Where To Stay In Stockholm: The Top 6 Areas

By Katie Waller
Published: July 18, 2024

You have made the decision to go, but haven’t quite yet decided where to stay in Stockholm. It’s a common dilemma - but a fun one to have, because there are so many great locations to choose from. Each, with unique features and Stockholm attractions. Although we recommend visiting them all, the team at Stockholm Pass has put together a short description of the top six best areas to stay in Stockholm, to help make your choice a little easier.

Gamla Stan (Old Town)

Where To Stay In Stockholm

Right in the heart of the Stockholm waterways, Gamla Stan is nestled between Norrmalm and Södermalm. With beautiful views of the harbour, you’ll be in one of Europe’s oldest preserved medieval cities. You can walk to Kungliga Slot (Royal Palace), the Nobel Museum and Stockholm Cathedral (National cathedral of Sweden). And because you are so central, you’ll have easy access to other parts of the city, by ferry or by metro (Tunnelbana). The area is extremely well catered for tourists, with plenty of restaurants and shops.

Norrmalm

Where To Stay In Stockholm

Norrmalm is right in the centre of the Stockholm mainland, just north of Gamla Stan. In easy distance are the Royal Opera House, the National Museum of Sweden, Oceanbus and the Centre of culture. From nearby Stockholm C Station, you can get easily to and from Arlanda Airport, and hop on all metro lines. This central location makes getting in and out of the city very convenient, and therefore one of the top places to stay in Stockholm. But be aware that the great transport links tend to make this area a little more pricey than Gamla Stan.

Södermalm

Where To Stay In Stockholm

As its name suggests, Södermalm is south of the centre and Gamla Stan. From here, you can easily get to the City Museum, Tantolunden Park and Långholmen Island. This area is very hip and trendy, and popular with young Stockholmers and weekend visitors. There are lots of accommodation options to choose from, ranging from couches and apartments, to luxury and boutique hotels. There are also plenty of restaurants and cafes, as well as cool shops, bars and art galleries. If you don’t fancy staying in this area, we recommend a visit nonetheless to soak up some modern Stockholm culture.

Djurgårde

Where To Stay In Stockholm

Where to stay in Stockholm is an easier decision to make, if you’re travelling with your family. Djurgårde is east of the city centre and one of the quieter places to stay in Stockholm. It’s perfect if you want to visit the ABBA Museum, Skansen, Vasa Warship or the Nordic Museum, as they are all a short distance away. A lot of families choose this area, not only because of the fabulous and fun museums, but because of its open spaces and opportunities to walk, relax, play games and picnic in the summer. There are relatively good ferry and tram connections, but please note that there is no metro station.

Östermalm

Where To Stay In Stockholm

North East of Gamla Stan, therefore slightly east of centre, Östermalm is the most elegant and exclusive part of Stockholm. As well as many parks and museums (including The Army Museum, Royal Mews and The Swedish History Museum) it is known for shopping, eating and entertainment, with a range of shops (from high street to luxury), restaurants (seafood and Swedish delicacies) and entertainment (Stureplan Nightclub district). You will also find the Östermalmshallen food market here, that is often likened to the food hall at Harrods.

Vasastan

Where To Stay In Stockholm

North-west of the centre, Vasastan is another top area to stay in Stockholm. It has a lively bar and restaurant scene, but also opportunities to escape from it all in beautiful open spaces like Vasaparken. You can stroll around antique shops, bargain hunt in second-hand stores, or (if you fancy some art, history and culture visit the City library, Bonniers Konsthall-Contemporary Art Gallery, the Observatory, Jewish museum or Carl Eldh studio.

Now that we have briefly described where to stay in Stockholm, we hope your decision is a little easier! But don’t forget, one of the best things about this city is that you can explore all of it very easily - on foot, by boat, on the bus or by bicycle. Each area has something for everyone, and we recommend you visit them all to truly sample the best places in Stockholm. Grab a Stockholm pass and save while you sightsee!

