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Feb 24, 2021 · Located on the south-central east coast of Sweden is, Stockholm – the capital, the largest and the most populous city of Sweden. Stockholm is the cultural, administrative and economic center of Sweden.
Stockholm, City (pop., 2020 est.: city, 975,551; urban agglom.: 1,767,108), capital of Sweden. Built on numerous islands and peninsulas connected by old bridges and modern overpasses, Stockholm is regarded as one of the most beautiful capitals in the world.
- Overview
- An evolving city
- Insider tips
The Swedish capital’s character has been shaped by water over the centuries — and life on this scattering of islands continues to be dominated by it.
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).
The history of Stockholm is one of ebbs and flows, freezes and thaws, sunken ships and shifting locks. History, though, isn’t exactly at the forefront of my mind 20 minutes into a morning kayak tour, when I’m frantically paddling against the frothy, destabilising wake dispatched by a passing city ferry.
“Always look both ways before crossing the lake!” shouts our guide, Leon, as we breathlessly reach one edge of the freshwater expanse and pivot our kayaks to face the skyline. It’s an epic scene: the gilded crowns topping City Hall; the mint-hued spire of the German Church; the imposing brick structure of former brewery Münchenbryggeriet. All of it, in every direction, underlined by blue.
People talk about Venice and Amsterdam as being defined by their canals, but the DNA of Stockholm is every bit as watery. A patchwork of islands set on the edge of 75-mile-long freshwater Lake Mälaren and the Baltic Sea, its landscape was shaped by the last Ice Age, when glaciers compressed soils to below water levels. Over time, the terrain began to re-emerge from the depths, forming the 14 islands that now make up the city.
Leon, a guide for local tour operator Stockholm Adventures, leads paddling tours between some of them. Over two hours, we cruise the leafy, sun-dappled channel between Långholmen and Södermalm, past rows of polished wooden pleasure crafts, and skirt along the swan-dotted waterways between Kungsholmen and Norrmalm.
Stockholm hums with summer-evening energy. Making the most of the warmth, I spend an hour walking west along the waterfront, passing the columned Nationalmuseum, along manicured Kungsträdgården, over to City Hall. At the water’s edge, there are historic barges converted into floating hostels for travellers and sightseeing boats pushing off from the docks for sunset tours. Eventually, I hit a lakeside park, where runners trot along and trees cast shadows across pathways.
It’s dinner time, so I head to popular waterside bar Mälarpaviljongen nearby. I pass through its bloom-fragranced gardens to a floating glass-encased drinking area, filled with off-duty Swedes loosening their proverbial ties over frosty beers. With the lake waters as a backdrop, I settle in with a räksmörgås (an open-faced sandwich topped with hardboiled egg, mayo, lettuce and a heap of tiny prawns).
Left: Räksmörgås (an open-faced sandwich topped with hardboiled egg, mayo, lettuce and a heap of tiny prawns) is one of Malarpaviljongen's best-known dishes.
Right: Like its namesake, Under Kastanjen cafe offers an outside dining experience 'under the Chestnut tree' in Gamla Stan.
Photographs by Simon Bajada
My walk has shown Stockholm’s waterfront is a landscape in flux. In any city, change is part of the equation — but it’s particularly true for those built on water. Even now, Stockholm’s topography is still bouncing back from the Ice Age’s glacial compression, making adaptation a constant feature of life here. Its islands are rising out of the water at a rate of up to nine millimetres a year — so around once a century, the city locks, which manage the flow of water from the lake into the harbour, are updated to keep pace. The current project at Slussen, the lock area connecting Gamla Stan with fashionable, restaurant-filled Södermalm island, is due to be completed in 2025.
Swedes love caffeine and are famous for their fika (social coffee breaks). Decaf coffee and herbal teas can be hard to come by in some cafes, so consider packing your own if you have a strong preference.
In winter, some waterways take on a whole new character as they become natural skating rinks. If you’re interested in getting involved, check with the locals where it’s safe to go. Stockholm Adventures rents out ice skating equipment and also runs guided tours.
Ferry schedules can vary depending on the time of year, with the most frequent services typically in the peak summer period of July and early August. Check routes with your hotel to ensure you can get where you want, when you want.
Like elsewhere in Scandinavia, salted liquorice is a local obsession. Visit Lakritsroten to stock up on edible souvenirs; its salted liquorice and raspberry ice cream is unmissable.
(How to spend a day in Stockholm.)
This story was created with the support of Visit Stockholm and Visit Sweden.
Oct 17, 2022 · Stockholm is Sweden’s capital and the most populous city in Scandinavia. It boasts of being one of Europe’s most beautiful cities and is the cultural, political, media, and economic centre of Sweden.
Nov 15, 2021 · Large detailed map of Sweden with cities and towns. This map shows cities, towns, highways, main roads, secondary roads, railroads and airports in Sweden. You may download, print or use the above map for educational, personal and non-commercial purposes. Attribution is required.
The map shows Sweden and neighboring countries with international borders, the national capital Stockholm, province capitals, major cities, main roads, railroads, and major airports.
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Dec 3, 2023 · The capital of Sweden is Stockholm which is the country’s largest city. Other large cities are Gothenburg in the west and Malmo in the south of Sweden. Sweden is a unitary state, divided into 21 counties and 290 municipalities.
