Stockholm on a tight schedule

You are surely going to recognize the structure ‘Svampen’ (The Mushroom) on Stureplan, which is a rain cover designed by the City Master Gardener Holger Blom. A lot of financial offices and a big part of Stockholm’s nightclubs are located here.

Go window shopping in the well-known brand shops along Birger Jarlsgatan, all the way to the end of the street where you’ll see the theater Dramaten on your left. Take Hamngatan, with the Berzelii Park on the left and the palace Hallwyl Palace on the right. The palace was a residence of the count couple Walther and Wilhelmina von Hallwyl.

On the right, you will also pass Norrmalmstorg, today the home of luxurious shops and the designer hotel Nobis. But in 1973, a hostage drama occurred here, in the bank Kreditbanken’s old building. The situation coined the term Stockholm syndrome, where hostages develop an alliance with the captors.

But enough with the tediousness, we continue and spot Stockholm’s fanciest department store NK on the right. Take a left and have a break in the park Kungsträdgården, where there’s always a cool event going on. When you’re done relaxing, continue towards Strömgatan, walk pass The Royal Opera on your right and you’ll reach the square Gustav Adolfs Torg.

We’re on our way over to Södermalm, with an obligatory photo break on the bridge of course. Go up towards Götgatan – Södermalm’s liveliest street with many nice shops and cafés. Medborgarplatsen square, or ‘Medis’ in Stockholmish, is surrounded by terraces and is a common place for demonstrations.

Turn to Bondegatan, where ecological vegetables and freshly baked bread are sold in the fall on the Farmers Market. Go along the avenue Katarina Bangata and then Skånegatan, where a lot of Södermalm’s bars are located. Admire the picturesque houses on the intersecting street Södermannagatan and take a break with some food on Nytorget square.

When you start feeling your legs again, take Sofiagatan and Södermannagatan towards Gotlandsgatan. Follow that street, turn to Östgötagatan and then Ölandsgatan until you finally reach Skanstull. From here you can treat yourself to a subway ride back to the city centre, after having walked a 6,5 kilometers long sightseeing tour. Good job!

If you’d prefer to avoid walking there’s a more comfortable alternative. Take a boat excursion around Kungsholmen, Djurgården, under Stockholm’s bridges, out into the beautiful archipelago or on the Hop On Hop Off boats.

You can also enjoy sightseeing from a comfortable seat on a double-decker bus. Several companies offer guided tours around the city, where you get to see Norr and Söder Mälarstrand, Old Town, Östermalm, and Djurgården to just name a few. There are also Hop On – Hop Off buses that drive pass sights such as Stockholm City Hall, Skansen, Skeppsholmen, Old Town, and the Royal Palace.

Or you can combine the best of two worlds – see Stockholm both from land and water. On a Stockholm Grand Tour, that takes 3 hours and 45 minutes, you’ll pass under fifteen bridges and get to know downtown Stockholm, Old Town, Södermalm, the islands Lilla and Stora Essingen, Djurgården, Årsta och Hammarby Sjöstad.

That’s how you get to see the most of the city on a tight schedule. We wish you a great time in Stockholm!