Katie Waller
Go City Travel Expert

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The skyline in Stockholm's old town, dominated by the towering spire of the German Church.
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Things to do in Stockholm for Adults

Stockholm’s 14 islands serve up a veritable smorgasbord of delicious things for grown-ups to see and do, from snapping Instagram-quality pics around the old town to visiting the city’s dozens of world-class galleries and museums. There’s also a grand palace, a regal city hall, fantastic canal cruises (obvs) and some of the best meatballs and cinnamon buns you’ll find on the entire planet. Dive in to discover our pick of the best things to do in Stockholm for adults. Get Snap-Happy in the Old Town Grab your camera and head straight for the cobbles and spires of Gamla Stan, Stockholm’s beautifully preserved medieval old town. We recommend picking up a coffee and traditional cinnamon bun from one of the bakeries and pausing a moment to take it all in. Trust us: sinking your teeth into a sweet, sticky, still-warm pastry as you gaze in awe at the fairytale candy-colored buildings that line Stortorget, the main square, is about as good an introduction to Stockholm as you’re likely to find. Suitably fortified, it’s time to get snapping. Tick off those seriously photogenic gabled townhouses – all spicy turmeric yellows, chili reds and cactus greens – before checking out the Nobel Prize Museum, set inside the stately former Stock Exchange Building. Then make for the baroque medieval confection that is Stockholm Cathedral (Storkyran), the city’s oldest church, where the copper bell tower’s gorgeous green patina, the soaring vaulted interiors and artifacts including a 15th-century wooden sculpture of St George and the Dragon are an amateur snapper’s dream come true. Take in the almost comically opulent Royal Palace – official residence of the Swedish monarch – then head south to the series of narrow cobblestone lanes that lead down to the waterfront. It’s here you’ll find Mårten Trotzigs Gränd, Stockholm’s narrowest alley, which tapers to a mere 90 centimeters across. Take a deep breath, be grateful you turned down that second cinnamon bun and pray you don’t meet anyone coming in the opposite direction as you squeeze through. Fairytale snaps well and truly bagged, hop in a cab to see how the experts do it at Fotografiska. This striking art nouveau customs house on the Södermalm waterfront has hosted photographic exhibitions from the likes of Annie Liebowitz and Robert Mapplethorpe and boasts an equally eye-catching restaurant with splendid views across the water to the old town. Take in Stockholm’s Fine Art and Culture There’s plenty more for adults to do on Stockholm’s Djurgården island – and kids, too! Here’s where you’ll find Sweden’s oldest amusement park, Gröna Lund, as well as the world’s best-preserved 17th-century warship at the Vasa Museum, and arguably the jewel in Djurgården’s crown: Skansen. Skansen is an open-air living history museum with over 150 historic buildings imported from all over Sweden and a full-scale replica of a 19th-century Swedish town to explore. Say hej (hello) to traditional craftspeople in full period costume as they ply their trades and demonstrate their skills as tanners, glass-blowers, cobblers and more, then take a stroll among the picturesque gardens and visit the small zoo for ferociously cute Nordic critters including otters, brown bears and majestic moose. Take a chance on the interactive ABBA Museum. It doesn’t cost much money money money to get in and you’ll feel like a dancing queen by the time you’re done. Ok ok, we’ll stop with the shoe-horned ABBA references now. Check out the famous costumes, gold discs and other memorabilia on display, then lose your inhibitions and really go for it: dedicated super troupers (sorry!) can even sing along to ABBA’s greatest hits in a karaoke booth and bust out their best dance moves on stage alongside holographic avatars of Benny, Björn, Agnetha and Frida. Mamma mia! Looking for something a little more... highbrow? The Moderna Museet on tiny Skeppsholmen island boasts a fine collection of modern and contemporary art, including pieces by Picasso, Dalí and Magritte as well as close to 5,000 works by artists from the Nordic regions. There’s an extensive sculpture garden and, best of all, entry is free! Also gratis (but for the price of a metro ticket) is the eye-popping art that covers the cavern-like walls at 90 of Stockholm’s 100-or-so subway stations, often dubbed ‘the world’s longest art gallery’. Don’t miss the show-stopping scorched earth hellscape at Rådhuset and the delicate fluorescent lights at Odenplan, modeled on the jagged heart-rate patterns produced by the artist’s son at birth. Sample the Local Delicacies So, you’ve already ticked off the essential cinnamon bun at least once (and probably more). But how about surströmming? This Swedish delicacy is a tinned, fermented Baltic Sea herring that smells very strongly – and let’s not beat about the bush here – of rotten eggs. If that’s a bit much for you (and your fellow diners), how about local lunchtime favorite skagenröra: a great pile of shrimp and mayo stacked high on rye bread, topped with dill and served with salad. And then there's the humble meatball. If your experience of Swedish meatballs is limited to guiltily guzzling a plateful after a stressful Saturday afternoon shopping in IKEA, prepare to be dazzled. You’ll find these more or less everywhere in Stockholm, but there are worse places to start your meatball odyssey than at the aptly named Meatballs for the People near Fotografiska in Södermalm. Expect bear meat, boar meat, reindeer meat and more served in a variety of imaginative sauces. Incurable gourmands should also make a beeline for the beautifully restored covered food market in hip Östermalm. A fortress-like red-brick edifice topped with forbidding spires, Östermalms Saluhall dates back to 1888. Inside, stalls spill over with just-picked fruit and vegetables, farm-fresh meats and the day’s catch, as locals chat over espresso at cute cafés and high-end restaurants serve up a variety of Nordic and international delicacies. All this talk of food making you thirsty? The Museum of Spirits is one of Stockholm’s best attractions for grown-ups, combining as it does excellent exhibitions about Sweden’s boozy heritage and the opportunity to taste some of the nation’s finest tipples. Sample fragrant Swedish craft gins, flavored vodkas and classic schnapps. Skål! Save on things to do in Stockholm for adults Save on admission to Stockholm attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram and Facebook for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Woman sitting on a rock overlooking the water and Stockholm's old town
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Things to do in Stockholm in Summer

