also access a dedicated mobile platform that shows all the activities, complete with an interactive map. Find it here.

One more thing, and this is important: there are two official merch shops. The AIK shop is outside the mall by the arena entrance, while the other is outside O'Learys at the far end of Westfield Mall of Scandinavia if you're arriving by pendeltåg.

Make this your first stop if you want first pick.

AIK shop: Thursday 12:00-18:00, open until 19:00 on concert days.

Merch shop outside O'Learys: Opens from 15:00.

Hungry? You’re in the right place. Beyond the restaurants right outside the arena, the mall features over 55 dining options – from a big food court and a la carte sit-down spots to La Botanica, Sweden's biggest buffet. To make things even better, many of them are staying open late all weekend long. 

The nearby hotels are hosting a bunch of their own pop-ups and happenings too. Quality Hotel Strawberry Arena is going all out with sky-high dining on the 25th floor, live graffiti, and pop-up tattoo artists. Right next door, Comfort Hotel Solna is bringing the ultimate pre-party vibe with street food trucks, face painting, and live DJs

Holding a standing ticket? You also get Signalparken, the arena's own festival area, with food trucks, bars and a dance floor. That one's yours alone.

And here's the thing worth planning for: when the encore ends, you don't have to move. Stay, have one more, and let the first wave pour out without you.

Because everyone leaves at once, and nearly all of them make for the same pendeltåg back into the city at the same minute. 

Prefer to dodge the crowd? You've got two quieter exits. The blue metro line (line 11) runs from Solna centrum and Näckrosen, both a 15–20-minute walk from the arena. 

And the real local trick is the tvärbanan light rail (line 30). Its terminus sits across the railway, a similar 10-to-15-minute walk, but from there it loops around the western and southern edge of the city – Sundbyberg, Alvik, Liljeholmen, Gullmarsplan, Sickla – instead of feeding the city-bound crush. It won't carry you into the central station, so for the city core the commuter train is still your friend. For anywhere along that arc, though, it's the calm way home while everyone else is queuing in the other direction.

Here's the case, one more time. To really maximize your concert experience, come in the afternoon. Eat somewhere with the doors open late. Get inked, record a message, fall into a carnival parade, work your way up to the rooftop. Then the show. Then, instead of joining the stampede, stay for one more while Solna empties out around you.

The concert is just the headline act. MOS and its surrounding area? It's the perfect prelude. And while you're planning, take a look at what else is on across the rest of the summer.

From world-tour concerts to high-stakes football matches, Arenastaden and Westfield Mall of Scandinavia (Or MOS) prove that a major event is never just about the main attraction – it’s a full-day destination.

From world-tour concerts to high-stakes football matches, Arenastaden and Westfield Mall of Scandinavia are proving they don’t just host the big events – they deliver the full experience.