Big City: Östermalm
Östermalm is arguably Stockholm’s most upmarket district, and it’s one that is full of exciting and interesting places to visit. It has a food hall that was first opened in the 19th century and is always a hive of activity, featuring delicious specialities from across the world. The excellent Swedish History Museum houses unique items, such as the Viking Mastermyr chest, that would be coveted by any museum in the world. Östermalm also features a stunning church, the Hedvig Eleonora, where you can climb the tower and get incredible panoramic views. This district even has two different restaurants with Michelin stars, in Gastrologik and Ekstedt.
Big City: So-Fo
Every major city has its hipster area, the part of town that is full of cool art galleries, unique shops and bars and achingly cool restaurants. For Stockholm, that is So-Fo, loosely defined as the streets south of Folkungagatan on the island of Sodermalm, a part of town that is always full of people hoping to find the next place that everyone will be talking about.
For shopaholics, So-Fo has a number of excellent places, from hipster hangouts like Sneakersnstuff, Swedish Hasbeens and Grandpa, to secondhand shops full of bargains like Lisa Larsson and Stockholm Stadsmission. For those looking to find the next big artist, SoFo has some great small galleries, such as Galleri Axel and Gallery Steinsland Berliner, that always have new and exciting exhibitions. For foodies, restaurants like Nytorget 6 and Meatballs for the People are very popular, while cafes like Cafe String and Urban Deli are always full of Stockholm’s coolest people.
Small City: Hokarangen
If you are ready to escape the centre and find a more peaceful and relaxed atmosphere, hopping on the t-bana and heading out into the suburbs is a great way to see how many Stockholmers actually live. The centre is fantastic, but in many ways, it can sometimes feel more like part of a guidebook than an authentic local experience. Hokarangen is the second-to-last stop on the green line and has a number of great places to visit.
In terms of cafés, it has the lovely Cafe Amanda that feels like a real community centre, and there is a fantastic Italian restaurant called Il Contadino. You will also find a quirky secondhand shop where you can grab some bargain Swedish furniture. There is even a superb art gallery called Konsthall C, as well as Pang Pang brewery, which makes exciting and innovative beers. Going out of the centre can be highly rewarding, as there are still excellent places to visit, but you will also enjoy seeing people chatting on the high street or in a familiar local spot. In these small-city places, the community feel is palpable.
Small City: Angby
If it is the great outdoors you are hoping to experience, as opposed to soaking up a communal vibe, Stockholm also has plenty of great choices. You can go from being in one of Scandinavia’s busiest stations to a nature reserve in less than 20 minutes. If you hop off at Gangplank subway stop you will be right on the edge of Judarskogens Naturreservat, which was the first nature reserve to be opened in Stockholm. It has a stunning lake and a number of beautiful running routes. That’s not the only thing to do out in Angby: there is also the charming Astrids restaurant, which serves classic Swedish food. It feels amazing to be standing in a peaceful and expansive nature reserve with the knowledge you can be back in the centre of Northern Europe’s biggest city so quickly.
The best of both worlds
Stockholm, then, is a city that has something for everyone, in close proximity: you can feel as if you are in a small town, eat in a Michelin-starred restaurant, frequent a super-cool sneaker store and wander around a nature reserve, all in one day, with minimal travel. Stockholmers are never short of something interesting and enjoyable to do.