Saint-Tropez, Santorini or St Lucia it ain’t, but Stockholm offers a pleasant summer alternative to all those traditional sunshine vacations, with blue skies, balmy breezes, fun festivals, parks, gardens and, yes, even beaches to keep sun-worshippers happy. It’s little surprise then that the months of June, July and August are among the city’s most popular. Read on for our guide to the best things to do in Stockholm in summer, including theme parks, island hopping and ice cream! Plus all of these: Stockholm Old Town Skansen open-air museum Rosendal Garden Party Stockholm Pride Djurgården island Crayfish parties Visiting Stockholm in Summer Now, don’t get us wrong… Sweden’s capital is a fine place to visit at any time of year – think spring cherry blossoms, burnished autumn leaves (and warm cinnamon buns), and those epic Old Town Christmas markets. But summer, when skies are an azure blue and the sun shines on those fairytale Old Town rooftops, is difficult to beat. Stockholm’s summers are pleasantly balmy, with average highs topping out in the mid-70s in July, and in the low 70s during the months either side. Rainfall is a little higher than in spring, but lower than autumn and winter – a small umbrella or pocket poncho should suffice for protection against the occasional summer shower. In short, this is a time for outdoor activities, but you may want to pack layers for the long (sometimes very long!) and slightly cooler evenings. June-August is peak tourist season here, and that’s true for Stockholmers, too! So you may also find that a few shops and restaurants are closed, especially in August, because this is traditionally when Swedes take their own summer vacations. Things to do in Stockholm in Summer Stockholm is an adventurer’s paradise, a compact cluster of 14 islands connected by 57 bridges – perfect, in other words, for exploring on warm, sunny days. And where better to start your adventure than Gamla Stan, the picturesque Old Town? This fairytale jumble of cobbled squares, candy-colored townhouses and medieval towers is even more beautiful in the sunshine, when bright blue skies (and a giant gelato from the legendary Skeppsbro ice-cream parlor, natch) make for those Insta-perfect selfie moments. Don’t miss Stockholm Cathedral, a 15th-century gothic confection complete with copper-green bell tower, and the eye-popping carving over the entrance to Skeppsbron 44. Commissioned by a cuckolded husband it depicts his distraught face sobbing over his cheating wife’s, um, lady bits. Summer is also a great time to rent a bike and explore the islands at your own pace. Pedal your way to bucket-list isles like Tantolunden, with its colorfully painted wooden cottages and plentiful picture-perfect picnic spots. Hike up the mound in the park’s center for panoramic views across the water to Liljeholmen. Or hit up Djurgården, Stockholm’s great green playground, and home to perhaps the greatest concentration of top Stockholm attractions on the archipelago! We’re talking Skansen, a huge open-air living history park that features a full-scale replica of a 19th-century Swedish town, and a zoo.  Djurgården is a fine location for long walks through fairytale woods and picnics by glassy lakes. It’s also where you’ll find attractions including (deep breath) Rosendal Garden, museums dedicated to everything from viking ships to ABBA, and the legendary Gröna Lund, Sweden’s oldest amusement park, which comes complete with a rickety old-school wooden roller coaster. Believe it or not, Stockholm also boasts some ace city-center beaches, with fine sandy stretches to be found on the islands of Långholmen, Södermalm and Kungsholmen. Or you can dodge the summer crowds and strike out for fabulous Flatenbadet beach in the south of the city, or Ängbybadet in the north, with its stunning views of opulent Drottningholm Palace. Entry to many of the above attractions is included with a Stockholm pass from Go City, which can save you up to 50% if you plan to visit multiple sights. The pass also comes packed with other fun summer tours and activities, including cruises of the canals and archipelago, Swedish fika experiences, kayak rental and more! Find out more about the Go Stockholm pass and bag yours here. What’s on: Stockholm Summer Events There’s plenty going on in Stockholm during summer, with festivities kicking off in earnest on National Sweden Day, June 6. This public holiday is marked by celebrations of the country’s rich heritage and culture, most notably at Skansen which (usually) features an appearance from the King and Queen themselves, with satellite events taking place at Drottningholm Palace Park, Haga Park and elsewhere across the city. Midsummer is celebrated around June 20 with traditional folk costumes, music, dancing, and plenty of pickled herring. Festivities continue late into the night – this is the longest day of the year after all, with a little over 18 hours of daylight, so you might as well go ahead and make the most of it. The Rosendal Garden Party is another major early highlight of the summer calendar. Taking place on ever-popular Djurgården every June, this three-day music festival has attracted big names including Florence and the Machine, Grace Jones and The Cardigans down the years. Pride has been a flamboyant fixture of the Stockholm summer events calendar since 1998, usually taking place across the first week of August and bringing with it a colorful cavalcade of events in celebration of LGBTQ+  culture. Most of the action takes place in and around the Östermalms IP sports ground, but there will be events taking place across town, culminating in the epic Pride parade, which sees hundreds of thousands of revelers marching through the city streets to bring the week’s festivities to a suitably celebratory close. Meanwhile July’s Stockholm Street Food Festival is set up to satisfy appetites for all kinds of things, from international gourmet snacks to craft beer and live music. Last but by absolutely no means least, August sees Swedes everywhere celebrate the end of summer the only way they know how: by donning bibs and party hats and consuming copious amounts of local crayfish and Swedish snaps, accompanied by great big bonfires and much boisterous singing. In fact, in many way crayfish parties are the perfect end to Stockholm’s most perfect season. Dive in! Save on Things to do in Stockholm in Summer Save on admission to Stockholm attractions, tours and activities with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest tips and attraction info.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
man handling a bbq in a stockholm park
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Sun, Sandwiches & Serenity: Stockholm’s Best Picnic Spots

