Stockholm has got to one of the most underrated cities I've ever been to. For some reason, it's rarely featured as a must see place, but having been there, I cannot imagine why. It's an intoxicating mix of different islands with their own personality, beautiful, traditional architecture, water meandering throughout, incredible food, and such a buzzy yet chilled vibe.
Having spent three nights there this weekend with a group of friends, I was itching to write post about my time here and share my photos- I was just a typical tourist this weekend snapping at everything! So here are my top things to do whilst exploring this city, although I feel as if I've barely scratched the surface of things to see here!
Things to do and where to go
Stockholm Cathedral
Nestled between the tiny, winding lanes of Gamla Stan (the Old Town) is Stockholm Cathedral, Storkyrkan. It's a gorgeous Gothic brick cathedral, allegedly built by the city's founder, and is well worth a look inside. (Even if that's just to escape the bitter cold for a minute, but I guarantee you'll be amazed at the beauty of the church's interior.
It's famous for its statue of St George and the dragon, but all the details in the design are what entranced me the most. It's a small oasis amongst the hustle and bustle of the city, a calming place to reflect and gather yourself.
Explore Riddarholmen
Joined to Gamla Stan is the inlet of Riddarholmen, it's tiny so won't take up much of your time, but you should feature it in your exploration of the old town. The church is one of Stockholm's oldest buildings and the surrounding buildings are equally imposing and beautiful. In fact, my friends and I were wondering if there's anywhere seriously ugly in Stockholm?! Virtually everywhere had character and charm.
My favourite part of this area though was the view across the bay, where you can see the City Hall, and watch the sunset over the city. It's not particularly busy, but was just so charming this islet deserved a mention.
Take a boat trip in the Archipelago
Since Stockholm is made up of 14 islands, and has a 150km long archipelago, I was desperate to go on a boat trip to see more of the city. We went on a relatively short trip, just over an hour, but saw so many places which would not have been possible without a hefty amount of walking (and possibly some swimming).
It's a surreal experience cutting through icy water, and seeing some stunning scenes of desolate islands just minutes from the bustling city centre. The trips aren't always cheap, but it was dreamy to see gorgeous landscapes and city views ensconced in a cosy, warm glass boat.
Walk along the cliffs of Södermalm and the viewing platform
For me, watching this sunset from the viewing platform at Södermalm was the highlight of trip, and without exaggerating, it was one of the most stunning sunsets I have ever seen. The colours were so rich and vivid, stretching across the sky like something plucked from an artist's dreams. Pictures barely do it justice, but when an iPhone picture looks like that without a filter, you know it's pretty impressive.
Södermalm is fun to explore anyway, and is said to be the most desirable place to live in Stockholm, but it's the views which make it truly special. You can really see for miles, across the whole city and water, and whether day or night, the view is impressive.
There's also a free viewing platform, and if you can handle the cold and buffeting winds, the view is even better- brave it and be rewarded with sunsets like these ones!
Get lost in Gamla Stan, the Old Town
This was hands down my favourite area of the city- quaint, charming, fascinating and full of seemingly endless little streets to wander down and explore. The architecture is stunning and full of interest- the narrowest street is just 90cm wide!
Although there are some very touristy parts, step off the main streets and discover some hidden gems, just metres away. Think tucked away streets, little cafes and cobbled paths. It's also where the palace, cathedral and the best hot chocolate I've had in my life is (more on that later because it needs a mention of its own).
You could easily spend a lot of time here looking around with a stop for fika (coffee, something sweet and socialising, i.e. my new favourite concept), and its truly a wonderful way to while away an afternoon.
Where to eat/drink
Oh man just thinking about this place makes me happy. I really wanted to sample some traditional Swedish fare, but being vegetarian limits me somewhat. Enter Meatballs for the People, which had the best veggie meatballs I've had along with all the conventional trimmings, for a delicious and different dish.
Creamy mashed potato, rich tomato sauce, pickled cucumber and lingon berries are not what I would normally associate with a dreamy meal, but this place definitely made me reevaluate my tastebuds! It's in Södermalm, so if you've worked up an appetite walking along the cliffs, I can certainly recommend a quick pit stop here.
This beaut lil cafe is actually part of a chain in Stockholm, but from the interior you'd have no idea. It felt quirky, individual and so Scandinavian. Exposed filament bulbs, tiles, candles on the tables and cappucinos made with oat milk made this my favourite cafe I went to in Stockholm.
The banging pastries helped too. My friend and I (I promise I didn't have both of the pastries) shared a walnut concuction and a traditional cinnamon roll, both of which were divine and worth every single gruelling gym session I'm going to make myself go to this week. Light, buttery and packed full of flavour, I could eat these every day. Surprisingly, they're not too sweet either, perfect for a morning pick me up!
This morning I woke up and felt sad because I didn't have one of these majestic muffins for breakfast *sigh*. Legit the best muffins I have ever had. I tried their wholewheat blueberry and carrot cake ones (again me and my friend shared, just saying) and just oh hot damn were these amazing.
They were warmed up to perfection and just thinking about them makes my mouth water. I'm going to move on now before I do something stupid like buy a train ticket back to Stockholm just for the food...
After a 4.30am wake up to get the train back to Oslo in time for lectures (such a dedicated student), I can't wait for my bed later, and no doubt my dreams will be full of spires, cinnamon, meandering streets and an idyllic weekend.
Honor xxx
I love your photography! Looks like a beautiful and colourful city x
ReplyDeleteThank you! So vibrant and gorgeous- would recommend it to anyone x
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