Stockholm
Stockholm is well known for its stylish Scandinavian design, impeccably dressed locals and copious amounts of Meatballs…sounds pretty wonderful right? Alongside all of that, the city is overflowing with independent shops, jaw dropping museums and unusual things to do, so here are my top 10 alternative recommendations if you are planning to visit.
1. Stay at The Hobo Hotel
The Hobo is an urban boutique hotel, perfectly located in the heart of Stockholm’s city centre. It boasts a super stylish Nordic design aesthetic and is known for its creative and artistic appearance, which instantly appeals to many modern travellers like myself.
Their rooms have a minimalist feel with clever interiors and quirky touches. It’s certainly the only hotel I’ve ever stayed in where you will find a water pistol in the bathroom and are able to borrow items from a curated ‘peg wall’ for the duration of your stay. We opted for one of their superior rooms with a stunning view across Brunkebergstorg Square, but they also have a wide selection of room types to fit most budgets. If you can’t wait to visit, book your stay below.
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I have to say, apart from the huge and very comfortable bed, one of the highlights had to be the breakfast in their top floor restaurant, called TAK. I would highly recommend including this if you decide to stay here, as it makes the perfect start to the day!
The atmosphere is fantastic and the Hobo team most certainly have their finger on the pulse, creating an exciting hub for locals and international guests alike.
2. Photograph Stockholm’s Old Town
The colourful and cobbled medieval backstreets of Gamla Stan make it one of the most unique places in which to capture the true essence of Stockholm. Originally created in the 13th Century, many of the iconic buildings date back to the 1700’s.
To immediately be transported back in time, take a walk through the interwoven alleyways and narrow winding passages, where every building has its own unique character and story to tell. Whilst wandering you will stumble across The Royal Palace, Stortorget (the main square), the Nobel Prize Museum and Stockholm’s narrowest street - Mårten Trotzigs Grand, which is only 90cm at its narrowest width. All are great to capture on camera as is the nearby Riddarhomen Church and the dusty pink Stenbock Palaces.
One of the most unusual things to see in the Old Town is the Cuckold of Skeppsbron, which is a carving of a man’s saddened face located above an ornate door. If you look carefully just below you will see a stone vagina attached to the wall, yes I know, bizarre or what? As the story goes the face is that of Carl Smitt, a man who used to live in the building and who subsequently found out that his wife had cheated on him. As part of his revenge, he paid for her private parts to be sculpted and put on display for all to see, with his own distraught face placed above it – nothing like airing your dirty laundry in pubic eh…?
3. Make Time to Fika Everyday
Before visiting Sweden, I had never heard of Fika. It’s a Swedish tradition where you take time out of your day to pause and enjoy a hot drink and a treat – most likely a very delicious cinnamon bun! It promotes a healthy way of living, in that it ensures that people are encouraged to take some downtime from their work day and to socialise with colleagues or friends.
We got fully onboard with this Swedish custom and found some great Fika spots including Café Schweizer in Gamla Stan and Tössebageriet in Östermalm, which are both long standing establishments with an incredible selection of cakes and pastries.
4. Check Out The Vasa Museum
The Vasa Museum really went above and beyond what I was expecting and I would rate this as a ‘must see’ for anyone visiting Stockholm.
The Vasa is a Swedish Warship which was constructed in the 17th century. Unfortunately, she sank on her maiden voyage due to the King’s demand that the ship be fitted with twice the amount of cannons that were originally planned - a whopping 64 in total! During its first gun salute, a gust of wind caught it ‘side on’ and it keeled over. As it tipped, the lower gun ports filled with water causing the ship to plunge into obscurity. After laying on the sea bed for 333 years the ship was salvaged along with the bones of the crew and put on permanent display in the museum.
Tip: Take the Red Sightseeing Boat from the Old Town over to the Vasa Museum and enjoy the views along the way!
5. Relax at Rosendals Trädgård
Rosendals is a renowned garden café located only a short walk from the Vasa Museum on Djurgården Island. It is truly one of Stockholm’s hidden gems with beautiful surroundings including the Rosendal Palace; quite amazingly it even used to be part of the Swedish Royal Family’s back garden.
The café is famous with the locals for its home-grown produce, creating flavourful lunches and for their glorious baked goods, which are all made on site by hand. It’s a wonderful place to wander around and to enjoy lunch in one of their picture-perfect greenhouses.
Tip: It’s only open until the early evening so make sure to pop down during the day.
6. Explore Södermalm
Also known as SoFo, the cool district of Södermalm sits on the south side of town and is jam-packed with trendy coffee shops, boutique independents and quirky places to eat and drink. Overflowing with creative energy, wander through the streets of this neighbourhood to enjoy the diverse architecture on show and soak up the amazing atmosphere which this area generates.
A few streets I would recommend checking out are:
· Östgötagatan including the hole in the wall record store - Record Mania
· Götgatan, which is the main shopping street and the perfect place for people watching
· Högbergsgatan where the beautiful Katarina church is located
· Stadsgårdshamnen to check out Sweden’s world-famous photography museum, Fotografiska
7. Eat Like a Local
All hail the mighty meatball (as the Swedes would say)! It’s what native Stockholmers have been brought up on and they have perfected their meatball recipes throughout the years meaning it would be rude not to try them.
There are two establishments, which I would highly recommend:
1. Meatballs for the People – A super cool independent restaurant based in Södermalm, serving up 14 different kinds of meatballs and dishing out around 11,000 of them per week.
2. Stockholms Gastabud - Rated as one of the local’s top picks this tiny restaurant in Gamla Stan couldn’t get much more authentic. Their meatballs are delicious and were paired with some of the creamiest mashed potatoes I’ve ever tasted. Tip: Make sure to get there early as you can’t book.
8. Admire the Views from Monteliusvägen
If you like getting up high and admiring the skyline of a city then a walk to the top of Monteliusvägen is a must. It’s a very easy stroll to the viewing platform where you are rewarded with a stunning view of Gamla Stan across the water.
It’s one the highest points in Stockholm and provides an iconic shot deserving of a postcard! If you have time you can also enjoy taking a ramble down the walking path to soak up even more glorious views of Lake Mälaren.
9. Discover the World’s Longest Art Exhibition
One of the most unusual things about Stockholm is that it’s home to one of the longest art galleries in the entire world, measuring in at 110 kilometers in total! But let me explain, because this unlikely claim is qualified by the fact that almost 90% of the metro stations feature unique pieces of art, murals and installations, making even commuting to work ‘almost’ enjoyable.
The top three stations to check out in my opinion are:
Rådhuset Station – With its raw aesthetic it is mirrored to look like the Earth’s depths and provides an awesome photo-opp right in front of the escalators.
Solna Centrum – This station has been nicknamed “The Mouth of Hell” due to its blazing fire-like design. Unfortunately, we didn’t see the devil himself, but it’s a great place to photograph, before escaping the depths of this extraordinary underworld.
T-Centralen – For its classic Scandinavian design of vast white painted walls and beautiful blue vined flowers covering them.
10. Experience the Local Bars
If you fancy a few after hours drinks then Garlic & Shots and Mikkeller are just around the corner from each other in SoFo. Garlic & Shots is famous for its lethal shot menu including 101 different mixes and its rock ‘n’ roll dive bar surroundings. Then just around the corner you will find the legendary Mikkeller Brew Pub, which is the perfect spot for trying out some unusual craft beers before the night is over.
Thanks for reading and make sure to tag me on Instagram @thealternativeguide_ if you visit any of the places I have recommended or if you find any other off-beat locations, as I love seeing the places you have visited and sharing them with the wider alternative travel community!