Looking for the perfect way to soak up Stockholm’s charm? Nothing beats a picnic in the Swedish capital, with its lush parks, island escapes and sweeping waterfronts. Whether you crave a quick fika in the shade, a full-on lunch spread with skyline views, or a spot for some serious people-watching, we’ve scouted the best places to lay down your blanket. Read on for classic parks, secret gardens, island hideaways and why each one makes a simple meal feel like a summer celebration.  Our favorite picnic spots in Stockholm:  Djurgården Island  Skansen Open-Air Museum  Monteliusvägen  Rålambshovsparken  Rosendals Trädgård  Vasaparken  Humlegården  Långholmen Island  Vitabergsparken  Tantolunden  Skansen Open-Air Museum  Skansen isn’t just Sweden’s beloved open-air museum—it’s a top spot for picnicking with a side of living history. Set on a hillside overlooking the city, you’ll find not only open lawns but also unique views of old log cabins, windmills, and friendly Nordic animals roaming green paddocks. Buy a fika-worthy pastry and fresh coffee inside, or pack a traditional picnic to enjoy on the museum grounds.  The best part? You soak up Swedish culture just by lunching here. The family-friendly vibe, summer concerts, and old-fashioned buildings create a warm, laid-back atmosphere. The gentle bustle of visitors adds to the experience, especially when kids dart between play areas and historical farmyards. Bring binoculars for panoramic shots over Stockholm, or just lean back and watch the steamboats glide by below.  Monteliusvägen  Sandwiches with a side of Stockholm’s best skyline? Monteliusvägen delivers. This clifftop walkway on Södermalm offers half a kilometer of dreamy cityscape views, with plenty of benches and grassy patches for setting down your picnic. Expect photo ops galore—look out over Riddarfjärden bay, the Old Town’s spires and the City Hall’s stately tower.  The vibe feels low-key and local, especially as the sun begins to set. This is the ideal spot for couples or anyone looking for a romantic, Instagram-worthy setting. Pack something quick and wander up the steps from Mariatorget, then enjoy a front-row seat to waves, boats, and twinkling city lights. The only problem? You may not want to leave.  Rålambshovsparken  For a classic city park with serious community spirit, we love Rålambshovsparken (or “Rålis” to locals). Right on the shores of Lake Mälaren, this big green space is always buzzing—expect sunbathers, slackliners, and locals grilling on warm evenings. There’s room to sprawl in the grass, sturdy park benches under shade trees, and play areas if you’re traveling with kids.  The relaxed, no-frills atmosphere makes it easy to fit in. Wander the walking paths, sample Swedish snacks from the summer kiosk, or work up an appetite with a swim at the tiny lakeside beach. The views over to Kungsholmen Island and the ever-present ice cream truck seal the deal. If you want to feel part of the city, Rålambshovsparken belongs on your picnic list.  Rosendals Trädgård  Garden-lovers, this is your utopia. Rosendals Trädgård sits on Djurgården, blending flower fields, orchard rows and biodynamic kitchen gardens into a leafy escape for anyone who loves a rustic, homey atmosphere. It’s famous for its bakery and café—a top spot for picking up fresh sourdough, Swedish cinnamon buns and farm-grown salads to bring outdoors.  Picnic tables, shady lawns and hidden nooks beckon in every direction. In spring and summer, beds of dahlias and wildflowers surround you, while apple trees and buzzing bees add to the rural vibe. For those who forgot to pack a lunch, Rosendals’ greenhouse café stocks organic dishes and signature baked goods. You can even buy just-picked veggies and fruit from their own fields, making it the place to create your own all-local picnic from scratch.  Humlegården  Once the royal hop garden, Humlegården is now one of Stockholm’s greenest escapes. Set just steps from vibrant Östermalm, this elegant park blends wide lawns, classic statues, shady chestnut trees and winding flower beds. It’s clean, cared-for, and feels like a secret oasis despite being in Stockholm’s busy heart.  The atmosphere is part tranquil, part lively—expect groups of friends enjoying after-work picnics, children racing around the play areas, or solo readers taking refuge under the ancient trees. Stop by a café on Stureplan for sandwiches or bring picnic classics from Saluhall Östermalm’s historic food hall. On sunny afternoons, Humlegården is perfect for a leisurely lunch, a gentle stroll, and plenty of people-watching from your blanket.  Långholmen Island  Fancy lunch on an island, but don’t want to leave town? Långholmen is your answer. What used to be a prison island is now one of Stockholm’s quirkiest green spaces, with meadows, footpaths, sandy beach spots, and swimming coves along the southern shore. The waterside lawns fill with locals grilling, sunbathing, and snoozing on warm afternoons.  What makes Långholmen extra cool? The vibe is creative and relaxed, with art installations, historic buildings and even a quirky prison hotel for those looking for a memorable stay. Walk over from Södermalm, find your spot by the reeds or among the wildflowers, and dip your toes in the cool Mälaren water. Don’t forget a thermos of coffee for that picture-perfect Swedish fika moment.  Vitabergsparken  Södermalm’s hilltop Vitabergsparken ticks all the boxes: city views, luscious lawns, and an artsy, local crowd. Painted wooden villas dot the hillsides, while open-air theater performances give summer evenings an extra dose of festivity. Flat, grassy spaces near the amphitheater make lay-down-a-blanket picnics super easy.  The surrounding area brims with cafes and bakeries—we love popping into Café String for sandwiches or grabbing classic Swedish pastries at Gunnarsons on Götgatan. Vitabergsparken hosts concerts and festivals, so check the calendar if you like your lunch with a live soundtrack. Bring a frisbee, a camera, and a sense of adventure—this neighborhood park is a go-to for creative souls and picnic lovers.  Tantolunden  Tantolunden in Södermalm is Stockholm’s answer to the “everyone’s welcome” park, with rolling hills, a small beach, allotment gardens and even a mini-golf course. Families spread out on the grass, students read by the water, and there’s always someone barbecuing nearby. The mix of urban energy and natural beauty is pure Stockholm.  Why do we keep coming back? There’s room for everyone, right down to the carefully tended community gardens that burst with color all summer. Swing by Hornstull market for street food and snacks en route, or hit a nearby konditori for cake. With jogging paths, sunset viewpoints and handy restrooms, Tantolunden is a one-stop-shop for a perfect picnic day.    Stockholm turns every meal into an adventure when you head outdoors, thanks to parks, islands and gardens that let you relax like a local. From crayfish sandwiches by the water to cinnamon buns in the sun, there’s a picnic spot made for your style—calm, lively, historic or offbeat. Unpack your basket, pick your view, and get a taste of why Swedes love their al fresco dining.    Enjoyed this? Check out our guide to summers in Stockholm, and learn how to get from the airport to the city in style.   Step up your sightseeing with Go City®  We make it easy to explore the best a city has to offer. We’re talking top attractions, hidden gems and local tours, all for one low price. Plus, you'll enjoy guaranteed savings, compared to buying individual attraction tickets.  See more, do more, and experience more with Go City®– just choose a pass to get started! 

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